Puerto de la Cruz Tourist Information
If you're more interested in a cultured, elegant vacation experience than
rowdy night-long parties, Puerto de la Cruz with its small town mentality is everything you've been looking
for.
Situated on the northwest coast of Tenerife, Puerto de la
Cruz is one of the main tourist centres on the island yet has a small population
of around 30,000 people. It is an old colonial
town which has long been a favourite destination for visitors from northern
Europe. Puerto de la Cruz started life as a port city and fisherman's haven, and unlike
many other cities in Tenerife, has retained a great deal of its original
architecture and charm. Though there is a modern Spanish element to the town,
you'll still find plenty of shady streets, lovely tree-lined avenues and
secluded plazas. Puerto de la Cruz is one of those cities that you could spend
days exploring and delighting in the little secret places that have been
preserved for hundreds of years.
The old town of Puerto de la Cruz is centred
on Plaza Charco which is surrounded by ancient buildings. To the west are the
main shopping streets where you'll find some of the best duty free shopping
opportunities on the island amongst the maze of tiny streets. There are great
deals on electronics, alcohol and tobacco products but be careful to make sure
they're authentic before buying. The main nightlife is also centred on and
around Plaza Charco. There are a number of churches around the centre which
are worth a look including the Ermita de San Juan which dates back to 1599. The
old customs house (Casa de la Aduana) was built in 1620 and now houses a
selection of artisan shops. For a great example of Canarian architecture take a
look at Casa Miranda (c/ Santo Domingo, 13) which now serves as one of Puerto de
la Cruz's finest restaurants. The helpful tourist information office in Plaza
Europa provides details of all the main sights.
February is a great time for a winter break in Puerto de la Cruz and it's the
festival of Carnaval which is a smaller version of the wild partying that
happens in Santa Cruz, but this party is still one that can take your breath
away with its vibrancy and joy. A few things to keep an eye out for are the
Funeral of the Sardine, and salsa bands that play in the Plaza del Charco.
Puerto de la Cruz hosts some of the greatest range of accommodation on the island with
lots of competition between hotels. You can stay at excellent big-name hotels
for very reasonable rates or choose from a fine selection of small hotels and
family-run establishments. Be sure to book well in advance if coming for
Carnaval.
For a good time that leaves you feeling refreshed and restored, head to Puerto
de la Cruz for a deeply restful, wonderfully lively experience with the culture
of the Canary Islands.
|
