La Tejita is one of Tenerife's longest and wildest natural beaches — a magnificent sweep of golden sand curving for well over a kilometre beneath the russet cone of Montaña Roja, near the windsurfing town of El Médano. Undeveloped, open and often breezy, it's a world away from the manicured resort beaches: no promenade, no apartment blocks, just sand, sea and sky. For anyone who loves a big, elemental beach, it's one of the best on Tenerife.
How to get there
La Tejita lies on Tenerife's south coast between El Médano and the airport, at the foot of Montaña Roja. It's reached by a short road off the main southern routes, with a car park behind the beach, and it's an easy drive from the southern resorts or a walk along the coast from El Médano. Local buses serve nearby El Médano, from where you can continue on foot. Because it's a protected natural area rather than a resort, the approach is low-key — part of what keeps it feeling wild and unspoilt.
What it's like
This is a broad, open expanse of pale golden sand, backed by low dunes and scrub rather than buildings, with the dramatic red bulk of Montaña Roja anchoring one end. The scale is what strikes you first: even when busy, there's room to walk for ages and find your own patch. The trade winds that make this coast a watersports magnet mean it's frequently breezy, and the light and colours — golden sand, blue sea, red mountain — are superb. A relaxed, tolerant, back-to-nature atmosphere prevails.
The far end of the beach, towards Montaña Roja, is a long-established naturist section. Clothing is optional there and the mix is easy-going — see our guide to naturism and nudist beaches in the Canaries for more.
Swimming and safety
The sea at La Tejita is often lively. This coast catches the wind and swell that draw windsurfers and kitesurfers, so waves and currents can be stronger here than at sheltered resort bays. On calmer days swimming is lovely, with clear water and plenty of space, but conditions vary and there is limited or no lifeguard cover much of the time. Check the sea before you go in, keep well within your depth if there's any pull, and take particular care with children when the wind is up.
This is an exposed, natural beach with strong winds, changeable surf and little shade. Bring your own water, sun protection and a windbreak, watch for currents, and don't rely on lifeguards being present.
Facilities
Facilities are deliberately minimal. There's a car park and usually a beach kiosk or simple restaurant near the entrance for drinks and snacks, but no rows of sunbeds, no shops and little shade once you're out on the sand. This is a place to come self-sufficient: pack water, food, sun cream and something to shelter behind. The lack of development is exactly the point — it keeps La Tejita feeling natural and uncrowded in a way the built-up beaches can't match.
Best for whom
La Tejita suits lovers of big, wild, natural beaches — walkers, windsurfers and kitesurfers, naturists, and anyone who prefers space and scenery to sunbeds and bars. It's a fine spot for a long beach stroll or watching the watersports crowd carve across the bay. It's less suited to families wanting calm, shallow water and full facilities, or to those who want everything laid on. Come prepared and in the right frame of mind, though, and it's unforgettable.
Nearby
The breezy, bohemian town of El Médano is next door, one of Europe's top windsurfing and kitesurfing spots, with its own beaches, laid-back cafés and surf shops. The red cone of Montaña Roja rising above the sand is an easy, rewarding climb for wide coastal views. The southern resorts and the airport are both close by, making La Tejita an easy first or last stop. For where to stay and what else to see, see our full guide to Tenerife.