Things to do in Puerto de la Cruz for self travelers
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Leave Puerto de la Cruz and drive straight up to Mount Teide – Spain's highest peak and one of the world's great active volcanoes. Your guide is Benito, a fictional Canarian goat herder who has spent his entire life on this island. Sharp, funny, and deeply knowledgeable, he narrates the 45-kilometre ascent from sea level to over 2,000 metres as the landscape transforms beneath your wheels – from banana plantations and ancient laurel forest to towering Canarian pine and the raw black lava fields of the caldera. Along the way: the volcanic eruption that made this harbour the most important on the island overnight, the underground water galleries supplying 84% of Tenerife's water, the Guanche kingdoms that ruled this valley and the gods they believed lived inside the volcano, the Hollywood films shot in this exact landscape, and why NASA tests Mars rovers up here. No bus, no group, no fixed schedule. Just a car, an open road, and a goat herder who knows every rock on this island. The drive ends at Roques de García inside the National Park – rock formations so extraordinary they once appeared on Spanish banknotes.
Insider tips for visiting Puerto de la Cruz
Martin Benik is a local guide who has been publishing tours since 2026 for your discovery of hidden gems and local specialities of Puerto de la Cruz on their personal guide page (view profile). Explore their expert tips planning trip to Puerto de la Cruz.
When I visit Puerto de la Cruz, I mostly get around on foot—the old town, seafront, Plaza del Charco, and the fishing harbor are all close, and walking lets me catch the little local details, like the quieter lanes around La Ranilla. For longer stretches in Puerto de la Cruz, I recommend the local TITSA buses; they’re reliable for heading to Loro Parque or up toward the Botanical Garden area without dealing with parking on steep streets. Taxis are easy for late evenings, but locals know the center is best enjoyed slowly. In my travel guide Puerto de la Cruz, that’s always my advice if you want to truly visit Puerto de la Cruz and enjoy the real things to do in Puerto de la Cruz.
I usually recommend spring or early autumn in my travel guide Puerto de la Cruz. March to May gives you warm days, greener hills above Puerto de la Cruz, and easier walks around La Paz, the Botanical Garden area, and the old fishing quarter without the heavier holiday crowds. September and October are also lovely in Puerto de la Cruz, especially if you want ocean swims and long evenings by San Telmo. If you plan to visit Puerto de la Cruz for local atmosphere, Carnival and July’s Virgen del Carmen celebrations add real character. For me, that balance of weather, local life, and relaxed things to do in Puerto de la Cruz is ideal.
When I visit Puerto de la Cruz and want to shop, I usually stay around the old town near Calle Quintana, Calle Santo Domingo, and Plaza del Charco. That part of Puerto de la Cruz mixes local boutiques, small island-fashion shops, and traditional food stores without the sterile feel of resort retail. I also like La Ranilla for artisan pieces and independent design, especially if I want something with more character. In my travel guide Puerto de la Cruz, I always mention that mornings are best, when shopkeepers have time to chat and the streets are quieter. For me, browsing these areas is one of the more relaxed things to do in Puerto de la Cruz.