Haria is a quintessentially Canarian town, and home to some 3,000 inhabitants. The town itself nestles in what is known as the ‘valley of 1,000 palms’ – legend has it that one was planted whenever a baby girl was born, and two when a boy was born.

The architecture in Haria is white houses with Moorish design features, which give it a distinctly Northern African feel, especially as there are so many palm trees around it; the town itself has laurel and acacia trees that give some welcome shade from the hot sun at the peak of the day. Wandering around, you will feel that you are in the local Canarian community, in marked contrast to the main tourist areas or even Arrecife, which has a more metropolitan atmosphere.


On Saturdays, there is a small market in the town, which originally started as an organic fruit and vegetable market, but has since been joined by a number of local craft and ‘new age’ stallholders. The market brings more tourists than on a typical weekday, but Haria retains its local charm.

Outside the town itself, there is some spectacular scenery, especially from the hillside between Los Valles and Haria, as you come from Teguise. After going through Haria and travelling towards Orzola, the area becomes more agricultural, as this is normally the greenest and lushest part of the island.