The garden areas have had an enormous historical importance in urban planning, and constant efforts have been made to integrate vegetation into the urban environment. Ships that travelled from Europe to America, Asia and Africa, often stopped in the Canary Islands and this led to the coexistence of an endless amount of tree, shrub and herbaceous species from the most remote regions of the planet in the archipelago.

It was precisely the exuberant flora and the peculiar geology of this corner of the Atlantic that caught the attention of early explorers-travellers, such as Alexander von Humboldt.

The emblematic Botanical Garden is home to more than four thousand species of all kinds, and several collections of tropical and subtropical flora. Some of their tree specimens are as impressive in beauty as in height, age or exoticism.

Your trip to Tenerife is already in itself a health trip, even if that is not your main objective; this is mainly due to being under cleanest sky in Europe, the healing power of the Atlantic Ocean, and the energising effect of rays of sun on your body. This was experienced by the first Europeans who arrived in the city at the end of the nineteenth century, following the recommendation of the British Medical Society to spend seasons here to overcome respiratory or skin conditions.

As if this were not enough, you can pamper your body and disconnect your mind by having a hot stone massage, spending hours in a jacuzzi, or treating yourself to a treatment where you get covered in chocolate. The Oriental Spa Garden, located in a 5* luxury Hotel Botánico Tenerife, is considered to be one of the best in Europe and is undoubtedly one of the best attractions in the city. The SPA & Wellness Center also stands out, located on the 14th floor of Hotel Beatriz Atlantis & 4 * SPA, under an attractive transparent dome.

Puerto de la Cruz is a great outdoor shopping mall. The streets, both the avenues and its narrow street are full of shops. In a short walk you will find exclusive clothing boutiques, major brand stores or franchises, perfumeries, shoe stores, tobacconists, shops that sell wine and much more!

Going shopping here is a pleasure, because, not only is there always a very good atmosphere in the streets but there are also many terraces, cafes and restaurants where you can take a break.

Good news for shoppers: being listed as a Tourist Town, practically all businesses open on Sunday.

What better way to enjoy the night than sitting comfortably on a balcony facing the sea at 20 degrees or dancing on a rooftop terrace. You will find many places where you can have a good cocktail with your new friends, play a game of table football – that wonderful Spanish invention – listen to a live band or dance as if there were no tomorrow.

There was a time when Puerto was the wildest nightclub on the whole island, but now you can enjoy a more authentic nightlife on a smaller scale.

Mainly, there are four spots that concentrate most of the nightlife, restaurants and entertainment (restaurants, recreation rooms, nightclubs, bars, squares, fast food or pubs):

• Central Area (Plaza del Charco, Calle Blanco, Suez Canal, Calle Iriarte, Muelle Pesquero and surrounding area)
• Area of Avenida de Colón and surroundings
• Area La Paz
• Area of Calle La Hoya