The most beautiful beaches on Tenerife

In short: Tenerife has both: black lava sand and light-coloured, artificially created beaches. You will find calm water in the south and at Las Teresitas, and a wild backdrop in the north and in Anaga. What matters is less the sand than the coastline: the north has Atlantic waves, while the south lies in the lee of the wind.

Where can you find light sand?

Naturally, the sand on Tenerife is dark. The light beaches were created artificially and are protected by breakwaters, which is why the water there is almost always calm.

• Playa de las Teresitas (San Andrés, near Santa Cruz): created with sand from the Sahara, palm trees, a gentle entry into the water and a large car park right behind it. The beach for locals from the capital, packed at weekends.
• Playa del Duque (Costa Adeje): well kept, with a promenade, in rather upmarket surroundings.
• Playa de Las Vistas (Los Cristianos): wide, shallow and family-friendly, with everything within walking distance.

Which black beaches are worth it?

Black sand is fine basalt. It looks spectacular and gets very hot in the sun.

• Playa de Benijo (Anaga): wild, with rock pinnacles in the sea. The place for sunset. Only swim when the sea is calm, and at high tide there is little beach left.
• Playa de la Arena (Puerto de Santiago): dark sand, a view of La Gomera and good facilities.
• Playa Jardín (Puerto de la Cruz): designed by César Manrique, with gardens behind it.
• Playa de El Bollullo (La Orotava): a cove below banana plantations, reached via a footpath.

Where is Tenerife best for wind and water sports?

The southeast is exposed to the trade winds. What bothers bathers is the very reason surfers come.

• El Médano: a meeting place for windsurfers and kitesurfers, plus a relaxed town with a long wooden promenade.
• Playa de La Tejita: a long, natural beach next to the red volcanic cone of Montaña Roja. Little shade, often windy.

Coves and natural pools

In the north, locals often prefer to swim in natural pools (charcos) rather than on the beach. These are pools in the lava rock that the sea fills at high tide.

• El Caletón (Garachico): pools and jetties right in the town.
• Bajamar and Punta del Hidalgo: large seawater pools on the northeast coast, easy to combine with Anaga.
• Playa de Masca: a cove at the end of the gorge, reachable by boat or on foot through the gorge, which requires a reservation.

North or south for a beach holiday?

For a pure beach holiday, the south is the safe choice: more sun, fewer clouds, calmer water. In Santa Cruz, the AEMET weather service records around 2,900 hours of sunshine and only about 30 rainy days a year (normal values 1981 to 2010), and the south is even drier. The north has the more beautiful landscape, but clouds are more frequent. The full comparison is in Tenerife north or south, and monthly figures are in Canary Islands weather.

Tips on the ground

A few simple things make your beach day much more pleasant.

• Water shoes: for the hot black sand and the sharp-edged pools.
• Time of day: it is usually less windy in the morning. For Benijo, plan for the late afternoon.
• Parking: at Benijo, El Bollullo and La Tejita, spaces are limited. Arrive early or walk the last stretch.
• Sun protection: the trade wind cools you down, but the sun still burns.
• Combining: Las Teresitas goes well with Santa Cruz and Anaga, and Playa de la Arena with a boat trip to see whales and dolphins.

What there is to see besides beaches is listed under Tenerife sights. With children, Canary Islands with kids will help, and if you want to spend the winter months by the sea, you will find the planning in Wintering in the Canary Islands.

Frequently asked questions

As of October 2026. Opening hours, prices and entry rules change. Check them on the official websites before your visit.

Cover image: Photograph by Mike Peel (www.mikepeel.net). · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0