Puerto de la Cruz, North Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain

Puerto de la Cruz Page Contents

Beaches & Sea Front in Puerto de la Cruz

Attractions in Puerto de la Cruz

Places of Interest

See Also on Seperate pages

Puerto de la Cruz

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  Puerto de la Cruz

Puerto de la Cruz General Description

Puerto de la Cruz (Port of the Cross) built in the 1600's originally called Puerto de la Orotava, is the largest resort in Tenerife and situated in the North of the Island. It is also the oldest tourist resort in the Canary Islands, being popular from the 19^th century. The mild climate, marvelous scenic views, especially the volcanic Mount Teide, and the warmth and friendliness of the locals being the main attractions to visitors.

Originally the town thrived as a port, possibly help by the blocking of the harbour at Garachico by an eruption. It was also handy for the nearby city of La Orotava for exporting wine.

There are still old buildings around, look for the carved balconies. The church of Nuestra Senora de la Pena de Francia is from the 17^th century.

There are many large quality hotels and a wide selection of restaurants. Enjoy the natural swimming pools, the massive artificial lake, and the botanical gardens.

Puerto de la Cruz again has a flourishing selection of bars discos and restaurants and you may be tempted to try your luck at the tables in one of the 2 Casinos.

Beaches & Sea Front in Puerto de la Cruz

Central Sea Front Puerto de la Cruz

Public Sea Swimming Pool

Playa Jardin - Beach

Playa Jardin, the Garden Beach is the best beach in Puerto de la Cruz and has a backdrop of gardens between the beach & the , Av. Loro Parque, coast road

San Telmo Beach

San Telmo Beach is located to the east of Largo de Martianez at the land end of the breakwater of the free public sea swimming area

Harbour Beach

Interactive 360⁰ Photo of the Harbour Beach

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Although small and is made up of pebbles this beach is fairly popular because of it's central location. There are also a wide sellection of cafes & restaurants imediatly behind the beach. Drag the street view sideways to see some of them. There are also a few stalls on the see front.

Bench seating some in the shade of trees

Martinez Beach

La Marea Surfschool on Martinez Beach

La Marea Surf School

La Marea Surf School is located at the northern end of the beach next to Lago Martianez

Municipal Swimming Pool

The Municipal Swimming Pool is for swimming instruction, endurance swimming & speed swimming and is part of the Municipal Sports Complex which also includes a Football Pitch.

Municipal Sports Complex Football

Largo Martinez

Swimmers and sunbathers should try the Lido Martinez with it's 7 saltwater pools, islands and fountains, it makes for a very popular day out.

Places to see

• Abaco
• Bananera El Guanche, 5 minute drive away near Orotava.  Discover the details of Banana cultivation and try a banana liqueur.
• Jardin Botanico (Botanical Gardens)
• La Atalaya Gardens
• Canarian Wrestling
• Castillo De San Felipe
• Hotel Tigaiga Gardens
• Lago Martianez built under water. Sala de Fiestas Andromeda.
• Loro Park  There is much more than Parrots in the leafy tropical vegetation of this attraction park & Dolphin Show
• Risco Bello Aquatic Gardens
• Sitio Litre Gardens
• The daily market El Mercado
• Casino Taoro.

Plaza Charco

Casa de la Aduana now a Museum

On the harbour side of Casa de la Aduana in the next door building is a bar cafe, located with good views of the harbour.

Playa del Castillo

Playa del Castillo is located on the south of Castillo de San Felipe

Defences against Pirates

Two coastal defences were erected to protect Puerto de la Cruz against Pirates, San Felipe Castle & Puerto de la Cruz Bastion

San Felipe Castle (Castillo de San Felipe)

A small 5 sided fort with canon ports on the roof and also at a lower level

The fort is now used as a cultural centre usually with art exibits.

Santa Barbara Battery

Also known as Santa Barbara Bastion, a Canon Battery protecting the Harbour & Town from attack by pirates

 Location of Santa Barbara Battery

Located to the East of the Harbour

Botanical Gardens (Jardín de Aclimatación de la Orotava)

Botanical Gardens (Jardín de Aclimatación de la Orotava)

The gardens were built on the orders of King Carlos III of Spain in 1788. Exotic plants were brought back from the Tropical Spanish Colonies and allowed to aclimatise in the gardens before being sent on to Madrid.

The previous name of Puerto de la Cruz was Puerto de la Orotava hence the name of the gardens

Location of the Botanical Gardens

Located on Calle Retama which is a road off the main

Calle Retama, 2, 38400 Puerto de la Cruz, Santa Cruz de Tenerife

Orchid Gardens of Littles Place (Jardine de Orquideas de Sitro Litre)

The Orchid Gardens are the best in the Canaries and are the gardens of a mansion belonging to a rich English family. Although the mansion is private and not open, the gardens are open to the public.

The Sitro Litre gardens are the oldest in Tenerife at over 200 years old and contain Puerto de la Cruz's oldest & largest Dragon Tree.

There is a cafe, souvenir shop and usually an exhibition of selected paintings loaned from London's Kew Gardens whith whom they have an exchange program.

The mansion was originally built in 1730 as wine cellars for a Dutch exporting company. 44 years later it was bought by Archibald Little, hence the name, Littles Place (Sitro Litre in Spanish).

Many famous people have stayed at the mansion.

Location of Orchid Gardens of Littles Place (Jardine de Orquideas de Sitro Litre)

Located on Sitio Litre Camino Sitio Litre

La Atalaya Gardens

This park, like the next door, 60 metres, Risco Bello Aquatic Park are built on a hillside.

The La Atalaya Gardens has wide terraces with plenty of bench seating. The park is designed so that visitors can enjoy the magnificent views over Pero de la Cruz

Risco Bello Aquatic Park

This park, like the next door, 60 metres, are built on a hillside.

Risco Bello Aquatic Park is a garden aquatic park and NOT a fun water sports park.

This old wordly setting is full of ponds, waterfalls, water features and aquatic creatures & life set in a backdrop of leafy sub tropical folliage.

The park attracts many birds, including ducks, egrets, heron some of which nest and raise their young With luck you may even see the chicks..

There is a cafe with tables & chairs on the lawn.

There is a small charge for entrance to the water gardens.

Parque Taoro

Parque Taoro gardens are located in the grounds of the former Taoro Hotel, the very first Grand Hotel in, not only on Tenerife, but in Spain. Later it became a Casaino before it was located near the Lago Martiánez,

Penon del Fraile - The Friar's Rock

Penon del Fraile

Originally a friar (Fraile)erecteted a wooden cross made from logs 0n top of the rock (Penon) Later a staircase and a small monument tower were erected. Good views along the coast and into the local football stadium can be seen from the tower

Churches

San Telmo Church

All Saints Anglican Church

Services in English

Located in

Church of Our Lady of the Rock of France

Some services in English

There is a small Museum in the church.

San Francisco Church

Shopping In Puerto de la Cruz

Municipal Market

Avda. Blas Perez Gonzalez,

Official Tourist Information Office

C / Puerto Viejo, 13

Plaza de la Inblesia, 3. Telephones (922) 38 60 00 and 37 02 43

Bars & Nightlife in Puerto de la Cruz

Because Puerto de la Cruz nightlife has a larger proportion of locals & spanish holiday goers in it's mix nightlife tends start later than in the southern resorts of Tenerife.

Although you will find bars & restaurants throughout the resort, the main areas fot nightlife are:

• Plaza Charco square, a very popular meeting point with lots of resorts and a selection of bars.
• Avenida de Colon & the Ranila district, also known as the Restaurant district.
• Avenida Generalísimo. for nightclubs

Ranila district also known as the Restaurant district.

This was the area where the fishermen & dock workers lived and consisted of small houses. The area was Puerto de la Cruz's poor area. When the port trade dwindled the area became poorer and seriously run down.

With the of mass tourism the area has been revitalised and renovated, with many small family run restaurants opening along with cafe bars.

When visiting this area keep your eye out for rather stunning wall art that has been painted onto the end of some of the buildings.

Ranila district Location

The Ranila district runs from Plaza Charco westwards to around El Penon next to the football ground & Castillo San Felipe And between from Calle Puerto Viejo and the sea front

Casinos in Puerto de la Cruz

 The Casinos are located

• On the sea front just before the start of Largo Martinez & opposite a Mac Donald's
  and
  
• On the central island of Largo Martinez

Archaeological Museum of Puerto de la Cruz

Photo Upp75

Archeological Museum, C/ del Lomo, 9 A. Telephone (922) 37 14 65

Loro Parque

More Information Loro Parque

Bus Station Puerto de la Cruz

Poligono de San Filipe.  The Old Bus Station has now closed due to it's unsafe condition. The current Bus Station is actually in the streets that surround the old building

Hotels & Apartments

Puerto de la Cruz Hotels and Puerto de la Cruz Apartments