Puerto de la Cruz Holidays: A Tenerife Family Resort Guide
Provincia de Santa Cruz de Tenerife · Canary Islands · Spain · 32,219 residents · on the coast
Loro Parque
Castillo de San Felipe
Archaeological Museum of Puerto de la Cruz
Lago Martiánez
Puerto de la Cruz LighthousePuerto de la Cruz is a coastal town of about 32,000 people on Tenerife, and it packs a great deal into a small footprint. Within half a mile of the centre you will find the Archaeological Museum, the lighthouse, Playa de San Telmo, the Castillo de San Felipe and the Lago Martiánez lido complex, while Loro Parque and the Jardín de Aclimatación de la Orotava botanical garden sit about a mile out. Daytime highs run from 22°C in January to 30°C in August, so it works as a winter-sun escape as well as a summer one. Tenerife South, with direct flights from the UK, is roughly 37 minutes away by car.
Why go
- Loro Parque, the island's best-known zoo, is only about a mile from the town centre.
- Winter highs of around 22°C make January and February a gentle escape from British weather.
- Tenerife South has direct UK flights and sits roughly 37 minutes away by car.
Top sights in Puerto de la Cruz
Sights, Beaches and Family Days Out
The headline attraction is Loro Parque, a zoo about a mile from the centre and the reason many families choose this town. At a similar distance is the Jardín de Aclimatación de la Orotava, a botanical garden that makes a calmer half-day. Closer in, the Castillo de San Felipe, a protected historic fort, and Lago Martiánez, a leisure complex popular with families, are both around half a mile away.
The Archaeological Museum of Puerto de la Cruz is barely a couple of hundred yards from the centre, and the Puerto de la Cruz Lighthouse and The Friar's Rock viewpoint are each within about a third of a mile. For time on the sand, Playa de San Telmo is a quarter of a mile away and Playa Jardín a little over half a mile.
Tours and tickets for the area can be booked directly from this page, with dozens of activities listed on the booking cards below.
1zoo- 2castle
- 3museum
Archaeological Museum of Puerto de la Cruz
In the centre · Photo
archaeological museum in Tenerife, Canary Islands
- 4theme park
- 5lighthouse
6botanical garden
7viewpointThe Friar's Rock
In the centre · Photo
8beachPlaya Jardin
In the centre · Photo
9beachPlaya de San Telmo (Puerto de la Cruz)
In the centre · Photo
Tours & tickets in Puerto de la Cruz
Guided tours, day trips and tickets in and around Puerto de la Cruz can be booked in advance, priced in GBP.
See tours & tickets (opens GetYourGuide in a new tab)Where to stay in Puerto de la Cruz
Choosing Your Base in Town
Because the town is compact, most of the main sights are walkable from almost anywhere. Staying close to the seafront puts you within a few minutes of Playa de San Telmo, the lighthouse and the Archaeological Museum, with the Castillo de San Felipe and Lago Martiánez a short stroll further on.
Families planning several days at Loro Parque or the botanical garden may prefer a base nearer that side of town, roughly a mile from the centre, while those who want to swim each morning can look near Playa Jardín. The page shows live hotel prices so you can compare locations side by side.
Hire a car
The easiest way to reach Puerto de la Cruz and the villages around it is a hire car from Tenerife South (TFS), about 37 min away.
Best time to visit Puerto de la Cruz
When the Weather Is Best
- 22°CJan57 mm
- 22°CFeb48 mm
- 23°CMar54 mm
- 25°CApr37 mm
- 24°CMay50 mm
- 26°CJun38 mm
- 29°CJul6 mm
- 30°CAug11 mm
- 27°CSept33 mm
- 29°COct56 mm
- 27°CNov32 mm
- 24°CDec41 mm
Highlighted months are the sweet spot for warm, dry weather.
April, July and August offer the most pleasant conditions. April brings highs of around 25°C with just seven rain days, while July and August are the driest months of the year, with only 6mm and 11mm of rain respectively and highs of 29°C and 30°C.
August is the hottest month, with October close behind at 29°C. The wettest spells come in January, October and March, each with around 55mm of rain, and May has the most rain days at 14. Even so, winter stays mild, with highs of 22°C and nights rarely dropping below 15°C, which suits a sunshine break from the UK.
Full monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 22°C | 16°C | 57 mm | 9 h |
| Feb | 22°C | 15°C | 48 mm | 10 h |
| Mar | 23°C | 16°C | 54 mm | 11 h |
| Apr | 25°C | 17°C | 37 mm | 12 h |
| May | 24°C | 17°C | 50 mm | 12 h |
| Jun | 26°C | 19°C | 38 mm | 13 h |
| Jul | 29°C | 22°C | 6 mm | 12 h |
| Aug | 30°C | 23°C | 11 mm | 11 h |
| Sept | 27°C | 21°C | 33 mm | 11 h |
| Oct | 29°C | 22°C | 56 mm | 10 h |
| Nov | 27°C | 19°C | 32 mm | 9 h |
| Dec | 24°C | 16°C | 41 mm | 9 h |
Averages 2015–2024. Highlighted months are the sweet spot for warm, dry weather.
Getting there from the UK
Flights, Transfers and Ferries
Tenerife South (TFS) has direct flights from the UK and lies about 25 miles from Puerto de la Cruz, roughly a 37-minute drive. Tenerife North (TFN) is closer, at about 14 miles or 19 minutes by car, but it does not have direct flights from the UK, so it is mainly useful if you are connecting via another Spanish airport.
For island-hopping, the port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife is about 19 miles away with sailings to Las Palmas, La Gomera, La Palma and El Hierro. Los Cristianos, about 27 miles away, serves San Sebastián de la Gomera, La Palma and El Hierro. Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, around 72 miles away across the water, also connects to the Spanish mainland at Huelva and Cádiz.
By air
- Tenerife South (TFS)25 miles, about 37 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
- Tenerife North (TFN)14 miles, about 19 min by road
By car and ferry
Nearest ferry ports: Santa Cruz de Tenerife (19 miles), Los Cristianos (27 miles), Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (72 miles).
Puerto de la Cruz is good for
Around Puerto de la Cruz
Easy Trips from Puerto de la Cruz
La Orotava is the closest neighbour, only about 2.5 miles away, with Los Realejos at around 3 miles and Santa Úrsula at about 4 miles. All three are near enough for a relaxed morning or afternoon out.
A little further, San Juan de la Rambla lies about 6 miles away, with La Matanza de Acentejo and La Guancha both around 7 miles off. Tacoronte, at roughly 9 miles, and Icod de los Vinos, at about 11 miles, are the larger towns on the list and make worthwhile full-day outings.
Tips from Robin
Practical Tips Before You Go
Pack a light layer and something waterproof outside high summer. Rain is spread across much of the year here, and May in particular has around 14 rain days, so plan indoor options such as the Archaeological Museum for wetter afternoons.
Car hire is worth considering if you are flying into Tenerife South, as the transfer takes around 37 minutes and a car also opens up the nearby towns and ferry ports. Within Puerto de la Cruz itself, the beaches, fort and lighthouse are all within about half a mile of the centre, so you can leave the car parked for most of your stay.
Questions people ask
Which airport is best for Puerto de la Cruz from the UK?
Tenerife South (TFS) is the one to aim for, as it has direct flights from the UK. It is about 25 miles away, roughly a 37-minute drive. Tenerife North is closer at around 19 minutes, but has no direct UK flights.
How far is Loro Parque from Puerto de la Cruz?
Loro Parque is about a mile from the town centre, making it an easy trip for families staying in Puerto de la Cruz. The Jardín de Aclimatación de la Orotava botanical garden is at a similar distance, so the two pair well.
Is Puerto de la Cruz warm in winter?
Yes, it stays mild. January and February see highs of around 22°C and lows of 15 to 16°C. Expect some rain, though, with roughly 10 to 11 rain days a month in the depths of winter.
Does Puerto de la Cruz have beaches?
It does. Playa de San Telmo is about a quarter of a mile from the centre, near the lighthouse, and Playa Jardín is a little over half a mile away. The Lago Martiánez leisure complex is also around half a mile out.
What is the driest time to visit Puerto de la Cruz?
July and August are the driest months, with just 6mm and 11mm of rain and only two or three rain days. They are also the hottest, with highs of 29°C and 30°C, so book shade time around midday.
Can I take a ferry to other Canary Islands from Puerto de la Cruz?
Yes. Santa Cruz de Tenerife port, about 19 miles away, has sailings to Las Palmas, La Gomera, La Palma and El Hierro. Los Cristianos, around 27 miles away, also serves La Gomera, La Palma and El Hierro.