Puerto de la Cruz Holidays: Resorts, Weather and Flights

Puerto de la Cruz is a lived-in coastal town first and a resort second, with a population of about 32,000 and a cluster of sights you can reach on foot. The Archaeological Museum and the lighthouse are right in the centre, the Castillo de San Felipe and the seawater pools of Lago Martiánez are around half a mile out, and The Friar's Rock viewpoint is close by.

A little further, around a mile and a quarter away, are Loro Parque and the Jardín de Aclimatación de la Orotava, the botanical garden. For a swim, Playa de San Telmo is in town and Playa Jardin is about half a mile along the shore.

Most visitors stay in Puerto de la Cruz itself, where the beaches, museums and Loro Parque are all close at hand. It is the obvious choice for a first visit or a family holiday where you would rather not drive every day.

La Orotava, about 2.5 miles away and the largest of the three towns with some 42,000 residents, is the place for history: Casa de los Balcones, Casa Lercaro and the sacred art museum all sit here, and the Mirador de Mataznos viewpoint and the Pinoleris nature reserve are within about 5 miles. Los Realejos, roughly 3 miles from Puerto de la Cruz, is quieter and gives you access to Playa del Socorro and Playa del Terrero.

April, July and August are the strongest months. April brings highs of about 25°C with only around seven rainy days, while July and August are the driest of the year, with just two or three days of rain and highs of 29°C to 30°C.

The rest of the year is mild rather than hot: January and February sit around 22°C by day and 15°C to 16°C at night, though you should expect ten or eleven days with some rain. May is surprisingly showery, with about 14 rainy days, and autumn stays warm, with October still reaching around 29°C. Packages over the British school holidays tend to cost more, so term-time dates are worth checking if you are free to travel then.

Direct flights from the United Kingdom land at Tenerife South (TFS), and the drive to Puerto de la Cruz takes about 37 minutes, with La Orotava around 34 minutes and Los Realejos about 33. On a package, that transfer is arranged for you.

Tenerife North (TFN) is closer, roughly 19 minutes from Puerto de la Cruz, but it has no direct UK flights, so it only helps if you are connecting through another airport. If you are island-hopping, the ferry port at Santa Cruz de Tenerife is about 17 miles away and Los Cristianos about 25 miles.

Most British travellers book a package: flight from the UK into Tenerife South, hotel and return transfer bundled together, with a choice of board basis from room only up to all inclusive. You can compare deals from Jet2holidays, TUI, loveholidays and On the Beach on this page.

If you prefer to arrange things yourself, you can also check hotel prices, compare car hire for trips up to La Orotava or along the coast, and browse tours and tickets, including options for Loro Parque and other sights nearby.