VILAFLOR HOLIDAYS & HOTELS
If you are planning your Vilaflor holidays, the following information may help by giving you an overview of the resort and the surrounding area, and assist you to select from our range of Vilaflor hotels.
In a small basin in the south of
Tenerife, peppered by volcanoes, pine trees, flower-filled hillsides, vineyards and potato orchards, the tourist will find Vilaflor; one of the prettiest approaches to Mount Teide. About 300,000 years ago, a volcano erupted and started to throw a blanket of hot lava through the hills and valleys of the south of Tenerife. As a result the steep slopes around Vilaflor became known as the Banades del Sur.
The attractive village of Vilaflor lies at a height of 1400m making it the highest settlement in Tenerife and also the highest point in Spain. Its population of 2000 makes it the island’s smallest municipality.
The healthy air and water quality in Vilaflor attracted many visitors from the 18th century and today is the prefect destination for visitors who are seeking a quiet retreat. Its clear air helps people with respiratory problems and the village has become something of a health resort. Vilaflor is also the starting point for hikes to the Paisaje Lunar [Lunar Landscape] which is an area of soft white rock that has been eroded into strange shapes.
With incredible views and pure upland air, it is easy to see how this former spa town's charming old brick-and-tile houses once attracted those looking to improve their health. Though less busy nowadays, Vilaflor retains something of its appeal with a friendly, traditional Canarian atmosphere. In fact, Vilaflor lives up to its name, with flowers everywhere, in dooryards, along the top of walls and in little pots along Calle Santa Catalina.
It is noticeably cooler here than on the coast and it snows in winter. Generally, however, when the weather is poor on the coast it is sunny up here above the clouds. The bare earth on the tidy, geometrical terraces is covered with lava pebbles called picon, or jable, which help to hold in the moisture. The jable also prevents the emergence of weeds and act as miniscule sponges, absorbing moisture and the dew at night.
There is no shortage of water and underground springs provide the island with bottled water. There is enough moisture for a healthy agricultural industry of tomatoes, potatoes and grapes. These must be among the highest vineyards in the world and their white wines are increasingly talked about.
The main street of Vilalfor, Calle Santo Domingo, heads up to a large plaza with the plain but imposing 17th century Iglesia de San Pedro at its heart. From the Plaza it is a short steep walk up to the viewpoint, Mirador San Roque [just west of the road to Teide], which provides a spectacular view over the slopes of southern Tenerife.
The town, like the land above and below, is largely vertical so that even its main square, Plaza de San Pedro, lies at a slant. At one side is the mansion of the town’s founder - Captain Pedro Soler, with an enclosed wooden balcony along its entire façade. Opposite stands the grey stone church he financed, dedicated to the town’s favourite son, Brother Pedro de San Jose de Betancourt, found of the Order of the Hospitallers of Bethlehem, born here in 1626 and canonized in 2002. Inside, the church has its original carved wood ceiling and balcony, as well as the original 17th century font in which San Pedro was baptized.
Just outside Vilaflor is the Ermita San Roque with a mirador and the Restaurant El Mirador which mnakes a good stopping place. There are two further miradors beside the road - Mirador de las Pinos and just beyond a large bottling plant - Mirador las Lajas. Both make pleasant picnic stops.
On occasions, visitors might hear a distant drumming in the valleys which will be the great spotted woodpecker digging holes in the drunk of the pine trees for food, marking their territory and building nests. Holes made in the dead pines can serve as a base for bats to hang.
The Canarian Island Pine [Pinus canariensis] has a corky texture bark and is beautifully colours, and is one of the most fire-resistant conifers in the world and is known to re-sprout after a fire. When the needles dry out, they fall to the soil and decompose. They increase the acidity of the soil which leads to broom, laburnum, rock roses, thyme and pennyroyal growing in profusion in Vilaflor. Before the needles fall, they make a contribution to Tenerife’s water supply as they trap large amounts of condensation from the moist air. This condensation then drops to the ground and is then absorbed by the soil.
Quite unlike other settlement in the south, the prettily named “flower town” is the highest village in the Canary Islands. Although millions pass through Vilaflor on their way to the national park, few pause here and it remains unspoiled.
Vilaflor was anciently known by the name of Chasna, which was the head of the Abona district. The story goes that it owes its name to the Spanish exclamation on encountering a beautiful native girl: "I saw the flower of Chasna!" [Vi la flor de Chasna]
One of Vilaflor's favourite residents is the emblem of Tenerife - the Blue Chaffinch. Its food is the fruit and bark extracts of the valleys. |  |
 | Hermano Pedro
Brother Pedro was a monk who hailed from the village of Vilaflor, where he was born in 1619. He was forced out of his birthplace and went to live a hermit-like existence in a cave near El Medano [close to the present airport runway], Hermano Pedro eventually emigrated to Central America where he formed the Bethlehemite order of monks/. Their missionary work was influential throughout Latin America. Hermano Pedro was canonized in 1980 and his cave has become a place of pilgrimage, with mass being celebrated there twice a year.
Artesania ChasnaThis hillside complex celebrates all the island’s arts with a free audiovisual show, Canarian music and tasting bar where you can sample Vilaflor wines and one of the isalnd’s best selection of local crafts including carvings from black lava stone, banana leaf collages, pottery and local food products. |
Tenerife Weather and Temperature Chart : | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
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| Sunshine | 6 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 6 |
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| Temp °C | 18 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 23 | 25 | 26 | 25 | 24 | 21 | 19 |
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| Temp °F | 68 | 70 | 73 | 75 | 77 | 81 | 82 | 84 | 82 | 79 | 73 | 68 |
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| Rainfall | 66 | 55 | 42 | 31 | 11 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 13 | 41 | 69 | 75 |
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Average daily hours of sunshine | Average daily temperature °C and °F | Average monthly rainfall [mm]
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Disclaimer:
By its very nature much of the information in our travel guides is subject to change at short notice and travellers are urged to verify information on which they are relying with the relevant authorities. Corona Holidays [UK] Limited cannot accept any responsibility for any loss or inconvenience to any person as a result of information contained above.
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