What activities are there in Puerto de la Cruz?

[casabonny]

We have booked a weekend away up North , and for those of you living there what would you recommend we must do?We have done the Loro Parque so don't need that , but what are theBotanical gardens like, do you have to pay, if so are there any reading discounts?
We will be wandering around Puerto so anything we should see or look out for?
Any help or ideas appreciated.

[tracey]

We have booked a weekend away up North , and for those of you living there what would you recommend we must do?We have done the Loro Parque so don't need that , but what are theBotanical gardens like, do you have to pay, if so are there any reading discounts?
We will be wandering around Puerto so anything we should see or look out for?
Any help or ideas appreciated.

Yes you pay for the Botanic Gardens (cant remember how much) and to be honest its not really worth it. Its really small.
We tend to just wander around the old town and shop in the boutiques, although last time we went to the fair and ate churros from a street vendor :)

[Megaloo]

If you like to eat out pay a visit to Titos which is on the roundabout at St Nicholas, Also La Boheime for a real treat it is just off the Plaza , Visit Oratava if you are up the next week it is the festival of the carpets, I think.

[Margaretta]

Sorry....disagree. The Botanic Gardens in Puerto are amazing. Wonderful plants and gardens and it costs just 3 euros.

There are at least two other public gardens in Puerto as well as the beach garden towards Punta Brava. Sitio Litre is famous for its orchids and a visit by Agatha Christie where she wrote 'The Mysterious Mr. Quinn.' Would LOVE that mansion!
There is a small road behind the Parque San Antonio Hotel starting at the British Library which leads past the Tigigua and through the Casino Gardens. As you go down the steps the waterfall gardens of Risco Bello are on the right. Steps lead on down. across the road and back down into the town, a lovely walk.
The fishing area of the town has some terrific restaurants and the whole maritime walk has twists and turns showing the charm of Puerto and beyond and it's spectacular seaside. The town around the church has the many wooden balconies and cobbles and flowers are everywhere. Of course you can laze your days in the Martianez complex or on the beaches. We loved to spend our evenings in the cafes of Plaza del Charco, hubby with beer and me with a cocktail with a rose! people-watching and being entertained. There is loads to see and I think sometimes you have to look with more detail at where you are and take time to enjoy it instead of getting away.
Mind you, I'd love to be in Puerto away from this miserable rain as it's very hard to appreciate Kent at the moment!!!

[casabonny]

We are going the weekend after next so will miss the carpet of flowers but as I love flowers we will no doubt visit the Botanical Gardens. We have been to Oratava several times so its really in and around the close proximity of Puerto that we will be meandering! Thanks for the info .

[canarybird]

As I've lived in Puerto over 30 years I can say I never tire of finding new things to see.
You can't do much in just a weekend, but I can suggest some things through photos I've taken and you can decide if they appeal to you.

I love the Botanical Garden, but it's not the Chelsea Flower show. It began as a garden of acclimatization or a stopping off point for tropical plants brought here from the tropics, intended to be later moved up to the Spanish peninsula, once they had become accustomed to a cooler climate. Thus you will see many trees and plants, cactus and succulents, ferns, some orchids, flowers and flowering bushes. There is a new extension to the gardens which has not yet been opened to the public. Here's a small slideshow of photos (http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/botanico&view=slideshow) I've taken there over the years.

Playa Jardin Beach (http://canarybird.smugmug.com/Sea-and-Beach/Punts-Brava-Beach-Tenerife-1/7227916_zfCnQT#!i=464423257&k=W6JvrJM) where you may just want to stroll along the paved walkway and have a lunch at one of the little restaurants at the end in Punta Brava.

Sightseeing in downtown (http://canarybird.smugmug.com/Gardens/2013-around-town-and-garden/27789081_JQz7zW#!i=2509280271&k=VT6WQLn) Puerto de la Cruz.

Or again, more photos of Puerto (http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/town_walk&view=slideshow)downtown.

Catch a bus up to La Orotava, (http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/liceo_de_taoro&view=slideshow)wander around this beautiful town, see the Liceo Taoro and the gardens there and then go to Casa Egon for a very simple Canary lunch sitting in their patio beside the banana trees. Buy some of their cakes in their bakery to eat while sitting at the bandstand in the square.

If you're in Orotava for June 6, go and see the flower and sand carpets of Corpus Christ (http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/sand_carpets&view=slideshow)i. Something which you will not forget. Take cameras.

Making the flower carpets in La Orotava:

http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/100277557.jpg

And as Megaloo has suggested, don't miss a lunch or dinner at Tito's Bodeguita (http://canarybird.smugmug.com/Garden-Party/Titos-Luncheon/i-PvrGZtJ/0/L/P1130603-L.jpg), in the San Nicolas area. Closed on Sundays.

http://canarybird.smugmug.com/Garden-Party/Titos-Luncheon/i-36Crxms/0/L/P1120681-L.jpg

Guess that's enough for now. :)

PS Just refreshed the page and saw your comment on Orotava and when you're going. Hope you find plenty to do in Puerto then Bonny.

Canarybird

[ribuck]

There are some fabulous lookouts (miradors) nearby. I like Mirador San Pedro on the TF-5 just west of Puerto, where you can have a coffee or a meal with a great view. Then, you can stroll on the paths through the old palm-planted estate, where you will find an old fort, some tunnels, a spring, wild chooks, and a restored building.

A little further west is the picnic area of Zona Recreativa Barranco de Ruiz. The picnic area itself is pleasant but nothing special. However, from here there's a path that takes you up the cliffside of the spectacular Barranco.

There's a great Mirador at El Lance where you can have a coffee from the snack bar, or a restaurant meal downstairs, while enjoying a stunning view over Los Realejos and Puerto de la Cruz. If you have some energy, a half-hour steep uphill walk takes you to the lookout at La Corona, where on a fine day you can watch the paragliders launching.

The three beaches at Playa Jardin are wonderful, as is Playa Martianez, although on many days the waves are too high for swimming. For something different, you can swim at the city beaches: the stony Playa del Muelle or the rockpools at Playa de San telmo. Not everyone appreciates these though.

The coastal walk to Playa Bollullo is beautiful, and there's a nice beach bar. (This is the beach where local Tinerfeños go to escape obnoxious tourists, so it's important not to be an obnoxious tourist here.) For nude sunbathing you can go further east to the stony "beach" at El Ancón.

The Plaza at the tiny hill town of Pino Alto is a beautiful spot that overlooks this part of the coast.

Back in the city itself, Parque Taoro is beautiful. To find it, just head uphill from La Estrella, the distinctive star-shaped petrol station. There is a planted jungle, and some impressive (pumped) waterfalls, plus quiet parks and gardens higher up. No entry charge, and a nice cafe.

Don't be put off La Oratava by the first impression you get if you arrive by bus, of an ugly concrete jungle. There are some really interesting old streets to the west of the bus station, and the beautiful Jardin Victoria.

If it's a really hot day, head up into the hills to cool off. Take the 345 bus to its last stop at La Caldera. Here you can either have a picnic with a wood-fuelled barbecue (wood provided), or visit the rustic old bar/cafeteria. There are plenty of short walks in the surrounding woodland. There's another nice picnic area at Chanajiga (wood provided for barbecues), and one on the road to El Rincón (I can't remember whether it has barbecues).

Puerto de la Cruz is a varied city, and you can spend hours just wandering its interesting streets. There's lots of street life, lots of culture, and lots of architecture. It has a range of festivals. For example, I was there one October when there was an afternoon where the children dress up and trail strings of noisy tin cans along the streets. I can't remember what it was for, but it made sense at the time :)

Can you tell that I quite like visiting Puerto?

[canarybird]

" For example, I was there one October when there was an afternoon where the children dress up and trail strings of noisy tin cans along the streets. I can't remember what it was for, but it made sense at the time "

That would be the Fiesta de San Andrés, or the Feast day of St. Andrew, on November 29th. It can be quite a noisy affair, running far into the night. When I first arrived here I was told it was to make noise in order to drive away evil spirits on the traditional day of opening the new wine.
I'm not sure if anyone really knows why they do this but it's a popular event, with older teenagers dragging around large items such as kitchen appliances, car parts and anything large and metallic in order to make as much noise as possible.

[casabonny]

There are some fabulous lookouts (miradors) nearby. I like Mirador San Pedro on the TF-5 just west of Puerto, where you can have a coffee or a meal with a great view. Then, you can stroll on the paths through the old palm-planted estate, where you will find an old fort, some tunnels, a spring, wild chooks, and a restored building.

A little further west is the picnic area of Zona Recreativa Barranco de Ruiz. The picnic area itself is pleasant but nothing special. However, from here there's a path that takes you up the cliffside of the spectacular Barranco.

There's a great Mirador at El Lance where you can have a coffee from the snack bar, or a restaurant meal downstairs, while enjoying a stunning view over Los Realejos and Puerto de la Cruz. If you have some energy, a half-hour steep uphill walk takes you to the lookout at La Corona, where on a fine day you can watch the paragliders launching.

The three beaches at Playa Jardin are wonderful, as is Playa Martianez, although on many days the waves are too high for swimming. For something different, you can swim at the city beaches: the stony Playa del Muelle or the rockpools at Playa de San telmo. Not everyone appreciates these though.

The coastal walk to Playa Bollullo is beautiful, and there's a nice beach bar. (This is the beach where local Tinerfeños go to escape obnoxious tourists, so it's important not to be an obnoxious tourist here.) For nude sunbathing you can go further east to the stony "beach" at El Ancón.

The Plaza at the tiny hill town of Pino Alto is a beautiful spot that overlooks this part of the coast.

Back in the city itself, Parque Taoro is beautiful. To find it, just head uphill from La Estrella, the distinctive star-shaped petrol station. There is a planted jungle, and some impressive (pumped) waterfalls, plus quiet parks and gardens higher up. No entry charge, and a nice cafe.

Don't be put off La Oratava by the first impression you get if you arrive by bus, of an ugly concrete jungle. There are some really interesting old streets to the west of the bus station, and the beautiful Jardin Victoria.

If it's a really hot day, head up into the hills to cool off. Take the 345 bus to its last stop at La Caldera. Here you can either have a picnic with a wood-fuelled barbecue (wood provided), or visit the rustic old bar/cafeteria. There are plenty of short walks in the surrounding woodland. There's another nice picnic area at Chanajiga (wood provided for barbecues), and one on the road to El Rincón (I can't remember whether it has barbecues).

Puerto de la Cruz is a varied city, and you can spend hours just wandering its interesting streets. There's lots of street life, lots of culture, and lots of architecture. It has a range of festivals. For example, I was there one October when there was an afternoon where the children dress up and trail strings of noisy tin cans along the streets. I can't remember what it was for, but it made sense at the time :)

Can you tell that I quite like visiting Puerto?

We are driving up so wouldn't need a bus but thanks for that info.I will probably take my ipad with me so I can refer to the great info you all have provided.

[SeanC]

That would be the Fiesta de San Andrés, or the Feast day of St. Andrew, on November 29th. It can be quite a noisy affair, running far into the night. When I first arrived here I was told it was to make noise in order to drive away evil spirits on the traditional day of opening the new wine.
I'm not sure if anyone really knows why they do this but it's a popular event, with older teenagers dragging around large items such as kitchen appliances, car parts and anything large and metallic in order to make as much noise as possible.

I've been told it's an imitation of the noise the old wine barrels used to make in the cart as the horse & cart made its way down the streets into Puerto from La Orotava. The local kids drag strings with tin cans attached in school to celebrate it! Again a slight variation on the version you've heard so it would seem to definitely have something to do with the new grape harvest.

[crossioly]

Hi Canary bird,
we are moving to Puerto de la Cruz in NOvember. It was wonderful to read your blog and share your beautiful photos of this amazing area we plan to explore.
Many thanks to you
Crossioly