Puerto de la Cruz

A cosmopolitan old colonial town known to tourists throughout Europe, Puerto de la Cruz is located on the north coast of Tenerife and is the principal tourist centre of the island. It was in the 1890s that Puerto de la Cruz became a fashionable spa town and since then it has become a preferred holiday spot for European royalty and dignitaries, such as Winston Churchill and Bertrand Russell. Despite its popularity as a tourist destination, it has maintained the style and flair of a cosmopolitan spa as well as kept the feel of a small and friendly, bustling Spanish town. Being the birthplace of tourism in the Canary Islands, Puerto de la Cruz attracts some 900,000 visitors annually. Most of the area around the old fishing port is lined with cobbled streets, full of colonial architecture and is one of the few resorts where locals still work, eat and drink. It is a place where old world charm exists alongside trendy hotels and apartments, making this the perfect holiday destination.

Puerto de la Cruz is a shopper's paradise. The 'free port status', which the island enjoys, allows imports from all over the world. There are a large variety of goods available from the many hundreds of shops, often at good prices. Electronic items of every description, photographic gear, perfumes and alcohol are especially cheap. Travellers should beware that cheap goods can sometimes be tacky and counterfeit goods can often be found. The Martianez mall is a favourite with tourists to splash out on clothes, shoes and gifts.

For a fine culinary experience in Puerto de la Cruz, try La Casona, Meson los Gemelos, Regulo or La Ganania. The many restaurants in the resort offer up a variety of dishes and many different cuisines can be found. The Plaza de Charco is lined with restaurants and cafés and it is the perfect place to enjoy a meal, tapas or just a drink and watch the world go by.

The most popular bars in Puerto de la Cruz have to be Frigata, Molly Malones, Color Café and Azucar. There is, however, a wide range of bars and clubs on offer, with some staying open into the early hours of the morning.

Puerto de la Cruz offers some of the best tourist attractions on the island and many guided walks are available. The town is very attractive and has many historical buildings to visit, such as the Church of Nuestra Senora de la Pena and the Castle of San Felipe. Other places to see include the Loro Pargue which boasts over 200 species of parrots and other animals, the Botanical Gardens, displaying plants from Africa, South America and Australia is a must, and for those willing to venture further a field, the volcanic landscape of the Teide National Park is well worth a trip.

In recent years muggings and other street crimes have started to become a problem. Thefts from cars, especially cars left overnight and cars left in what appear to be deserted scenic locations, have become a major problem. Travellers should not leave valuable items in an unoccupied car.

There are a huge number of companies offering boat trips to tourists and these vary from a 'booze cruise' on a cruiser offering lunch, drinks and watersports to a trip around the island on a sailing boat or catamaran. One of the main attractions is the chance to see whales and dolphins in the wild. Visitors on most trips spot whales; dolphins are not so much of a certainty but are generally seen - often very close to the boat. Trips go from either Puerto Colon in Playa de las Americas, or from the port at Los Cristianos and most operators offer a free bus service from the larger hotels in the main resorts.

The Canary Islands are one of the best spots in the world for big game fishing and there are a number of companies who offer fishing trips in Tenerife. While blue marlin are the most highly prized trophy fish there are plenty of other species including white marlin, wahoo, dorado, yellowfin tuna, and mako and hammerhead sharks. Regular catches of blue marlin range from 331 to 496 pounds (150 to 225kg).