Puerto Azul

The Puerto Azul hotel in Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife, sits at the heart of Calle Lomo, a small, picturesque street located slightly away from the hustle and bustle of the main town square.

Calle Lomo, lined with neatly potted trees and flagstone paving, is home to some of the best restaurants in the northern vicinity of Tenerife and the Puerto Azul only adds to the charm and traditional character of the surrounding area.

Run by a friendly and extremely helpful German named Jens, the Puerto Azul serves as a budget option when staying in Puerto de la Cruz. Inside is a reception area, manned 24 hours a day, with a small but accommodating breakfast room that lets in a lot of natural light due to the large bay windows running along one side.

Five floors high and with around seven rooms on each floor, even in the height of summer the Puerto Azul remains cool and airy which, with temperatures easily hitting 30Degress, is more than a relief.

The rooms, either single or double, are, as you would expect, all en suite. The single rooms are admittedly small but serve the function of giving you a bed and a clean bathroom which, in budget terms is all you can ask for.

There is a reasonably sized wardrobe and a desk and the majority of single rooms look out onto a courtyard with whitewashed walls and a small garden on the ground floor. The double rooms to the front of the hotel look out onto Calle Lomo and have their own private balcony from which to enjoy the views from.

Slight traffic noise can be heard, but if you opt to stay in a town then this can only be expected. The main sound that resonates around the room is the chatter and clinking of glasses from those enjoying lunch at the restaurants on the street below.

Unfortunately there are no real amenities at the Puerto Azul, but this is compensated with the large roof garden that generally remains unvisited by guests.

From the roof garden, looking out to one side brings the North Atlantic into view, which you are only a few minutes walk away from. Turning in land, you are greeted with stunning panoramic views of Tenerife’s mountain range, the almost tropical Orotava valley and the volcano, Mount Teide, which stands at well over 3,500 feet and whose snow capped peak is usually hidden in a swathe of rolling cloud.

The Puerto Azul will cater to your needs, with the helpful and knowledgeable staff willing to recommend places to visit. You are within a few minutes walk of Plaza Charo, the main town square, which houses and elegant and traditional Canarian charm.

For budget options that’s situated in town and within a five minute walk to the beach, the Puerto Azul certainly has to be a strong option.