The municipality of Arico is situated in the south-east of Tenerife. With a population of just under 8,000, Arico is one of the smaller municipalities on the Canary Islands. It comprises several historic districts.
With 17 kilometres of coastline, Arico offers a range of options for enjoying lovely days at the beach. The town is particularly well known amongst active holidaymakers for its extensive climbing area and beautiful walking routes.
Climbing in Arico
With more than 100 climbing routes, Arico boasts one of the largest climbing areas on Tenerife. As wild camping is also permitted in the municipality, it attracts hundreds of climbing enthusiasts to the south of the island every year.
Traditional Arico
The historic town is a protected area in its entirety. Yet, visually speaking, Arico does not look at all like a typical village on the Canary Islands: the mostly light-coloured houses seem more as though they’ve been brought from somewhere else to Tenerife. They have been extensively renovated or have been meticulously maintained for years, giving the whole town a very clean and tidy appearance.
By contrast, the hamlet of Icor has a more traditional feel. It is situated a few kilometres from the town centre. In Icor, the architecture of the Canary Islands from days gone by can still be admired in its entirety.
Walking in and around Arico
The municipality of Arico covers an area of around 180 square kilometres. However, the difference in altitude is far more interesting. This ranges from sea level to 2,529 metres, from the beach up to the municipality’s highest point, the Montana de la Grieta. When out walking, the view from the heights over the largely unspoilt surroundings is particularly captivating. The hiking routes are of moderate difficulty and can be easily managed even by less fit walkers.
Arico thrives on agriculture, goat’s cheese and wine
Particularly impressive are the many churches in the villages surrounding the centre of Arico itself. The inhabitants rely mainly on agriculture for their livelihood, with wine and goat farming being the primary sources of income. A visit to the local cheese dairy and the winegrower’s between Lomo and Arico Nuevo is highly recommended.
The „Ruta Gastronomica de la Miel“ has now become a fixture in the calendar of events. At the honey festival in Arico, beekeepers from across the island gather to showcase their hives and varieties of honey along the „Honey Route“.
The average daily temperature ranges between 17 and 24 degrees Celsius. This makes this village in south-western Tenerife a pleasant place to live all year round – although, naturally, it is often cooler in the higher parts of the town than at sea level.
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