Parchita
Useful in Puerto de la Cruz, where the sun is not guaranteed.
Helado and a proper coffee list from the same door
Parchita sits in the old northern resort of Puerto de la Cruz and works as a café at the same time as an ice cream counter. Its name is the local word for marac…Parchita sits in the old northern resort of Puerto de la Cruz and works as a café at the same time as an ice cream counter. Its name is the local word for maracuyá, which sets the tone: a Canarian business rather than an international brand.
Features
Type
Dessert
Price
$ Budget
Schedule
5 days/week
Payment
Cards accepted
FAQ
What is a parchita?
The Canarian name for the passion fruit, called maracuyá on the Spanish mainland. It is grown on the island, notably around Tegueste in the north-east, and it turns up in juices, desserts and mojos.
Is it a café or an ice cream shop?
Both, which is the practical answer in Puerto de la Cruz. The northern coast catches the cloud the trade winds carry, so a business that only sold cold things would have a difficult winter.
Why is the north cloudier than the south?
The trade winds arrive from the north-east carrying moisture, and Teide blocks them. The cloud piles up on the northern slopes while the south stays dry, which is why the resorts were built where they were.
Where is Puerto de la Cruz?
On the northern coast below La Orotava, about forty minutes from Santa Cruz and an hour and a quarter from the southern airport. It was the island's first resort town and still feels like a real place.
Is it worth visiting the north?
Yes, and this is the argument for a hire car. The north is greener, older and cheaper than the southern resorts, and the two halves of the island barely resemble each other.
What else is there in Puerto de la Cruz?
The Lago Martiánez sea pools designed by César Manrique, a botanical garden dating from 1788, a black-sand beach and an old harbour quarter. It rewards a full day rather than a stop.
