Enjoy a Laid Back Style Holiday at La Orotava
La Orotava is just 6 kilometers from the resort city of Puerto de la Cruz, making it a popular day trip destination. The name La Orotava means Lush Valley which represents the wealth of this place coming from the surrounding luscious valley plains where cash crops have continued to be planted since 16th century.
La Orotava Town
This town has a very well preserved ancient center, which is filled with a labyrinth of cobbled streets that are steep. La Orotava is renowned for its not one, but twelve imposing mansions that are really Canary styled, with the Doce Casas leading the pack as it was the previous residence of some outstanding families on the islands.
Some of these are open as souvenir stores that do not require much in-depth exploration; even with the rest of the area that houses a huge and heavily decorated garden, the Jardin Victoria as well as the Museo de Artesania lberoamericana which is a handicraft museum. These sights may take just half a day to see.
But you can still enjoy more of the town during the Corpus Christi celebrations when decorated streets are plentiful with flower petals, volcanic sand and baked leaves which has formed a tradition since 1847. The street displays are mainly biblical motifs reflecting the religious beliefs of the culture.
Town’s Conveniences
There is always the dependable town bus station which is just 10 minutes away from the west of town by walking along with a tourist office which opens daily except Sundays.
This town offers two places of stay: the Pension Silene Calle de Tomas Zerolo 9 which offers rooms with fitted showers plus charming little balconies that provide a good overview of the town, and the more up-market hotel Hotel Victoria Calle de Hennano Apolinar 8, which is an ancient Canary mansion that is 400 years old and has been tastefully refurbished with 13 double rooms fixed with satellite television, modems, and fax machines.
One of the better eateries here would be the Hotel Victoria’s restaurant, although it closes on Mondays and Sundays. But there are not too many choices of eateries in this small town. However, the local dishes of seafood, like the delectable sole in prawn sauce and comes with asparagus, can be served at the hotel’s courtyard.
Other restaurants offer roasted cheeses and mojo or even some delightful ropa vieja. Casa Egon is one of the more decent priced restaurants which has a bistro layout specializing in tapas and omelettes.