Last updated: September 2026
Puerto de la Cruz holidays offer a completely different Tenerife experience from the sun-drenched resorts of the south coast. The north coast’s oldest and most established resort combines traditional Canarian character, world-class attractions and a genuinely cosmopolitan culture built over more than a century of tourism.
Where the southern resorts of Playa de las Américas and Los Cristianos were purpose-built from scratch in the 1970s, Puerto de la Cruz evolved from a genuine fishing and merchant port with a history of receiving international visitors stretching back to the 19th century.
Sitting on the northern coast of Tenerife above the Orotava Valley, the resort benefits from the lush microclimate created by the trade winds that bring moisture to the north.
It is greener, slightly cooler and more dramatic than the south — and for many experienced Tenerife visitors, it is the preferred side of the island.
Puerto de la Cruz holidays suit culturally engaged travellers, couples seeking a more sophisticated resort atmosphere, those wanting easy access to Teide National Park, and anyone who values authentic Canarian town life alongside their beach break.
Puerto de la Cruz holidays appeal to visitors who want more from Tenerife than a beach and a pool.
The resort combines two world-class attractions — Lago Martianez and Loro Parque — with a genuinely beautiful historic town centre, excellent restaurants and proximity to both La Orotava and Teide National Park.
The resort’s character is notably more sophisticated than the southern resort strip. The main pedestrian streets are lined with independent Canarian restaurants, traditional craft shops, wine bars and galleries rather than the fast-food chains and souvenir outlets that dominate elsewhere.
Puerto de la Cruz holidays benefit from the Orotava Valley’s microclimate — the north receives more moisture from Atlantic trade winds, creating the lush vegetation that makes the surrounding landscape so dramatically different from the south.
The trade-off is slightly more cloud than the sun-drenched south, but temperatures remain warm year-round.
The resort has a long history of attracting intellectuals, artists and discerning European travellers — from 19th-century German aristocracy to contemporary visitors from across Europe. This heritage has left the town with a level of cultural infrastructure that most Tenerife resorts lack.
For families, Puerto de la Cruz holidays offer Loro Parque — consistently rated among the top zoos in Europe — within easy walking distance of the town centre, plus the extraordinary Siam Park in Costa Adeje just 45 minutes away.
The Lago Martianez is the most celebrated design achievement in the Canary Islands — a series of ornamental seawater lagoons, pools and fountains covering several hectares of Puerto de la Cruz seafront, designed by the great Canarian artist and architect César Manrique.
Completed in 1977, the complex uses the natural volcanic rock of the coastline as its architectural foundation, with vivid white structures, tropical landscaping and the constant sound of water creating an environment quite unlike any conventional lido.
Puerto de la Cruz holidays that include a day at Lago Martianez never forget the experience.
The complex contains seven saltwater pools of varying depth and temperature, sunbathing terraces, beach bars, restaurants and an open-air auditorium that hosts concerts and cultural events throughout the summer season.
The Lago Martianez promenade extending along the seafront from the complex connects the resort’s key areas along the coast — an excellent morning walk with views across the Atlantic and, on clear days, to the island of La Palma on the horizon.
Loro Parque is one of the finest zoological and marine life parks in Europe, located on the western edge of Puerto de la Cruz.
Founded in 1972 as a parrot collection (its name means “Parrot Park”), it has grown into a world-class conservation and visitor attraction housing over 4,000 animals across 14 hectares.
The orca show in the Orca Ocean auditorium is the park’s most celebrated attraction — a presentation that combines animal demonstration with conservation messaging in a stadium holding over 2,000 spectators. The park’s orca population participates in a breeding programme linked to SeaWorld.
Beyond the orcas, Loro Parque houses gorillas, tigers, walruses, chimpanzees, penguins and the world’s largest collection of parrots — over 350 species. The TenerifePinguinarium is among the largest penguin habitats outside Antarctica.
A full day at Loro Parque is one of the highlights of any Puerto de la Cruz holiday. The park is professionally run, generously spaced and genuinely impressive even for visitors who have seen other major European zoos.
A free shuttle bus connects the park to the town centre throughout the day.
Puerto de la Cruz has one of the most attractive town centres of any Tenerife resort. The old fishing quarter around the Plaza del Charco — the tree-shaded central square — retains genuine character, with Canarian families still using the square as a social space alongside the tourists.
The historic streets around the Plaza de la Iglesia and the old port area contain some of the finest examples of traditional Canarian balconied architecture outside La Orotava. The Casa de Miranda on the old harbour is one of the best-preserved 18th-century merchants’ houses in the islands.
The resort’s restaurant scene is the best in the north of Tenerife. Traditional Canarian fish restaurants around the old port serve vieja, cherne and locally caught seafood alongside the island’s papas arrugadas and mojo sauces. The town also has a sophisticated Spanish restaurant scene beyond the tourist areas.
Puerto de la Cruz holidays that include the Saturday artisan market — held in the town’s Ramblas area — can pick up high-quality local ceramics, lacework, embroidery and Canarian honey, rum and liqueurs directly from their producers.
Puerto de la Cruz’s beaches are unlike those of the south. The northern coastline is volcanic, and the natural beaches are black sand — a result of the island’s basalt geology. Playa Jardín is the most celebrated, redesigned by César Manrique with dramatic landscaping and volcanic rock features.
Playa Jardín’s black sand beach has a powerful character entirely its own — the visual contrast of black sand, turquoise Atlantic water and the volcanic hillside above creates a setting quite unlike any conventional beach resort.
The surf here can be stronger than the calm southern beaches, and swimming conditions can be rougher in winter months.
For those who prefer calmer conditions, the Lago Martianez complex provides excellent swimming in its saltwater pools throughout the year. Many Puerto de la Cruz holidays use the Lago as their primary swimming venue and the beaches as a secondary option.
Puerto de la Cruz is one of the best excursion bases on Tenerife, positioned at the intersection of the northern coast’s cultural attractions and the road network leading to Teide National Park.
La Orotava is just 5 kilometres away — a 10-minute drive or a 30-minute walk through the Orotava Valley. The historic town’s architecture, Corpus Christi carpets and botanical garden complement Puerto de la Cruz holidays perfectly.
Teide National Park is approximately 30–40 minutes by car via the TF-24 northern approach road. The drive through pine forest and lava fields to the Las Cañadas caldera offers a different perspective on the volcano to the more commonly used southern approach.
The Anaga Rural Park — Tenerife’s ancient laurisilva forest reserve — is 40 minutes east by car. The coastal villages of the Anaga peninsula, reachable only by winding mountain roads, are among the most authentic and least-visited parts of Tenerife and reward those willing to make the journey.
Puerto de la Cruz has the best restaurant scene in the north of Tenerife. The old port area and the streets around Plaza del Charco contain Canarian fish restaurants that have served the same dishes — freshly caught Atlantic fish, papas arrugadas, mojo sauces — for decades.
La Ranilla neighbourhood behind the old port has become the most concentrated area of good independent restaurants in the resort, with a mix of traditional Canarian cooking, contemporary Spanish cuisine and international options at very competitive prices.
Puerto de la Cruz holidays should include at least one meal at a traditional Canarian restaurant away from the main tourist streets. The quality of local fish and house mojo sauces here consistently surpasses what is available in the more commercial south coast resorts.
Most Puerto de la Cruz holidays arrive into Tenerife South Airport (TFS), approximately 60–80 minutes by road. Tenerife North Airport (TFN) at Los Rodeos is approximately 25–30 minutes from the resort and receives limited UK flights via mainland Spanish connections.
Direct charter and scheduled flights from UK airports to Tenerife South take approximately four hours from London. Transfer to Puerto de la Cruz can be arranged by pre-booked private transfer, taxi or the TITSA bus network (line 343 from TFS to Puerto de la Cruz).
Within the resort and surrounding area, the local bus network is excellent by Tenerife standards. Regular services connect Puerto de la Cruz with La Orotava, Santa Cruz de Tenerife and the coastal motorway. Car hire is available in town for those wanting to explore the north independently.
| Location | North coast of Tenerife — above the Orotava Valley |
| Airport | Tenerife South (TFS) — 60–80 mins; Tenerife North (TFN) — 25 mins |
| Flight time from UK | Approx 4 hours direct to Tenerife South |
| Time zone | WET (UTC+0) — 1 hour behind UK in summer |
| Currency | Euro (EUR) |
| Best months | Year-round; Apr–Jun and Sep–Nov ideal; cooler Dec–Feb |
| Climate | Slightly cooler and greener than south; 18–25°C year-round |
| Best for | Culture, Loro Parque, Lago Martianez, couples, history, walking |
| Key attractions | Lago Martianez, Loro Parque, Playa Jardín, old town quarter |
| Nearest historic town | La Orotava — 5km / 10 minutes |
When booking your Puerto de la Cruz holidays, always check that your tour operator carries the right financial protection. Search4Sun lists holidays from a wide range of UK operators — standards vary, so we recommend doing your own due diligence before you pay.
Look for ABTA membership, ATOL protection or ABTOT cover — these schemes protect your money if an operator ceases trading before or during your holiday. For a plain-English guide to what each scheme covers, read our holiday protection guide.
For last-minute Puerto de la Cruz holiday deals, check LastMinute.com for availability and pricing from UK airports.
Yes — book a flight-inclusive package through a UK ATOL-licensed tour operator and your money and repatriation are fully protected. All operators on Search4Sun carry full ABTA protection.
See our holiday protection guide for full details of ATOL and ABTA coverage for your Puerto de la Cruz booking.
Puerto de la Cruz and the southern resorts offer fundamentally different holiday experiences. The south delivers the most reliable sunshine, the best sandy beaches and the liveliest resort atmosphere. Puerto de la Cruz offers more culture, history, a more sophisticated town character and the extraordinary Lago Martianez and Loro Parque.
Most visitors who know Tenerife well prefer the north for a second or third trip, and many find Puerto de la Cruz holidays more rewarding for an extended stay. First-timers seeking guaranteed beach weather are better served by the south.
Loro Parque is consistently rated among the top 5 zoos in Europe. It houses over 4,000 animals including orcas, gorillas, tigers, penguins, walruses and the world’s largest parrot collection. Puerto de la Cruz holidays with a full day at Loro Parque rarely fail to impress.
The park is well-maintained, spacious and professionally run. Budget a full day and arrive when it opens to make the most of the animal shows and avoid the midday peak crowds.
Puerto de la Cruz’s beaches are black sand (volcanic) rather than the golden imported sand of the south. Playa Jardín is visually dramatic and well-maintained, but the surf can be stronger than southern beaches. Swimming conditions vary by season and weather.
The Lago Martianez — César Manrique’s celebrated seawater pool complex on the seafront — is widely used as the primary swimming venue for Puerto de la Cruz holidays and provides calm conditions in all weathers.
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