Rambla de Castro

The restaurant “Mirador de San Pedro” is a great starting point for hikes in the Rambla de Castro Nature Reserve. The trail along the northern coast runs from Puerto de la Cruz to San Juan de la Rambla. We walked from La Longuera to La Quinata—arguably the most beautiful section, passing by the ruins of the old waterworks La Fajana. Here, steam engines used to pump spring water up the mountain for irrigation.

The path continues to the old manor house La Casona: This grand estate is the oldest of all the manors on the Los Realejos coast, built in 1541 by the Portuguese trader Hernando de Castro. He served the Spanish crown during the conquest of Tenerife and was rewarded with this estate during the land distribution. Over time, the house was expanded. In addition to the main residence, there were wine presses, storage rooms, and a mill. Initially, sugarcane, later vineyards, and bananas brought wealth to the owners. The coastal path continues over Playa del Socorro to San Juan de la Rambla.