Puerto de la Cruz is the top resort in the Canary Islands, the most complete and longest established. Here you will find everything anyone could wish for! Tourists have been coming here for over a century to see the beautiful colonial architecture with narrow cobbled streets winding among the beautiful buildings in this old fishing port. It is unique for its beautiful central Old Town, where the locals still work, eat and drink unlike many tourist towns.
This beautiful city has not succumbed to ugly, commercialized architecture for the most part and retains its old world charm. The core consists of tree lined avenues, shaded plazas and many stairways leading to different levels.
In Puerto de la Cruz you will find accommodations to suit all budgets and tastes, from economy to luxury. The privately owned and managed hotels are the best since they take pride in their service. The larger, corporately owned hotels often have inferior food, shoddy service and lackluster housekeeping. Even some of the 4-star hotels are not worthy of their ranking. Although most restaurants are excellent, the ones frequented by locals are the best. If you have a beef, request an official complaints book which all bars, restaurants, hotels and café are required to have. Just asking for one will often remedy the situation, as it goes to an official agency that will investigate!
This wonderful city is also a shopper’s paradise, whose free port status allows imports from all over the world. There are hundreds of shops with good prices and all sorts of merchandise both designer and native. However, remember that while cheap doesn’t mean inferior the opposite is also true. Inspect before buying any items you purchase that are priced low enough to make you suspicious. Be wary of street vendors who often sell imitations instead of quality goods and by all means avoid the teeming time share sharks, not matter what fabulous prize they may claim you have won.
Puerto de la Cruz is home to La Carnaval, the little brother of the Carnaval of Santa Cruz. This huge before-Lent party is fantastic, complete with the Funeral of the Sardine that ends with some spectacular fireworks. There are several festivals that take place every month of the year and they are worth checking out once you set a date for your visit.
The city is replete with bars, discos and night clubs if you enjoy a night out. The streets are safe to walk at night here but take sensible precautions and lock your car; don’t leave anything of value visible. The best places to party are where you see the locals.
Historical buffs will enjoy exploring the Castillo de San Felipe (Old Port Castle), a 17th century fort that protected the town from pirates. There is also a nearby Cultural Arts Center which serves as a place for concerts, recitals and art exhibitions.
Puerto de la Cruz is home to the incomparable pools of Lago Martinez, a manmade series of beautiful bathing pools overlooking the beach. The huge artificial lake is surrounded by several smaller pools included some specifically built for children. You can lie on a chaise in the shade or enjoy the warm water and be waited on by the friendly staff. After a relaxing afternoon you may want to visit the Casino de Taoro, right next door. It is equipped with slot machines and gaming tables; it makes an exciting end to any day.
Another must-see is Loro Parque, or “Parrot Park”, an impressive zoo on the outskirts of the city. Here you can see 300 types of parrots, the largest collection in the world, as well as the world’s largest dolphin show pool and largest indoor penguin exhibit. It also boasts the longest shark tunnel that is in Europe and a wonderful Orca exhibit. You will see all the animals you expect here as well as a fabulous orchid garden. In your travels you may also want to check out Siam Park, the biggest water park in Europe built by the owners of Loro Parque on the south side of Tenerife.
If you enjoy museums, Puerto de la Cruz has plenty of them to keep you entertained and fascinated. The Archaeological Museum has a large collection of Guanche ceramics and even some mummies. There is a butterfly collection, weapons, ancient tools and a display of maps from the 1600’s. You may also want to stop into the Casa Iriarte, an 18th century home that now houses a lace museum, a naval museum and many interesting vintage photos of the city.