Barranco de Acentejo
Updated 2 August 2026This deep ravine running down from the highlands toward the northern coast is the historical heart of the municipality: here, in May 1494, the First Battle of Acentejo was fought, where the Guanche troops of Mencey Bencomo and his brother Tinguaro inflicted on Alonso Fernandez de Lugo's army one of the greatest defeats of the conquest of the Canary Islands. The dense woodland and the rugged terrain made possible the ambush that gave its name to "La Matanza" (The Slaughter). Today its slopes, dotted with vineyards and vegetation, still carry that epic resonance handed down by the chronicles and by tradition for centuries.
The site was declared a Cultural Heritage Site in 2007 for its historical value, and exploring its surroundings means stepping into one of the founding episodes of Tenerife's identity.
