Hidden Gems in Tenerife: El Draguillo, Rambla de Castro and the Wild Side of Anaga

Exploring the Most Authentic Corners of Tenerife

Tenerife is often associated with its southern coastline, but some of the most striking landscapes on the island are found far from the usual routes.

In the northeast, the terrain becomes more dramatic, the roads narrower and the pace noticeably slower. This is where Tenerife feels less like a destination and more like a place shaped by nature.

From Benijo to El Draguillo: A Route That Defines Anaga

The experience begins near Benijo Beach, one of the most iconic and untamed beaches in Tenerife. With its black volcanic sand, strong waves and rock formations rising from the ocean, Benijo already feels far removed from the rest of the island.

From here, a coastal path leads away from the beach, climbing gradually above the cliffs. As you move along the route, the views open up continuously over the Atlantic, with no signs of development, no large infrastructure — just ocean, rock and vegetation shaped by the wind.

The further you go, the quieter it becomes.

Eventually, the path descends towards El Draguillo, a small and isolated settlement that feels almost untouched. The village sits between the mountains and the sea, with only a handful of traditional houses and no real sense of tourism.

What makes this route special is not just the destination, but the transition itself — from the raw coastline of Benijo to the complete stillness of El Draguillo. It captures the essence of Anaga: remote, dramatic and deeply connected to the landscape.

Rambla de Castro: A Different Coastal Perspective

On the opposite side of the island, in Los Realejos, Rambla de Castro offers a completely different interpretation of Tenerife’s coastline.

Here, the landscape feels more structured, combining banana plantations, historic estates and well-defined walking paths that run along the cliffs. The presence of old buildings and cultivated land gives the area a sense of history that contrasts with the raw nature of Anaga.

Walking through Rambla de Castro feels less isolated, but equally immersive. It is a place where nature and human activity coexist, creating a unique balance that is rarely seen in the more developed areas of the island.

Anaga: A Landscape That Feels Untouched

Anaga Rural Park is one of the most distinctive environments in the Canary Islands.

Beyond specific routes, what defines Anaga is its atmosphere. The forest is dense and often covered in mist, the terrain steep and irregular, and the villages scattered across the mountains feel disconnected from the rest of the island.

Routes around Cruz del Carmen, Taganana and the coastal paths all share the same feeling — a landscape that has remained largely unchanged, where the focus is not on reaching a destination, but on experiencing the environment itself.

In Summary

Tenerife reveals its most authentic side in places like Benijo, El Draguillo and the mountains of Anaga.

These are not locations built for tourism, but landscapes that exist on their own terms — quieter, more remote and far more connected to the natural identity of the island.

Exploring them offers a perspective of Tenerife that goes beyond the expected, and often becomes the most memorable part of the experience.

If you are exploring Tenerife beyond the usual areas and want to understand the island from a deeper perspective, the team at Luxury World Properties can help you discover properties that truly match your lifestyle.

Don’t hesitate to get in touch to explore your options.