Hotels in Santa Cruz, La Laguna & East

Santa Cruz, La Laguna & East

Santa Cruz de Tenerife and San Cristobal de La Laguna form the cultural and administrative axis of the island, two contrasting cities connected by a modern tramway that together offer the richest urban experience in the Canary Islands. Santa Cruz, the island capital, pulses with energy around its waterfront Auditorio designed by Santiago Calatrava, hosts one of the world's largest carnivals each February, and provides excellent shopping along Calle del Castillo and the Garcia Sanabria park district. La Laguna, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999, preserves a remarkable grid of colonial streets lined with painted facades, centuries-old convents, and vibrant university student life. East of these cities, the Anaga massif rises steeply into misty cloud forests that are themselves a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, offering some of the most spectacular hiking in all of Macaronesia. The coastal town of Candelaria draws pilgrims and tourists alike to its impressive basilica housing the Black Madonna, patron saint of the Canary Islands. San Andres provides access to Playa de las Teresitas, a stunning golden sand beach backed by palm trees and turquoise waters just minutes from the capital. The quieter eastern coast through Guimar and Arafo reveals a rural Tenerife of terraced hillsides and small fishing ports. Hotels in this region cater primarily to business travellers and cultural tourists, with city centre options in Santa Cruz and charming casas rurales in the Anaga countryside. This is the Tenerife of architecture, history, and natural grandeur — the perfect complement to a beach holiday in the south or west.