Travel Guides Europe
3 May 2021 Location: Tenerife
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Last Updated on 7 November 2022
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Wondering what to do in Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife?
You might be familiar with the popular resort towns of Los Cristianos and Playa de las Americas in the south of Tenerife, but Puerto de la Cruz might be a stranger to you. Situated in the north of the island, Puerto de la Cruz is a small town that boasts a charming Old Quarter which is abundant with historic buildings, sociable squares, unique shops, and bistros and bars. And despite becoming more popular in recent years, Puerto de la Cruz still manages to retain its fishing village vibe, making it a wonderful place for any short break or vacation. To make sure you don’t miss out on any of the good stuff, this Puerto de la Cruz blog features 9 of the absolute best things to do in Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife, which you must not miss!
1.Visit a black sandy beach
If you’re wondering what to see in Puerto de la Cruz that is a little unique, then a black sandy beach is your answer. As with other islands in the Canaries, Tenerife is built around a volcano (Mount Teide). And it is because of this that you will find unusual black sandy beaches, especially in the north of the island.
The black sandy beaches of Tenerife are made up of eroded hardened volcanic lava that’s been ejected from Mount Teide. Over the years, the power of the sea has broken this down, creating sand which is black in colour. One of the best Puerto de la Cruz beaches to see this natural wonder of Europe is Playa Jardin. With it’s expanse of volcanic sand, the botanical gardens and esplanade outlining Playa Jardin are beautifully landscaped, making it one of the best free things to do in Puerto de la Cruz!
Tip: You will find golden sandy beaches in Tenerife, especially in the southerly parts of the island which are popular with tourists. But these are actually man-made from sand imported from the Sahara Desert!
2. Wander along the promenade
If you’re travelling on a budget, then one of the best free things to do in Puerto de la Cruz is to walk along the promenade. Stretching around the coastal edge of Puerto de la Cruz, wandering the promenade will afford you endless panoramas of the Atlantic Ocean and sweeping vistas of the rocky and mountainous coastline. And it will guide you via many other points of interest, such as lighthouses, historic harbours, black sandy beaches and viewpoints too (plus there are plenty of bars and bistros en route).
Directions for your promenade walking route: Begin your promenade walk at Playa de Martianez (one of the towns volcanic sandy beaches) and end it at Playa Jardin (another of the towns black sandy beaches). From Playa de Martianez, follow the palm-tree lined promenade past Lago Martianez, and continue to Playa de san Telmo and Punta del Viento viewpoint (see best things to do in Puerto de la Cruz #9). Then, wander over to the historic fishing harbour (Muelle Pesquero) and along Esplanada del Muelle where you will find Faro de Puerto de la Cruz (an active lighthouse), until you reach Playa Jardin. If you follow this route from Playa de Martianez to Playa Jardin, the distance is ~2.5km (~1.6 miles).
3. Eat Tapas and drink co*cktails (obviously)
You can’t travel to Spain (or an autonomous island of Spain) without feasting on Tapas washed down with co*cktails! It would be like visiting England without eating Fish and Chips, Thailand without sampling Pad Thai or Bali without feasting on Nasi Goreng. Tapas are the epitome of Spanish cuisine, and one of the best things to do in Puerto de la Cruz at night is to indulge in some! Check out TripAdvisor and find yourself a quaint little Tapas bar with good reviews, situated somewhere amongst the cobbled-streets of the Old Town. (note: I can’t remember where I ate, but it was a lovely little Tapas bar with outside dining on one of the sociable squares within the Old Town)
4. Swim at Lago Martianez
Being situated on the Atlantic, the seas surrounding Puerto de la Cruz can be dangerous. So if you’d prefer to swim in the safety of a swimming pool where there are lifeguards on duty, then an afternoon at Lago Martianez is going to be one of the best things to do in Puerto de la Cruz during your trip. Situated right alongside the sea, Lago Martianez is a large complex comprising 7 outdoor seawater swimming pools. With its many palm trees, loungers, umbrellas, bars, restaurants and stunning coastal views, Lago Martianez is a nice alternative to the beach and offers the best of both worlds! It makes for a lovely place to spend the afternoon if you want to swim but don’t like the roughness of the sea, and it’s various pools, islands and waterfalls make it great for small and big kids alike.
5. Visit the historic fishing harbour
Although Puerto de la Cruz has grown into a bustling little town, it was originally just a quaint fishing village. And the character of its fishing village roots can be observed nowhere more than at the historic fishing harbour (known locally as Muelle Pesquero). Don’t expect to see a mass port of any kind here – it’s a quaint affair which smaller fishing boats use to dock with their fresh catches of the day. There’s plenty of shops and historic buildings nearby, and you will also find the sculpture of the Fishwife on the harbour side too.
6. Stroll through the Old Quarter
One of the things that makes Puerto de la Cruz a charming place to visit is its protected Old Quarter. A network of cobbled lanes and palm-lined streets, the Old Town of Puerto de la Cruz is mostly pedestrianised and is full of little outlets, unique shops, bistros, bars, coffee shops and sociable squares. It has all the components of a picturesque Spanish Old Town! The heartbeat of the Old Quarter is Plaza del Charco – a buzzing square lined with trees, fountains, and restaurants, where people gather and music fills the air. Some of the other notable points of interest in the Old Town are the historic fishing harbour and Plaza de la Iglesia, which leads me on to the next of the best things to do in Puerto de la Cruz…
7. See Plaza de la Iglesia (Church Plaza)
Located in the Old Quarter of Puerto de la Cruz a stones throw from the historic fishing harbour, Plaza del Charco and Playa de san Telmo, Plaza de la Iglesia (The Church Square) is a charming area of the town to visit. On Plaza de la Iglesia, the Parish Church of Nuestra Señora de la Peña de Francia takes centre stage. It is a particularly picturesque place in Puerto de la Cruz, given that the church is surrounded by colourful landscaped gardens with tall palm trees and fountains. It makes for a wonderful place to sit for a while, to soak up the chilled aura that pervades the Old Quarter.
8. Enjoy panoramic views from Parque Taoro (Taoro Park)
Tucked away behind the Old Town, you will find Parque Taoro which is one of the best free things to do in Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife. Parque Taoro is a hillside park spanning 100,000 square metres that is abundant with tropical plants and trees, fountains, and cascading waterfalls. If you’re looking for first class views, then you definitely need to factor a visit to Parque Taoro into your Tenerife itinerary! As you progress up through the various levels of the park, you will be rewarded with views over the Old Quarter of Puerto de la Cruz, the Atlantic Ocean, and the peak of Mount Teide (on a clear day)! Given the plethora of trees and seating areas, Parque Taoro is the perfect place to enjoy some shaded peace and tranquillity for a while!
Tip: Given that Parque Taoro offers uninterrupted panoramas of the sea, it makes for one of the best places to sit and enjoy the sunset in Puerto de la Cruz.
9. Visit Playa de San Telmo and the Punta del Viento viewpoint
Nestled in the heart of Puerto de la Cruz and set below the promenade, you will find Playa de San Telmo. Not your average sandy beach, Playa de San Telmo is a rocky expanse and particularly picturesque area, dotted with walkways and railings to help you into the sea if you fancy a swim. But even if you don’t, visiting Playa de San Telmo is still one of the best things to do in Puerto de la Cruz given its rocky charm and scenic backdrop. The best place to admire the beauty of Playa de San Telmo from is the Punta del Viento viewpoint, especially when dramatic waves come ashore! From the Punta del Viento viewpoint, you will be afforded views of the rocky coast, Lago Martianez, and the mountains which slope into the sea beyond!
Tip: The rocks on Playa de San Telmo can be sharp so some beach shoes might be in order here. And it can be pretty precarious when the waves are strong.
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