All About Santa Cruz de Tenerife
As the joint capital of the Canary Islands alongside Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Santa Cruz de Tenerife is located on the northeast side of the island of Tenerife. The area has seen human settlement since the earliest arrivals to the island around 2000 years ago, who realized a good thing when they came across it.
Home to half the island’s modern population, Santa Cruz de Tenerife remained a relatively secluded fishing village until the 18th-century, when its potential as a major port was first recognized. Since then, it has gone from strength to strength. Aside from its role as a gateway to the Canary Islands, Santa Cruz is itself a phenomenal vacation spot, with plenty of beaches and no shortage of extraordinary places to visit.
Thankfully, getting to Santa Cruz de Tenerife is simple. Just use the Ferryscanner website to finalize your trip. Ferryscanner will help you search and book ferry tickets to Santa Cruz de Tenerife, ensuring you get to your dream destination.
Routes and Ferries to Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Many routes offering ferry tickets to Santa Cruz de Tenerife are operated by the regional ferry company known as Naviera Armas. Their ferries have been plying the waters around the Canary Islands since the early 1940s, and have a great reputation for trustworthy scheduling and great onboard facilities. The prices quoted below are based on a single adult traveler boarding on foot, although many services also contain a vehicle deck and welcome vehicles on board.
Las Palmas on Gran Canaria can be reached in just one hour and 40 minutes. What’s more, there are 38 different sailings between the joint capitals each week in either direction, making it one of the easiest ferry tickets to Santa Cruz de Tenerife to obtain. Potential passengers can usually find a ticket for €52.
Regular ferries also connect Santa Cruz de Tenerife with two ports on the island of Fuerteventura. It takes five hours and 20 minutes to dock at Morro Jable, on the island’s southernmost point. There is one service per week, which sails on Sundays at a cost of €106 per person.
While it is a long sea voyage (ten hours and 20 minutes), prices to the alternative port of Puerto del Rosario on Fuerteventura’s east coast cost slightly less, at around €87. There are two sailings per week in either direction.
Tenerife North Airport is one of two international airports on the island. Located on the western side of the city, it offers excellent connections with the Iberian Peninsula especially, via Binter Canarias and Iberia.
Ports of Santa Cruz de Tenerife
The ports of Santa Cruz de Tenerife run along the coast for several kilometers from the city northward, with ferries docking at terminals close to the historic heart of Santa Cruz. The most important passenger port for the Canary Islands, almost a quarter of all those who arrive by sea to Tenerife do so via the Puerto de Santa Cruz de Tenerife, as it’s known in Spanish.
In addition to the coming and going of regular ferry departures, those following the promenade close to the port will also find fishing vessels of all different sizes, and cruise ships too, with the port boasting the most modern cruise terminal in the region.
Best Beaches
Perhaps the original holiday islands, the Canaries are known around the world for their beaches. Those within the vicinity of Santa Cruz de Tenerife are high on the list of the top beaches to check out.
Playa de las Teresitas
Edged by palms and attractive hills, Playa de las Teresitas has a length of 1.5 kilometers arching around the coast beyond the port facilities. The soft orange-yellow sand may have been imported, but this doesn’t stop the beach from being celebrated throughout the island.
Playa de Antequera
Reaching Playa de Antequera is part of the adventure since you’ll either need a good pair of hiking shoes or your own boat. Your reward for getting to this secluded area of the coast is a narrow band of black volcanic sand and total solitude.
Playa de las Arenas
A few kilometers south of Santa Cruz, Playa de las Arenas is a popular spot for those who particularly enjoy swimming in the sea. Close to a good quantity of off-beach facilities in the surrounding town of Punta Largo, it’s primarily formed from large round pebbles.
Playa de Lima
This beach is one of several just before the coast gives way to Malpais de Guimar National Park. The rough volcanic surface means it’s a beach to explore on foot rather than with a sunbed. There are fantastic views both out to sea and towards the national park.
Places to Visit
Although Santa Cruz de Tenerife sits in the minds of many as a beach destination, the city has a number of attractions away from the coast that you should look out for. These are the very best of them.
Museum of Natural History and Archeology
Also going by the acronym MUNA, the collection of this museum includes the Mummy of San Andres, said to be the best-preserved figure of the Guanche period from a settlement two millennia ago.
Castle of Saint John the Baptist
Sometimes known as the Castillo Negro, or Black Castle, because of the color of its stonework, the Castle of Saint John the Baptist was constructed in its round form in the 1640s to defend Santa Cruz against the British among many others.
Auditorio de Tenerife
This modern structure by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava owes much of its design aesthetic to the Sydney Opera House. It’s a must-see attraction even if the Tenerife Symphony Orchestra isn’t performing during your visit.
Plaza de Espana
One of the largest squares on the island, the Plaza de Espana boasts a large lake-like fountain at its center, relics of a former castle below ground, and an atmosphere that can’t be bettered.
Transportation Around Santa Cruz de Tenerife
The central areas of Santa Cruz de Tenerife are enjoyably walkable, which is the best way of absorbing the ambiance of the city. The bus network is well set up for tourists unfamiliar with city locations. Operated by Titsa, information can be found in English as well as Spanish.
A tourist card called ten+ offers a day of unlimited travel on the bus and tram network for €10, while the seven-day version costs €50. They can be purchased with ease from shops throughout Santa Cruz. Three different bus routes also link the city with Tenerife North Airport, lines 20, 30 and 343. Line 30 departs from the port itself.
Map of Santa Cruz de Tenerife
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