Situated on the northwest coast of tenerife, Puerto de La Cruz is the most popular resort in that area of the Island, just 35km from Santa Cruz. Although it is a little short on beaches it offers everything else that you may need. It was originally a small fishing village but now is host to a plethora of bars, restaurants, shops and even a casino.

The beaches are both natural, and are covered in black volcanic sand, which is typical of many beaches in this part of the world. They are not always suitable for swimming in, as the tide can be quite strong. This is because of a lack of a natural reef. However, a man made seawater swimming pool was designed by Cesar Manrique, a Lanzarote artist now sadly deceased, and it 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 such as alcohol, jewellery and lace. The town's traditional main square should be visited, to experience the buzzing atmosphere. 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.

Puerto de La Cruz is not so driven by tourism as some of the other resorts. So although it can certainly more than cater for it's many visitors... it still has a high number of residents living in the centre. this ensures that it keeps it's original feel, and makes it a really special place to visit.

About the Author: Elle Draper from http://www.canarynightlife.net