On Tenerife’s north west coast, just 10km from the Tenerife Norte airport, is the delightful town of El Sauzal. This tranquil place in Tenerife’s wine producing country is surrounded by vineyards and is a fine choice for the discerning visitor seeking to avoid the mass tourism of Playa de las Americas and the other resorts on the south coast.
Tourism is mainly geared towards families and couples who tend to rent villas, many with stunning views over the Atlantic. Interior villas on the hillside are also popular thanks to the views they offer towards the ocean in one direction and towards the volcanic peak of Mount Teide in the other.
Wine lovers will be particularly taken with El Sauzal thanks to its fine local wines which are served up with excellent Canarian dishes in the town’s excellent restaurants. A number of vineyards in the vicinity provide wine tastings in their cellars and the wine museum of Casa del Vino la Baranda is well worth a visit. Its restaurant is a good choice for lunch where you can sample local wines with fine cuisine on their veranda. In summer classical music concerts are held there.
The town of El Sauzal itself is a most pleasant place to stroll around in the early evening before sunset when the streets are alive with local people going about their business. Take a wander through its tiny streets and marvel at the town’s lovely churches, impressive architecture and fine public squares. Alternatively, just seat yourself outside one of the town’s bars and watch the world go by. One evening you should head out to the small fishing village of El Prix and sample superb fish dishes from the day’s catch.
The beach at Mesa del Mar is just a few minutes outside El Sauzal and is one of the best on the island whilst a number of other good beaches such as Playa do los Troches and Playa de San Roque are easily accessible. A little further afield is the popular resort of Puerto de la Cruz whilst Tenerife’s bustling capital, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, is just 20km away. Other interesting towns to visit which are only 10km away are the university town of La Laguna and the quaint, colonial town of La Orotava.
Useful Links For El Sauzal
El Sauzal Tenerife
You can find more information about El Sauzal on the official website of the El Sauzal town council. Unfortunately at the time of writing this site is only in Spanish.