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Santiago del Teide – where the road to Masca begins |
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Written by Steve Andrews
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 Santiago del Teide is a municipality with its capital situated in some spectacular scenery with mountains on both sides of the main road through it. In the distance you can easily see El Teide, which gives its name to the place.
Santiago del Teide is in a valley in the southwest of Tenerife and also next to the neighbouring Valle de Arriba. Below Santaigo del Teide going further south there are several smaller villages like El Retamar followed by the town of Tamaimo.
 Above Santiago del Teide heading north is Erjos, well known for its freshwater ponds. A road out of Santaigo del Teide goes to the incredible village of Masca, and is the only way you can get there by road, unless you approach from Buenavista in the opposite direction.
The climate of the south of Tenerife is usually in evidence in Santiago del Teide, where it is normally hot and sunny, whereas this contrasts dramatically with Erjos, just a few miles away but in the north, that is often shrouded in the chilly “bruma” cloud cover.
 Some of the mountainsides around Santaigo del Teide are covered in Canary pine trees and the views over the valley are truly amazing.
Santiago del Teide has several bars and restaurants, shops and other businesses, a garage, a fire station and a very picturesque church and square. Opposite the church and overlooking the main street is a statue of one of the Guanche leaders. There is also a very popular barbecue area alongside the road and shaded by tall and aromatic eucalyptus trees.
 The Camino de la Virgen de Lourdes (Pathway of the Virgin of Lourdes) is clearly signposted from the main road going through Santiago del Teide and leads up the side of a mountain to a well-tended shrine that is surrounded by flowers.
White wooden crosses are positioned along the path and are easily visible from the road. If you climb on up to the shrine, besides being rewarded with a very beautiful image of religious devotion that you will see, you also get a great view over Santiago del Teide below you.
 In early spring, guided walks are usually on offer in the Santiago del Teide area to view the amazing displays of almond blossom on the trees growing there.
The other road out of Santiago del Teide goes to Arguayo that has some very rocky volcanic areas around it, and is a Tenerife village that is famous for its pottery.
Several buses serve Santaigo del Teide. The 325 goes through it on its way from Puerto de la Cruz to Los Gigantes. The 462 from Guía de Isora to Los Gigantes does likewise and calls in at Arguayo, and the 460 Las Americas to Icod de los Vinos also travels through Santiago del Teide eight times per day.
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Tenerife Island