
Carnaval Internacional
Carnival comes to Puerto de la Cruz to flood the city with colour and the cheerful rhythms of the comparsas and murgas. If you visit the city in February, don’t forget to put on your best costume and take to the streets to enjoy a party where a good atmosphere is guaranteed.There are many activities planned for these days, so to make sure you don’t get lost amidst all the festivities, here are some of them that you shouldn’t miss. Among the extensive carnival agenda, one activity stands out that is becoming more popular every year. Go out ready to have fun in the most popular obstacle race of the year: ‘Mascarita ponte Tacón’.
A crazy men’s competition in which the participants take to the streets of the city centre in dizzying heels. Without a doubt, the laughs are guaranteed.Another event that will not leave you indifferent is the ‘Mataculebra’ or ‘Killing the snake’, a carnival tradition of Afro-Cuban origin that has survived in Puerto de la Cruz as a tradition and has become one of the favourite activities of the city’s schools, who are in charge of staging this magical ritual.
Every year, the ‘Coso Apoteosis del Carnaval’ (Carnival Apotheosis Parade) crowns the festivities. The parade, in which decorated floats, comparsas, murgas, choreographic groups and even foreign delegations take part, takes over the central streets of the city to get everyone dancing in a magical atmosphere of excitement and magic. Remember that these festivities do not only take place in February. If you visit the city in September, you can enjoy the colourful Summer Carnival, when the city chooses its Carnival King.