Puerto de la Cruz around the show

A small port with a long history

Puerto de la Cruz sits on Tenerife's north coast. Wikipedia says it existed in 1502 as a coastal port, dependent on La Orotava, and that it became the island's most important port after a volcanic eruption destroyed Garachico in 1706. It took its current name in 1808 when it gained municipal autonomy. It is the smallest municipality on Tenerife by area, so what you may want before or after a show is compact, and the evening at Casa Ábaco fits comfortably into a day in town.

The Plaza del Charco

Wikipedia places the Plaza del Charco in the town centre, and it is the natural place to start. For a night booking, the useful thing about a central square is that you can meet friends, eat or take a walk there before you travel to El Durazno, or come back to it for a drink afterwards, without planning a separate trip.

Lago Martiánez

Lago Martiánez is a leisure park and swimming complex on the seafront, designed by César Manrique with the engineer Juan Alfredo. It was inaugurated in 1971, and its second stage was completed on 30 April 1977. It has several islands, gardens, restaurants, bars and terraces, and it makes liberal use of volcanic rock and Manrique's sculptures. Opening times and entry arrangements change, so check the complex's own information on the day before you plan around it.

The botanical garden

The botanical garden is in the El Botánico district and opened in 1788. Wikipedia describes it as the second-oldest botanical garden in Spain. It suits a daytime visit rather than an evening one, so pair it with a morning or afternoon and keep the evening for the show. Check the garden's own information for current opening hours, which can change with the season.

A resort town since the early 19th century

Wikipedia says the Orotava Valley and Puerto de la Cruz were among the first holiday resorts in the Canary Islands. Early 19th-century visitors included William Wilde, Alexander von Humboldt and Sabin Berthelot. The Grand Hotel Taoro was built in the late 19th century, and the real tourism boom came in the 1950s. British residents built the Anglican All Saints Church, and the town has the oldest Anglican cemetery in the Canary Islands. That history explains why a flamenco evening for visitors is at home here.

The view of the Teide

The Teide is the volcano that dominates the island's skyline, and Puerto de la Cruz is one of the places where you can see it. Photographs on Wikimedia Commons show the peak rising above the town in the clear light of a bright day. A late afternoon walk before the show is a good time to look for it, but visibility changes with the weather, and cloud can hide the summit. Treat the view as a bonus, not a plan.

Eating before or after

Casa Ábaco itself has a café-restaurant and a garden, and food is not part of the ticket. In town, the central streets are the place to look for a meal. Remember that the ticket pays for the show and one drink only, so a meal is a separate cost, and book a table ahead if your evening has a fixed start time. Leave a margin for the trip to El Durazno. If you plan to eat in town first, build in time to travel to El Durazno and to arrive a little early for a drink.

Read next: Casa Ábaco flamenco tickets and seats

Planning the evening around the show

Choose the show date first, then build the day around it. The calendar lists a start time for each night, so leave the late afternoon free for a walk or a rest. After the second set, you will want a ride back or a short walk to your hotel, depending on where you are staying; see our planning guide for buses and taxis.

Read next: Flamenco in Puerto de la Cruz, planned

Who this isn't for

If you are staying in the far south, a day around Puerto de la Cruz means a long trip across the island, and it may be simpler to book a flamenco show near your hotel. If you want a beach day, check the forecast first, since both the sea and the Teide view depend on the weather. And if you are only interested in the show, you can skip every other stop in this guide and go straight to Casa Ábaco.