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.

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 to have a sundowner in the evening.
The rock pools Garachico belong to unusual Tenerife beaches. Mount Teide Tenerife which crowns the quaint town of many Charcos rather prominently is not in the picture.

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. However, picturesque Garachico with its arty, little shops and rare seaside and warm winter climate had to be seen.

Mind, Spain's highest peak above Garachico had snow on it being January; my children were still shivering thinking of the cold British capital.

Free of charge swimming pools

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 have two options. Best proceed on the Free Way TF5 in direction of Icod de los Vinos past Puerto de la Cruz when coming from the north. However, the TF5 becomes a two-lane coastal road after Los Realejos.

We took the other way which was the mountain road past Icod el Alto. It allowed us to enjoy 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 was such a hardened sportsman, you know...

We should have opted for car rental Tenerife, of which I knew little at the time, unfortunately.

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 the Butterfly 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, discover 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.
Very much a South African custom with youngsters, you know..
The middle age cobble stone street with the geranium pots and the pastel colored square houses was leading to the main Garachico Plaza (town square). Sometimes, we had a chance to peep inside an open door and discovered charming patios hidden within the most ordinary looking houses.

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.

It had been lovingly restored, a little while ago.

Marvel at my intriguing, pictures of 2011 of this romantic hotel of Garachico which translates into Red farm or Red country estate...

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.

Ocean view restaurant Rocamar

We may have had a proper meal at the ocean view restaurant Restaurante Rocamar, if we had known about this place with its good seafood and exceptional panorama.

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. Marvel at Tenerife photos Garachico of the same townsquare by moonshine, when townfolks love to gather there.

By the way, most of those old, massive, white washed buildings are housing art galleries, museums, libraries and other public amenities.

Garachico' ravishing small shops were in little, old buildings. Most of them were in a narrow road running parallel to the sea shore.

They sold exceptional handicraft or artwork of all sorts which serve as beautiful souvenirs or gifts.
Candles, pictures, drawings, paintings, little sculptures, metal art works, pottery and jewelry excelled. No entrance fee was charged by a Garachico gallery at the time, either.

Garachico's shopping scene a decade later

Much later, I returned to Garachico with my painter friend Anand Rubai, who also greatly admired Garachico shops for their artistic bounty. We would never have believed that the Tenerife shopping qualities of Garachico could ever change. Art and crafts for buying had become a symbol of the town.

You most certainly will find this fact mentioned in Tenerife attractions Art Shopping.
Nevertheless, the situation with shops in Tenerife Garachico was very different, almost 10 years later by the end of 2011

Our way back took us through more narrow roads.

There are not many.

We also passed by Iglesia Santa Ana or,
church Santa Ana.

El Limonero home decor and souvenir shop

One of the loveliest places for Tenerife shopping in Garachico is El Limonero which has so many things for a
holiday home in Tenerife or just gifts. Many of them make good souvenirs.

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.

Is Garachico shopping like in La Orotava?

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...

Fiesta festival Garachico San Roque

Garachico culture

Tourism Garachico to improve by Marina

Compared to Los Gigantes or Puerto de Santiago marine gear is not featured in Tenerife shopping Garachico. Garachico will only have a Marina yacht harbor, similar to that of Los Gigantes by 2012.

Had there not been the fatal Trevejo eruption in 1706, (right next to Tenerife mount Teide) Garachico might be a much bigger Tenerife tourist resort, such as Los Gigantes. There, many a private holiday home in Tenerife may be found.

Most modern and most inspiring Garachico hotel

Book a special Garachico hotel to enjoy longer holidays with more of a chance to browse for Tenerife shopping. The best representative and most memorable in accommodation of the artistic community of Garachico is the designer hotel San Roques.

Coastal road Garachico Puerto de la Cruz

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.

Distances related to Garachico

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.

Arts and crafts shopping of gifts in Masca

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..

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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.

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