I’ll tell you, show photos, and provide a map of the best beaches in Tenerife. There will be a brief overview of each, highlighting what makes beach relaxation in Tenerife unique. You’ll learn about the different beaches on the island and the potential dangers that tourists might encounter. I’ll also advise on the best places to relax with children, as not all beaches are suitable for them. Expect plenty of useful and interesting information.

Tenerife Beaches: General Information

If this is your first article on this Canary Islands guide, here’s some great info specifically about Tenerife that I recommend reading before your trip:

  • Everything about vacationing on Tenerife: resorts, transportation, parking, where to stay, and what nuances you need to know to choose your perfect resort.

Now, let’s delve into the specifics of beach relaxation in Tenerife:

  • Tenerife is a volcanic island. Much of its coastline consists of rugged cliffs formed either by volcanic eruptions millions of years ago or solidified lava flows. Access to the water is often impossible.
black beaches in tenerife
One popular resort in Tenerife is Los Gigantes, known for its 600-meter cliffs that are inaccessible by foot or car. There are many such locations on the island.
  • While there are beaches on the island, they are not the endless sandy stretches found in resorts like Vietnam or Thailand. Long sandy beaches are only found on the neighboring island of Fuerteventura.
  • All Tenerife beaches are public and completely free. Beaches on resorts typically have all the necessary amenities like showers, changing rooms, and often free toilets. You’ll only need to pay for renting sunbeds and umbrellas, which usually costs around 5-8 euros for two sunbeds and an umbrella for the whole day.
  • If you plan to swim at wild beaches, be extremely cautious. The Canary Islands are in the Atlantic, with huge waves and strong currents. Every year, several hundred people are swept out into the open ocean. Wild beaches are more for admiring nature’s beauty rather than swimming. Read all about the ocean in the Canaries and Tenerife, water temperature, what a rip current is, the underwater world.
best tenerife beaches
Regarding Tenerife beaches, take the popular tourist town of Garachico, for example. Try to find even one beach there. You won’t—it’s all solidified lava. There are quite a few such towns along the coast without beaches.
  • Since most of Tenerife’s coastline is formed by solidified lava, there are lava pools created by nature, slightly modified by humans, which are excellent relaxation spots by the ocean. You can read more about these lava pools, where they exist across the archipelago (spoiler alert: out of the seven Canary Islands, they only exist on three), in this link: water parks and lava pools in the Canaries.

Next up, the map will feature coordinates of the most popular lava pools in Tenerife.

Map of the Best Beaches in Tenerife

This map is interactive, allowing you to zoom in and click on each beach marker.

Important note:

The map includes the best beaches in Tenerife, as well as lava pools and open-air pools on the island. The ranking is subjective and reflects the author’s (mine) personal evaluation. If I forgot to mention any amazing beaches, feel free to let me know in the comments. This ranking includes not only infrastructure-equipped beaches in Tenerife but also wild beaches that are not so easily accessible.

Top 11 Beaches in Tenerife

  • Playa de las Teresitas, or Santa Cruz Beach: Despite being 6 km away from the island’s capital, Santa Cruz, this beach is often referred to as Santa Cruz Beach because the capital itself doesn’t have beaches, and this is the best-equipped beach near Santa Cruz
    • Coordinates (all coordinates in the article are clickable, opening up the map): 28.509774132873375, -16.1846949416243
    • This excellent, well-equipped, long, sandy beach boasts an artificial breakwater along its entire length (see photo below), ensuring calm waters without waves or rip currents. Additionally, the beach is shielded from the wind by mountainous terrain, making it ideal for families with children.
beaches of tenerife
One of the top contenders in the “Best Beaches in Tenerife” ranking is Playa de las Teresitas.
  • César Manrique Open-air Pools in Santa Cruz (Parque Marítimo César Manrique): A vast complex with saltwater pools sourced from the ocean. It’s a fantastic alternative to beach relaxation, offering warmth, calm waters, and a leisure area rather than just water rides.
  • Coordinates: 28.454237633137826, -16.25427930805758
  • All-day admission for adults: €7.50. The price includes a sun lounger rental. Umbrella available for an additional €3.
  • Official website (always check opening hours, as they may close during winter): https://parquemaritimosantacruz.es
  • It’s a great place for families to relax, with fewer crowds compared to similar open-air pools like Martiánez, which I’ll discuss later.
tenerife beaches map
This is what Cesar Manrique’s outdoor pool complex looks like. For those who like to lie on a sun bed and do nothing, this is an excellent option. There are children’s pools up to 50cm deep. And the water is much warmer than the ocean.
  • Los Cristianos Beaches: Only one beach is marked on the map, but all beaches here are fantastic. Los Cristianos is the premier beach resort on the island, offering a complete tourist infrastructure, sandy equipped beaches, a vast promenade, shopping malls, and hundreds of restaurants. If you’re all about beach relaxation, this is the place to be
white sand beaches tenerife
The upper photo depicts one of the three main beaches in Los Cristianos. The lower photo shows a lava pool between Los Cristianos and Las Américas (it’s free, but then again, all of them are if you’re wondering).
  • Playa de las Américas: The second most popular beach resort in Tenerife, Las Américas, and its main beach. In reality, Los Cristianos and Las Américas are nearly one entity, with just 1 km between them, connected by a fantastic seaside promenade. You can walk between these resorts at sunset.
las americas beach canary
The best beaches for beach relaxation in Tenerife are all in the south. The main beach of Las Américas is one of them, while the lower photo depicts the promenade connecting Las Américas and Los Cristianos, my favorite spot for a stroll. Plus, there are cafes along the entire promenade serving ice-cold beer and sangria.
  • Costa Adeje Beaches: Here you’ll find dozens of beaches, almost all sandy and perfect for families with children. It stretches from Las Américas in the south to Los Gigantes (which I’ll discuss next) in the north. Here are a few coordinates for excellent beaches in Costa Adeje:
Playa del Duque hotels
Playa de Fañabé and other beaches in Costa Adeje are very similar
  • Los Gigantes Beach: This excellent resort features a beach that’s not as expansive as others, plus it has black volcanic sand. But the highlight is the stunning view of the cliffs of Los Gigantes (seen in the photo at the beginning of the article), along with a fantastic lava pool where you can swim and sunbathe with a superb view
Los Gigantes Beach
Los Gigantes lava pool.
  • Playa de Masca: Completely wild, pebbly beach accessible only on foot through the Masca Gorge from one of Tenerife’s most beautiful villages, Masca, or by boat. Towering 400-meter cliffs overlook the beach. It’s not an easy hike but rather a challenging trek through the mountains
  • Puerto de la Cruz is famous for its two sandy beaches with black volcanic sand and the Martiánez Open-air Pools. It’s a great resort for tourists where you can not only enjoy beach relaxation but also take leisurely walks and explore.

The beaches in Puerto de la Cruz and its outskirts (within a 5 km radius from the city) are the best beaches on the northern coast of Tenerife.

Tenerife beaches black sand
The upper photo: Playa Grande; the lower one: the extensive Martiánez complex with open-air pools, really cool.
  • And finally, a semi-wild beach accessible by car: Playa de Benijo. It’s a pebbly beach with black volcanic sand located in the picturesque Rural de Anaga National Park. The advantage is that you can drive right up to the beach. The downside: there’s no infrastructure except for parking. When you open the map from the link, check out the beaches within a 3-5 km radius of Playa de Benijo; they’re all stunning
Playa de Benijo reviews
Playa de Benijo, the open ocean and its power, beautiful cliffs, and black volcanic sand. It’s a very picturesque beach, more for relaxation than swimming.

Travel Tips

Here are some tips to help you during your vacation:

  • The best beaches in Tenerife for beach relaxation, where I recommend looking for accommodation and where you can spend your entire vacation, are all the beaches in southern Tenerife: Los Cristianos, Las Américas, and the beaches of Costa Adeje. Take your pick.
  • Keep in mind that Tenerife attracts a lot of tourists, especially during peak seasons. It’s the most touristy island, and the beaches can get quite crowded.
  • Don’t leave your belongings unattended on the beach; pickpockets and thieves operate in Tenerife.
  • Beaches in southern Tenerife are sunnier. There are fewer clouds, winds, and rains, and it’s a few degrees warmer because Mount Teide in the center of the island blocks the northern cold winds that blow most of the year. If you’re visiting Tenerife from November to April, it’s better to choose beaches in the south. And if you’re visiting in summer, the beaches of Puerto de la Cruz and Teresitas Beach are also great options for relaxation.
  • And remember, Tenerife is made for road trips. About 90% of tourists rent a car to explore Tenerife’s attractions and beaches. In the article: Car Rental in Tenerife, you’ll find all the nuances, features, and personal rental experiences on this island. I’ll talk about roads, parking, police, traffic rules, and more.

In conclusion, while you can’t label the Canaries as a 100% beach destination, the beaches of Tenerife make a long list where everyone can find their ideal beach. There are pebble beaches, beaches with yellow sand and black volcanic sand, beaches with stunning views, wild beaches where you feel the full power of the ocean.

Useful links to help you plan your dream trip to Canary Islands:

  • Car Rental: LocalRent or DiscoverCars – the most popular car rental platforms.

  • Accommodation:
    • Trip.com – the largest accommodation booking platform.

    • or TripAdvisor – to compare prices among other platforms and choose the best one.

  • Budget-friendly vacation packages to Spain and Canary Islands: CheapOair.

  • Tours and activities: GetYourGuide or Viator – hundreds of offers, whales and dolphins, entrance tickets with discounts.

  • eSIM and internet: Airalo.

  • Flights: WayAway compares prices among dozens of companies.

  • Travel Insurance: EKTA.