Tenerife

There are 140 beaches in Tenerife, 12 of which have wheelchair access ramp leads leading up to the beach.

Beaches in North Tenerife

Santa Cruz de Tenerife

The most popular beach in north Tenerife is the Playa de Teresitas. Just 7 km away from the capital Santa Cruz de Tenerife, this beach is close to San Andrés and the mountains of Anaga.

Made from Saharan sand, the Playa de Teresitas is about 2 km long and probably the largest artificial beach in the world. Thanks to its golden sand, turquoise water and tall pine trees, we feel like we are in the Caribbean.

La playa de Las Teresitas is regarded as the most beautiful beach of Tenerife.

Playa de las Gaviotas

East of Playa de Las Teresitas, we find the Playa de las Gaviotas with its dark lava sand.

This beach is very popular amongst nudists, surfers, and bodyboarders.

Playa de los Patos – La Orotava

La playa de los Patos is a 1-kilometre secluded beach made up of black sand. It is very popular amongst nudists and surfers.

Playa Jardín – Puerto de la Cruz

In the outskirts of Puerto de la Cruz, next to San Felipe Castle, starts this gorgeous Playa Jardín, which is made of dark, fine, sand and very tranquil waters. The great architect and designer César Manrique collaborated in the design of this beautiful beach complex.

Playa de Martiánez – Puerto de la Cruz

The playa de Martiñanez is very popular amongst surfers and bodyboarders. It is situated next to the natural pools complex of Lago Martiánez, also designed by Canarian artist César Manrique.

Playa del Arenal – San Cristóbal de La Laguna

Nestled between the towns of Bajamar and Punta de Hidalgo, far from the city centre and protected by high mountains, Playa del Arenal is one of the most beautiful beaches of Tenerife and very appreciated by the surfers. This black sand beach can be accessed on foot following a trail for about 20 minutes.

Beaches in South Tenerife

Playa del Médano – Granadilla de Abona

The best-known beach of Granadilla de Abona’s municipality is the Playa del Médano, the longest sandy beach in Tenerife. It is surrounded by Montaña Roja and Montaña Pelada.

Due to the favourable wind conditions, this 2 km beach is very popular with windsurfers and kite surfers.

The Playa La Tejita is part of Playa del Médano. The small bay by Montaña Roja, the Red Mountain, is a favourite nudist spot.

The Playa del Médano, a gently sloping beach, is very suitable for families with children.

Los Cristianos

The gentle waves at Playa de Los Cristianos makes it an ideal beach for families with kids. Not far from Los Cristianos harbour, it is also great for fans of water sports like diving, snorkelling and sailing.

The adjacent Playa de Las Vistas is one of Tenerife’s longest beaches and is perfect for families as well as water sports enthusiasts.

Both beaches are completely accessible to visitors with reduced mobility and connected via a barrier-free promenade.

Costa Adeje

The littoral of Costa Adeje boasts 11 beaches. The most popular ones are:

Playa del Duque

La Playa del Duque attracts its visitors because of its golden sand and soft waves. It is located in the newest area of Costa Adeje, bordered by a promenade and it is perfectly adapted for people with reduced mobility. It is the perfect spot for people who are seeking some peace and quiet.

Playa de Fañabé and Torviscas

South to the Playa del Duque, you can find the beaches of Fañabé and Torviscas. Linked by a busy promenade, the beaches make up an extensive golden sand littoral with soft swell.

The breakwaters situated just in front of the beaches protect against the tides and the strong swell, guaranteeing a safe bath to all the family.

Due to the infrastructure, cleanliness, and quality of the water, both beaches have been awarded a “Bandera Azul” (Blue Flag).

Playa del Bobo

Playa del Bobo offers 100 metres stretch of dark and fine sand of volcanic origin. There is a sailing and windsurfing school and a sailboat and catamaran rental on this beach that is also identified with the Blue Flag. It is centrally located, surrounded by a promenade with restaurants, bars, shops and supermarkets. The bus stop, parking lot and the rest area are walking distance from the beach.

Playa de La Pinta

La Pinta is a fine white sand beach situated between Las Américas and Fañabé, next to the port Puerto Colón. The waves are weak thanks to the breakwaters of Puerto Colón.

National Park of Teide

This National Park was added to UNESCO World Heritage sites. This National Park is amongst the ten most visited parks in the world and is considered one the 12 Treasures of Spain.

It is home to the third highest volcano in the world, if we count from its base. At 3,718 m, is the highest peak of Spain.

Its surface is of 18,990 hectares and it was geomorphologically formed by two great depressions crowned by the volcano of Teide.

Even if there was a special permission granted by the park to access the Teide on foot, most visitors get to the top by cable car.

On good visibility days, you can enjoy great views of the neighbouring islands from the top: La Gomera, El Hierro, La Palma and Gran Canaria.

There are eleven habitats occupying 75% of the park surface and this has been declared of community interest.

There is a total of 168 flora species in the park, a third part is endemic from the Canary Islands. The flowers that stand out are: the tower of jewels, the flixweed, La Jarada de las Cañadas (a shrub with pink flowers), the wallflower, the Guanche flowering plants, the Retama del Teide (white-flowered species endemic to the Canary Islands) and located 2400 metres high, the fragile and delicate Teide violet.

From the fauna, we can highlight the presence of invertebrates. From the 400 species that live in the national park, 300 of them are endemic. We can also find a large variety of birds, such as the kestrel, the hoopoe, the shrike, the small owl, the raven, the sparrow hawk, the blackbird, etc… or even lizards, the Tenerife wall gecko or rabbits.

Due to the similarity with the environmental and geological conditions with the planet Mars, the volcanic enclave has become study material for scientific research.

The Orotava Valley

Situated in the northern part of Tenerife, The Orotava Valley amazes visitors due to its extraordinary natural wealth, the picturesque historic centre of La Orotava and the beautiful port city of Puerto de La Cruz.

The valley descends towards the sea between green slopes, dreamy palm groves and volcanic terrains, flowing into several beaches, such as Bollulo, La Fajana, La Grimona or El Socorro, whose waters astound surf lovers.

Another landmark in this region is the tropical zoo Loro Park, which is home to the largest bird’s exhibition in the world, with many different kinds of parrots and birds, with a dolphinarium, a penguinarium, orcas or tigers.

It is also worth mentioning the banana plantation and the wine tradition of the region, which has its own certificate of origin.

San Cristóbal de La Laguna

Located in the northern part of Tenerife, San Cristobal de La Laguna was declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco in 1999. A recognition that is only given to places that feature a special singularity, authenticity and integrity. La Laguna is the sole example in the world of an unfortified colonial city. It was the first city of peace and it still keeps its original layout intact since the XV century.

La Laguna was founded in 1497 and it remains the seat of the University and the Episcopal See. Contrary to the common customs at the time, the city wasn’t built as a fortress with walls, but it was structured like a chess board. This urban structure was later on adapted by many colonial cities in America, as La Habana, Lima or Cartagena de Indias.

In addition, we can marvel at the six hundred buildings of Mudejar architecture which are very well kept.

Los Gigantes – The Cliffs of Los Gigantes

Guanches call them “Muralla del Infierno” (Hell Wall). These cliffs offer a breathtaking view from every perspective. The rocks are 500 metres high.

Boat trips are offered all along the outcrops. Besides, the underwater surroundings of the cliffs, the difficult access and the maximum depth of 30 metres make up a paradise for scuba divers and fishers, due to its natural wealth.

Special Nature Reserve of Chinyero

The last volcanic eruption in Tenerife took place in 1909, when the Chinyero volcano erupted. This 1,561-metre-high volcano is situated in the town of Santiago del Teide.

The nature reserve that stretches around the volcano features a surface of 2379,4 hectares and occupies several towns from the people of Tenerife. This space is also a special bird protection area and is known for having rocky formations, a multitude of volcanoes and vegetation where we can find several different species of pine trees, as well as underbrushes, bushes and pennyroyals.

Special Nature Reserve of Malpaís de Güímar

Located in the southeast of Tenerife, the municipality of Güimar, Malpaís de Güimar was declared Special Natural Reserve in 1994.

This natural region of 290 hectares is made up of an exclusively volcanic landscape, uneroded lava fields, with crevices and crests. It is home to volcanic tracks, and huge cones.

It is an environmentally sensitive area.

Special Nature Reserve of Montaña Roja and Nature Monument of Montaña Pelada.

This nature service is located in the south of Tenerife, in Granadilla de Abona, close to El Médano. This natural place treasures more than 136 species of plants, some of them endangered.

Going for a stroll in this desert landscape situated next to the sea is a real pleasure, especially in spring when flowers are in full bloom.

You can enjoy stunning views to the surrounding municipalities from the red volcanic cone, Montaña Roja.

Corona Forestal Nature Park

Covering an expanse of almost 50,000 hectares, the Corona Foresta Park is the largest protected area of Tenerife. It was declared a National Park in 1994 and this natural habitat surrounds the Teide National Park, where the Teide volcano is located.

There are Canarian pine trees, laurel forests, heaths, and many more species of high mountains.

The Corona Forestal Nature Park is popular amongst local and tourists for being the perfect place for trekking, mountain cycling, horse riding or simply soaking up the magnificent landscapes that spread out before you.

Anaga Country Park

Anaga is located on the north-west of Tenerife. This is one of the most beautiful places of Tenerife. The Country Park covers much of the mountain range.

The trade winds create fog and rain in the area, and thanks to them this natural region was declared National Park in 1994 and Biosphere Reserve in 2013. It is especially humid, favouring the growth of bushy vegetation and the existence of a wide range of natural habitats, specially the laurisilva forests.

La Cruz de Taborno, which is 1,024 metres high, represents the highest point of Anaga Country Park.

Teno Country Park

Teno Country Park is a magnificent place to go on a trip. This natural space is located in the north-west of the island and you are likely to be besotted by its high peaks, deep ravines and pine-tree and laurisilva forests.

This natural space has been declared Area of Special Protection for birds.

Barranco del Infierno (Hell’s Ravine) Special Nature Reserve

The Special Nature Reserve “Hell’s Ravine” is situated in the municipality of Adeje and it has an extension of 1,843 hectares. It is known for having steep ravines and “Barranco del Infierno” is the one that stands out.

Being an environmentally sensitive area, only 300 people will be admitted to the reserve per day in order to preserve the natural environment and protect the development of its flora and fauna. For this reason, it is advisable to book a ticket before visiting the park.

Surfing, Windsurfing and Kitesurfing

Having a total of 10 surfing schools, it is always the perfect season for surfing in Tenerife.

Due to its weather conditions, the trade winds, the temperature of the water, and the state of the sea, Tenerife has become a landmark for surfing, windsurfing and kitesurfing lovers.

Scuba-diving

You can practise underwater activities all year round because temperatures fluctuate between 17 and 24 degrees Celsius. There are crystal clear waters with visibility of up to 30 metres.

There is a wide range of scuba-diving and diving schools which offer trips to the colourful underwater world of Tenerife. There you’ll have the opportunity of discovering the Atlantic trumpetfish, the red sea scorpion fish, the parrot fish, the moray eel, the barracuda, the bottlenose dolphin, the pilot whale, the grouper, the vieja, the sargo, the conger eel, the moray eel, the red sea bream, the red porgy, the common pandora, the red mullet, the hake, and two types of sharks, the angelshark or the dogfish.

We encourage you to experience a visit into a lava tube, a cave or shipwrecks.

Whale and dolphin watching

Several companies offer whale and dolphin watching tours in the south and west of Tenerife. With a bit of luck, you’ll see swarms of common dolphins, Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, sperm whales and also pods of pilot whales. You can get to see up to 21 species of these mammals.

The lucky ones will catch a glimpse of blue whales and orcas.

Golf

Tenerife has a total of 9 golf courses, most of them in the south of the island. All of them offer stunning views to the Atlantic Ocean or the mountains.

Hiking

Tenerife has a wide range of hiking trails to astound every passionate hiker.

There are several companies who offer guided tours, but you can only explore the island solo.

Trails are classified according to the ERA (European Ramblers Association) and are divided into three categories.

GR is for long trails of more than 50 kilometres or other routes that require more than a day’s walking.

PR is for short trails of up to 50 kilometres and can be done in different stages or in a day.

SL are local trails of a maximum of 10 kilometres.

Siam Park

Situated in the municipality of Adeje, Siam Park is the most spectacular water park in Europe. It has an extension of 185,000 square feet and it was inspired by the ancient kingdom of Siam (Indonesia). It features lush settings, majestic gardens, and fascinating, oriental design.

It is home to the largest variety of water slides in the world, a white sand beach, a dragon roller coaster, the biggest lazy river, the biggest Thai building outside Thailand, and the biggest artificial wave of the world.

Loro Parque

Just like Siam Park, Loro Park is a Tenerife must during your holidays in Tenerife. The zoo, set amidst a botanical garden, is full of superlatives. Loro Park boasts the largest indoor penguin exhibition and the largest parrot collection in the world, Europe’s longest shark tunnel and the biggest Thai village outside Thailand.