Los Silos is an extremely picturesque village found on the northwest coast of Tenerife, in an area known as Isla Baja, which means “low island”. It is located on the TF42 Road about 65km West of the capital Santa Cruz de Tenerife, and 55km from Tenerife North Airport.
Named after the grain silos built here within the 15th century, Los Silos initially grew wealthy on the production of cereals and later, on sugar production. The town located at the heart of the Teno Massif, contains an extremely valuable and interesting wealth of plant and animal life. The leafy laurisilva woodlands are in stark contrast with the plains on the coast, which still hold small areas of cardones and tabaibas, furrowed by steep-sided ravines which are routes bringing together the highlands and the coast.
Often bypassed by travelers, Los Silos is the complete antithesis to the dry and dusty south of the island. It is a picturesque town with pretty plazas, ancient architecture and winding cobbled streets. Of particular note in Los Silos is the 16th century Church of Our Lady of the Light, an attractive white church with lots of gothic arches filled with statues and beautiful altars, so make sure you step inside to look around. The Town Hall is found in the town square and, if you go inside, you’ll find, on the first floor, a precious work of art – the Martyrdom of San Sebastian – a Gothic artefact displayed in an enclosed balcony.
There are restaurants along the coast that serve excellent local fish. The beach is a ten minute walk from the town and although there’s not much of a beach, there’s a great swimming pool complex with loads of sun terraces and a good restaurant. The coastline of Los Silos has recently acquired a new addition, a fully intact whale skeleton.