Best beaches in Tenerife, Canary Islands

Is there any way you can think of an island in the middle of the Atlantic otherwise than a massive beach destination? We simply can’t! Here is our own top of the best beaches in Tenerife:

Playa del Duque

If beach life is the reason why you came to Tenerife, Costa Adeje is the place to be. Luxury resorts, plenty of sun-soaked beaches, and its infamous nightlife make it the perfect accommodation area while visiting the island’s southern side. From the touristy Los Cristianos to remote Diego Hernandez, tons of fine sand stretches await to be discovered.

While the vast majority of these beaches are utterly enjoyable, Playa del Duque was our overall winner. The awesome mix of crystal clear blue water and golden sand here made it our favorite touristic beach. However, although extremely popular, this “playa” still has a cozy, laid-back vibe. Sunbeds are available for hire but you may as well lay your towel wherever you like. As about swimming, the water gets deep very close to the shore and there are powerful waves, so make sure you know what you’re doing! At lunchtime, you can always take a stroll on the coastline looking for some tasty traditional tapas. We highly recommend Restaurante Los Fogones for amazing food and an authentic atmosphere!

Playa Diego Hernandez

We only found out about this hidden gem from a local friend – born and raised on the island. Getting here is easy, and will turn out to be even easier in a pair of sport shoes instead of flip-flops :). Park your car at the end of Calle Playa Diego Hernandez and start by climbing the small hill in front of you. Once you get on top, follow the path to the right for about 15-20 minutes – you will meet people jogging, beach campers and a bunch of wild (but super friendly) cats. Finally you’ll get to this remote beach where you can truly taste the island’s unspoiled beauty. Don’t forget to bring a towel and some snacks! Also, take into account that there is no lifeguard and the waves can be pretty strong. Heads up: this is a nudists-friendly beach.

Las Teresitas

Playa de las Teresitas is the best tourist beach you can find on the north side of Tenerife. A super large beach with palm trees, fine golden sand, and azure water – las Teresitas brings out the tropical vibe of the island. The beach offers all kinds of facilities: a huge parking lot (free of charge), showers and sunbeds, kayaks and paddleboards rental and a few beach bars. Great for not-so-confident-swimmers whatsoever, as the waves are small and the entry into the water as smooth as it gets.

Playa El Bollullo

Northern Tenerife is packed with volcanic, black sand beaches – and El Bollullo makes no exception. Located close to the towns of La Orotava and Puerto de la Cruz, this beach is a sunset-must if you happen to drive by. A very narrow road takes you through a banana plantation – although it may feel like it’s going nowhere, don’t worry, you’ll get to the destination in no time. You’ll eventually spot a fancy restaurant featuring a posh sitting area with stunning views of the ocean. We paid for parking (3 euros/day) at the restaurant and headed straight to the beach. The beach is superb, with gorgeous black sand, spectacular cliffs, and strong ocean currents that make it particularly loved by surfers. There is also a small bar right on the beach, though due to the pandemic, it was closed when we visited.

Playa de Benijo

Playa de Benijo is one of those wild, beautiful beaches that you can’t get enough of. With black sand, foamy waves, and milky mist surrounding the sharp cliffs, this place is out of the ordinary. Bonus, getting to this surreal place will take you through Anaga Natural Park – a display of wonderful mountains and woodland and one further proof of the diverse landscape in Tenerife. Benijo beach is easily reachable with Google maps, and you can safely park your car on the side of the road. There are no amenities or lifeguards, but such things would only spoil the charm of the place. Come to Benijo to connect with the uplifting nature around you.

Sadly, we encountered some technical issues with our rental car on our way there. This kept us from really enjoying the day to the fullest. There was some movie action going on around at the time, and we were offered a professional shooting for free by one of the photographers, but unfortunately someone from the car rental company had just come to change our vehicle so we weren’t able to stay any longer :(. Still, we have awesome memories from this place and will definitely come back next time we’re in Tenerife!

Playa Abama

If you enjoy the vibe of a private beach, you will love this one. Although managed by the luxury Ritz Carlton Abama hotel, Abama beach is accessible to anyone. Park your car uphill and walk across the accommodation complex for about 10-15 minutes, till you reach the beach vantage point, then take the stairs or the specially designed funicular down. You’ll find a sparkling clean and blue water beach, and the man-made wave protection makes it just perfect for swimming! There are also cliff jumping opportunities if you are into that. You can then cool off with some drinks at the hotel’s beach-bar. Just expect the prices to be a bit higher than usual 🙂

La Tejita

There’s a high chance you’ve seen this beach before, even if you never realized it. Tejita beach is the usual Tenerife postcard inspiration! Situated close to Tenerife South airport, this is where we said goodbye to this amazing island on our last day. There’s just a 5-minutes walk from the parking lot to the ocean, so even the laziest of you will quickly reach it by foot. This super broad sweep of sand offers great views over Montana Roja (spanish for Red Mountain). Due to the strong wind, it’s not the best swimming spot, but kite and windsurfing enthusiasts will just adore it. Lifeguards are on duty but other than that there are no other facilities like showers or toilets. Also, be aware – this is another nudist-friendly beach.

Playa de Los Gigantes (Los Guios)

This black sand beach with giant rock formations rising from the sea looks like the ultimate place to enjoy sunset. Los Gigantes beach is quite small, but the cliff walls around it make it just spectacular. We didn’t see any sunbeds, umbrellas or facilities on the beach, but there were plenty of shops and restaurants nearby.

Extra tip: Seems like there is also a beautiful natural pool nearby, so make sure you don’t miss it.

These are the best beaches in Tenerife you shouldn’t miss when travelling here! Note: renting a car is highly advisable to comfortably switch between different places around the island. We’d say go with Cicar for their best rates and a nice and smooth pick-up process.

If you need further inspiration for your upcoming trip to Tenerife, check out this article about the most Instagrammable places on this amazing island!