Puerto de la Cruz is one of the favorite destinations for travelers who decide to visit Tenerife on vacation. It is the main center of tourism in the north of the island and enjoys the title of the first tourist city of the Canary Islands.
first tourist city of the Canary Islands,
the foundation of the Gran Hotel Taoro at the end of the 19th century.
The real charm of this town is the perfect combination of local life, leisure activities and tourist accommodation. Here, visitors and locals share the same spaces, making this town a unique place in the Canary Islands.
You can enjoy the essence of island life, close to the sea, surrounded by historic buildings and gardens that will take you to other times.
Although our list of things to see, do or enjoy in El Puerto de la Cruz is enormous, we have selected those that we believe are a must for any traveler or visitor. Here goes!
Visit the Historic Site of El Puerto de la Cruz
The origin of this town dates back to the XVI century when it was only a fishing village with a small port where the agricultural products of the area were sold. It is in the XVII century when with the agricultural development of the Orotava Valley and the exports to America and Europe, the port develops and with it the population.
In the historical complex we find from colonial and traditional Canarian buildings, to beautiful landscaped squares with historic fountains. We recommend that you do not miss the Plaza del Charco, the Church of Nuestra Señora de La Peña de Francia, the Plaza de la Pila, the Hermitage of San Telmo and its surroundings, the port and the Castle of San Felipe.
La Ranilla fishing district
It is a traditional neighborhood of Puerto de la Cruz where in addition to stroll through its streets and taste the best typical dishes of the area, you can enjoy an outdoor museum thanks to its 13 murals painted on the streets by different world-class artists. The project is Puerto Street Art.
Visit the Botanical Garden
It dates back to the 18th century, specifically to 1788. It was built by order of Carlos III, for the acclimatization of species brought from America. It is the second oldest in Spain, ahead of only the one in Madrid. It has more than 1,500 subtropical species and its activities include scientific research and conservation of endemic species.
Martiánez Lake
The jewel of contemporary architecture is Lake Martiánez, the work of the famous Canarian artist César Manrique and his best legacy on the island of Tenerife.
Inside the complex there are swimming pools, restaurants and gardens, as well as large sculptures of the author, all with the characteristic stamp of Manrique, walls of smooth and organic lines of white in contrast with the dark basalt rock and gardens of native flora.
We invite you to discover this place and surprise yourself with its shapes, textures and colors while enjoying a nice dip.
Taoro Park
As we mentioned at the beginning of this article, the first hotel built on the island was the Gran Hotel Taoro at the end of the 19th century. The gardens of this hotel are now in the public domain, converted into a park where you can stroll, have a picnic, play sports or simply enjoy a sunset at sunset.
This is a space for more than 100.000m2 with paths, waterfalls, fountains and viewpoints where you will have the city at your feet. Imagine what this place might have been like at the end of the 19th century with the European jet set strolling around the same place you do now. Incredible, isn’t it?
So far our recommendations of 5 things to do in Puerto de La Cruz. We would love to know what you thought of it and if you have already visited this place, please tell us about your experience in the comments.
