6 Best Sights in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands

Thanks to its ornery terrain, Anaga Nature Park has managed to keep the tour-bus crowd (mostly) at bay—their loss. This magical oasis takes in misty laurel forests (aka laurisilva) with numerous endemic species, bizarre rock formations that jut above the trees, and hidden mountain villages like Taganana, founded in 1501. Explore the area by car, stopping to take a dip at Playa de Benijo, where you can catch a hiking trail into the surrounding countryside, and to snap a few postcard-worthy pics at the Pico de Inglés viewpoint.

This colorful city market, also known as La Recova, is part bazaar and part food emporium (though the food, for the most part, is nothing special). Stalls outside sell household goods; inside, stands displaying everything from flowers to canaries are arranged around a patio. Downstairs, a stroll through the seafood section will acquaint you with the local fish. Check the website for a monthly schedule of nighttime activities.

Primitive ceramics and mummies are this museum's highlights. The ancient Guanches mummified their dead by rubbing the bodies with pine resin and salt and leaving them in the sun to dry for two weeks. Placards are in Spanish, but there's a downloadable app with English descriptions.

Up on the hill just behind Parque Marítimo is Europe's largest collection of palms with some 600 species. The 29½-acre site, built over the former city dump and opened in 2014, houses palm trees from all over the world set around waterfalls and lagoons, all with panoramic views of the ocean and city. Call ahead if you'd like an English-language tour of the grounds.

West of the auditorium, this public water park with three saltwater pools and tropical gardens is a favorite with locals. It was designed by the Lanzarote-born architect César Manrique and combines volcanic rock with palms and local flora.

Santa Cruz's beach, Las Teresitas, is about 7 km (4½ miles) northeast of the city, near the town of San Andrés. The 1½ km (1 mile) of beach was created using white sand imported from the Sahara in 1973 and adorned with palms. Beachgoers in the 1970s were purportedly bitten by the occasional scorpion that had hitched a ride from Africa (they've since been eradicated). A man-made barrier runs parallel to the sands and ensures rip-tide-free bathing. Busy in the summer and on weekends, this beach is especially popular with local families. The 910 TITSA bus route connects the beach with Santa Cruz. There's a good choice of bars and restaurants, and plenty of lounge chairs for rent. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking (no fee); showers; toilets. Best for: sunrise; swimming; walking.