Located at the northern part of the island and dominated by the impressive Teide cone, it has a surface area of 95,91 Km 2, at an altitude of 235 m. It is at a road distance of 56 km from Santa Cruz de Tenerife, with a population of 22 958.

To the south it limits with La Orotava and with a small straight part of Santiago del Teide. To the west, with Garachico, and to the east, with La Guancha, by a Canyon that receives various names through out its whole length: from Abrunco or El Pino, de la Gotera and de Las Animas, finally flowing out into Santo Domingo Beach.

The coastline is full of cliffs, with some beaches, the most outstanding one is San Marcos.