La Orotava Holidays: Tenerife's Hillside Town Guide
Provincia de Santa Cruz de Tenerife · Canary Islands · Spain · 41,833 residents · on the coast
Casa de los Balcones
Reserva natural integral de Pinoleris
Casa Lercaro
Museo de arte sacro el tesoro de la concepción.jpg/500px-Teneriffa_February_2012_-_panoramio_(2).jpg)
Mirador de MataznosLa Orotava sits 355 metres up on Tenerife's northern side, a working town of around 42,000 people rather than a purpose-built resort. Its appeal is concentrated and walkable: three museums, Casa de los Balcones, Casa Lercaro and the Museo de arte sacro el tesoro de la concepción, lie within a quarter of a mile of the centre. Higher up, the Reserva natural integral de Pinoleris and two viewpoints, the Humboldt Viewpoint and the Mirador de Mataznos, give the town its outdoor side. Daytime highs run from 20°C in winter to 28°C in August, and UK travellers can fly direct into Tenerife South, about 34 minutes away by car.
Why go
- Casa de los Balcones, Casa Lercaro and the sacred art museum sit within a few minutes' walk of each other.
- July and August are almost dry, with just two or three rain days and highs of 26 to 28°C.
- Direct UK flights land at Tenerife South, roughly 24 miles and 34 minutes' drive from town.
Top sights in La Orotava
Museums, Viewpoints and a Nature Reserve
The best-known sight is Casa de los Balcones, a museum about a quarter of a mile from the centre. Close by are Casa Lercaro, a historic building now run as a museum, and the Museo de arte sacro el tesoro de la concepción, each roughly 0.2 miles away, so the three make an easy morning on foot and suit families as well as culture-minded travellers.
For the outdoors, the Reserva natural integral de Pinoleris is a protected area about 1.9 miles from town. Two viewpoints complete the picture: the Humboldt Viewpoint, around 1.6 miles away, and the Mirador de Mataznos, about 2.9 miles out.
Tours and tickets for La Orotava and the surrounding area can be booked directly on this page, with options shown in the booking cards below.
Tours & tickets in La Orotava
Guided tours, day trips and tickets in and around La Orotava can be booked in advance, priced in GBP.
See tours & tickets (opens GetYourGuide in a new tab)Where to stay in La Orotava
Old Town or Nearby Coast
Staying in the heart of La Orotava puts you within walking distance of its three museums, and the town's 355-metre elevation sets it slightly apart from the shoreline. With a population of around 42,000, this is a lived-in town with its own rhythm rather than a strip of holiday hotels.
If you would rather be lower down, Puerto de la Cruz is only about 2.5 miles away, and Los Realejos and Santa Úrsula are within 4 miles, so you can base yourself in a neighbouring town and still visit easily. The page shows live hotel prices for La Orotava and its surroundings.
Hire a car
The easiest way to reach La Orotava and the villages around it is a hire car from Tenerife South (TFS), about 34 min away.
Best time to visit La Orotava
When to Visit La Orotava
- 20°CJan57 mm
- 20°CFeb48 mm
- 21°CMar54 mm
- 22°CApr37 mm
- 22°CMay50 mm
- 23°CJun38 mm
- 26°CJul6 mm
- 28°CAug11 mm
- 25°CSept33 mm
- 27°COct56 mm
- 25°CNov32 mm
- 22°CDec41 mm
Highlighted months are the sweet spot for warm, dry weather.
The most pleasant months are April, July and August. April brings highs of around 22°C with seven rain days, while July is the driest month of the year, with just 6 mm of rain over two days and highs of 26°C.
August is the hottest month, reaching about 28°C by day and staying near 21°C at night. October is also warm at 27°C but noticeably wetter, and January is the wettest month by rainfall at 57 mm. May has the most rain days, 14 in total, despite mild 22°C highs. Winter remains gentle, with highs of 20°C in January and February and lows of 13 to 14°C.
Full monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 20°C | 14°C | 57 mm | 9 h |
| Feb | 20°C | 13°C | 48 mm | 10 h |
| Mar | 21°C | 14°C | 54 mm | 11 h |
| Apr | 22°C | 15°C | 37 mm | 12 h |
| May | 22°C | 15°C | 50 mm | 12 h |
| Jun | 23°C | 17°C | 38 mm | 13 h |
| Jul | 26°C | 19°C | 6 mm | 12 h |
| Aug | 28°C | 21°C | 11 mm | 11 h |
| Sept | 25°C | 18°C | 33 mm | 11 h |
| Oct | 27°C | 20°C | 56 mm | 10 h |
| Nov | 25°C | 17°C | 32 mm | 9 h |
| Dec | 22°C | 14°C | 41 mm | 9 h |
Averages 2015–2024. Highlighted months are the sweet spot for warm, dry weather.
Getting there from the UK
Flights and Ferries from the UK
Tenerife South (TFS) is the airport to look at first, as it has direct flights from the United Kingdom. It lies about 24 miles from La Orotava, an estimated 34 minutes by car. Tenerife North (TFN) is closer, roughly 12 miles and 18 minutes away, but has no direct UK flights, so it is mainly useful if you connect elsewhere.
Ferries are an option for island-hopping. Santa Cruz de Tenerife, about 17 miles away, sails to Las Palmas, La Gomera, La Palma and El Hierro. Los Cristianos, around 27 miles away, serves San Sebastián de la Gomera, La Palma and El Hierro. On Gran Canaria, Las Palmas has crossings to mainland Spain at Huelva and Cádiz.
By air
- Tenerife South (TFS)24 miles, about 34 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
- Tenerife North (TFN)12 miles, about 18 min by road
By car and ferry
Nearest ferry ports: Santa Cruz de Tenerife (17 miles), Los Cristianos (27 miles), Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (70 miles).
La Orotava is good for
Around La Orotava
Easy Day Trips Nearby
Puerto de la Cruz, a town of around 32,000, is the closest neighbour at about 2.5 miles. Santa Úrsula is roughly 3 miles away and Los Realejos, the largest nearby at over 36,000 residents, about 3.7 miles.
A little further out, La Matanza de Acentejo is around 6 miles away, San Juan de la Rambla about 7.5 miles and La Guancha roughly 8 miles. Güimar, at about 8.7 miles, and Tacoronte, at around 9.3 miles, round off a ring of towns all within a short drive.
Tips from Robin
Practical Tips for Your Stay
At 355 metres, La Orotava sits above the coast, and winter nights drop to 13 or 14°C, so pack a light layer even on a spring or autumn holiday.
The museums are walkable, but the viewpoints and the Pinoleris reserve lie between 1.6 and 3 miles out, and Tenerife South is a 34-minute drive away, so car hire makes sense. Outside July and August, rain is fairly frequent, with eight to 14 rain days a month, so keep an indoor plan such as the museums in reserve.
Questions people ask
Which airport is best for La Orotava from the UK?
Tenerife South (TFS) has direct flights from the United Kingdom and is about 24 miles away, roughly 34 minutes by car. Tenerife North (TFN) is closer at around 12 miles and 18 minutes, but has no direct UK flights.
What is the weather like in La Orotava in winter?
Mild. January and February reach about 20°C by day, with lows of 13 to 14°C. Expect some rain, though: January is the wettest month at 57 mm, and there are typically 10 or 11 rain days a month in early winter.
When is the best time to visit La Orotava?
April, July and August offer the most pleasant conditions. July is the driest month, with only two rain days, while August is the hottest at around 28°C. April is milder at about 22°C with seven rain days.
What is there to see in La Orotava?
Casa de los Balcones, Casa Lercaro and the Museo de arte sacro el tesoro de la concepción are all within a quarter of a mile of the centre. Further out are the Humboldt Viewpoint, the Mirador de Mataznos and the Reserva natural integral de Pinoleris.
How far is La Orotava from Puerto de la Cruz?
Only about 2.5 miles, which makes Puerto de la Cruz the nearest neighbouring town and an easy half-day trip. Santa Úrsula and Los Realejos are also within around 4 miles of La Orotava.
Do I need car hire in La Orotava?
Not for the museums, which are close together in the centre. But the viewpoints and nature reserve lie between 1.6 and 3 miles out, and the drive from Tenerife South takes about 34 minutes, so a hire car is useful.