Explore Tenerife Beaches

Tenerife is filled with beaches just waiting for you to relax and unwind on. In Canary, many beaches are public and there are a lot of resorts and bars lining the sand in Tenerife, so beaches here can get busy. Don’t despair though, a little know-how is all that’s needed to ensure you find the beach of your dreams.

Playa de las Teresitas 

The Picture-Perfect Jewel of Tenerife 

The golden sand beach of Playa de las Teresitas spans around 2 km in length, with palm trees and lounge chairs for hire dotting the soft sand beach. It’s a great place to snorkel and swim due to the concrete barrier just offshore, which creates a protected bay. 

Part of what makes this beach so beautiful is that you can see volcanic mountain peaks in the background. Despite its popularity, Playa de las Teresitas still maintains an authentic atmosphere without the touristy feeling in Tenerife.

Playa de las Teresitas’s best feature is how it has everything a beachgoer desires. The views are incredible because of the volcanic slopes that flank the beach in the distance, and the little village that sits on the side of one of the mountains is picturesque.

Not only are the views incredible, but the golden sand was brought in from the Sahara, so it is soft without any of the pebbles typically found on a natural beach. The beach is located by a road with parking that flanks the entire length of the beach. Perhaps best of all, paddleboards and other equipment are available here.

Playa de las Teresitas has lifeguards on duty, and the beachfront is just over ½ of a mile, which is a good length to be able to find a sparsely populated area where you can lounge out or take a dip. The parking is free and conveniently located right next to the beach, which means you don’t have to lug chairs or umbrellas very far at all.

The nearby facilities conveniently have almost everything you would want for a beach trip, including equipment for hire, showers, toilets, nearby restaurants and waste bins. There also is disabled access, which is a major plus for anyone physically challenged.

Playa la Tejita 

Golden Sand and Red Volcanic Formations

Playa La Tejita is the largest natural beach on the island of Tenerife. It has the best features of the Canary Islands with its soft sand beach, turquoise waters, and craggy volcanic rock formations along the shore.

Because it’s on the East Coast, it can get very windy, which can give it more of a wild vibe compared to other beaches on Tenerife. However, this makes it an excellent place to try your hand at windsurfing or kiteboarding. The nearby town of El Medano has a reputation for being a kitesurfing town, with some cool bars and restaurants near the beach.

Playa Tortugas has a protected lagoon within its calm waters, as well as sun loungers to rent and a low-key restaurant to grab a bite in. Spring breakers and party people flock to Mandala beach, where live DJs provide the tunes that get the vibe going for an afternoon filled with music, tapas, chilled cocktails, and lots of dancing.

Playa Pez Volador is a hidden gem on a small bay in the Zona Hotelera. Locals come here for the calm turquoise waters and laid back vibe – sand castle-making is the most action you’ll find here. Amenities are scarce, so be sure to bring your beach blanket, umbrella and plenty of water and snacks. You’ll probably want a good book or gossip mag too. Minimal signage keeps the spot gloriously off the radar; to find it, look for the public access path across from the supersized Mexican flag on the north end of the main drag. 

Playa de Los Gigantes

Sunbathe and Surf Among the Giants

Playa de los Gigantes is a natural, black-sand beach at the base enormous cliffs in Tenerife. You’ll see why the locals call it as Giant’s Beach when you admire the rock formations which tower 800 metres above sea level. 

It’s one of the most dramatic places on the island for sunbathing. Locals love Playa de los Gigantes because of its west coast location, which protects it from the infamous easterly winds of Tenerife. The bay is calm, the cliffs are soaring, and the scenery is one of a kind.