Tenerife Beaches

Tenerife’s 269km. coastline hosts many beaches. Those in the main resort areas are usually of white sand and are well serviced with lifeguards, toilets, showers, and refreshment areas. However there are many beaches outside the main resort areas that are less busy and often naturally beautiful but lack the amenities of the main tourist areas.

There are two great videos of Tenerife’s beaches on Youtube. Each lasts about 4 minutes and gives a great insight into what’s on offer.

You can access the videos on the following links:

South Tenerife
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4seYCMS3GM&fmt=22

North Tenerife
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYpE_IjI8xY&NR=1&fmt=22

The Beaches of Los Cristianos and Playa de las Americas

The town beach of Playa Los Cristianos overlooks the harbour so it’s a great spot for watching the comings and goings of the inter island ferries, pleasure cruises and fishing boats. There’s a volley ball court at the rear of the beach The further along the beach you travel, the less people there are and the less developed it is until you reach Playa Callao below Montaña de Guaza, a real get-away-from-it-all beach hardly a stone’s throw from one of the south of Tenerife’s main tourist resorts.

Heading north around the corner from Los Cristianos harbour is arguably the south of Tenerife’s best beach, Playa las Vistas, a long golden sand beach which links Playa de las Américas with Los Cristianos. There are rows upon rows of sun loungers, but the size of the beach absorbs them. A huge fountain at the shoreline near the midway point of the beach is a distinctive feature on this beach.

Playa del Camisón in front of the smart Sir Anthony hotel. It’s a relaxing golden sand beach backed by palm trees which slopes gently into aquamarine waters. There are plenty of sun loungers and thatched umbrellas, but it can get quite busy.

Much of the Playa de las Americas coastline hasn’t been turned into man made beaches and the area which runs from Playa Troya II to Playa del Camisón is quite rocky with a few rock pools and only a handful of sun beds. This undeveloped quality makes it perfect for people who prefer a more natural looking coastline and it’s a popular spot for local surfers to ride the waves.

Right in the centre of Playa de las Americas are Playa Troya I and II and Playa del Bobo. These three golden sand beaches are all equipped with sun-beds, thatched umbrellas and plenty of water sports are available.

Next along the coast is Playa la Pinta, a small pleasant golden sand beach bordered on one end by El Faro’s mock lighthouse and the Puerto Colón Marina on the other. This beach is also home to the Iceberg Park, a big inflatable iceberg – the only kind of iceberg that isn’t going to melt in these temperatures.

Playa Fañabe stretches from El Faro’s mock lighthouse northwards towards the upmarket Del Duque area. It boasts a two-tier promenade complete with water sports and many land activities to entertain the children.

Moving further north pass the imposing monastic building on the headland is Playa del Duque. This beach fronts the imposing Bahia del Duque hotel and many other 5 star hotels and has been developed with panache and imagination. If a beach could feel upmarket it’s this one. Small enough to feel intimate, it’s striped beach huts and palm frond umbrellas give it an air of St Tropez meets the Caribbean. The large volcanic rock, that borders the beach’s southern side, blocks out the vista of Las Americas beyond.

Other Notable Beaches in Tenerife

El Puertito

Nestling between the resorts on the south and southwest coasts, the bay at El Puertito is probably what Tenerife’s southern fishing hamlets looked like before the property developers moved in. Whitewashed buildings, a fish restaurant, aquamarine water, brightly coloured fishing boats and pale gold sand make you feel as though you’re on an island that hasn’t been discovered yet.

But where is it? A small sign points the way from the TF47 just outside Armeñime on the road west to Los Gigantes.

Playa de la Arena

‘Playa de la Arenas’ simply means ‘sandy beach’. The best one is found at the resort of the same name. A small, blue flag beach which is set in one of the nicest coves on Tenerife. With the most sunshine hours on the island, great views to the island of La Gomera and stunning sunsets, this is a sun worshipper’s dream.

But where is it? On Tenerife’s sunny west coast, near Los Gigantes, in the centre of the small resort of Playa de la Arena.

El Médano

A rarity for a beach on Tenerife, a golden(ish) beach which isn’t man made. One of the longest beaches on Tenerife, book ended on one side by El Médano and Montaña Roja on the other. A bleached wooden boardwalk runs almost the length of the beach passing surreal pumice rock formations and scores of rainbow bright windsurfers and kite-boarders. The presence of these ‘surf dudes’ should warn you that the wind is a constant companion here. It might make pretty patterns in the sand, but it isn’t always ideal for sunbathing. One of the most interesting beaches on Tenerife.

But where is it? Right beside the town of the same name just past the airport on the way to Santa Cruz.

Playa de la Tejita

Another pale golden beach so long and wide you could land a jumbo jet on it, which isn’t beyond the realms of possibility considering it’s right next to the airport. It’s another windy beach which makes it the ideal location for Granadilla’s annual kite festival in September. The Montaña Roja end of the beach is popular with nudists.

But where is it? Beyond El Médano, on the other side of Montaña Roja.

Playa de las Teresitas

The jewel in the crown of Tenerife’s beaches and without doubt the most spectacular. It’s many people’s idea of what a tropical beach should look like. A crescent shaped, lagoon-like bay with golden sand lapped by aquamarine waters. Add palm trees and a dramatic mountain backdrop and you’ve got a perfect setting. There are changing rooms, toilets, bar restaurants and a large car park discreetly hidden behind the line of palms at the back of the beach. The man made reef makes the enclosed calm water ideal for families with young children. The only downside is that, being the east coast, it can be a tad breezy sometimes. Okay it’s a man made beach, but it looks great.