Villa De Arico offers two distinct highlights to consider when planning your trip: the historic center with its Canarian architecture, and hiking trails of varying lengths and difficulty levels. This lets you decide whether to spend more time exploring architectural history and local details or tackling longer trails and landscapes.

Historic Center and Church

The historic ensemble of Villa De Arico has been protected as a “Bien de Interés Cultural” in the “Conjunto Histórico” category since 2005. The oldest houses are examples of traditional Canarian architecture and are generally arranged around rectangular courtyards. The historic center is characterized by single-story houses with framed doorways, cornices, and local stone decorations.

The oldest area is also called El Lomo or “Lugar de Arriba.” Its oldest buildings date from before the settlement was founded in the 1590s. Development of the historic center began with the construction of the Ermita de San Juan Bautista between 1590 and 1610. The town received the title of Villa in 1916.

The Iglesia de San Juan Bautista, together with its surroundings, forms the most important architectural ensemble in Villa De Arico; it was declared a Monumento Histórico-Artístico in 1985. The present building dates from the 18th century. Its floor plan is in the shape of a Latin cross and comprises a single nave, a main chapel, and two side chapels. It also has a Mudéjar-style coffered ceiling. Its artistic treasures include depictions of the Virgen de Abona, the Virgen del Rosario, and the Virgen del Carmen. The valuable Castilian Gothic carving of Nuestra Señora de la Virgen de Abona, also known as the Virgen del Mar, has been housed in the church since 1761.

Nearby Arico Nuevo offers a different historic character and is also a protected historic ensemble. There, numerous old houses from the 18th and 19th centuries are arranged in a linear pattern. Comparing them with the oldest houses in Villa De Arico, which are grouped around courtyards, reveals different architectural features within the region.

Trails in the Town and Surrounding Area

An old paved path connects the church square with Calle Benítez de Lugo and the public fountain. The Oficina de Información Turística de Arico is also located in the municipality of Arico, at Calle Benítez de Lugo 1. A hiking route leads from Plaza de los Condes de Santa María de Abona in Villa De Arico to the hamlet of El Río via old paved paths; check trail conditions locally.

Nearby, the PR-TF 86.1 variant is listed as 1.6 km long and taking one hour. It provides a way to explore the La Puente climbing area in its entirety. This is a very different time commitment from the PR-TF 86, which starts in Villa De Arico and ends at the Parador Nacional. As of August 2026, it was listed as a 23.0 km linear route, rated “very difficult”; its homologation status was still being processed at the time. Check current trail conditions before setting out.

The PR-TF 86 passes through the Corona Forestal Natural Park and Teide National Park. It runs from cultivated areas into the pine forest near Ortiz and the La Puente climbing area. These landscape sections are part of the longer route, which is rated very difficult; the 1.6 km variant is a separate option with a different time estimate. You should also check current trail conditions before hiking the variant.

Ruta de la Miel

A seasonal event is the Ruta de la Miel in the higher-altitude part of the municipality of Arico. It takes place on the second weekend of May and includes a hike celebrating the variety of honey produced in Tenerife. The experience includes visits to traditional apiaries, explanations of honey production, and a tasting of local products. Check the dates for the relevant year before traveling. This allows you to distinguish this seasonal event from the architectural features and hiking options of varying lengths described here, which are available year-round.

Discover more destinations: Poris De Abona, Jaca, Punta Cueva De Los Moñigos, El Rio, La Esperanza, El Pris, Tacoronte, Golf Del Sur.

For the main travel overview: Tenerife.