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Before you go
Your trip to Puerto de la Cruz.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Puerto de la Cruz – Canary Islands Destination Tenerife about 36 km from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
How to get there
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Aeropuerto de Tenerife Norte-Ciudad de La Laguna (TFN) San Cristóbal de La Laguna · 25 km
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Aeropuerto de Tenerife Sur (TFS) Granadilla de Abona · 90 km
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Estación de Guaguas de Puerto de la Cruz 1 km
Approximate road distances. Check flights and bus schedules before you travel.
Check before booking. Tenerife Norte airport is about 25 km away, and Tenerife Sur about 90 km; both are served by buses. From Santa Cruz, the bus takes around 50 minutes. There is a bus line to Teide National Park, with few departures per day.
How many days
One day for the town center, Lago Martiánez, the botanical garden and Playa Jardín. A full day for the Teide, and half a day for La Orotava. With more time you can add Loro Parque, the drago of Icod and Masca.
When to go
The climate is generally mild year-round, wetter and cloudier than the island's south, with rains in winter. For the Teide, clear days in spring and autumn are best; in winter, snow can close the road and the cable car.
The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.
Do you need a car?
For the town, no: the center and beaches are walkable. For the Teide, Masca and the drago of Icod, a car is very helpful, although there are buses. The road to the Teide has many bends and climbs above 2,000 meters.
Suggested itinerary
An order that works
Built with the places on this page. No rush: it's paced so you have time to see them.
One day in Puerto de la Cruz
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Morning
Lago Martiánez
Morning at the seawater pools of Lago Martiánez, by César Manrique.
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Afternoon
Center and port
Lunch near the fishing port and a stroll along the Plaza del Charco.
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Late afternoon
Botanic Gardens
Afternoon at the Jardín de Aclimatación de La Orotava, the 1788 botanical garden.
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Evening
Playa Jardín
Sunset at Playa Jardín, with its black sand and the castle of San Felipe.
2 days in Puerto de la Cruz
Day 1
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Morning
Teide
Head out early to Teide National Park and take the cable car before the lines form.
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Afternoon
Roques de García
Short hike around the Roques de García and a packed lunch in the park.
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Late afternoon
La Orotava
On the way down, the center of La Orotava, with the Casa de los Balcones.
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Evening
Plaza del Charco
Dinner in the center of Puerto de la Cruz.
Day 2
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Morning
Loro Parque
Morning at Loro Parque, near Playa Jardín.
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Afternoon
Drago de Icod
Lunch in Icod de los Vinos and the millenary drago.
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Late afternoon
Garachico
Late afternoon in Garachico, with its lava rock pools.
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Evening
Farewell
Dinner at the port of Puerto de la Cruz.
Check before you go. Opening hours and days change, and places may close for renovations, holidays or events. This itinerary is a suggestion from Cidade Turismo, not a commitment: plan yours by checking directly with each place you intend to visit.
Before you go
Frequently asked questions
How to get from Puerto de la Cruz to the Teide?
By car, about 1 hour via the road that climbs through La Orotava. There is a bus line with one departure per day, round trip; check the timetable. Tour operators run excursions.
Does Puerto de la Cruz have a beach?
Puerto de la Cruz has black volcanic-sand beaches, such as Playa Jardín and Playa Martiánez, with seas that can be rough. For a calm swim, the pools at Lago Martiánez are the most popular option.
Is Puerto de la Cruz a good base for exploring Tenerife?
It's a good base for the north of the island and for Teide, with transport to Santa Cruz and La Laguna. For light-sand beaches, the south is more suitable.
What is Loro Parque?
A private zoological park opened in 1972, with parrots, penguins, dolphins and other animals, a few minutes from the center.
What's the weather like in Puerto de la Cruz?
The climate is usually mild year-round, cloudier and more humid than the south of the island, with rain more common in winter.