Santa Cruz de Tenerife

Santa Cruz de Tenerife is the buzzing capital of Tenerife, one of the Canary Islands off the northwest coast of Africa. Santa Cruz was our third destination on our 24-day West African cruise with Regent Seven Seas aboard the divine Splendor ship.

It's got it all: a busy port, sleek modern buildings, and a lively cultural scene. And don't forget – this city throws one of the world's biggest and wildest Carnival celebrations, drawing visitors from around the globe!

With around 205,000 residents, Santa Cruz is a cool mix of old-school Canarian charm and modern city life. There are plenty of museums, parks, and places to shop.

Santa Cruz is the perfect starting point for exploring Tenerife's natural wonders, from its awesome beaches to the rugged beauty of Teide National Park, where Spain's highest peak, Mount Teide, awaits.

We kicked things off with the Historical Santa Cruz & Tapas Tasting tour. It all started with a stroll along the port to arrive at the marina. We were happy to glimpse one of the most spectacular yachts in the world, Black Pearl, which was widely considered the official' largest sailing yacht in the world'.

Next was Plaza de España, a lively square with a monument honouring those who died in the Spanish Civil War. Then, we headed to the Church of San Francisco, a beautiful example of Baroque architecture. Since this was our second visit to Santa Cruz, we decided to skip the church tour. It was moving a bit too slowly for our taste. Unfortunately, a guest decided he didn't apply to the rules and joined irrespective of his mobility scooter, so we quickly signed the waiver form to release ourselves from the guide and speed up the pace.

Instead, we wandered the city on our own, did some last-minute shopping, and made sure to stock up on school supplies for our upcoming school and orphanage visits along the West Coast of Africa.

So, that's Santa Cruz de Tenerife! It is a place packed with history and culture, and plenty of outer regions are left to explore. On our return visit in March, we will follow our friends' advice and visit the charming San Cristóbal de La Laguna.