Puerto de la Cruz

The Canaries have a mild climate all year, and the north is greener and a little cooler and cloudier than the south. Spring and autumn are comfortable. Summer is warm and sunny, and winter is mild with some rain.

Carnival in February is a big event, and the Fiestas de San Telmo, the patron of fishermen, take place in late April and early May.

• Loro Parque is a large zoo and marine park with orcas, dolphins, parrots and other animals, a few kilometres west of the center.
• Lago Martiánez is a complex of seawater pools and gardens by the seafront, designed by César Manrique.
• Plaza del Charco is the main square of the old town, with cafés and the sea a short walk away.
• Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Peña de Francia is the 17th-century parish church of the town.
• Playa Bollullo is a black-sand beach to the east, near a river mouth.
• The Castillo de San Felipe is a small 17th-century fort by the sea.
• The Jardín Botánico (Botanical Garden) is an 18th-century garden with tropical trees.
• Humboldt memorial is a monument to Alexander von Humboldt, who praised the view of the Orotava Valley.

• Spend a day at the Lago Martiánez pools.
• Walk the seafront and the old fishing quarter.
• Visit Loro Parque.
• Go up to Teide National Park by car or bus for the views and the cable car.
• Have lunch in the old town and sample the local wines.

• La Orotava (about 5 km): an old town with wooden balconies and a Corpus Christi festival.
• Teide National Park (about 50 km): Teide National Park with Spain's highest peak, reachable by road and cable car.
• Garachico (about 30 km): a coastal town with natural pools.
• Santa Cruz de Tenerife (about 35 km): the capital of the island.
• La Gomera and La Palma: nearby islands by ferry or plane.

Other places nearby:

• Tenerife: Tenerife, La Orotava, Garachico and Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
• Other Canary islands: La Palma and La Gomera.

• By air: Tenerife North airport (Los Rodeos) is about 20 km away, and Tenerife South airport is about 85 km away. Most international flights use the south airport.
• By bus: Buses (guaguas) link Puerto de la Cruz with Santa Cruz, La Orotava and the north airport. A tram runs in Santa Cruz.
• By car: The TF-5 motorway runs along the north coast.

• On foot: The old town, the seafront and Lago Martiánez are walkable, though the town is built on a slope.
• Bus: Local and island buses run from the bus station.
• Taxi: Plentiful, and a good way to reach Loro Parque.

• Is a car worth it?: Useful for Teide and the island's villages. A town stay can be done without one.
• Parking: Paid car parks in the center. Street parking is limited.
• Roads: The mountain roads are winding, and weather at altitude changes quickly.

Canarian cuisine uses fresh fish, potatoes and mojo sauces. Try papas arrugadas (wrinkled potatoes) with mojo rojo or mojo verde, gofio (toasted cereal flour), grilled fish and conejo en salmorejo (rabbit in marinade). Tenerife's north produces wines from the Orotava Valley and Tacoronte.

Local cheese and banana liqueur are common souvenirs.

Puerto de la Cruz is a safe town. The Atlantic currents are strong, and the beaches can have red flags, so swim at the lifeguarded beaches or pools. The sun at altitude and on the coast is strong, so use sun protection. At Teide, altitude can cause headaches for some visitors.

The town began in the 16th century as a port for La Orotava, called Puerto de la Orotava. In the 18th and 19th centuries, it exported wine and was visited by travellers and scientists, including Alexander von Humboldt in 1799.

In the 19th century, British visitors came for the mild climate, and the town became one of the first tourist resorts in the Canaries. Manrique's Lago Martiánez opened in 1977.

Quick practical facts for Spain at a glance: