The true spirit of the Canary Islands is best seen in El Tanque and we recommend visiting this Tenerife municipality to get the complete experience. Here, you can appreciate landscapes peppered with cultural treasures that make for a spectacular rural tourism experience on the island.
El Tanque is one of the three municipalities that make up Tenerife that lacks a shoreline, but it doesn't need one because it has so much to offer. We propose spending a few days at El Tanque and renting a rural house to rest after seeing the area. If you want to know how to travel to El Tanque once you've arrived on the island, you can use the Carretera General TF-82.
It is located in the northeast of the island, in the district of Icod-Daute-Isla Baja, where the altitude difference extends from 400 meters to more than 1,300 meters, scattered over the rocks of La Atalaya and the highest peaks, in the mountain of Abeque.
The Cliffs of La Culata, the Site of Scientific Interest of Interián, the Natural Park of Corona Forestal, and the Rural Park of Teno, among others, offer spectacular views of the surrounding coastal area. With more than 60% of its territory constituting Protected Natural Spaces integrated into the Natura 2000 Network, some of the best routes can be found here.
If you enjoy nature, there are various hiking trails in the region where you may see the island's typical vegetation. The Erjos Ponds, which have a unique environment that several endangered and severely threatened birds call home, are one of the most beautiful parts of the park. It's worth stopping to admire the lagoons, which are surrounded by an incredible shade of green.
It's not surprising that the main economic activity is agriculture considering the topography. Potatoes and cereals are grown abundantly in the region. You will also see plenty of vineyards forming the foundation of gastronomy rich in heritage and flavour.
The most typical meals of El Tanque and the island consist of potatoes with mojo sauce and meat. It is a must-try meal, and you can find it in any of its restaurants. If you want to experience the place's originality, you should go to one of the classic guachinches.
Let's talk about the heritage of this area! The region of El Tanque Bajo, which is the historic centre, has various sites of significant cultural importance where you can admire the predominant 16th-century architecture.
A stroll through this central area will allow you to see the El Tanque Town Hall, where the mayor of El Tanque works, and the church of San Antonio de Padua. It is located in a very central location surrounded by numerous traditional houses. This church is of the city's most important landmarks and is designated as a Cultural Asset.
We cannot omit to mention the part of history left by the Guanche populations who once lived in the area, and some archaeological remains have been uncovered, which have also been designated as Cultural Interest.
In 1997, the Espacio Cultural El Tanque was established in Santa Cruz to honour this municipality.
