The famous resort of Tenerife has gained its popularity primarily due to the numerous beaches scattered around the island. Most of them are characterized by warm, clear waters, sandy surfaces and well-developed infrastructure. However, not all Tenerife beaches are designed for passive recreation: some offer excellent conditions for water sports. We decided to take a closer look at this topic and compiled our own list of the best places.
Abama
Photos of the beaches of Tenerife are attractive for their picturesqueness, and pictures of a place called Abama are no exception. This miniature piece of coastline is located in the west of the island, 14 km north of the resort of Callao Salvaje. Its length is no more than 150 m. Abama is one of the best beaches in Tenerife with a sandy surface, but the sand here is not native, but imported from the Sahara. A massive stone ridge protects the local waters from waves, so swimming here is a pleasure.
The beach will delight its visitors with all the necessary amenities. Sun beds and showers are available for an additional fee. Near the shore there is a cafe, restrooms are also located here. In general, the coast here is clean and sparsely populated. The only drawback of Abama is the steep descent to the ocean, which takes 5-10 minutes, and, accordingly, the return ascent, which is quite exhausting. If you are staying at the Ritz Hotel, which is located nearby, then the entire infrastructure of the beach is available to you free of charge.
Bollullo
A black sand beach in Tenerife called Bollullo is located in the northern part of the island, between two settlements — Puerto de la Cruz and La Corujera. Tourists get here either by car or on foot through the banana plantations on the footpath leading down. The local coast is characterized by dark volcanic sand and stone sculptures of bizarre shapes. The shore is quite wide, but the entrance to the water here is not very convenient, since there are quite large stones at the bottom. The coast is characterized by strong waves, so tourists do not always manage to swim here.
It is important to note that Bollullo lacks any infrastructure. However, there is a small cafe upstairs where there is paid parking (3€). Behind the diner building, you can find a functioning toilet. Down on the beach, a lifeguard monitors the safety of visitors. In general, Bollullo is distinguished by its cleanliness, incredible scenery and lack of congestion of tourists. But the place is more suitable for contemplating natural beauty, rather than for a full-fledged beach holiday.
Camison
Of course, the black beach in Tenerife deserves tourist attention, but if we talk about a place that is as comfortable as possible for a holiday, then Camison is worth mentioning. It is located on the southwestern coast of the island, in the popular resort of Playa de la Americas. The length of the coast approaches 350 m, while its width reaches no more than 40 m. Camison is covered with gray-yellow sand imported here from the Sahara. The entrance to the water is very uniform, and the breakwaters installed here exclude the appearance of large waves.
Camison-paid beach, entrance fee is 6 €. Equipped with sun beds and umbrellas, the area is open from 09: 00 to 18: 00. At the exit from the territory there are restrooms and showers, but there are no changing rooms. Along the shore there are numerous shops and cafes where you can have a cheap lunch. The main disadvantage of the place is the large number of tourists, which in turn affects the level of cleanliness. Of course, Kaminos can hardly be called the best beach in the resort, but it is quite feasible to relax on it with comfort.
El Benijo
El Benijo, located in the north-east of the island and belonging to the town of Taganana, is the most remote and one of the most beautiful beaches in Tenerife. First of all, the place impresses with its unique landscapes and unforgettable panoramas of the coast with its mountain ranges and cliffs. The beach is covered with black sand: the water has a bigger one, and the rocks look like gunpowder that your feet sink into.
On El Benijo, large waves are often observed, the bottom is uneven, rocky, so that the entrance to the water is uncomfortable. At the same time, the beach is really wild: no sun beds, no toilets, no cafes. But the lack of infrastructure does not prevent some tourists from settling on a towel, often in the nude. The descent to the shore takes place via a specially laid wooden staircase extending down 90 m. The road starts at El Mirador Restaurant, where you can also park your car. Although El Benijo is considered one of the best beaches in Tenerife, it should not be considered as an ideal place for swimming, but rather as a unique natural attraction.
Duque
Among the best beaches in Tenerife, there is another popular place called Duque. It is located in the south-west of the island, 3 km from the resort town of Costa Adeje. The coastline here stretches for 450 m, while the recreation area is quite wide, reaching 50 m in some places. Duque is dotted with yellow sand brought from the African continent. For the most part, the entrance to the water is smooth, but there are some points where the bottom abruptly breaks off. The best time for swimming is in the morning, because after lunch there is an invasion of waves.
Duka provides all the necessary amenities, with the exception of changing rooms. For € 16, you can rent a set of umbrellas and two sun loungers. But it is also not forbidden to rest on towels here. There are several cafes and restaurants along the coastline. The beach is always full of tourists, which is why its cleanliness suffers. But, in general, it is a well-groomed, beautiful place with warm and clean water.
Playa de las Vistas
If you look at the beaches of Tenerife on the map, you can see that many of them are concentrated in the south-western part of the island. This includes the town of Playa de las Vistas, located within the famous resort of Playa de la Americas. This is a fairly spacious beach, stretching for a distance of 1 km. The beach is covered with yellow sand, and the breakwater installed here protects it from waves. The water in the ocean is clear, and the entrance to it is uniform.
Free toilets and showers are available in Playa de las Vistas. If you want to relax comfortably, you can rent an umbrella with two sun beds for 12 €. The order and safety of tourists in the recreation area are monitored by rescuers. On the beach, you can plunge into the world of water entertainment: you can choose from trips on bananas, catamarans and scooters. In the neighborhood there are numerous eateries and cafes, shops with very affordable prices are open. As a rule, Playa de las Vistas is always crowded, but there is enough space for everyone.
Playa Hardin
In the description of the beaches of Tenerife, there are often locations where the coast is covered with black volcanic sand. Playa Hardin, located in the north central area of the island, just belongs to such places. This is a small stretch of sand no more than 250 m long, smoothly turning into the beach of Playa Chica, which in turn adjoins the beach of Playa Grande. In total, the coast stretches for 900 m. The third section is the best for recreation and swimming, as the entrance to the water here is more even, and the surface consists only of sand without admixture of stones.
The area is characterized by large waves: most often a red flag is set in the recreation area, less often a yellow flag is set. Safety is strictly monitored by the rescue service. The infrastructure of Playa Hardin does not cause any questions: there are restrooms, places for changing clothes and showers. Everyone can use the sun lounger by paying €3 at the ticket office. Please note that the umbrella price is 2.5 €. The beach is equipped with a volleyball area, where large sports tournaments are often held. If you walk along the coast, you will find several cafes, a pizzeria and a children’s playground.
La Arena
On the map, the best beaches of Tenerife are not marked with any special symbol, but all official vacation spots are marked with a green sign with an umbrella. La Arena is located in the north-west of the island, 1.6 km south of Puerto de Santiago. This is a miniature stretch of sand, no more than 200 m long, sandwiched between volcanic rocks. The coast is covered with black sand with obsidian inclusions, the entrance to the ocean is quite steep, and large blocks are often found on the bottom. La Arena is characterized by strong waves and changeable winds, so the red flag is a frequent visitor to the coast.
The beach infrastructure includes all the amenities, but you will have to pay for the use of each of them: toilet – 0.20€, showers-1 €, sunbed-2€, umbrella-1 €. Close to the coast, there are many restaurants serving Mediterranean cuisine, pizzerias, and the Dino super market, which sells essential goods and products. La Arena is the best option for those who are looking for a comfortable beach to relax and sunbathe surrounded by volcanic sands.
Las Tericitas
If you are interested in Tenerife’s beaches for a holiday with children, then Las Tericitas can be one of the best solutions. The place is located in the north-east of the island near the village of San Andres. The picturesque coast stretches in the shape of a crescent for a distance of almost 1.5 km. The beach is covered with golden sand from the Sahara, the entrance to the water is quite uniform, there are almost no waves. This is a very calm and clean beach, but sometimes very crowded, but there is enough space for everyone.
Las Tericitas has a well-developed infrastructure: it has all the amenities, starting from changing rooms and showers and ending with beach accessories. Rent a sun lounger will cost 3-4 €. There is a spacious free parking lot near the shore, where free places are always available. A variety of bars and eateries can be found near the beach. A rich selection of establishments is also available in the village itself, where you can walk from the shore in 10-15 minutes. In high season, there is an inflatable town in the water for the youngest visitors (entrance fee 5€). Las Tericitas is the best beach for a relaxing family holiday.
El Medano
El Medano beach is located on the territory of the city of the same name in the south of Tenerife. The place is famous for its strong winds blowing along the coast almost all year round. That is why the beach has become one of the best places on the island for windsurfing and kitesurfing. And for a standard beach holiday, El Medano is hardly suitable. Well, if you are determined to conquer the wave, then all the necessary conditions are provided here: a surf school, shops with inventory, equipment rental.
The shore is dotted with black volcanic sand, it is very comfortable to enter the water, the depth increases evenly. The local infrastructure is represented only by a toilet and a couple of changing rooms, where queues line up. There are no establishments on the beach itself, but there is a small cafe within walking distance. Free parking is also available near the beach.
Playa de las Americas
One of the best beaches in Tenerife is the tiny sandy island of Playa de las Americas. The place is located in the south-west of the island on the territory of the resort of the same name. This is a fairly cozy and clean beach with a length of no more than 200 m, covered with soft yellow sand. Waves, as a rule, are small or completely absent here.
There are always a lot of vacationers on the beach, which, however, will not prevent you from finding a free place. Sun loungers and umbrellas are available for rent in Playa de las Americas. There are restrooms and changing rooms. There are a couple of fast food cafes and restaurants right next to the beach. The only disadvantage of this location is the lack of spacious Parking nearby.
Puerto Colon
Another beach from our list of the best places on the island occupies a small area in the south-western part of Tenerife in the resort of Costa Adeje. Its length reaches 200 m. Despite its location near the port, Puerto Colon is distinguished by clear waters, which are quite convenient to enter, because the bottom is flat here. The beach is the best place to relax with children: inflatable slides are installed in the water especially for them. A clear advantage of the location is the actual absence of waves.
Although Puerto Colon is not officially included in the list of nudist beaches in Tenerife, it is not uncommon to see topless sunbathers. All necessary facilities are available on site, with the exception of changing rooms. The cost of renting an umbrella with a sun lounger is 5 €. Along the coast stretches a promenade of various cafes and shops. Local establishments serve quality food at reasonable prices. Puerto Colon is one of the best tourist beaches, but it is very small, and in high season it is sometimes difficult to find a free place.
Here, perhaps, and all the best beaches of Tenerife. We really hope that our list will be useful to you, and you will definitely be able to find in it a suitable location for a beach holiday.
