While the South delivers sunshine and dry volcanic expanses, Puerto de la Cruz is the green, cultured soul of the North with the climate to match. Sitting at the bottom of the Orotava Valley, this historic port town blends 19th-century Canary architecture, volcanic coastlines and one of the liveliest gastronomic scenes around. Whether you are stopping by for an afternoon stroll or making it your base for exploring the rest of the island, we’ve prepared a short list of places to visit in Puerto and some general guidelines for moving around town.

La Ranilla & Plaza del Charco

Once a humble fisherman’s neighborhood, La Ranilla is now the artistic heart of Puerto. Walk down pedestrian-only lanes lined with vibrant colonial houses, independent cafes, and large-scale urban art murals.

Right before this area you will also find Plaza del Charco, one of the most iconic squares in this town where you’re spoiled for choice when it comes to food and shopping. Traffic through this area (and by extension, through Plaza de Europa as well) is sometimes closed off due to concerts, so plan your movement accordingly.

Lago Martiánez & San Telmo Promenade

Designed by famed Lanzarote artist César Manrique, Lago Martiánez is a massive open-air saltwater lagoon complex built into the volcanic coastline and the resident's second choice if they don't want to deal with sand. Even if you don't go in for a swim, the walk along the San Telmo promenade offers crashing wave views, historical chapels, natural tidal pools on one side and a wide selection of shops opposing.

A not so common talking point about these spots is that Sir Winston Churchill himself visited Tenerife in 1959 in the company of Aristotle Onassis, and his brief voyage led him exactly to San Telmo - you can read more here.

Jardín Botánico (Jardín de Aclimatación de la Orotava)

Located in the upper neighborhood of El Durazno and just above the touristic hub that is La Paz, this botanical garden was commissioned in 1788 by order of then-king Carlos III to acclimatize tropical plants brought back from the Americas, and the project materialized in 1790. It is a quiet, lush oasis featuring massive centuries-old fig trees, rare exotic flora, and other endemic species, which to this day remains a place of public and academic interest.

Playa Jardín & Punta Brava

Another Manrique creation, Playa Jardín is a black-sand beach integrated with botanical gardens, stone waterfalls, and views up toward Mount Teide.  At the far end lies Punta Brava, a picturesque neighborhood perched dramatically over the Atlantic waves, and home to Loro Parque, a world-famous zoo & wildlife preservation effort. Right here you can find one of the most emblematic attractions the Island has to offer not just to us locals but the world - Loro Parque.

Mobility & Parking Guide for Drivers

Puerto is, at its core, an old town with some quality-of-life improvements over the years, but its layout hasn’t changed, and even among residents, finding parking is quite the adventure in the city centre.

To counteract this, most residents park in the area of Playa Jardín, and right after that there is a massive plot of land (esplanada del Puerto) which is used as the city’s unofficial parking. Keep in mind that informal parking attendants are present in these spaces, and they may request compensation for their services - 1€ generally.

There are also three parking garages open to the general public: Pirámides de Martiánez, Plaza de Europa, and the Mercado Municipal.

Getting There with Rental EcoCar

Driving to Puerto de la Cruz from TFS takes roughly 60 minutes via the TF-1 and TF-5 motorways, and from TFN, approximately 30. Google Maps is a surprisingly reliable indicator of traffic density here, which we highly recommend using for planning your trip.

Reserve your car with us in advance and avoid extra fees, and also save on fuel using our hybrid selection.