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Puerto de la Cruz is one of the oldest tourist destinations in the whole of the canaries and this is what gives it the quirky, cultural, picturesque atmosphere. Thousands of tourists make the most of a Puerto de la Cruz holiday every year, but it does not feel crowded, or overly touristy. The locals are incredibly welcoming and encourage learners to practice their Spanish skills, taste the local food, and relax in the beautiful subtropical surroundings. Puerto de la Cruz is blessed with all year round warm weather, with temperatures rarely dropping below 18 degrees and the sea temperature keeping pleasantly warm no matter what time of year you visit. The winds from the North keep Puerto de la Cruz moist, and there is enough rainfall to ensure that the lush vegetation thrives and makes Puerto de la Cruz 'The City of the Eternal Spring.'

You simply must visit the harbour in Puerto de la Cruz. Portside, the hustle and bustle of the fishermen getting ready for their days work in the early morning is a treat to watch from one of the cafe's as you sip your coffee. The harbour feels like the centre of activity and the brightly coloured fishing boats really encourage you to get the camera out and capture the scenes unfold around you. Later on in the day the harbour markets offer tantalising Canarian delicacies and the aroma filling the air around you is unbelievably tantalising!

The old town of Puerto de la Cruz offers quite the modern contrast, with the impressive Lago Martianez. The breath-taking man-made salt water swimming pool complex designed by the famous architect/landscaper Cesar Manrique includes seven pools, a 15,000 square metre artificial lake, subtropical trees and plants, a huge fountain, a Jacuzzi, playground equipment, snack bars, restaurants, and in the centre of it all is the town's impressive Casino. By day it is incredibly impressive, but by night when the pools are lit up and glimmering and the lights in the pathways sparkle as you approach the spectacular casino - it really is a sight for sore eyes! Not only is it great to look at, but entrance fees are incredibly cheap - EUR3.50 for a full day including sun beds with mattresses!

Puerto de la Cruz's main beach - Playa Jardin stretches for one kilometre adorned with fine black sand. There are beautiful gardens including a cactus garden behind the beach and there are many Puerto de la Cruz hotels in this area. Swimming in the sea can sometimes only be for the brave or the surfers out there as the waves do get rather large and intimidating, but it provides endless amusement for those who prefer to watch from the comfort of their sun loungers! The beach is patrolled by lifeguards, so is nice and safe for those that might worry.

A trip to Puerto de la Cruz would not be complete without visiting one of the biggest attractions in the Canary Islands - Loro Parque. The spectacular park has 135,000 square metres of sub-tropical gardens, an aquarium and an impressive zoo where you can catch a parrot, sea lion, dolphin or orca show. There are rides for the family, or if you are feeling like a big kid. Full day tickets do not break the bank and allow you access to all of the shows.

La Paz is one of the more upmarket districts of Puerto de la Cruz and is home to the magnificent Botanico Gardens which has over 5,000 exotic trees and plants from all over the world. The plants are in the perfect conditions in Puerto de la Cruz and you can really see them thriving amongst wonderfully amusing exhibits such as the 'drunken tree' which visibly sways about! There is even a tree where the fruit looks like sausages! Entrance is a bargain at EUR5 and is the perfect place to spend a couple of hours wondering around.

If food is your thing you will not leave Puerto de la Cruz unhappy, as there are around 300 restaurants to choose from! Plaza Charco is a great venue for enjoying a jug of Sangria while people watching. There is a great deal of live music around to enjoy in many of the bars during the evening. There really is a romantic feel to many of the little venues around Puerto de la Cruz, and the staff are always welcoming and attentive. The nightlife in Puerto de la Cruz is quite the contrast from the booze fuelled antics of the British. Weekend nightlife doesn't even begin until midnight and the emphasis is on socialising and dancing to good music, not getting drunk. However, there is a selection of British, German and Scandinavian bars in Puerto de la Cruz to cater for drink loving visitors. If you feel like hitting a club they don't usually get going until around 1.30am and the fee is usually around EUR4-6 which really isn't bad. You can usually find a tout that will take you into the club for a free shot.