Things to do in Puerto de la Cruz, from the fishing quarter to the 1788 garden

The best of Puerto de la Cruz is its old quarter, listed as a historic-artistic ensemble in 1985: Plaza del Charco, the fishing harbour, the old fishermen's quarter of La Ranilla and two churches, San Francisco (1599) and La Peña de Francia. Beyond it, the Botanical Garden, founded by order of Carlos III in 1788, and along the seafront, Lago Martiánez and the black-sand beaches. It was the Canary Islands' first tourist resort, and the old quarter takes a morning on foot.

Plaza del Charco

It is the heart of the old quarter and the place to start. The name comes from a pool of seawater that used to form in the middle of the square. It has been renovated in recent years, but it keeps its old fountain, its Indian laurels and some very tall palm trees. Turismo de Tenerife counts it among the most popular spots in town.

The harbour and the Casa de la Real Aduana

Walk down from the square and you reach the fishing harbour, one of the liveliest corners of town. Beside it stands the Casa de la Real Aduana, the old customs house, founded in 1620 and one of the Puerto's most characteristic buildings. It now houses the tourist office (Las Lonjas, 1), a good place to pick up a map. Next to it stood the Santa Bárbara battery, of which only a flight of steps remains.

La Ranilla, the fishermen's quarter

Next to the harbour is La Ranilla, the fishermen's quarter. It grew up when the Puerto was still part of La Orotava: fishermen stopped by the shore and the first houses appeared there. They are low houses with hipped roofs in bright colours. Some façades have animals painted on them, recalling each family's nickname. Many walls carry large murals, part of Puerto Street Art, an open-air exhibition.

In the quarter, at Las Lonjas 4, is the Archaeology Museum, in a nineteenth-century Canarian mansion: Aboriginal pottery, mummified remains and seventeenth-century maps. It is the plan if the day turns grey.

Churches and squares in the old quarter

• Church of San Francisco (Calle San Juan 7). Built in 1599, it is regarded as the oldest building in town. Several foreign Christian communities use it.
• Church of Nuestra Señora de la Peña de Francia (Plaza de la Iglesia). It grew out of an earlier chapel in 1684; the tower was added in 1898. Inside, an eighteenth-century Señor del Gran Poder and paintings by Luis de la Cruz y Ríos.
• San Telmo chapel. Founded in 1780 by the sea, on the promenade named after it, and dedicated to the patron saint of sailors.
• Plaza de Europa. By the sea, built in 1992, shaped like a fortress, with six eighteenth- and nineteenth-century cannons and the town hall.

The Castillo de San Felipe, by the Paseo de Luis Lavaggi, is a listed Site of Cultural Interest; in 1994 the Cabildo opened proceedings to protect its surroundings. We have not found an official page with its hours or current use, so we give no further details.

The Botanical Garden

Its official name is the La Orotava Acclimatisation Garden, but it is in Puerto de la Cruz, at Calle Retama 2. It was created by Royal Order of Carlos III on 17 August 1788 to acclimatise tropical plants, and planting began in 1792. The display area covers 20,000 m², with palms, bromeliads, aroids and figs. It is run by ICIA, the Canary Islands agricultural research institute. It opens from 9:00 to 18:00, with last entry at 17:30, and closes on 1 January, Good Friday and 25 December.

Lago Martiánez and the beaches

Lago Martiánez is the seafront lido designed by a team led by César Manrique in the mid-1970s. It has a 27,000 m³ artificial seawater lake, four adult pools and three children's pools, and it is listed as a Site of Cultural Interest in the Historic Garden category.

The Puerto's beaches are black sand, or pebbles and black sand. The Playa Jardín complex, another Manrique design, links Playa Jardín, Playa Chica and Punta Brava, with breakwaters sheltering the swimming area. Martiánez beach, 350 metres long, has a surf area and is usually choppy. San Telmo is tiny, about 20 metres, with no parking. We compare them with Icod's beaches in the beach guide.

Beaches near Icod

Natural pools in north Tenerife

Loro Parque

Loro Parque, a zoo, is on Avenida Loro Parque, in the Puerto itself. We do not review it here; its hours and ticketing are on our official prices page.

Old quarter

Historic-artistic ensemble since 1985

Tourist office

Casa de la Real Aduana, Las Lonjas 1

Botanical Garden

Calle Retama 2 · 9:00–18:00, last entry 17:30 · closed 1 January, Good Friday and 25 December · admission €3 according to Turismo de Tenerife

Lago Martiánez

Avenida de Colón 1 · price and hours not published by an official source

Archaeology Museum

Las Lonjas 4 (La Ranilla) · hours not given on the official page

Official prices and opening hours in north Tenerife

From Finca Julia

The Puerto lies east of Icod, following the north coast towards the Orotava valley. If you would rather not drive, TITSA route 363, Puerto de la Cruz – Buenavista via Icod de los Vinos, links the two. A good plan is to leave the car, see the old quarter and La Ranilla in the morning, have lunch near the harbour and spend the afternoon in the Botanical Garden. With time to spare, add La Orotava: it is all laid out in the valley itinerary. And if you are torn between staying here or in Icod, we compare the two separately.

La Orotava and Puerto de la Cruz in a day

Icod or Puerto de la Cruz? Where to stay

Frequently asked questions

What is the prettiest part of Puerto de la Cruz?

The old quarter: Plaza del Charco, the fishing harbour and La Ranilla, with its colourful houses and murals. It has been protected as a historic-artistic ensemble since 1985.

What is La Ranilla?

The fishermen's quarter, next to the fishing harbour. It has low houses with hipped roofs, Puerto Street Art murals and the Archaeology Museum.

Is the Botanical Garden in La Orotava or the Puerto?

In Puerto de la Cruz, at Calle Retama 2. Its official name, the La Orotava Acclimatisation Garden, is confusing, but the address given by ICIA, which runs it, is in the Puerto.

How long do you need for Puerto de la Cruz?

The old quarter takes a morning on foot. Add the Botanical Garden and some time at Lago Martiánez or Playa Jardín, and it is a full day.