Puerto de la Cruz Holidays

Puerto de la Cruz was first off the blocks when it came to selling itself as a holiday hotspot. Visitors from mainland Europe flocked to the then-tiny fishing village way back when in the late 19th century. It was seen as a stylish spa break destination by the Victorians. And the secret was well and truly out by the 1950s, when sun-seeking tourists cottoned on in their thousands. That being said, it’s not a jam-packed, bucket-and-spade situation here. Puerto de la Cruz has used its clout to stick to the classy roots that put it on the map – think chic boardwalks, pretty plazas, and a booming restaurant scene.

Tenerife’s dusky-coloured beaches are unmistakeable, and Puerto de la Cruz’s Playa Jardin – AKA Garden Beach – is one of the most famous in the Canary Islands. The black sand rolls out for half a kilometre, tucked in between two sheltering headlands. At one end, you’ll find another beach – Playa Maria Jimenez – and on the other, you’ve got a castle that set up camp in the 16th century. There are no prizes for guessing how this curvy bay got its name – it’s peppered with cacti, palm trees, and bright-pink Canarian bell flowers.

Mount Teide’s the island’s resident celebrity, and you can catch more than a glimpse of its lofty peak from Puerto de la Cruz’s seafront. The drive from town to almost-peak takes an hour, and from here you can hop on the cable car to get to the volcano’s summit. It reaches a height of 3,718 metres, so a view to remember is on the cards.