Las Vegas combines the history of a Canarian hamlet with several different PR-TF routes. A short circular route is ideal for exploring the village; other trails connect Las Vegas with Granadilla, follow the Camino Real del Sur or continue towards Paisaje Lunar. This makes it possible to discover the village both through its historic character and by following specific routes.
A Hamlet with a History
Las Vegas is considered the oldest settlement in the municipality of Granadilla de Abona. After the conquest of Tenerife, it was also the first colonial settlement in the Abona region. These two historical designations refer to different scales: the municipality and the region. Las Vegas preserves the character of a traditional Canarian hamlet with ethnographic and historical heritage.
The historic hamlet grew up around the hermitage of Nuestra Señora de La Esperanza, built during the colonial period. The hermitage preserves several architecturally interesting features. It is also a specific landmark on the PR-TF 83.5 Las Vegas–Los Hibrones–La Abejera: the trail begins right next to the hermitage.
The name also refers to the landscape. The vegas that gave the village its name are fertile, flat areas where rainwater regularly collects, making them well suited to cultivation. The shape of the land and its water supply are therefore part of the village’s character, along with its settlement history.
Different Trails Starting in and Passing Through Las Vegas
For a walk specifically intended to explore the hamlet, the short PR-TF 83.2 Circular de Las Vegas is a good choice. The PR-TF 83.3, by contrast, first follows the Camino Real del Sur and then returns to Las Vegas. The routes therefore differ in their layout: one focuses on a circuit through the hamlet, while the other follows the Camino Real before returning to Las Vegas.
The PR-TF 83.4 Camino Real Granadilla-Las Vegas connects the town centre of Granadilla with Las Vegas. Its features include original paved sections and religious landmarks such as crosses and calvaries. The route thus connects two named places while passing traces of the historic road and religious features along the way.
The PR-TF 83.1 begins on Calle Guajara and climbs steadily northwest. It passes through farmland and pine forest, then runs parallel to a lava flow and reaches the foot of Risco del Muerto. The route connects Las Vegas with Los Escurriales, an area popularly known as Paisaje Lunar; it then joins the PR-TF 83 to Paisaje Lunar. The former use of the forest by local residents for subsistence is also part of the historical context of the PR-TF 83.3. This continued until the 1980s.
The Danza de Varas on 26 July
The Danza de Varas de Las Vegas is a ritual dance performed every year on 26 July in Las Vegas, on Tenerife’s southern side. Seven dancers are connected by palm sticks covered in coloured paper; string instruments accompany the performance. One day a year, the group walks through the hamlet together with residents and former residents. If you would like to include this tradition in your trip, plan around 26 July and check the specific event dates before travelling.
Discover more destinations: Arico Viejo, San Juan del Reparo, Adelantado, Almáciga, Ravelo, Juan Fernández, Bocacangrejo, Las Cruces.
For the main travel guide: Tenerife.
