On the northwest coast of Tenerife, Puerto de La Cruz is  just 35km from Santa Cruz. Originally a small fishing village but now is host to a plethora of bars, restaurants, shops and even a casino.

The beaches are natural black volcanic sand, typical of many beaches in this part of the world. They are not always suitable for swimming because the tide can be strong.  A man made seawater swimming pool  is situated just a couple of hundred yards from the shore.

The main strip, Avenida de Colon, leads off to a maze of side-streets, lined with shops selling bargains like alcohol, jewellery and lace. The town’s traditional main square should be visited. The old part of the town remains charmingly innocent and unchanged.

Plaza de Charco is populated in the evenings by a number of street artists, and is ideal for having a drink, whilst people watching for a couple of hours.