Puerto de la Cruz

An attractive city located in the middle of Tenerife's north coast, Puerto de la Cruz lies in the shelter of Mt Teide in the Orotava Valley. Originally prime agricultural land, the area eventually gave way to the march of tourism and the city is now a major tourist hub on the island, greeting visitors from all over the world. Today, a holiday in Puerto de la Cruz offers top quality hotels set in beautifully landscaped gardens with lavish swimming pools and various amenities in the grounds.

Facing the Atlantic, Puerto de la Cruz has some excellent swathes of dark sandy beach (Jardin Beach is excellent) and the city still has a thriving fishing industry. Holidays to Puerto de la Cruz manage to successfully combine sun, sand, sea and shopping as the commercial element of the city is strong. A great stepping stone to other towns on the island, the lovely port city of Santa Cruz lies further west. In fact, both cities have some lovely old architectural features and typical houses with ornate balustrades and flower-filled balconies. Stroll through Puerto de la Cruz and enjoy a coffee in Plaza del Charco, wander the Archaeological Museum, explore the Church of Senora de la Pena de Francia, discover the old Fisherman's quarter or visit the delightful Botanical Garden.

The famous Loro Parque (Parrot Park) lies on the outskirts of Puerto de la Cruz and is a huge draw for family excursions. Set amidst extensive parkland with tropical foliage and lush greenery, there are daily shows with trained parrots, seals, chimps, dolphins, sharks and even Orca whales. The seas off Tenerife's coast are also marvellous for deep-sea fishing and plentiful big game like sharks and barracuda mean that boat trips are very popular.

Puerto de la Cruz holidays have a very local "feel" still and welcome more mature visitors so slightly older age groups feel quite at home here particularly during the winter months and, for those who prefer to miss the madness of Playa de las Americas, certainly Puerto de la Cruz provides the calm and tranquil alternative of a Tenerife holiday.

Combining the bustle and excitement of a small city venue with the relaxing ambience of a beach resort, holidays in Puerto de la Cruz really can offer the best of both worlds.