Vilaflor

There are many reasons to make a short stop in Vilaflor. The most important reason is to let your body get used to the difference in altitude for at least a quarter of an hour, so that you don’t get a headache or suffer from mountain sickness when you get to the foot of Teide. It’s surprisingly easy to come up with in one go and the headache can last for days and ruin your vacation.

Hermano Pedro, the only Canary Islands saint canonized by the Pope, is from Vilaflor, who is even more famous in South America than his home island. Full name Pedro de San José de Betancur lived in Guatemala after emigrating and founded several charitable institutions in the city of Antigua, helping the poor and the sick. He was especially devoted to improving the welfare of children and slaves, and founded the first orphanage and school in the Guatemalan territories. You can see his figure on the right hand side when you enter the village.

The legend of Vilaflor. The name of this village at the southern slope of the Teide derives from an old tale.In poetry it is described how a man discovered a breath-taking flower. He shouted Vi la flor. In translation that means: I saw a flower. With that, by no means, the man meant a flower, but a beautiful native woman taking a walk in the area of todays Vilaflor.

Vilaflor is the highest by man established settlement on the entire canarc archipelago. Almost 2000 people live in this 1400 metre high village. The clear, maritime climate and air is an inside-tipp for people with respiratory diseases. The symptoms are a considerably reduced compared to mainland Europe, due to the very clear air.

Vilaflor is not just famous because of its name deriving legend and its good climate conditions. The surrounding pine woods are fascinating as well. A lot of plants growing in these forests make nature seem to blossom even more. During the spring Vilaflor offers amazing carpet like fields of colourful blooming wild flowers. They grow near the primeval forests full of gigantic pine trees. These trees can reach a stem diameter of more than 3 metres and can grow to a height exceeding 40 metres. Therefore, these trees are the highest trees on all the Canary Islands. One tree, the Pino Gordo, has stem diameter of 11 metres and is the biggest tree here.

There are not only great things to see in Vilaflor. Due to the mountain sun, the pine trees, the laurel-, eucalyptus-, and peppertrees smell in a very unique way, which cannot be experienced like that anywhere else. The local mineral water is said to have healing effects. Souvenirs can be found at the local artist market. Here can puchase embroideries, carved wood artefacts and hard-to-choose-from wines of the area - quite a hard choice.

In the heart of the village is the Church of Saint Peter the Apostle, built in 1560. Its gates and respective pediments are very interesting. Nestled within the Corona Forestal National Park, Vilaflor has maintained the essence of a rural town. Proof of this is the cultivation of their vines, from which an excellent wine is made that must be tasted during your visit. The rich heritage of the town is also apparent, in the Casa de Marqués or the old watermill. And the natural wealth can be seen all around, with an excellent network of local trails. The Pino Enano walk offers a particularly amazing view of the town. Ever since the 16th century, Vilaflor has welcomed visitors who arrived along the Royal Road of Chasna drawn by the town’s proximity to Mount Teide and its pleasant climate, making it popular among botanists, scientists and also people with ailments looking to recover in this peaceful environment. These visitors would stay in the first hotel in the south of the Island, Hotel Vilaflor.