Santiago del Teide has its own Jacobean route, a Camino de Santiago that unites Los Realejos and Valle de Arriba. A route of faith that is not the only one that attracts pilgrims to this corner of Tenerife. Since 1997, the almond blossom has become the perfect excuse to explore the paths of this town and attract thousands of Tenerife residents and tourists willing to become pilgrims of this ephemeral spectacle of nature. This 2023 will not be remembered for the amount of white and pink flowers that adorn the slopes of the municipality, but without being a record year, the beauty of the phenomenon remains intact and nature never ceases to captivate.
The almond blossom routes began in Santiago del Teide 26 years ago and in recent times they have become a must for lovers of hiking, nature, botany, photography and gastronomy. The white and pink flowering of the almond trees makes this municipality in Tenerife a a long-awaited visit by island residents and visitors alikeattracted by an activity, and its complements, that transform these days to Santiago del Teide in the best weekend or holiday plan for thousands of people.
The weather forecast for this Sunday, February 5, 2023, discouraged more than one pilgrim from the almond blossom. Yet all morning Hundreds of people came to the municipality to enjoy some of the routes that allow you to discover a unique landscape that is filled with color on these dates. Without large crowds, the day lasted until noon with an incessant flow of hikers. There were more locals than tourists; many families with children, couples, groups of young and old, with and without pets.
Ana, Carlota and Manuel came from The Realejos to enjoy the almond trees again with his dog Luna. They did the route two years ago and yesterday they came to repeat a “slightly shorter” walk, because the pet “does not walk a lot and will have to be picked up right away.” Maleny and Soha moved from Saint Ursula to enjoy this ride for the first time. “Some friends who had done it a long time ago invited us and here we are,” said Maleny.
Sheila, Nauzet, Dani and Yeray they came early from La Matanza, Puerto de la Cruz and Granadilla de Abona to discover, for the first time, the almond blossom route. They missed a little more signage, but they enjoyed “the almond trees, although some of them did not have so much flower, and also a path from where you can see the beehives. From afar, yes.” They liked the experience, the weather was good and they decided to continue walking through the path that surrounds the Chinyero. This group of friends will repeat and, as Nauzet stressed, “the important thing about this is to do it with friends, have a good time and, after the walk, have a good guachinche.”
Next Saturday, February 11, there will be a special route for lovers, full of surprises
The town square is the meeting place and these days also for shopping and tasting thanks to the agro-artisanal market. Every Saturday and Sunday until February 19, from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., a large number of handicrafts made of wool, jewelry, wood, leather, painted fabrics or recycled material. It is possible to buy anything from a spinning top to a tin car, including plants, bags, t-shirts or soaps. In addition, there are culinary spaces with a wide range of pastries, bakery, cheeses, crepes, honey, oils, jams, mojos or liqueurs.
Next to the square, every Sunday an orientation service is offered, run by the company El Cardon Nature Experience. This Sunday she had to advise the guide Sandra Ramos, which explained to all those interested the different routes available. They all go through the El Chinyero Special Nature Reserve, included in the Canarian Network of Protected Natural Areas due to its fragility, importance and environmental values. For this reason, and despite the large influx of public, everyone’s collaboration is always requested to contribute to the proper conservation of this space.
With a duration of between three and four hours, guided tours without barriers have been offered, aimed especially at people with functional diversity and the elderly, with the collaboration of Mountain for All and ONCE. Besides, next Saturday the 11th there will be a special route for lovers“full of surprises”, and another for families, on Saturday 18. In the previous days, general routes have been offered, and another special one with pets.
Sandra Ramos explains to the visitors all the alternatives: «There is a beautiful route that goes as far as arguayo, which can be done round trip or return by public transport or car. To avoid having to use vehicles, there are very nice circular alternatives such as the one that goes up Los Arrastraderos to El Calvario de Los Baldíos and down the Valle de Arriba to the town. It is the one we most recommend. For those who want to do something shorter, you can go from the square to Upper Valley and return”.
The influx of public has been constant since the beginning of the campaign, with days with a large public such as Thursday 2, because it is an island holiday and “because the weather was more favorable”. It continues to be an activity with more locals than tourists, “Although many arrive who did not have this plan but join when they receive the information”details Ramos.
The Councilor for Culture of Santiago del Teide, Sergio Mendoza, already highlighted in the presentation of the program of events, which began on January 20 and will end on February 26, the importance of “this ephemeral spectacle of nature” for the town. A unique attraction that the mayor, Emilio Navarro, valued for its tourist and economic importance, and also for its relationship with sports and nature. For the president, the “barrier-free” routes adapted for people with functional diversity and those developed with pets deserve special mention, “which are gaining importance every year.” In the opinion of the mayor of Economic Development, krysten martin“It is a consolidated campaign, which is expanding more and more over time and has much more to offer.”
Navarro and Martín toured the square this Sunday to check the atmosphere that was lived in the middle of the almond blossom campaign. For the mayor, “this year has cost a little more to start, perhaps because of the cold and because the flowering has not been so intense, but we hope that that explosion that we all wait for will arrive soon ». In his opinion, “this is an attraction for residents and for tourists, who we know in many cases schedule their trips in January and February to be able to enjoy this picture and the contrast with the Chinyero lavas.”
«We are these days the epicenter of the island And now that carnivals are approaching, we will also be an alternative for those who wish to escape from the party and get closer to nature. This is how we managed to economically boost our municipality and also the island,” he says. Emilio Navarro.
The Almendro en Flor campaign has also included other parallel activities such as the almond pastry workshop, which will be given by the president of Acyre Canarias, Paul Shepherd, on February 9, 16 and 17 at the Chinyero Visitors Center; the 9th edition of Lyrics of the Almond Contest 2023which will reward the best haikus of Primary and ESO students, or the exhibition-tasting of cocktails with almonds that will be given by the Association of Bartenders of Tenerife on February 9 and 25 from 12:00 in the Plaza de Santiago del Teide. Eight catering establishments and ten local businesses also participate in the Gastro Almond Blossom Routewhich will offer menus and products on sale related to the almond blossom.
photography contest
The Santiago del Teide City Council keeps open until February 12, at 11:59 p.m., the deadline for sending in digital format the photographic works participating in the XXVI Almond Blossom Photography Contest 2023, open to older people 18 years of age, of any nationality and country of residence. The theme of the contest is the almond blossom within the municipality of Santiago del Teide. Candidate images must be submitted through the mundoarti.com website, together with the requested personal documentation. A maximum of two works per author may be presented. The finalist works will be exhibited from March 1 at the Consistory and the jury’s decision will be announced on the 15th of the same month. Four prizes of 300, 200, 150 and 100 euros will be awarded.
