A trip for Tenerife shopping in Garachico which leaves an impact of charm and times gone by.
Tenerife shopping in Garachico, absolutely, had to be part of our private Tenerife tours, when my kids were on the island, some time ago.
To find the sea side place on a map, please, look, here.
To shop in Tenerife was not the only objective. It was essential to get the Tenerife feel for this tiny town or, rather village with all the typical Tenerife history of the old place of the Guanches while doing a tour of its special shops. Memories and photos to take home with counted most.
Here, the tiny town's panorama as a preview. Not much of the unusual Tenerife beach side is to be seen except for the beach front veranda, which is by the most picturesque seashore. Nature created this beauty with volcanic rocks. It is an ideal place to relax all day and Thinking of it I so much regret that we had no time for any tours or private excursions to Teide . The kids only had 5 days of vacation for Tenerife as part of business travels to London. Spain's highest peak had snow on it being January; they also were still shivering thinking of the cold British capital. But, Garachico had to be seen.
And you know what? There were people swimming in a Garachico rock pool at the time. By the way, the town is so dangerously close to the mountains above, which reach down to it that everybody was holding their breath during the Tenerife wildfires in 2007, which was long time after our Garachico trip.
Our Tenerife shopping spree Garachico started off in Los Realejos with one of the mountain (por la montaña) buses by Titsa #354. (By car you best take the TF 42 Road or the Coastal Free Way TF5 Once up by Realejos Alto, we all enjoyed the tremendous coastal views from the height of the bus. However, my son in law's stomach almost turned during the numerous sharp road bends. And, he is such a hardened sportsman, you know... Quite unreal...
We should have rented a car.
We had a quick walk through Icod de los Vinos to see its famous Drago tree and caught a connection bus in Icod at the bus station which is below Mariposa Museum.
We arrived late morning for our Tenerife shopping stroll in Garachico. Time enough to make the few Tenerife shops in Garachico before Siesta. You shouldn't forget that most shops are closed during Siesta between any time from 1.p.m.to 17 p.m.for 2 or, 3 hours every day. The time may be used on the beach in Garachico, instead. There, you can take refreshments or, sample the Tenerife cuisine in form of delicious little Tapas.
Tenerife history was greeting us when we arrived. It was the Castillo de San Miguel. It's right by the sea shore. History Tenerife tells of the Neolithic Guanches found in this area by the Spanish conquerors. It also speaks of pirate attacks when the port Garachico and its Tenerife trade were still in its hay days. What a place for Tenerife shopping... You feel the history even more because, you are not in a Tenerife city.
By the way, something on history Tenerife which is more like a legend in connection with Garachico.
Look at the light clothes we wear in Tenerife on this Garachico winter shopping day. Tenerife climate, is special, indeed. That's me and son Marc by the way in the photo. My son in law Andrew even took off his shoes.
Here is more typical Canary Island house in Garachico which we saw in Garachico county. Utterly charming... Isn't it? The cobble stones lead us to the town's center square. We past the corner by Hotel Quinta Roja. The red building was a surprise.
We were looking through one of its open doors. This rural hotel in the middle of a town, where I would like to spend a night during my next Tenerife shopping in Garachico had been lovingly restored, a little while ago.
The elegant, but warm and welcoming Hotel Quinta Casa Roja Garachico was a typical Tenerife family mansion once. It's now ideally used for tourist accommodation. We couldn't browse for longer. We were all a little hungry, by then. After eating we would do our Garachico shop trip through the town. The pavilion in the middle of the square offered shade, drinks and, cheap food. We decided to have bocadillos (French loafs) with cheese and ham and of course some Tapas. We picked them as small salads.
Convent San Francisco de Asís which we could see from our table during our Tenerife shopping trip was one of the many great sturdy historical buildings in the quaint little town. They were in such charming contrast of Tenerife architecture to the little, simple, old Tenerife townhouses in Garachico. Most of those old, massive, white washed buildings are housing art galleries, museums, libraries and other public amenities.
Garachico has ravishing small shops which are in little, old buildings, most of which are found in a narrow road running parallel to the sea shore. Many sell exceptional handicraft or artwork of all sorts which serve as beautiful souvenirs or gifts. Much later, I returned to Garachico with my painter friend Anand Rubai, who also greatly admires Garachico shops for their artistic bounty. Tenerife shopping qualities of Garachico will not change. Art and crafts for buying have become a symbol of the town. You most certainly will find this fact mentioned in Tenerife attractions Art Shopping.
Our way back took us through more narrow roads.There are not many. We also passed by Iglesia Santa Ana or,
One of the loveliest places for Tenerife shopping in Garachico is El Limonero which has so many things for a Before I forget it: A big advantage with Garachico is that little shops and galleries are open at night. By Spanish custom 10 p.m. should be closing time. Going back and forth in the little town is no problem at all. That way you can plan your whole Garachico Tenerife shopping well, beforehand. You may fit in as many other activities as you like. There is a strong similarity between Garachico and the old part of La Orotava. Some of its charm can be seen in Townhouses in la Orotava . La Orotava has excellent shops for gifts, handicraft and again attractions for art shopping, similar to Garachico, but is a real town. Garachico doesn't have the space for big clothes stores such as the capital Santa Cruz. nor for many dress boutiques like La Orotava. It couldn't accommodate large supermarkets, either.
Garachico had 5542 inhabitants in 2006. Just figure how small a place it is... Also, you don't need street names to find shops in Garachico. They are all close to the beach and the town square and you will never get lost while browsing for Tenerife shopping in Garachico.
Mind holidays and closed shops Garachico, please...On August 15th and 16th you most probably will not find anything open for Tenerife shopping in Garachico. Those are festive days of Garachico Romeria de San Roque They might change the days for the church procession or the Romeria. It would be wise to phone the Tenerife tourist information Garachico first. Telephone: 922 133461 The Catholic Church in Spain was strong and rich after the discoveries of South America. That shows in Tenerife churches as well as in art and handicraft in Garachico. Skills for it were most probably taught in Garachico convents. They look like having survived until now and make the town an asset for Tenerife shopping.
Compared to Los Gigantes or Puerto de Santiago marine gear is not featured in Tenerife shopping Garachico. Garachico has no Marina (yacht harbor like Los Gigantes or, in other words no real harbor. Had there not been the fatal Trevejo eruption in 1706 (right next to Tenerife mount Teide) Garachico might also be a Tenerife tourist resort like Los Gigantes where many a private holiday home in Tenerife may be found. Book into one of Garachico hotels to enjoy longer holidays to give you more of a chance to browse for Tenerife shopping, there.
We took a direct bus back that went mainly along the coastal road. We all arrived in Puerto de la Cruz tired but, pleased. The bus ride by the coast didn't cause any upset tummies. It also went much faster. You may see a mapa/ map of Garachico region, here. Puerto de la Cruz would be exactly where the map ends on the top right. The map shows Puerto de Santiago which also stands for Los Gigantes on the bottom left. So much to distances. It should be more or less 90 km from Garachico to the capital when taking the coastal road and the inland free way from Los Realejos onwards, later. To Los Rodeos North Airport it should be about 80 km. To Puerto de la Cruz about 50 km. Look how to find the Garachico shop for buying hand rolled Tenerife cigars while you watch how they are done. When driving a little further in southern direction after the cigar shop you most probably find parking on your right after 30 meters (about 100 feet). Parking could be a problem on week-ends in Garachico. I wouldn't recommend Saturdays and Sundays for Tenerife shopping in Garachico, anyway. Check out shopping at another equally charming place like Garachico, although, very different in a village not to be missed by any tourist for Tenerife souvenirs Masca at a shop full of goodies which make nice gifts to take home. Please, go from Tenerife shopping to Santa Cruz for best shopping in Tenerife with capital shop tips as well as island shopping secrets revealed for many shops like Zara, malls like Ikea, departments stores like Corte Ingles and Carrefour, markets, shopping tax to be saved and more.. Plan a virtual Tenerife Puerto Cruz shopping trip as it deserves additional prominence, while this oldest Tenerife resort offers more than good shops open on Sun and holidays with many details and photos.
|
