There are a large number of attractions and places to visit in Puerto de la Cruz and the surrounding villages. Hordes of tourists flock to the southern region of the island without knowing that the north of Tenerife is probably the more beautiful part, due to the vegetation, the natural black sand beaches, the majestic view of Mount Teide and the unique atmosphere created by the mixture of tourists and Tenerife locals.
Beaches to visit in Puerto de la Cruz
Playa Jardín
This is one of the most emblematic beaches in Tenerife, with jet black sand, very common on the north side of the island, where the artist Cesar Manrique was entrusted to design the highly attractive surroundings, featuring large gardens, leisure areas, bars and restaurants. Playa Jardin is made up of three beaches: Playa del Castillo, Playa de Punta Brava and Playa del Charcon.
Lago Martiánez
Leisure facilities opened in the year 1977, also designed by the artist Cesar Manrique, comprising several large swimming pools.
Playa Martiánez
A beach located right beside the leisure facility of the same name. One stretch of this beach is famous for the large number of surfers who come here to take advantage of the swell common to this area, however, the beach closest to the tourist area and Lago Martianez is protected by a sea wall, ensuring ideal conditions for a quiet swim.
Playa de El Bollullo
A quiet and spectacular volcanic sand beach 400 metres in length. Not many people visit this area due to the fact the beach can only be reached on foot.
Playa de Los Patos
This volcanic black sand beach is hard to get to but of great beauty, and nudism is permitted. It is 1 kilometre in length sand there are no buildings in sight. Care needs to be taken when visiting this beach, as the route is a little hazardous due to the risk of rock falls and landslides, in addition to the fact the beach is sometimes cut off at high tide. It lies between Playa de El Bollullo and Playa del Ancon.
Playa del Ancón
A 160-metre long nudist beach with fine black sand. As with Playa de los Patos care needs to be taken both on the way to the beach and in the sea, due to the swell.
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Tourist and leisure facilities
The Botanic Gardens
The Botanic Gardens, opened in the year 1788, are a 600-metre walk from our apartments. The gardens arose from the need to grow species native to the tropics in Spanish territory. They feature several collections of tropical plants of great ornamental and economic value. The gardens cover an area of 20,000 m² and part of the grounds are dedicated to research into the flora of the Canary Islands.
Loro Parque
A world famous 135,000 m² zoo which has welcomed over forty million visitors of different nationalities. The zoo features all types of animals, but specializes mainly in the conservation of beautiful parrots from remote regions of the world. It also features a large aquarium, a dolphin pool, penguin pool and countless shows of different types, in addition to a tropical plant garden.
San Felipe Castle
A castle of a mainly defensive nature situated around 900 metres from the town centre on the seafront promenade and close to Playa Jardin. This was one of the four forts entrusted with defending the town in times gone by, and the building was completed in the year 1604.
The Church of Nuestra Señora de la Peña de Francia
A Catholic conclave containing some of the images most revered by local inhabitants, such as the Virgin of Carmen and the Great Power of God.
The Puerto de la Cruz Museum of Archeology
Founded in 1953, this museum contains relics of great value belonging to the island´s Guanche natives, including unique items, the most noteworthy of which are a large collection of vases, several mummies and an anthropomorphic clay figure known as Guatimac.
The Sitio Litre Orchid Garden
These are the oldest gardens in Tenerife and its attractions include the biggest collections of orchids on the island and the largest dragon tree in Puerto de la Cruz.
Casa Iriarte
A highly emblematic 18th century building located in the old town of Puerto de la Cruz featuring typical Canary Island architecture, so named for once having been the home of the Iriarte family, well known for their literary and political work in the Age of Enlightenment.
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Villages to visit in the Puerto de la Cruz region
La Orotava
A village located close to Puerto de la Cruz, known for its beautiful cared-for streets and the atmosphere of the same, where you will find a large number of religious buildings and be able to enjoy numerous traditional festivities such as the floral tapestry and carpet display, pilgrimages and the Magician´s Ball. The village is listed as an historic-artistic complex.
Los Realejos
A 57 km² municipality with five black sand beaches, the best known of which is Playa del Socorro. The village itself features typical Canary Island vegetation and the coastline is rocky and cliff-lined.
Icod de Los Vinos
A sight for sore eyes, this village is famed for its thousand-year-old dragon tree, one of the island of Tenerife´s most characteristic and best known symbols at international level, along with the majestic Mount Teide reigning over the entire island. The old town is regarded as an Asset of Cultural Interest. The municipality covers an area of almost 96 km².
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Festivals to visit in Puerto de la Cruz
If you need further options in Puerto de la Cruz, you might be able to see some of the best known festivals celebrated in this historic town on an annual basis.
Fiesta del Carmen
The Virgin of Carmen procession is held every year. The event sees the image of the Virgin carried by the town´s fishermen along a coastal route in the municipality lined with tens of thousands of people. Another tradition is the cucaña game, the aim of which is to reach a flag attached to the end of a greasy pole located three metres above the water.
Carnavales
The Puerto de la Cruz Carnival is not as famous as that of the capital city, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, but it is no less entertaining and colourful. Moreover, the town of Puerto de la Cruz holds a partnership with a German carnival delegation from the city of Düsseldorf, who usually take part in the celebrations.
Noche en Blanco
This is a festival which has been gaining increasing importance in the town, featuring a wide range of artistic and commercial street activities. The project arose with the aim of promoting Puerto´s business sector. Noche en Blanco has been celebrated every year for four years now and involves a combination of gastronomic, cultural, commercial, entertainment, musical, children´s, and sporting activities, guided tours and expositions.
San Juan Bonfire Night
This tradition takes place on the eve of Saint John´s Night, 23 June, and involves rituals on the beach and at several spots around the island to take advantage of the supposed magical energy of this night. The rituals include leaping over bonfires lit during the day and wading into the sea in the middle of the night to jump the waves.
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Why spend your holidays in Puerto de la Cruz?
A city with a long history
Puerto de la Cruz was the first tourist town par excellence in the Canary Islands, and continues to be one of the most sought-after destinations for visitors. A land which has been inhabited since the time of the Canarian Aborigines, and which became a major port town after the European colonization and conquest.
Ideal for active tourism and enjoying unique experiences
The characteristics of the Orotava Valley, in which Puerto de la Cruz lies, with its unique terrain and richly diverse sea beds, provide visitors with the opportunity to engage in all kinds of sporting and leisure activities which will ensure they remember their stay in Puerto de la Cruz as a series of unforgettable moments, being able to choose from activities such as hiking in the Orotava Valley, water and mountain sports, in addition to admiring the amazing star-filled sky which few places in the world can be viewed with such clarity as in certain places on our island.
The best region on the island for appreciating nature
The north side of the Island of Tenerife is far richer in nature than the south side, enabling you to appreciate this great variety in a number of different ways, apart from the fact the 20,000 m² Botanic Gardens are just a stone´s throw away from our apartments, where you will find both a vast array of Canarian flora and other plants from tropical and sub-tropical regions. In addition to the well-known Loro Parque, where you can delve into the wonders of the animal world.
Mix with the hospitable local inhabitants
Another advantage of enjoying Tenerife from an apartment in Puerto de la Cruz is the perfect harmony existing between tourists and locals. Puerto de la Cruz really gives you the feeling of being among the Canarians, getting to know them and feeling you are one of them in the old town of Puerto de la Cruz and the surrounding villages. We are sure the likeable local residents will greet you with a smile and tell you a little about their history.
Puerto de la Cruz is alive
One of the main characteristics of Puerto de la Cruz is the street life, where you can choose from a wide range of different types of cuisine if you wish to eat out, in addition to leisure and cultural activities. The streets in the vicinity of the seafront promenade and the old town comprise a pleasant setting in which you can enjoy the sea breeze and the energy of the locals arousing the curiosity of countless tourists from all over the world.
As you can see, there are so many things to see in Puerto de la Cruz which will ensure your visit is a unique experience, from remote beaches to places with a long history and traditional festivities as a means of learning more about the culture of the place and its inhabitants.
Active tourism in Puerto de la Cruz
The advantage of staying in the north of Tenerife is the wide range of activities available to you in Puerto de la Cruz, particularly those associated with active tourism and the different forms of enjoying the majesty and exclusivity of the nature elements of this region of the island.
The what to see in Puerto de la Cruz page will provide you with options for a quieter, more cultural visit with time on the beach, however, if you are looking for a little more adrenalin, we will now show you things to do in Puerto de la Cruz for sport lovers and active and sporting tourism enthusiasts.
Hiking
Puerto de la Cruz and the entire municipality of the Valley of Orotava Valley is an ideal location for hiking due to its specific terrain, featuring highly characteristic flora and natural landscapes including coastal areas with black sand beaches, and mountainous regions brimming with vegetation in the shadow of Teide, the highest mountain in Spain. We can recommend a vast number of trails, but we advise you to take a look at the opinions of expert hikers from this online community, where you will find opinions and details on the best trails to be found in the Puerto de la Cruz region.
Volcanic routes
Puerto de la Cruz and the Orotava Valley will provide you with a splendid view of Mount Teide, the highest mountain in Spain, but as a means of seeing it from closer up, we recommend you visit the National Park and walk along the trails, making the most of what it has to offer. You can choose to climb Teide on foot, recommended only for those in good physical condition, as the hike may take up to six hours. Alternatively you can take the cable car up to a height of 3,555 metres and walk up the final 200 metres to the highest point in Spain. On a clear day you will be able to see all seven of the Canary Islands from the top of the mountain. You can also spend a night at the Refugio de Altavista, situated just below the summit, from where you will be treated to the unforgettable experience of watching the sun rise the following morning. Authorisation for all the above needs to be obtained on the website www.reservasparquesnacionales.es
Paragliding
The north side of Tenerife boasts spectacular landscapes which deserve to be viewed from above, that is if you don´t suffer from vertigo and have the courage to engage in paragliding. An experience you are sure never to forget and from where you will be able to enjoy the Orotava Valley from a different angle.
Surfing
The sea in this region of Tenerife is known to be more agitated than in the south of the island, where the water is calmer. If you are a fan of waves and water sports, Puerto de la Cruz and the surrounding region features beaches which are perfect for surfing, and if you are a beginner there are a large number of companies available to help you learn in total safety and which will provide all the material you require. Some of these are located in Playa de Martianez in Puerto de la Cruz.
Enjoy a little astronomy
Certain areas of the Canary Islands, due to low levels of light pollution, provide the perfect conditions for observing the night sky, the beauty of which continues to delight all those hypnotized by watching the stars on a clear night. If you go beyond the built-up areas, and, for example, start climbing the motorway up to Mount Teide, you will find areas which are perfect for enjoying starry nights, guaranteeing you will remember the experience forever.
Diving
The region´s sea beds are riddled with spectacular caves and volcanic tunnels, filled with an incredible array of life. Puerto de la Cruz is home to several companies providing services in relation to these underwater adventures.
Other extreme sports
In brief, there are a wide range of possibilities available to you, particularly in this region of the island, whose terrain and natural environment are perfected suited to engaging in this type of sport. Including climbing, all types of water sports, mountain biking and ATV trails. Tenerife possesses an extensive business network geared to providing tourists with any sporting experience imaginable, and we are at your disposal to help you contact these entities in the event you wish to indulge in an active experience during your stay on the island.
To sum up, Puerto de la Cruz and the north region of the island of Tenerife is the perfect place for engaging in sport, enjoying nature and participating in another kind of tourism more in line with a healthy lifestyle and alternative experiences which will ensure your visit to Puerto de la Cruz is a memorable one. Active tourism is a different way of getting to know tourist destinations, far more enriching and ideal for cultivating the mind, body and soul. If you would like to find out more about what to do in puerto de la Cruz, please contact us.
