Puerto de la Cruz is located in the lush and green North of Tenerife and offers a more authentic experience with black sand beaches. The town has a vibrant nightlife, focusing on a mostly older generation. Being in the North and less touristy, this area is pretty budget-friendly but also has some very luxurious resorts. This holiday destination is ideal for those who enjoy nature and seek a more relaxed and authentic Spanish atmosphere.
Beaches
How are the beaches in Puerto de la Cruz? On one side, you will find the largest black beach in this area, consisting of the Playa del Castillo, Playa Chica and Playa Grande.
On the other side, you will find the Playa Martianez, which is closer to town but otherwise pretty similar. The Playa Martianez has higher waves and often also some more wind and is, therefore, pretty popular with surfers. The one you go to will most often be decided by your hotel’s location, as they are pretty far from each other.
Puerto de la Cruz also has many different swimming locations, including pebble beaches or rocky structures like Playa del Muelle and Playa San Telmo.
Where to stay in Puerto de la Cruz
There are many great hotels in this area. The only thing you need to watch out for is the location. Some are very hard to get to on foot, and it may take a lot of stairs or uphill walking. The most lively area is near the Costa Martianez pools, with the biggest hotels and generally higher prices. You will find the more traditional and relaxed area around the Plaza del Charco, with smaller boutique hotels and lower prices. There are also some great hotels and apartments up the hill behind the Centro Commercial Martianez, but getting anywhere else takes a lot of walking or taking a taxi.
- H10 Tenerife Playa: Excellent location close to the nightlife, restaurants and beach.
- Casablanca apartments: Budget-friendly apartments.
- Puerto Azul: Budget-friendly boutique hotel with a Jacuzzi and rooftop pool, located in the more authentic Puerto de la Cruz.
- Atypicap Capsule Hostel: Sleep-pod hostel ideal for solo travellers and couples on a budget.
- Atlantic Mirage Suites & Spa: Adults-only hotel for a relaxing holiday by the pool with amazing views over the ocean.
- Hotel Botanico: For a luxurious holiday in a hotel that has been offering them since the seventies with continuous updating and improvement and an amazing spa and gardens.
Things to do in Puerto de la Cruz
- Loro Parque: This zoo is located on the edge of Puerto de la Cruz and easily reached by mini train, which picks you up near McDonald’s. Not only is it a great zoo with shows for the entire family, but the free mini train ride is great fun for kids.
- Lago Martianez: This waterpark is next to the ocean. It is ideal on days with too many waves. The entrance is very cheap, but the waterpark is also more about relaxation, with no slides or rides.
- Parks and gardens: Sitio Litre, La Orotava, and Taoro. These parks are ideal for those who love nature.
- Promenade: Puerto de la Cruz has a beachside promenade stretching almost the entire length of the resort. It is especially good to explore in the evenings.
- Mirador de la Paz: Enjoy the ocean views from here or, even better, one of the nearby restaurants.
- El Bobullo Beach: A unique secluded beach experience just outside Puerto de la Cruz. However, as more people become aware of this beach, it becomes more crowded each year.
- Hiking: Puerto de la Cruz is the best place on the island for those who like hiking and being active. There are plenty of nearby trails and destinations for hikers, and there are plenty of guided hiking tours available.
- Hire a car: Since you will be far away from most of the attractions and parks in the South of Tenerife, it might be worth hiring a car. Also to explore many spots nearby like the Anaga Natura Reserve, Santa Cruz and Playa de las Teresitas.
- Casa del Vino: A great place to try local wines and foods at a very affordable price.
- Surfing: This area is popular and ideal for learning how to surf.
You can find a full list of the top things to do and not do in Tenerife here.
Restaurants
Puerto de la Cruz has an extensive selection of restaurants. The great thing is that it is also a real town, so not everything is aimed at tourists. Many of the restaurants offer authentic Spanish traditional dishes, tapas, and excellent fresh fish. Prices are pretty fair in most places, and all my meals were well prepared.
Restaurants are all over the area, and it seems every street you turn into has more to discover. The best option is to have a little walk around and explore before sitting down in a restaurant. Where you hear a lot of Spanish speaking is where the locals are dining, and this is most often the best place. The streets near the Plaza del Charco have the best quality and price and the most authentic experience.
Nightlife
Puerto de la Cruz has a pretty active nightlife. Much of it is aimed at an older generation who like to come here to dance and drink cocktails, but there are also some clubs for those younger. Know that these younger ones might only be open on the weekends or be closed for some weeks outside of the school and university holidays. However, the dancing for the older generation is an all year round thing with many live musicians playing to this audience.
For the more typical Spanish nightlife, have a look around the Plaza del Charco. For older people looking for live music and dancing, the promenade near the sea is the place to be. In the back of the area, up on the hill, there is also some nightlife, but it is relatively calm.
Tenerife airport to Puerto de la Cruz
Puerto de la Cruz is only 27 kilometres from the Tenerife North Airport (TFN). The Tenerife South Airport (TFS) is 80 kilometres away. So it is best to fly to the Tenerife North Airport:
- Public transport (2.65 €/pp): It is cheap but not ideal. The bus stops far away from where most of the hotels are, and can not go into the narrow streets.
- Shuttle bus online (14.57 €/pp): Only a few companies offer this option, and therefore, buses don’t go very often. Also, since many of the streets in Puerto de la Cruz don’t allow traffic and are very narrow, you might still be dropped off pretty far from your hotel.
- Taxi or minibus online (32.22 €): By far the best option and value for money if you are not a solo traveller.
- Taxi at the airport (35.00 €): Also a good option if you are a maximum of four people, don’t arrive on the weekend or in the evenings, and don’t need child safety seats.
Here, you can find the timetables and prices for public transportation and easily book a minibus, shuttle, or taxi.
When to go
While most of the destinations of Tenerife can be visited all year round with the expectation of having great weather for most of your holiday, Puerto de la Cruz is one of the exceptions. While the weather here is excellent in summer, in winter, you can expect a few more cloudy and rainy days than in other places on the island. As a side effect, this area is much more lush and green all year round and has some excellent nature parks. Giving it a very unique vibe for Tenerife. Also, when some of Tenerife can feel too hot during the peak summer months, this place is ideal.
May is the best month if you want to look for a good deal and excellent weather. December might be best avoided because of the higher chance of rain.
Is Puerto de la Cruz the best holiday destination for you?
Puerto de la Cruz is ideal if you want an authentic or more budget-friendly holiday experience in Tenerife. This area is especially popular with the older generation and people who like nature, hiking, culture, and beautiful parks and gardens.
This area is not a good choice for people visiting Tenerife during the winter months and still wanting the hottest beach weather. Younger partygoers seeking a lively clubbing scene will not find this an exciting holiday destination. If you are flying to the Tenerife South Airport and don’t want long transfer times, it is best to avoid this area as it is almost 100 km away.
If you’re not sure if Puerto de la Cruz is the best holiday destination for you in Tenerife, have a look at where to stay in Tenerife.
