Tenerife has a very wide range of beaches for visitors to the island to choose from and, of course, beaches are what most tourists want when on holiday. There are black sand beaches, made from natural volcanic sand, and there are yellow sand beaches, made with sand transported from Western Sahara, or made with sand collected from the bottom of the sea. There are very large and small sheltered beaches, there are beaches in seaside resorts that are very easy to reach, and there are remote beaches that can only be accessed by trails or even by boat, in some cases. Masca beach is like that because it can only be accessed by boat or by taking a long and difficult descent through a ravine. There are rocky beaches and mixed beaches where there are rocks, pebbles and sand. With all the different types of beaches available, you are sure to find the type of beach that you like best somewhere on the island. So let’s take a look at some of the best beaches in Tenerife.
Many people think that Playa de las Teresitas in the town of San Andrés, just off the coast of Santa Cruz, the capital of Tenerife, is the best beach on the island. It is made of golden yellow sand from the Sahara and is a very long beach. There is a breakwater that makes Las Teresitas safe for bathers. It has palm trees at the top of the beach that give it a very tropical and exotic look, it has parking and it is very easy to get to by road.
In the south of the island are the main tourist centers of Los Cristianos and Playa de las Américas, and it is not for nothing that these places have yellow sand beaches. Playa de las Vistas is one of the most popular of the former resort’s beaches, while Playa de Troya is the main beach of Las Americas. It offers water sports, hammocks, restaurants and other facilities. Further up the coast are the beaches of Fanabe and Torviscas.
Also, in the south are the beaches of El Médano. Playa la Tejita is a huge sandy beach that is very popular. The only problem with El Médano is that it is very windy, but this has made it ideal for windsurfers.
Most of the black sand beaches are found in the north of Tenerife, and one of the best is the one known as Playa Jardín in the tourist town of Puerto de la Cruz. Awarded the European Blue Flag, this long beach has attractive gardens at the top, hence its name. It is also right next to Loro Parque (“Parrot Park”), a very popular place among tourists on holiday in the Canary Islands.
Further down the northwest coast, right next to the town of Icod de los Vinos, famous for its thousand-year-old dragon tree, we find the black sand beach of San Marcos. Sheltered by cliffs and with a promenade lined with bars and restaurants, this is a true hidden gem, and a popular beach for those who have discovered it.