San Andrés brings one of Puerto de la Cruz’s most distinctive family traditions into the streets each 29 November. Children pull homemade strings of tin cans called cacharros, their clatter carrying around Plaza del Charco. As evening falls, the celebration has also brought roasted chestnuts and music to the area around the old fishing harbour. It is a lively way to experience a tradition that local families have passed down for generations.
This guide explains the custom and where it has taken place. The exact activities, times and meeting points for each edition need to be checked in that year’s official programme.
San Andrés at a glance
When: The tradition is celebrated on 29 November, the eve of the feast of San Andrés on 30 November.
Where: Past town-centre celebrations have included Plaza del Charco and the historic fishing harbour; neighbourhoods also hold their own activities.
What to expect: Children running the cacharros, a family atmosphere and, in previous editions, roasted chestnuts and music.
Current programme: Check our Events page for confirmed times, routes, workshops and entertainment this year.
What is correr el cacharro?
For correr el cacharro, children tie empty cans and other light metal objects together and pull them along the street. The result is gloriously noisy. Some arrive with their own imaginative creations; in previous years, families have also made cacharros at workshops or collected cans provided on the day.
One local explanation traces the sound to winegrowers dragging barrels towards the sea to clean them before storing the new wine. Today the tradition belongs to the whole town: schools, neighbourhood groups and families keep it alive together.
Photo: San Andrés in Puerto de la Cruz, 2022. Ayuntamiento de Puerto de la Cruz.
How San Andrés is celebrated
At the centre of the celebration is the moment the cacharros move through the streets. The homemade designs can be as memorable as the sound: families have brought long chains of cans as well as playful shapes made at home. You can enjoy the scene as a spectator or, where the current programme invites participation, join a workshop and bring a cacharro of your own.
After the bustle around Plaza del Charco, previous editions have continued towards the historic pier with music and the smell of roasted chestnuts. The town’s neighbourhoods, including La Vera, Calle Nueva, Punta Brava and San Antonio, have also organised their own celebrations. The order, activities and locations can change each year.
For confirmed details this year, see our Events page.
Chestnuts, new wine and the evening atmosphere
The clatter of the cacharros is only one part of San Andrés. Roasted chestnuts have accompanied the old harbour gatherings, and the wider tradition is associated with the season of the new wine. At a past municipal event, local music kept people together around the muelle into the evening.
Food stalls, performers and prices vary from one edition to another. Check the current announcement before setting out for a particular concert or tasting. If you are simply exploring town, allow time to wander from the square towards the fishing harbour and enjoy the atmosphere.
Where does it happen in Puerto de la Cruz?
Plaza del Charco has been a centre for children running the cacharros. The old fishing harbour, near Casa de la Aduana and the Santa Bárbara battery, has hosted evening music and chestnuts in previous years. Other neighbourhood celebrations happen away from the town centre.
The square and harbour are a short walk apart. Start with our Plaza del Charco guide if you are new to the area. See our Events page for this year's precise start point, route and any changes.
Visiting with children
San Andrés is a family tradition and children have long been central to running the cacharros. A homemade chain of clean, securely joined cans can be part of the fun, but follow the current organiser’s guidance about workshops and what to bring. Keep small children close when the streets become busy and make room for those taking part.
It is noisy by design. If someone in your group is sensitive to sudden sound, watching from the edge of the square or joining the calmer harbour gathering may feel more comfortable. Exact access arrangements, workshop places and any restrictions should be checked with the organiser for the current edition.
Local tips
Come on foot if you can: the celebration has used central pedestrian areas around Plaza del Charco and the waterfront, and a street activity may affect nearby traffic. Wear comfortable shoes and bring a light layer for the late-November evening.
The best photographs catch the shapes and movement of the cacharros as well as the people behind them. Please be considerate when photographing children. If you want to see a neighbourhood celebration too, check its separate announcement rather than assuming it follows the town-centre programme.
More local celebrations
- What’s on in Puerto de la Cruz — current events and future announcements.
- Virgen del Carmen — another local celebration with deep ties to the harbour.
- Fiestas in Puerto de la Cruz — more annual traditions.
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See current San Andrés updates
San Andrés usually brings the cacharros out on 29 November, but the detailed timetable, workshops, music and meeting places are announced for each edition. Visit our Events page for current announcements and a link to the latest San Andrés programme when it is confirmed.