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The Tenerife villages San Juan del Reparo and Genovés |
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Written by Steve Andrews
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 In the northwest part of Tenerife between El Tanque and Icod de los Vinos there is a section of the TF-82 that climbs the mountains whilst overlooking the sea, and it passes through two villages as it does so. Going downhill from El Tanque towards Icod the first of these is San Juan del Reparo.
You know you have arrived in San Juan del Reparo because you will see an image of John the Baptist adorning a white wall and this goes with the church that towers above. The church of San Juan del Reparo also has a typical bell tower.
 The village of San Juan del Reparo occupies both sides of the road but there’s not a lot there to see really apart from a striking dragon tree down a side turning and some excellent views overlooking Garachico on the coast below. The dragon tree is an old one and is worth having a look at because it has some good examples of aerial roots hanging down like the beard of the mythical monstrous reptile it is named after.
 It is, of course, possible to walk from San Juan del Reparo to Garachico by following the path of the ancient bridleway that zigzags its way down the steep volcanic cliff face towards the seaside port below. The cliffs of this area of Tenerife have an interesting mixture of endemic plants so would be of interest to botanists and nature lovers.
 There are some gardens at the roadside in San Juan del Reparo and a flower shop on the opposite side but not a lot else, however, if you are looking for a quiet village with Canarian rural charm then San Juan and its neighbour Genovés might suit your taste. The roadside gardens have grey volcanic stone steps and some comparatively young dragon trees and palms growing with a background of craggy rock.
 San Juan del Reparo also has its own cultural centre where you could find out what events and activities take place locally. The two villages more or less run into one another as you carry on down towards Icod, and in one stretch the road is lined attractively with palms. The TF-82 is a bus route and the 460 Icod to Las Americas and the 325 Puerto de la Cruz to Los Gigantes provide regular services throughout the day.
 Genovés has a hardware store and there is the rather romantically named Bar de los Tres Pinos (Bar of the Three Pines) with the three trees it is named after at the one side of the building and overlooking it. One wonders if there are any interesting stories about the history of these three old trees and what went on in the drinking place below them? Perhaps the bar would be a good place to enquire?
Both Genovés and San Juan del Reparo are villages in the municipality of Garachico and because of the commanding views of El Roque in the sea below you are always aware of the presence of the charming town that once survived a volcanic eruption long ago.
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Tenerife Island 
