Locals and visitors in Puerto de la Cruz got a sneak preview of the city’s latest attraction yesterday (Wednesday), an open top double-decker bus tour. This new sightseeing experience, which is currently in its pilot phase, promises to become a permanent fixture in the next few months.
The initiative will not only tour the highlights of Puerto de la Cruz but will also extend to the neighbouring towns of La Orotava and Los Realejos, offering a comprehensive tour of the stunning Orotava Valley.
Starting at 11:00am, the City Sightseeing bus, provided free rides to 12 of the city’s most emblematic locations, departing from Avenida Familia de Betancourt y Molina and Avenida Colón. The launch of this bus service coincided with the inauguration of the ‘Multicultural Tourism Days’, a festival aimed at celebrating the cultural richness and diversity of Puerto de la Cruz, which is on until Saturday.
Though this project first surfaced a few years ago as an idea from Ashotel to boost tourism in Puerto de la Cruz, it is only now taking full shape. Enrique Talg, Vice President of Ashotel, explained that the project has grown to include the entire Orotava Valley, thanks to the collaborative synergies between the different municipalities.
Puerto de la Cruz’s Tourism Councillor, Desirée Díaz, who has been in office for just over a month, is working hard to ensure the service is fully operational by next year. Negotiations with the Tenerife Cabildo are still underway, as the project involves both the roads and tourism sectors.
In La Orotava, Councillor Delia Escobar is exploring possible routes, which could include stops at the Humboldt Viewpoint, two in the town’s historic centre, and a journey through La Perdoma to Los Realejos, offering tourists a glimpse of the region’s picturesque vineyards. "This is still a draft, and final routes are yet to be confirmed," she said.
Navigating Los Realejos’ steep streets poses unique challenges for the open-top bus. As a solution, a complementary "shuttle bus" is being considered, which would cover the historic areas of Realejo Bajo and Realejo Alto. This alternative route would take visitors to notable landmarks such as the San Pedro Viewpoint, the Rambla de Castro, the Apostle Santiago Church, the San Agustín Heritage Zone, the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Carmen, and the El Lance Viewpoint, offering breathtaking views of the entire Orotava Valley, described as a "natural balcony."
José David Cabrera, Tourism Councillor of Los Realejos, explained that while this shuttle bus wouldn’t be open-top, it would be marketed as part of the broader sightseeing initiative, providing an enriching excursion throughout the region.
With these exciting plans on the horizon, Puerto de la Cruz and the surrounding areas are set to offer tourists a whole new way to experience the stunning beauty and cultural heritage of the Orotava Valley.
