The Embarkation of Saint Carmen
The Embarkation of the Virgen del Carmen is one of the most popular celebrations you can experience in Puerto de la Cruz. Here you live and feel the genius of the people.
When does the festival take place?
The Embarcación de la Virgen del Carmen takes place every year on the Tuesday before July 16th, it goes through the streets of Puerto de la Cruz and at the end out to sea. Often more than 100,000 people from different parts of the Canary Islands come to this huge celebration, which has evolved over time.
Where does the Embarcación de la Virgen take place?
The Virgen del Carmen starts at the church “Iglesia de la Peña de Francia” and goes through the old fishermen's streets to the fishing port which is located next to the main square of Puerto de la Cruz.
The history of this festival
The current statue of the Virgen del Carmen is currently in the Iglesia de la Peña de Francia and is carried through the streets for this festival. Carved by the sculptor Angel Acosta Martín, it was a donation he made out of devotion to this saint and also to the generosity of the people of Puerto de la Cruz.
The tradition began in 1923, at that time the procession route was different: it started in Los Realejos. It was 1954 when the Virgen del Carmen began her journey from the current location.
Other activities on embarkation day in Puerto de la Cruz
In addition to the typical path of the Jungfrau, other leisure activities are also carried out on these days. There is the traditional competition of the “Cucaña”, which is a greased log fixed 3 meters above the sea on the wall of the fishing port. The contestants have to reach the end of the pole and capture one of the three flags there. This is quite difficult as the surface is very slippery.
The partying in the streets of Puerto de la Cruz often goes on into the evening. The young people stay in the streets and enjoy the music and the atmosphere together with their friends.
If your visit to Tenerife coincides with this date, we encourage you to definitely get to know this festival. Come to Puerto de la Cruz and discover one of the most deeply rooted traditions of this place. The embarcación de la Virgen del Carmen will not leave you indifferent.