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Funny how things go full circle, but they do and Puerto de la Cruz is a prime example. It's the oldest of Tenerife's resorts, and remains the main resort puller in the north of the island. With the hype of the big southern resorts in Tenerife through the 1980s and 1990s, Puerto de la Cruz had less of a profile (due perhaps a little to the knock on effect of negative publicity around the Los Rodeos Tenerife North Airport accident). Today though this top character Canary Islands resort is coming back with flying colours - one of the most popular tourist attractions on Tenerife is here - Loro Parque, plus the ever popular Lago Martianez swimming pool complex right on the waterfront, designed by Lanzarote born artist Cesar Manrique (see Lanzarote Tourist Information). A small number of direct flights from the UK are operating direct again to Tenerife North Airport (see cheap flights Tenerife section for info). Good news for lovers of Puerto de la Cruz and the northern regions of Tenerife!
Puerto de la Cruz is a mix of tourism, local residents and a dash of it's fishing village heritage. The waterfront is long - a walk from the centre to Playa Jardin (good surfing here) to the west will take you around 25 minutes. Plaza Charco is the central hub surrounded by some fascinating Canarian architecture, and numerous shops, bars and restaurants. Inland, hotels and apartments climb up towards the green space of Parque Taoro where there's some rather luxurious hotels and a large number of joggers! Down from Plaza Charco is the waterfront hub at Plaza Europa (tourist info is here), and to the east is the popular Costa Martianez saltwater pools. There's also a scattering of fine museums in Puerto de la Cruz.
The view of El Teide looming behind Puerto de la Cruz gives this North Tenerife resort a rather exotic feel - indeed the area within which Puerto de la Cruz sits is the green Orotava Valley, nicknamed 'the garden of Teide'. If you're looking for an all round guarenteed sunshine beach holiday the southern resorts of Tenerife might be more favourable for you. Puerto de la Cruz's close proximity to Teide means it does get the occasional cloud. For activity holidays, sightseeing in the north and walking around Lar Orotava, La Laguna and the Anaga Mountains to the east and for a less oppressive heat in the peak summer months Puerto de la Cruz will do more than fine! It's still hot hot hot here in peak summer season, and indeed many might prefer it a few degrees lower than the arid south of the island.
There's more soul and character here than in Tenerife's southern resorts and this is largely connected to Puerto de la Cruz's history. Not officially declared a town until the beginning of the 20th century (out of which it grew) it was originally a tiny export port serving the wealthy inland La Orotava area which produced large quantities of wine, sugar, bananas and the cochineal dye producing beatle (which feeds off cactus). Being an export location, visitors arrived from elsewhere including English Merchants in the 1800s.
In the second half of the 20th century Puerto de la Cruz boomed from the late 1950s through the 1960s and 70s as the main tourist resort on Tenerife, until Tenerife Sur Airport was opened in 1979 and Playa de las Americans and Los Cristianos began to evolve and attract more British visitors. Today however it's seeing somewhat of a revival, particularly with German visitors, alongside the increasing promotion of rural and ecotourism. If you're looking for a little adventure, with easy access to some of the best rural hotspots on Tenerife including the Teide National Park, La Orotava and nearby historic La Laguna, then Puerto de la Cruz is the perfect choice!
Puerto de la Cruz Tourist Information Centre, Concejalia de Turismo, Plaza de Europa, s/n, 38400 Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife Norte. Tel: +34 922 386 000.
Puerto de la Cruz is best known for the mammoth public swimming pool complex of Costa Martianez (designed by Cesar Manrique in the late 1970s) rather than it's beaches, but Playa Jardin to the west is a very pretty black sandy beach with palm trees and some great bodyboard surfing when the swells up. Costa Martianez
The big smoke on the animal park front across the Canaries is Loro Parque in Puerto de la Cruz. It's all here in one of the best animal parks on the Canaries, including the world's largest collection of parrots. Unless you're opposed to animal parks, Loro Parque does live up to the hype with several parrot and dolphin shows daily, stunning gardens, exotic animals galore, an aquarium and even a penguinarium. Situated in the Punta Brava district of Puerto de la Cruz, you can hop on the free mini train there or regular buses. Family fun guaranteed! Loro Parque, Punta Brava, Puerto de la Cruz, North Tenerife. Tel: 922 37 38 41. (weblink to the right). Open from 8.30am to 5pm daily.
Botanical Gardens, C/ Retama, 2, 38400 Puerto de la Cruz, Opening times: (daily) 9 am. to 7 pm. (1st April -30th September), 9 am. to 6 pm. (1st October - 31st March). Tel: 922 383572. Also, checkout the nearby Sitio Litre Garden with it's renowned orchid collection. Tel: 922 38 24 17. Belle Aquatic Gardens is also situated in the heart of Puerto de la Cruz in Parque Taoro.
Just 2km outside of Puerto de la Cruz is the Bananera El Guanche Tourist Attraction. (see weblink right). Here you can view a working banana plantation - well worth a look. Banana growing is integral to Tenerife's agricultural history. Diving and activity sports such as walking tours or Mountain biking are readily available in Puerto de la Cruz. Check wth dive weblinks right and see El Cardumen Adventure sports organisers on Avenida Melchor Luz 3. Tel: 922 36 84 68 or Mountain Bike Active on Calle Mazaroco. Tel: 922 37 60 81 (weblink also right). If you like casinos, there's a big one here in Puerto de la Cruz at Casino Parque Taoro, 22, 38400, Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife. Tel: +34 922 380550.
Museo Arqueologico (Archeological Museum) Calle Lomo 9, Puerto de la Cruz. Tel 922 371 465. There's a good exhibition on Guanche artefacts here, including a big Guanche ceramics collection and a number of Guanche mummies. Other exhibits include old 17th century maps, a butterfly collection, various weapons and agricultural tools. The museum is housed in a 19th century mansion. Open from Tuesday to Saturday from 10am to 1pm and 5pm to 9pm. Sundays from 10am to 1pm. Closed Mondays.
There's a fine selection of Canarian architecture on view as you wander around Puerto de la Cruz, particularly around Plaza Europa and Plaza Charco. Note particularly the town hall in Plaza Europa, the 18th century Casa Miranda on Calle Lonjas, the old custom house Casa de la Aduana dating from 1620 and indeed the historic manision which houses the Museo Arqueologico.
Bustling and pretty Plaza Charco offers up a few gems including the adjacent Iglesia de San Francisco and the oldest building in Puerto de la Cruz - Ermita de San Juan which dates from 1599. Move down to Playa Jardin to the west to view the Castillo de San Felipe, and out of town upto Mirador de la Paz which offers superb panoramic views of Puerto de la Cruz. Agatha Christie was rather inspired up here - the view is supposed to have sparked ideas for 'The Mysterious Mr Quin' (1930). The character Mr Quin was a spectator rather than a participant in life. Christie was no doubt attracted to Tenerife by the interest being shown in the island in the 1920s and 1930s by a number of notable archeologists, geologists and anthropologists. Her second marriage was to a renowned archeologist.
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