Every tourist visiting Tenerife hears about Masca or Las Teresitas Beach, but few know about the incredible village called Taganana and the nearby Benijo Beach.
The road to Taganana is curvy and less accessible than the highways circling the island. There might not be shopping malls, tall buildings and many restaurants in the area, but the scenery you’ll see here is absolutely breathtaking.
The mountains rising from the ocean, covered in thick vegetation and the houses of Taganana scattered around the hills create a view I’ll never forget. Even though I’ve never been to Hawaii, for me the cliffs near Taganana look a lot like this idyllic island.
In this article, I’ll share everything you need to know when planning a trip to Taganana Tenerife and Anaga Rural Park. Let’s get to it!
1. Where is Taganana located?
The small village of Taganana is located in the north-eastern part of Tenerife. Even though this village is somewhat close to the capital of Santa Cruz, the road to Taganana has many twists and turns.
Taganana is located in Anaga Rural Park, a place like no other in Tenerife. In 2015 the Anaga Rural Park was declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. The sharp peaks and the winding road, together with the beautiful vegetation covering the entire area, create a spectacular view, unique in Tenerife.
Honestly, I feel like this area is a little underrated. When we visited Masca, the village was covered in thick fog. However, from the pictures I’ve seen on the internet, Taganana and Anaga Rural Park are much more spectacular than Masca.
2. A few words about Anaga Rural Park
Tenerife is known for its stunning beaches. El Duque Beach, Bollulo Beach or Las Teresitas attract thousands of people daily. However, few tourists get to visit Anaga and that’s a shame. In my opinion, Anaga Rural Park together with Taganana village and Benijo Beach, are some of the most incredible places in Tenerife.
Anaga is famous for its incredible hikes. Some of the most popular are Taganana to Playa de Tamadite and Benijo to Faro de Anaga Circuit. The good news is that there is no entrance fee for the park.
The area of Anaga is one of the oldest in Tenerife. It was formed after a volcanic eruption about 7 to 9 million years ago. Anaga Rural Park is the place with the most endemic species in Europe.
3. The best viewpoint in Taganana – Mirador Risco Amogoje
Before reaching the village itself, you’ll pass by one of the best viewpoints in Tenerife – Mirador Risco Amogoje. Don’t hesitate and stop here for a few minutes.
From this viewpoint, you’ll be able to admire the ocean and the surrounding mountains. We stopped here for about half an hour and took a few photos. I was amazed by this place’s beauty, but little did I know that the views ahead of me were going to surprise me even more.
4. Taganana village, Tenerife – a spectacular, underrated place
As we drove on the winding road, I couldn’t help but notice that a few houses started to appear in my sight. Some of them were located higher on the hills, others closer to the road.
The houses were simple, nothing fancy or extravagant. Painted in pastel colors, the houses looked like they’ve been there forever, part of the scenery.
The village Taganana has only a few hundred inhabitants. Until recently, the people relied on agriculture for their survival. Nowadays, most of them moved to bigger cities or work in bigger cities.
Tourism is not very developed in Taganana. As proof, you won’t find hotels here. When it comes to restaurants, the choices are limited. The restaurants in the area are Xiomara, El Puente, Las Nieves and Roque Las Animas. That’s it.
If you get hungry in Taganana, I recommend Xiomara or Restaurante Roque Las Animas. Just remember, these are local restaurants and they’re quite basic.
5. Things to do in Taganana, Tenerife
When visiting Taganana, don’t expect too much in terms of tourist attractions. This is a small, isolated village. However, its true beauty lies in the surrounding natural sights and the nearby beaches.
Playa Roque de Las Bodegas
Covered in black sand, this Playa Roque de Las Bodegas is one of the best black sand beaches in Tenerife. The beach is very long and it’s not crowded at all, making it one of the main tourist attractions in Taganana.
While in the area, I also recommend visiting the Roque de Las Bodegas Viewpoint. Here you’ll find a cliff surrounded by the ocean. There is a path leading to the edge of the cliff and the views from here are stunning.
Benijo Beach
We visited this part of the island because we wanted to visit Benijo Beach. I’ve seen a few photos on the internet and I decided that this place is worth visiting. I was not wrong.
Benijo Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches on the island. Even though the beach is covered in pebbles and swimming is not advised due to the currents and rocks inside the ocean, the views are simply breathtaking.
For the best view, stop at El Mirador. There is a small parking on the side of the road near a yellow/ orange building. From there, there is a set of stairs that leads straight to the beach. For the best views, I recommend arriving here at sunset. Benijo Beach is one of the must-see places in Taganana.
Mirador Bailadero
A short drive away from Taganana is Bailadero viewpoint, an incredible place with stunning views of the ocean. If you have the time, stop for a few minutes here and spend an hour in Bailadero town.
The town is known for its connection with witches. Actually, the name “Bailadero” comes from the witches who in the past danced around bonfires. Bailadero means dance floor.
-> Other must-see places in Tenerife:
- Climb Mount Teide – The tallest mountain in Tenerife
- Take a whale watching cruise
- Siam Park – The world’s best water park
6. How much time to spend in Taganana, Tenerife?
If you only want to visit Taganana for the views, I recommend spending half of day here. You can spend a few hours at the beach, visit the viewpoints and eat a traditional meal at one of the local restaurants in the area.
If you plan to go hiking in the Anaga Rural Park, plan at least 2 days in the area.
7. How to get to Taganana, Tenerife
The best way to explore Tenerife is by car. The island is relatively small, most parking places are free and renting a car is affordable. We rented our car from Oasis and paid around 35 EUR per day.
To get to Taganana, you have to follow the TF – 12 road from Santa Cruz or San Cristobal. Once you reach Mirador Bailadero, follow the TF -134 road to Taganana.
8. Where to stay in Taganana
There are only guesthouses in Taganana, so make sure to book your stay well in advance if you want to stay in the village. Below are a few accommodation options in Taganana.
- Casa Campo y Playa – clean, spacious and modern rooms, superb views, good location, good amenities
- Casa Taganana – traditional house, one of the best views in town, spacious rooms, friendly owners
If you prefer to stay in more touristic areas around the island, I recommend the hotels below.
- Budget – Atlantic Holiday Hotel – amazing ocean view, beautiful modern studio, good location, friendly staff, good amenities
- Mid-Range – Labranda Bahia – beautiful pools, good location, spacious rooms and good services, friendly staff, all-inclusive
- Luxury – Fantasia Bahia – perfect for couples and families, excellent services, all-inclusive, huge & modern rooms, beautiful pools
9. Conclusion
Taganana is a beautiful village in an underrated area of Tenerife. If you’re looking for off-the-beaten-path places in Tenerife, Taganana is the best choice!
Plan at least half of day for this village and the nearby beaches. We only had a few hours and I regret not spending more time here. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask me in the comments section below.
May the travel bug bite you!
Pin it for later!
Aurelia Teslaru is a professional travel blogger and the writer behind Daily Travel Pill. With a 4-year experience as a travel writer and photographer, Aurelia only shares travel guides about destinations that she visited.
She has been to more than 40 countries during the past 10 years and aims to explore 50 countries before turning 30 years old. Aurelia is a digital nomad who transformed her passion for travel into a lifestyle. Read more about her here.
To follow her adventures, check out her Instagram and Facebook pages!