In the north of Tenerife, specifically in Tacoronte, a hidden treasure is found in the recesses of the Agua García Forest. This place, known as The Caves of Toledo or Glass Caveshouses an underground history throughout the centuries.
Located in the path of the Centenary Guardians, are historic caves are framed in the Protected Natural Landscape of Las Lagunetas. The environment that surrounds them is a natural spectacle with the channels of the Barrancos de Toledo and Salto Blanco, adorned by laurel forest and centuries-old vines.
However, it is inside these caves where a little-known past resides. During the 16th century, they were excavated for one purpose: to extract material necessary for the manufacture of glass. Back then, it was a valuable and precious resource, used in a variety of applications, from windows to ornamental objects.
Today, these caves have left their original function behind and have been transformed into a curious and surprising corner for children and adults.
A detail that intrigues visitors is the “grandfather” of all the Viñátigos that is located next to the caves. It is a native tree of the Canary Islands and is believed to be between 800 and 1,000 years old. With the same age as the famous Millennial Dragon Tree of Icod de Los Vinos, it is a silent witness of the changes over the centuries in this land.
@mariagil701 The Toledo Caves or “Glass Caves”, where the trachyte was extracted which, in the mid-20th century, was used to make glass and was one of the most curious corners of the island of Tenerife in Agua García, Tacoronte. Lomo la Jara recreational park. #tenerife #tacoronte #Canary Islands #aguagarcia #fyp #foryou ♬ original sound – ilovethe80s
How do you get to the caves?
To access this historic corner, visitors must look for the intersection of the four roads, which can be reached by car following the signs for the Lomo la Jara recreational park. From this point, a path enters the forest and runs parallel to the track. Through a series of stairs, you finally reach the caves.
The Toledo Caves are a tangible reminder of the connection between the past and present, and how human endeavor has left its mark on the earth.
