Located on the northern part of the island of Tenerife, it has a surface area of 207,31 Km 2, at an altitude of 390 m. Its population of 39 876 inhabitants is 35 Km by road from Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

To the northeast, it limits with Santa Ursula, to the south with Arafo, Güímar, Fasnia, Arico, Granadilla, Vilaflor and Adeje. To the west and north, with Guía de Isora, Santiago del Teide, Icod de los Vinos, La Guancha , San Juan de la Rambla and Los Realejos. To the north it limits with Puerto de la Cruz. Its short coastline, hardly 2 kilometres long, is full of cliffs, although there are a couple of good beaches to be found, with dark, black sands.