The most beautiful beaches in Tenerife

Here I am again with an article about the best beaches in Tenerife! In my opinion, it’s a topic that should interest quite a few people. Beyond Teide National Park and its lunar landscapes, there are many must-sees in Tenerife. The beaches are definitely part of them! What I especially loved during my two trips to the island is how completely different the beaches look depending on which coast you’re on. On one side, there are beautiful golden-sand beaches with turquoise water. On the other, there are black-sand beaches with a wilder vibe, very often surrounded by cliffs. Personally, I have a slight preference for black-sand beaches because I find them different and we’re not as used to seeing them. Plus, I find that the contrast with the color of the water is even more striking.

However, you need to pay attention to the beach you choose to swim at in Tenerife. Some beaches have calm waters, while others have strong currents and a strong swell. To help you out, I recommend always checking the color of the flag. So far, you might say that’s pretty logical. But in Tenerife, the orange flag already indicates some risks. There are beaches where the flag is orange almost every day. Personally, I got into the habit of telling myself that if the flag is orange there, I don’t swim — or only up to waist height, nothing more.

Another advantage of Tenerife’s beach diversity is that there’s definitely one to match what you’re looking for: lounging, surfing, quiet cove, developed beach, etc. Anyway, the goal of this article is to help you discover the best beaches in Tenerife, including my favorites that I was lucky enough to explore.

Let’s start with the most famous beach in Tenerife, which is often travelers’ favorite. It really is beautiful! You arrive at a large stretch of golden sand with palm trees and the Anaga mountains in the background. By the way, the sand was imported from the Sahara. On paper, it’s the perfect beach to spend a family day. Even though it’s busy, you don’t feel cramped because it’s so big.

As for me, I swam there and settled down under the palm trees. It was pleasant because it was about 36 degrees. It felt good to cool off while being able to sit in the shade. Plus, the beach is protected by rocks that break the swell. So it’s quite a safe beach for swimming without worrying.

On the practical side, there’s a large free car park right next to it: you can park without any problem. Plus, it’s close to Santa Cruz. From the city, you just have to follow the coast and you’ll get there! The only small downside is that, as you drive along the coast before arriving, you see the cargo ships and smell a strong diesel odor. It doesn’t really set the mood. But once you arrive, I promise it’s worth it!

This beach is completely different from Las Teresitas. It’s wild and surrounded by cliffs, with strong waves. It’s not a beach you go to for swimming, but rather to admire the raw beauty of the place. It’s so unspoiled that access is very often closed. To be honest, both times I went to Tenerife, it was closed due to risks of rockfalls and landslides. Of course, I was a bit disappointed…

But hey, maybe if I go back, it’ll work out. In any case, I hope you’ll have better luck than I did! I recommend checking the access a few days before going — and even the day before — to be sure you’ll be able to see it.

This time, let’s head to the southeast of Tenerife with these two beaches: El Médano and La Tejita, which are only a few kilometers apart.

El Médano is located in the village with the same name, while La Tejita is a bit further away, near Los Abrigos (a fishing village where I really recommend stopping to enjoy fresh fish in one of the small restaurants in the port — it’s super good and not expensive).

As for the vibe, I totally fell for La Tejita. It sits at the foot of Montaña Roja, an emblematic volcano of the island, which you can hike up to enjoy a beautiful view over the beach and beyond. The sand is between black and golden; I think it’s a special mix that makes it so beautiful and highlights its wild side. I took the time to sit on the beach to admire this authentic scenery. The currents are strong and misleading: I even saw whirlpools forming in some spots. Even though the flag was orange and there was a lifeguard station, I preferred to stay on the sand and enjoy the beach differently.

Right next door, El Médano is different again. I’d say it’s livelier, but especially more sporty. It’s simple: from the shore, I could see quite a few kitesurfers. The wind blows strong and constantly, which creates good waves for water sports. So, needless to say, there are few tourists. It’s very laid-back, and I enjoyed strolling along the seafront promenade.
To sum up:

• La Tejita is a wild, natural and peaceful beach (swimming with caution). I really loved the scenery and the time I spent there!
• El Médano has that windy, surfy spirit, perfect for water sports lovers.

We’re not done yet! Here we are on yet another beach that’s very different from the previous ones. If you’re planning your trip to Tenerife, you’ve probably already heard of Costa Adeje. It’s the island’s chic seaside resort, a bit like the Saint-Tropez of Tenerife. Playa del Duque is Costa Adeje’s beach. It matches the town’s standard. It’s very well maintained, with golden sand, palm trees, aligned sunbeds and a promenade lined with good restaurants. Even though it’s very developed and touristy, I still find the vibe quite calm.

I also really liked the seafront promenade that runs along the whole beach. It’s peaceful: you can walk at your own pace while stopping for a drink or a meal in a chic restaurant with ocean views (of course, it’s more expensive than elsewhere, but I expected worse). You can definitely stop there to treat yourself.

Back to the beach itself: the sea is calm because it’s protected by rocks. You can swim safely, even with kids. Fun fact: what surprised me was Adeje’s microclimate — it’s hot and dry, which makes the heat bearable. Just before that, I had stopped a few kilometers away and it was humid and windy. That’s the magic of Tenerife’s microclimates — you’ll quickly notice it!

Speaking of Costa Adeje, even though staying there isn’t cheap, if you want to splurge, there are some very beautiful hotels in Adeje.

Located in Puerto de la Cruz, Playa Jardín is one of my favorite beaches in Tenerife. It’s a black-sand beach surrounded by tropical gardens designed by the Canarian artist César Manrique. You’ll see: you walk through these flower gardens, palm trees and little paths to get to the beach. It immediately sets the scene! Also note that the beach is divided into three parts or coves: Playa del Castillo, Charcón (or Playa Chica) and Punta Brava.

All three are connected but still offer slightly different atmospheres. For example, the first one has calmer water, while the third is more exposed to the wind, ideal for surfing. On the practical side, the beach is accessible, but there’s no dedicated parking. We had to drive around a bit before finding a spot ten minutes’ walk from the beach, but Playa Jardín was really worth it. With a bit of patience, you’ll find a spot! Since it’s in Puerto de la Cruz, I recommend starting your day at Loro Parque and ending it at Playa Jardín. In my opinion, that’s a great combo!

Right next to Las Américas, Los Cristianos offers a very different vibe. Even though it’s a touristy area in the south, it’s rather calm and family-friendly. The main beach is super pleasant: the water is crystal clear and calm. You can swim and even go snorkeling. As always, you should check the flag color. Since the beach is large, I was surprised to see that in one spot it was green, while a bit further it was orange — it all depends on the exposure to the wind.

The promenade along the beach is great too. It’s well developed, with cafés, restaurants and shops. Everything you’d expect from a seaside resort, really! But the atmosphere was much more relaxed than in Las Américas, where I’d just been. Honestly, I recommend Los Cristianos for spending a full beach day with all the amenities around.

I’ll say it right away: this is one of my favorite beaches in Tenerife. It’s just next to Santiago del Teide, and I think it has that little extra something: a soothing vibe and a gorgeous setting, with black sand and the deep blue of the ocean. Between the first and second time I went there (two years apart), it had become even more charming. They’d added gardens just before the beach, with palm trees, flowers and little paths. It reminded me of a small oasis.

What I also liked was that it’s lively without being overcrowded. To give you an idea, you’re not alone, but you’re not on top of each other either. For swimming, you need to be careful: there are strong swells and rocks underwater. It’s monitored, which is reassuring, but it’s still up to us to be careful in the first place — which is normal. All around, there’s everything you need: toilets, showers, cafés and small restaurants. You can spend the whole day there without having to plan everything.

For explorers, there’s Playa de las Conchas, separated by rocks where black and red crabs hide. It’s a nice little spot for a walk, but not really suitable for swimming: too many pebbles and rocks.

We’re heading back to the north of Tenerife with Playa del Bollullo. To give you an idea, it’s located next to La Orotava. It’s a spectacular black-sand beach, framed by volcanic cliffs and tropical vegetation, which gives it a raw and unspoiled feel. There are pretty much no tourists, if not none at all.

To deserve this view, you have to make a small effort. Basically, you have to walk about fifteen to twenty minutes from the closest parking lot to the beach. The path goes through banana plantations — you feel like you’re in another world. However, I don’t recommend going in flip-flops; bring good shoes so you can walk down comfortably.

Once you’re down there: very black sand, cliffs and strong waves breaking along the shore. As you can guess, it’s a beach to relax on, but not really recommended for taking a dip. There are strong currents, and very often there are no lifeguards. So just be careful and enjoy your time there!

Playa Blanca, also known as Diego Hernández, is one of the most unspoiled beaches in the south of Tenerife. It’s a little hidden paradise. Just so you know, it’s quite common to see people practicing naturism there. It’s not mandatory, but it happens a lot. Don’t worry — everyone does what they want!

Here, the vibe and the scenery are totally different from the tourist areas. There are no sunbeds or facilities, just natural landscapes.

To help you picture it, the beach is a mix of golden sand and rocks, with crystal-clear water. It’s rather small — it looks more like a cove. To get there, you have to walk downhill for about twenty to thirty minutes. It’s a bit rocky, but with good shoes it’s fine. Honestly, if you like hidden, authentic places, I recommend going. It’s a nice change from the more popular southern beaches like Playa del Duque or Las Américas.

To finish this top list, I thought of Playa de Los Guíos! It’s a special one because it sits at the foot of the huge cliffs of Los Gigantes. Two years ago, when I came, it was closed due to safety work because of the risk of rockfalls. So it was a nice surprise to see that it was open and that we could enjoy it. It’s a small black-sand beach, but very impressive with the cliffs in the background. It still attracts quite a few people. It’s a pity — you’d love to enjoy it more quietly. But hey, that’s part of the game!

Since it’s right next to the port, it’s very easy to get to. Still, it’s well away from the boats, because it’s separated and protected by rocks. The water is therefore calm: you can swim without any problem. I stopped there right after my whale-watching excursion — it was super relaxing after all the excitement and emotions!

I think that at this point in the article, you’ve already seen how diverse Tenerife’s beaches are. Each one has its own charm, even though some made a bigger impression on me than others. I think it all comes down to personal taste — even though the weather can play a part too.

After showing you what I consider to be the best beaches in Tenerife, I still wanted to tell you about some other beaches on the island.

In the south of the island, Playa de Abama is very discreet. In reality, it’s more of a cove than a beach. It’s very small and protected by large volcanic cliffs. The sand is golden and the water is crystal clear — it’s a really beautiful setting. If you’re interested, it’s located near Guía de Isora. You have to walk down from the Ritz-Carlton parking lot for about ten to fifteen minutes along a path between palm trees. You’ll be able to enjoy a quiet swim, away from the hustle and bustle. That always feels good!

At the very north of the island, in the Anaga massif, there are two raw beaches: Roque de las Bodegas and Almáciga. What stands out is the local, very Canarian vibe. It’s just the ocean and the mountains right there. The two beaches are side by side, just separated by a few bends on the TF-134 road. In any case, the setting is incredible, with cliffs, lush vegetation, black sand and powerful waves sculpting the rocks over time. It’s a magical, natural spot not to miss if you can. I recommend going there right after a hike in the Anaga park. That way, you’ll have a great plan for a full day at the northern tip of Tenerife.

Just two kilometers from the famous Las Teresitas beach, Playa de Las Gaviotas shows a whole different side of Tenerife. Here, no golden sand or perfectly lined palms: you get a black-sand cove framed by cliffs. The vibe is both wild and natural. To get there, the road is narrow, with drops on one side in some places. It’s quite impressive, even though the road is good and well paved. For your information, the beach is naturist. I personally didn’t go down, but I admired it from the viewpoints — it was beautiful. If you’re comfortable with naturism, you can go down there; otherwise, you can still admire it from above.

Located between Los Gigantes and Costa Adeje, Playa de San Juan is a beach with both golden and black sand, nestled in a small fishing village. Its biggest asset: its calm, local atmosphere. I remember there were six of us in total splashing around on the beach — dreamlike! There are still some facilities like showers. In general, the water is calm because the bay is protected by a breakwater. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t stay on the sand if the flag is orange. In just a few steps, you can’t touch the bottom anymore: it gave me a couple of little scares when the current was strong. So keep in mind to always stay a bit cautious.

Even though I already mentioned it and it’s one of Tenerife’s most famous beaches, I didn’t include it in the top 10 for several reasons. First, it doesn’t feel authentic at all: it’s really made for tourists. It doesn’t have a peaceful or family-friendly atmosphere. It’s very lively; I don’t really feel like I’m on vacation there. If I have to pick a touristy beach, I much preferred Playa del Duque and Los Cristianos, which are nearby in the south. I think you’ve got it: I didn’t really like this beach or its vibe. But considering how crowded it gets, I guess it’s a matter of taste. I just had to share how I felt.

Even though I’ve already mentioned some of the info below, I still wanted to prepare a practical section about Tenerife’s beaches.

In Tenerife, I quickly realized that despite the beautiful scenery, we shouldn’t forget we’re in the Atlantic and that we need to stay cautious. Of course, the first thing to do is look at the flag color. As I said, even with a yellow or orange flag, I’m careful and I stay on the beach. You can do as you please, but you should know that these colors mean there are currents and some swell — so caution is the key word. If the flag is red, you know swimming is forbidden, even if the water looks calm: there’s a reason the flag is there. Lastly, you may come across a purple flag: that means there are a lot of jellyfish.

A small tip: even if the flag is green, always take a look at the ocean before going in. There can be several zones on the same beach with different conditions (believe me, I saw it with my own eyes).

Another thing to know: tides change very quickly in Tenerife. At high tide, some coves disappear completely; at low tide, you sometimes discover rocks or sharp coral.

In short, nothing to worry about, just a few good habits to keep in mind so you can make the most of Tenerife’s beaches!

Overall, in Tenerife, if you rent a car, you can get to all the beaches on the island. For some of them, you’ll just need to walk the last bit. Personally, I used the Discover Cars website to rent my car: I found some good deals, so I recommend it.

If you’re not renting a car, you should know the island is well served by its bus network. The main areas, from north to south, are almost all connected. Honestly, it’s a cheap and convenient way to get around. If you plan to move around a lot, I recommend getting the TEN+ card. You can top it up according to your trips and it works out cheaper than buying a ticket every time. The buses go through the tourist areas like Costa Adeje, Los Cristianos, Puerto de la Cruz and Santa Cruz, and they go to the nearby beaches. In short, TITSA buses are an excellent alternative for getting to the main beaches.

We’ve reached the end of this tour of the best beaches in Tenerife. As you’ve seen, the scenery is completely different from one part of the island to another. Whether you want to swim or enjoy wild beaches, you’ll find your own favorites there.

If you’re traveling to several Canary Islands, I recommend checking out our guide to the most beautiful beaches in Lanzarote. On that island too, there are some real gems to discover and swim at.

See you soon for more Tenerife adventures!

Written by Laura CALLES

Thanks to Mélanie and Sylvain, I had the chance to discover the Canary Islands, specifically Tenerife and Lanzarote, so that I could share these island paradises with you. Two real favorites of mine!

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