45 mins by car
Icod de los Vinos
The closest town to Casa Cactus — just a few minutes away. The old town is small, yet really beautiful (just skip the newer part and head straight to the historic centre). Icod is wonderfully local and goes to bed early — really early. By 9 PM the town is almost silent…
What we recommend
- Start at Plaza Andrés de Lorenzo Cáceres — the colonial main square
- Walk to Plaza de la Pila — a small, picture-perfect spot with colonial houses and a charming fountain
- Have coffee at Casa del Drago — a gorgeous patio cafe overlooking the Drago Milenario, the thousand-year-old Dragon Tree. This tree is the symbol of Icod, one of the island’s most emblematic landmarks
- Museo de Malvasia — a quiet wine & cheese garden where you can taste local Malvasia varietals
- Eat at Restaurante Q'Arepas -venezuelan street-food bar — simple, fresh, cheap, delicious (cachapas recommended)
- El Patio de mi Casa — big patio in an old Canarian house, perfect for wine, cheese and slow evenings
- Walk Calle San Sebastian to the old town hall — a lovely piece of colonial architecture
- Old monastery near the centre — peaceful patio, perfect for a book in silence away from crowds
Worth visiting nearby
- Sunday farmer’s market in Santo Domigo — very local and authentic: vegies, fruits, cheeses, wine, bread from local farmers and artisans
- Walk the banana plantation paths near el Guincho — unforgettable views with endless banana leafs, palm trees and ocean in the backdrop…
- Cueva del Viento - one of the longest volcanic tube systems in the world — a huge underground labyrinth formed by ancient lava flows. It’s not touristy at all — more of a scientific, geological adventure.
If you’re curious about the island’s volcanic origins, this is one of the best places to understand them
Festivals
Fiesta de San Andrés (29 November) — one of the craziest experiences on the island.
Locals slide down steep streets on wooden boards, sparks flying, everyone laughing — it’s chaotic and completely unique