Beaches

Beaches in Tenerife

The best beaches in Tenerife

Tenerife has some of the finest beaches in the Canary Islands, and this guide covers 17 of them — from popular resort sands with sunbeds, lifeguards and everything on tap to remote, wind-blown coves that reward the effort of getting there. Tap any beach below for the full guide: what to expect, how to get there, parking and swimming, and the best time to go. For the wider picture, see our guide to Tenerife and the Canary Islands beaches overview.

Playa de las Teresitas

Golden imported sand, a palm-lined promenade and calm water just north of the capital — where Tinerfeños go to swim.

The black volcanic sand of Playa El Bollullo below green cliffs near La Orotava, Tenerife

Playa Bollullo

A wild, black-sand cove backed by cliffs and banana plantations — reached on foot and worth every step.

Playa del Duque

The smart end of Costa Adeje — golden sand, chic beach clubs and calm water below five-star hotels.

The wide sandy beach of El Médano below the Montaña Roja headland in southern Tenerife

Playa de El Médano

A long, breezy natural beach that's the wind- and kitesurfing capital of the Canaries, with a bohemian town behind it.

Playa de Benijo

A cinematic black-sand beach with rocky sea stacks at the wild end of the Anaga peninsula — for looks, not lounging.

Playa de la Arena

A neat Blue Flag beach of jet-black sand in a sheltered, sunny west-coast bay beside the cliffs of Los Gigantes.

Playa de Fañabé

Costa Adeje's long, immaculate golden beach — calm water, a great promenade and every facility, made for families.

Playa de Troya

The pick of the Playa de las Américas beaches — golden sand, Blue Flag and right in the heart of the action.

Palm-lined golden sand of Playa del Camisón at sunset, near Los Cristianos, Tenerife

Playa El Camisón

A calm, breakwater-sheltered golden cove between Los Cristianos and Las Américas — one of the south's best family beaches.

Playa de Abama

A secluded golden cove of imported sand below the cliffs of the west coast — calm, clear and gloriously quiet.

Playa de las Vistas

Los Cristianos's long golden Blue Flag beach — calm, groomed and brilliantly equipped, a family favourite in the south.

Playa de la Tejita

A long, wild natural beach under the red cone of Montaña Roja — golden, breezy and refreshingly undeveloped.

Black-sand Playa Jardin and Castillo San Felipe at Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife

Playa Jardín

A gorgeous black-sand beach framed by Manrique's gardens in Puerto de la Cruz — the pick of the green north coast.

Houses along the low coast of the fishing village of Alcala, south-west Tenerife

Playa de Alcalá

A calm little beach in an authentic fishing village on the sunny south-west coast — a quiet local alternative to the resorts.

Playa del Socorro

A Blue Flag black-sand beach on the green north coast — the locals' favourite surf beach, with real Atlantic power (mind the flags).

Roque de las Bodegas

A wild black-sand beach deep in the Anaga hills, backed by a row of superb fish restaurants — dramatic scenery and strong surf.

Wild Atlantic surf on the black sand of Playa de Almaciga, Anaga, Tenerife

Playa de Almáciga

A cinematic wild black beach at the roadless end of Anaga, beside Benijo — for scenery and surfers, not casual swimmers.