Travel Report Tenerife
How could an 8 days trip to the north of Tenerife to Puerto de la Cruz look like?
Our travel report Tenerife summarizes our 8 days photo trip to the north of Tenerife. We visited the following places. Starting point is Puerto de la Cruz.
Accomodation in Puerto de la Cruz: (Hotel Maritim Tenerife)
Garachico, Meson El Monasterio, Restaurante Mirador de San Pedro, Loro Parque, Teide, Rural de Anaga Park
Where is Tenerife / Puerto de la Cruz?
What one should think of when going to Tenerife:
Currency: Euro. The credit card can be used anywhere in the country. At petrol stations and for small amounts you should have cash ready.
Vaccinations: No vaccinations are required when coming from Germany. However, the standard vaccinations are recommended, see suggestions from the Federal Foreign Office.
In the north of Tenerife the weather changes quickly!
Basically, the temperatures in Tenerife are pleasantly warm during the whole year and most of the times over 20 degrees.
The north of the island has much more rain and wind than the south.
Moreover, by visiting the Pico del Teide one should be aware that the highest mountain of Spain reaches a height of more than 3000 m and there, it can snow in the winter time!
Travel Report Tenerife details
Puerto de la Cruz
Located in the north of Tenerife, Puerto de la Cruz is the largest city next to Santa Cruz (the capital). Touristically, it is far behind the meanwhile modern and partly glamorous south and west of the island and radiates the charm of Spain of the 70/80s.
In most hotels there is a little “renovation backlog”
Most of the hotels have a considerable backlog of renovation work and the number of really good hotels can be reduced to a handful. This is why one is surprised that it is partly difficult to get a room. The reason are the many English, German and Scandinavian regulars.
You love or you hate it!
Those who have discovered Puerto de la Cruz for themselves love it. Although there are many tourists, one soon feels “at home” and everybody finds his places of well-being and favourite restaurants.
El Padrino, one of the best retaurants on the island, a hidden gem
A top restaurant, not only in Puerto de la Cruz, is the inconspicuous “El Padrino”, hidden in the old town, which serves a stockfish that is second to none and a steak that can compete with any premium steakhouse.
Plaza del Charco
For the nightcap, one later goes to the lively Plaza del Charco, where one is either entertained with live music, visits one of the many simple bars or has an ice cream in one of the numerous ice cream parlors.
Garachico
Made famous by a volcanic eruption centuries ago that destroyed half the village, it is now one of the small jewels on the north side. Small and sleepy and yet everything lovingly decorated. You can experience wonderful sunsets here or simply drift through the beautiful alleys and hidden backyards!
Meson El Monasterio
The absolute top tip for cake lovers on the island. Meson el Monasterio is an old monastery, where today there are many small shops and restaurants.
Stunning views from the restaurant
Its main restaurant offers an unforgettable view of Puerto de la Cruz. If you want to linger a little after your meal, you can either watch the chickens, pheasants and ducks in the garden or enjoy a good wine in one of the small restaurants.
Restaurante Mirador San Pedro
The Restaurante Mirador de San Pedro is famous for its “Papas Arugadas” (shrunken potatoes), which are served with green and red sauce. Enjoy a rose wine or a beer with it and then enjoy the view, which is hardly better at any restaurant on the island. Attention, there are only very few parking spaces!
FOTOTIPP:
Loro Parque
Everything began with a pair of parrots and today it is one of the largest parrot collections in the world. The park, which is actually a zoo, is home to a variety of animals, including white lions (a gift from Siegfried and Roy from Las Vegas), gorillas and lions. Also penguins and some other “arctic” species.
Orcas still in captivity!
Even though most of the Orcas and Dolphins are born in the park by now, it is sad to see them in captivity. Beside this, nothing speaks against visiting the park and you should take half a day to explore everything. For photo fans there are some really nice motives and rarely seen animals.
Pico del Teide
The highest mountain of Spain is an experience, specially if one looks from above into the “Caldera”, the crater wall, and then imagines that practically the whole island is one single volcano. Many people underestimate the height and the high sulphur content of the air and feel dizzy or even sick!
Road conditions can be etreme!
In the winter time, it can snow at the top of the mountain. In this case everybody should refrain from going up the mountain. The rental cars only have summer tires and one would not be the first tourist to be rescued or have a car with a total loss. Road conditions can be extreme!
Rural de Anaga Park
This part of the island is extremely green and very scenic. Moreover, there are rather less tourists here, as it takes quite some time to drive all the way through the park and this is not for the big buses of the tour operators. Therefore, simply do it!
PHOTOTIP:
A visit to the Rural de Anaga Park is a must for every photographer. For landscape photography in any weather, one is rewarded here with the most amazing views.
Summary:
If one can make friends with a good 5h flight time, then the north of Tenerife is worth a trip. Not only that here, one still finds and loves the rather original Spain, but there are also real little jewels that one will not find in the tourist castles in the south.
Want to order a calendar from our Phototrip?
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Which Photoequipment for Tenerife?
The photo equipment we took with us to Tenerife is listed below. You also have the possibility to order the used photo equipment directly in our Photo-Shop and to ask for further technical details. There you can also find a lot of extras.
Cameras:
- D500 (Nikon)
- Apple Iphone X
- GoPro 8
Lenses:
- 70-200mm f/4 (Nikon)
- 18-105mm (Nikon)
Tripod:
- Sirui Carbon
- Kugelkopf (Sirui)
Backpack:
- Lowepro Flipside 400 AW II