Merging with the elements

ACTIVE

Merging with the elements

Air

Discover the city from the sky! You will live an unforgettable experience, whether you are an amateur or if you have skills.

Paraglading

Paragliding in Tenerife is one of those things that stays with you forever. You can do it in a two-seater, or individually, and there are several specialised centres, which have runways in Puerto de la Cruz.

Imagine paragliding surrounded by volcanic stone in the Teide National Park, which crosses the sea of clouds, while flying over pine-covered mountains and land and only 30 minutes later, arriving to the sea. It is the only flight in Europe that passes from 2100 meters to quota 0 in only 13 kilometres.

Earth

Okay. You like to keep your feet on the ground, but here you will feel how they rise a little. The special orography and its mild climate all year round, make this island a perfect place to practice leisure activities and outdoor  sports. Its ravines, paths, cliffs, beaches, forests and lava mantles, form a unique natural stage on which you are the main character.

Trekking

Walking in nature is one of the most enjoyable activities experienced by visitors of Tenerife. There are 88 trails located in the north of the island, some of them associated with old royal paths and other equally interesting trails that run along the coast.

And if hiking is your thing, you are going to put on your boots with the Tenerife Trail Network: an extensive guide of marked tourist trails, which allow guided and self-guided excursions. On its route there are numerous recreational areas with all kinds of services and so many viewpoints that will leave you breathless.

We’ve highlighted 3 of these trails due to their proximity to Puerto de la Cruz:

PR-TF 40 Ladera de Tigaiga
http://www.tenerife.es/portalcabtfe/images/PDF/temas/medio_ambiente/17PRTF40LaderaTigaiga.pdf

PR-TF 40.1 Punta del Risco
http://www.tenerife.es/portalcabtfe/images/PDF/temas/medio_ambiente/18PRTF401PuntaRisco.pdf

PR-TF 35 La Caldera–Mamio–La Caldera
http://www.tenerife.es/portalcabtfe/images/PDF/temas/medio_ambiente/PR-TF-35-La-Caldera-Mamio-La-Caldera-30-06-16.pdf

For further information on all the details about the island’s trails, the weather and other information that you must take into account before you start walking, go to:

http://www.tenerife.es/portalcabtfe/es/temas/deportes/red-de-senderos-de-tenerife

Two other very special trails have Puerto de la Cruz as their starting point and are highly recommended for the variety and richness of the natural places through which they run:

1. El Rincón–Valle de La Orotava (Sendero de la Costa)

The path offers spectacular views of the La Orotava Valley and the coast, making it also known as Sendero de la Costa (Coastal Path).

Length of the route: 2 kilometers.
Difficulty: Medium.
Estimated duration: approximately 1 hour and a half.
Description: The trail starts from the urbanisation of La Paz. It is an old road that runs through the coastal area of Yeoward and, after passing through a tunnel on the East motorway of Martiánez, it crosses the ravine of La Arena, enters the municipality of La Orotava and ends on the Beach of El Bollullo.

Places of interest:

  • Playa del Bollullo, beautiful black volcanic beach. There are two other beaches of equal beauty but with difficult access: Los Patos and El Ancón.
  • A beautiful area filled with banana trees.


Starting point:
La Paz, by the Botanical area, in Puerto de la Cruz.
Point of arrival: Bollullo Beach, in La Orotava.

2. Punta Brava–Rambla de Castro–San Juan de la Rambla

It is worth taking a few hours to walk this path, which runs through banana plantations, ravines and meanders the coast and its beaches.

Length of the route: More than 10 km.
Difficulty: Medium. It is in good condition and guarded by railings.
Estimated duration: 5-6 hours
Description: Leaving from Punta Brava, in Puerto de la Cruz and continue along the road and down the path that leads to the Rambla de Castro. You arrive at the Mirador de San Pedro then head down to the beach of Playa del Socorro, where care must be taken due to the strong currents. To the left of the beach, you take a path that climbs to the banana plantations, then down to the Ruiz ravine and, continuing along this well-preserved road, you reach San Juan de la Rambla.

Elements of interest:

  • The viewpoint of San Pedro, from where you can see the entire Rambla de Castro.
  • A part of the trail passes through the Ruiz Barranco, classified as a Site of Scientific Interest and the Protected Landscape of the Rambla de Castro.

Cycle Tourism

Puerto de la Cruz is the first city in the Canary Islands to obtain the Cycling-Friendly seal, which is also granted to numerous establishments adapted to the special requirements for this type of activity.

Its strategic geographical position in the centre of the Orotava Valley makes it ideal as a starting point for all kinds of activities such as cycle tourism (with 200 km of official tracks for mountain biking to Mount Teide). Renovated accommodation and infrastructures, an exquisite and varied gastronomic choice and a climate with few temperature fluctuations during the year round off the offer.

We provide you with a printable and downloadable guide with QR code in which you can find 10 routes classified in different levels, with departure and arrival to Puerto de la Cruz.

Link: https://visitpuertodelacruz.es/en/mini-guide-cycle-tourism

Running

You may be thinking of spending a long time in Tenerife, or that your profession or pace of life requires you to maintain an exercise routine wherever you go; Even when you’re on holidays! Well, we have good news for you: The Taoro Park in Puerto de la Cruz is one of the best places for runners all over the north of Tenerife.

This large “green lung” has groomed trails and a small outdoor gym. The temperature, mild throughout the year, in addition to the historical surroundings (there is the old Hotel Taoro, living history of tourism) to which it belongs, make this park a habitual point of concentration for many athletes.

Speleology

Only 30 minutes from Puerto de la Cruz is the largest labyrinthine volcanic tube in Europe: La Cueva del Viento, in Icod de los Vinos. It was formed 27,000 years ago, when the exterior of a huge lava arm cooled much faster than its interior. It has more than 18 kilometres of extension, three levels of passages and is a beautiful geomorphological phenomena. You must book beforehand if you want to visit, so check out the conditions.

http://www.cuevadelviento.net/

Climbing

The island has more than 900 climbing routes, and different styles coexist here: classic and sports routes, clean climbing routes and artificial trials. If what you like is to have rock and magnesium in your hands, get in touch with those who can best accompany you in this adventure

Canyoning

In the heights of La Orotava, a few minutes from Puerto de la Cruz, you have the perfect place to start your canyon descent: Los Arcos. It is an area of pine forest, where the walls are built with capricious forms of an exuberant nature.

Through the entrails of the ravine descends a channel with more than 10 rappels, the highest of them being about 20 metres in height.

http://www.tenoactivo.com/actividades/producto/barranquismo-en-los-arcos/

Other sports: golf, tenis, paddle tennis.

Puerto de la Cruz is a good place to play golf, with a Pitch & Putt course in the city (Golf La Rosaleda), and two other nearby courses, one of them designed by Severiano Ballesteros.

You’re in luck if you want to play racket ball during your stay in the Port. In the city there are several sports clubs (in which you do not need to become a member) and they will make it very easy for you to enjoy the facilities whether you go for one day or if you stay for a long season.

Sea

The sea, the king of kings in Puerto de la Cruz.
Do not leave without taking a dip in the powerful waters of the Atlantic Ocean, but before, let yourself be advised by people who know of their dangers and their goodness. The sea on the north face of the island is very strong, and often brings strong waves (great for surfing, of course), so you have to be prepared to enjoy it.

Surf, bodyboard y paddle surf

Not even the famous “lady of mystery”, the British writer Agatha Christie, resisted surfing in these waters. There are several surf and bodyboard schools in the city, so it is best to contact them to reserve your place.

If you prefer, you can also test your balance by practicing the island’s fashionable sport: paddle surf. A perfect option to spend the day in the water and enjoy the journey through the volcanic cliffs of Martiánez, without leaving the area.

Diving

Divers set off from the old pier on a daily basis, in an area known for being a preferred point for initiation baptisms. If you dive, you must have heard of the spectacular seafloor of the island. In the north, you cannot miss La Rapadura (in Santa Ursula), which is an underwater volcanic tube only suitable for experienced divers. Its beauty captured the attention of National Geographic magazine, which made the cover in 2012, with an image taken by Francis Perez – underwater photographer from Porto, World Press Photo Award 2017.

Kayaking

It can be a very interesting experience, especially if you are up for a night kayak trip. Enjoy the silhouette of the city from the sea, with the valley of La Orotava in the background and the always impressive figure of the great Teide crowning it all.

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