Viva la Finca Blog
Stories and guides from a family farm in Las Aguas, on the north coast of Tenerife.
The farm and the stay
Wooden cabin with sea views in the north of Tenerife
A wooden cabin with sea views in the north of Tenerife: a bed by a big window, your own kitchen and bathroom, among banana plants in Las Aguas.
The pink room: a window open to the sea in Tenerife
The pink room at Viva la Finca: double bed, private bathroom and a pink window open to the sea in Las Aguas, north Tenerife, with a terrace and a porch.
Rural holiday cottage in north Tenerife: what a real farm is like
What to expect from rural accommodation on a family farm in the north of Tenerife: animals, a vegetable garden, sea views and a quiet village, told honestly.
Romantic getaway in north Tenerife: a farm by the sea
Ideas for a romantic getaway in the north of Tenerife: a farm stay with sea views, sunsets in Las Aguas and Charco de La Laja close by.
Remote working in Tenerife from a farm with Starlink wifi
Work remotely in Tenerife with sea views: Starlink wifi, a table looking onto the coast and a quiet village in the north of the island. This is Viva la Finca.
Farm stay in Tenerife: sleep on a farm among banana plants
A farm stay in Tenerife: sleep on a family farm among banana plants in the north of the island, with animals, a vegetable garden and sea views in Las Aguas.
The top terrace: an olive tree, the new garden and the best view
The highest terrace at Viva la Finca: an olive tree for shade, newly planted lettuce and watermelon, and a great view of the north coast.
Rural cottage with animals in Tenerife: staying on a family farm
A rural cottage with animals in Tenerife: silkie hens, roosters, ducks and cats, a garden and fruit trees on a family farm with sea views.
Fruit from the farm
Canary banana ripened on the plant: why it tastes different
Why the Canary Islands banana that ripens in the sun on the plant is so sweet: how we grow it at Viva la Finca, in north Tenerife, with no ripening rooms.
The banana flower: how bananas grow in Tenerife
How bananas are born: the purple flower of the banana plant, the hands that appear under each petal and the bunch that ripens in the sun on a farm in north Tenerife.
Papayas in Tenerife: the farm's papaya tree
Papayas that grow in north Tenerife: what the papaya tree looks like, when there is fruit and how papaya is enjoyed at Viva la Finca, in Las Aguas.
Avocados in the north of Tenerife: fruit from the farm
Avocados in Tenerife: the avocado is one of the tropical fruits growing at Viva la Finca, alongside bananas, papayas and mangoes, in the north of the island.
Mangoes in Tenerife: the mango tree on the farm
Mangoes that grow in the north of Tenerife: the mango tree at Viva la Finca, when it gives fruit and why the Canary Islands climate suits it so well.
Passion fruit in Tenerife: the farm's maracuyá
Passion fruit (maracuyá) grows at Viva la Finca, in north Tenerife: a climbing vine with curious flowers and tangy, fragrant seasonal fruit.
Guava in the Canary Islands: a classic of the northern farms
Guava is a classic of Canary Islands farms: how it grows at Viva la Finca, in Las Aguas, north Tenerife, alongside bananas, papayas and mangoes.
Dates and palm trees: the prickliest part of the farm
The palm trees at Viva la Finca give dates in season. How they are looked after, why they must be pruned with care and the tools you need.
An olive tree with a sea view: olives in Tenerife
The olive tree at Viva la Finca gives shade on the top terrace and olives for the table. A Mediterranean tree with a view of the north coast of Tenerife.
Vegetable garden and herbs
Tomatoes and green peppers from a vegetable garden in Tenerife
Tomatoes and green peppers from the Viva la Finca vegetable garden, in north Tenerife: seasonal growing, never forcing the pace, for the farm's own table.
Pumpkin, courgette, sweetcorn and jalapeños: the seasonal garden
What grows in the vegetable garden of a farm in north Tenerife: pumpkin, courgette, sweetcorn and jalapeños, depending on the season, at Viva la Finca.
Fresh herbs from the farm: parsley, oregano, basil and rosemary
The fresh herbs at Viva la Finca in north Tenerife: parsley, oregano, basil and rosemary, freshly cut for the farm kitchen.
Lettuce and watermelon, newly planted on the top terrace
The newest garden at Viva la Finca: lettuce, watermelon and much more, newly planted on the top terrace, next to an olive tree and with a view of the sea.
Watering day: when the water reaches the farm once a week
On many Tenerife farms the water arrives once a week. This is watering day at Viva la Finca: one to two minutes per plant so the water reaches the roots.
Farm animals
Silkie chickens: the farm's Japanese hens
The silkie chickens at Viva la Finca, in Tenerife: feathers like hair, impossible hairdos, about 25 hens and 4 roosters laying 3 or 4 eggs a day.
Bartolo, the Japanese rooster who rules Viva la Finca
Bartolomeo, Bartolo to his friends: the Japanese rooster who rules the yard at Viva la Finca among four roosters and about 25 silkie hens.
Newborn chicks: the farm's new generation
At Viva la Finca there are sometimes twenty or so newborn silkie chicks running around. This is how the yard's family changes with the seasons.
The ducks at Viva la Finca: ducklings, a pool and a love story
The ducks at Viva la Finca in Tenerife: the mother duck and her ducklings, the first pool party and the love story between two ducks, on video.
The farm cats: six curious ones and a duckling
The cats at Viva la Finca in Tenerife: six curious cats, naps in the sun, visits from the neighbours' cats and a cat that looks after a duckling.
The Tenerife lizard (lagarto tizón): the farm's oldest neighbour
The lagarto tizón, the Tenerife lizard found only in the Canary Islands, lives in the stone walls at Viva la Finca with small lizards, ants and few mosquitoes.
Las Aguas and San Juan de la Rambla
Charco de La Laja and the Las Aguas coast: how to get there
How to reach Charco de La Laja from Las Aguas (San Juan de la Rambla): the volcanic stone beach, the natural pool and the viewpoint. An honest guide.
Things to do in Las Aguas, San Juan de la Rambla (Tenerife)
Las Aguas in San Juan de la Rambla: the minimarket, the chapel, the viewpoint, where to eat and why a village without bars is a good place to rest in Tenerife.
Las Aguas beach: volcanic stones and waves below the farm
Las Aguas beach in San Juan de la Rambla: volcanic stones, waves and calm days after the full moon at low tide, just below Viva la Finca.
Tides and full moon: when the sea calms in north Tenerife
Why the sea in north Tenerife sometimes calms after the full moon at low tide, and how to check it before swimming in Las Aguas or Charco de La Laja.
Ermita de Las Aguas, the square and the viewpoint
The centre of Las Aguas in San Juan de la Rambla: the Ermita chapel, Plaza Pedro Pérez Luis, the Merendero Plaza Aguas and the viewpoint behind the chapel.
On the old royal road: the farm and the paths of Las Aguas
Viva la Finca is on the old royal road (camino real) of Las Aguas: steps between banana plants that once linked the village to the sea.
San Juan de la Rambla: what to see in a small northern town
What to see in San Juan de la Rambla, in the north of Tenerife: Las Aguas, Charco de La Laja, the stone coast and the villages among banana plants.
Where to eat in Las Aguas, San Juan de la Rambla
Where to eat in Las Aguas: the Cofradía Las Aguas, the Restaurante Las Aguas and, at weekends, El Sótano and the Mesón Casa Mi Madre. And cooking on the farm.
North Tenerife
North Tenerife weather: trade winds, sea of clouds and green
Why the north of Tenerife is so green: the trade winds, the sea of clouds and mild weather all year. What you notice on a farm in Las Aguas.
Mount Teide from the north of Tenerife
Mount Teide, the highest peak in Spain, seen from the north of Tenerife: a National Park and World Heritage Site, a day trip from Las Aguas.
The Orotava Valley: a day trip near Las Aguas
The Orotava Valley and its historic centre, a classic day trip in the north of Tenerife, not far from Las Aguas, San Juan de la Rambla.
Puerto de la Cruz: the nearest tourist town in the north
Puerto de la Cruz, the big tourist town of north Tenerife, near San Juan de la Rambla: seafront promenade, Lago Martiánez and a lively atmosphere.
Icod de los Vinos and the Drago Milenario dragon tree
Icod de los Vinos and its Drago Milenario (thousand-year-old dragon tree), one of the symbols of Tenerife, a short way west of San Juan de la Rambla.
North or south Tenerife: where to stay, depending on what you want
North or south Tenerife: the north is green and quiet; the south has hotels and sandy beaches. How to choose, and why Las Aguas is 45 minutes from Adeje.
El Socorro beach: surfing 12 minutes from the farm
El Socorro beach, one of the good surf spots of north Tenerife, is 12 minutes by car from Viva la Finca, in Las Aguas.
Travelling to Tenerife
How to get to Las Aguas, San Juan de la Rambla: car, bus, on foot
How to get to Viva la Finca in Las Aguas (San Juan de la Rambla, Tenerife): by hire car or by bus (guagua) from the airports, and the last stretch on foot.
Buses (guaguas) in Tenerife: airport to the north, no car
How to get around Tenerife by bus (guagua) to San Juan de la Rambla from the north or south airport, and what to know about the walk to the farm.
Best time to visit north Tenerife: mild weather all year
When to go to the north of Tenerife: mild weather all year, trade winds, green days and the odd shower. What to expect in Las Aguas.
What to pack for a farm stay in the north of Tenerife
What to pack for a stay on a farm in north Tenerife: a backpack rather than a suitcase, shoes for slopes, a jacket, swimwear and the basics for cooking.
Volunteering
Volunteering on a farm in Tenerife: a day at Viva la Finca
Volunteering in Tenerife with food and accommodation: work 9 to 12, weekends free, a double bed indoors and animals. This is how it works at Viva la Finca.
Volunteering tasks on a farm in Tenerife: what you will really do
The real tasks of volunteering at Viva la Finca, Tenerife: animals, vegetable garden, watering day, the henhouse, pruning with tools and small repairs.
Volunteering in Tenerife with accommodation: requirements
Requirements for volunteering at Viva la Finca, Tenerife: a video call interview, languages, up to two places and a double bed indoors.
What to do in north Tenerife on your days off
What to do on the free weekends of volunteering at Viva la Finca: Charco de La Laja, the Las Aguas coast, Teide, La Orotava and Puerto de la Cruz.
Claudio, music and singing
Al Cafone Show: live act for hotels and events in Tenerife
Live show for five-star hotels, corporate events and parties in Tenerife and abroad: the Al Cafone Show, covers and singing lessons.
Singing lessons in Tenerife: Claudio's Viva Voz method
Singing lessons in Tenerife with Claudio: Viva Voz, 10 lessons of 1 hour 30 on technique, style and stage. Download the method's guide for free.
Breathing exercises for singing: six to start today
Six diaphragmatic breathing exercises to sing better, from Claudio's Viva Voz method: the book on the belly, 4-4-6, the long S, the straw and more.
How to look after your voice: advice from a stage singer
How to look after your voice to sing without hurting it: warm up, stay hydrated, rest and know when to stop. Tips from Claudio's Viva Voz method.
Live music for events in Tenerife: show and covers
Live music for hotels, weddings, dinners, corporate events and New Year's Eve parties in Tenerife: the Al Cafone Show and covers.