If you ask Tenerife residents which celebration is most closely associated with La Orotava, many will answer without hesitation: Corpus Christi.
This is when the historic centre of the town transforms into one enormous work of art. The streets are covered with colourful carpets made from flowers, leaves, seeds and other natural materials, while the famous composition created from volcanic sands brought from Mount Teide takes shape in Plaza del Ayuntamiento.
It is a tradition that has attracted thousands of residents and visitors from across the island for many years.
What is the origin of the flower carpet tradition?
The history of Corpus Christi in La Orotava dates back to the 19th century. At first, local residents decorated the procession route with flower petals. Over time, the decorations became increasingly elaborate until they developed into genuine works of art.
The most distinctive feature of the celebration is the enormous carpet created in the square in front of the Town Hall. It is made from natural sands collected from Teide National Park. Every colour of the sand is completely natural and is not dyed or artificially coloured.
Preparing the design and creating this remarkable artwork requires many weeks of work.
How are the carpets made?
The work begins early in the morning on Corpus Christi day.
Residents, families, schools, associations and volunteers spend many hours creating designs using thousands of flowers and petals. Religious motifs, geometric patterns, symbols of the town and colourful compositions inspired by nature appear throughout the streets.
For many people, this is one of the most fascinating parts of the celebration. Visitors can watch the entire creative process and discover how much work is required to prepare every section of the carpets.
The most important day: Corpus Christi
In 2026, the main celebration will take place on 11 June.
From early in the morning, residents create the flower carpets, and in the afternoon the traditional procession passes through the streets of the town. This is when the completed artworks can be admired in all their splendour.
What makes these extraordinary decorations particularly special is that they exist for only a few hours. After the procession has passed, they gradually disappear, which means that every year they must be created again from scratch.
Is La Orotava worth visiting during Corpus Christi?
Without a doubt.
Even people who are not interested in religion are often impressed by the scale of the event. Rather than being a conventional religious celebration, it is an opportunity to experience local tradition, culture and the dedication of the town’s residents.
The best time to arrive is in the morning or early afternoon, when you can still watch the carpets being created, and then stay until the evening to admire the completed compositions and the procession.
If you are looking for a celebration that reveals the most authentic side of Tenerife and offers something different from the island’s usual tourist attractions, the Corpus Christi celebrations in La Orotava are well worth adding to your list.