Icod de los Vinos

In the mountain village of Icod de los Vinos in northern Tenerife stands one of the island’s landmarks—the “Drago Milenario,” a dragon tree that is several hundred years old. The protected tree in Parque del Drago is 18 meters tall with a trunk diameter of 20 meters. “El Drago” is said to have mystical properties, partly due to the “dragon’s blood”: the plant sap that flows through its branches turns deep red when exposed to air. The indigenous people considered the tree a magical plant and used it for medicinal purposes and for mummifying the dead.

Tenerife is a paradise for geology and volcano enthusiasts: near Icod de los Vinos lies the volcanic tube Cueva del Viento. It was formed 27,000 years ago from basalt lava during a volcanic eruption. The cave system, with 18 explored kilometers, is recognized as the fifth-largest lava tube in the world—all larger volcanic caves are located in Hawaii. Part of the cave is open for tours.

Additional nearby attractions include the Mariposario del Drago butterfly garden, the “House of Bananas” (Casa del Plátano), and the lava beach Playa de San Marcos in the tiny fishing village of San Marcos, about 3 km from Icod de los Vinos.