El Medano Holidays 2024/2025

El Medano thinks of itself as the slightly cooler, elder sibling of neighbouring resorts Playa de Las Americas and Los Cristianos. If you’re searching for a slice of authentic Spain on your Tenerife holiday, then look no further than this beautiful coastal town.

For every season

Get your fiesta on

In the summer there are fiestas aplenty, with the town hosting an international folk festival in August and a huge maritime parade in September to honour the patron saint, ‘Nuestra Senora de las Mercades De Roja’. Around this time of year you’ll find the beaches busy with locals looking to escape the daily grind.

Surf’s up

The resort plays host to world-class windsurfing championships and competitions. The strong winds and vast expanses of sand in El Medano create the perfect conditions for the sport. There are three separate areas for windsurfing – the bay, the harbour wall and El Cabezo beach.

Beach life

The small coves along the 2 kilometre coastline provide a haven for sunbathers who are looking for a secluded spot to unwind. El Médano is the only place on the island where you’ll find natural golden sand naturally formed by the erosion of the pale, pumice rocks.

Playa Tejita – the longest beach in Tenerife – is the popular choice of naturists, but it is separated and clearly sign-posted so you shouldn’t stumble upon it accidentally. At the end of the boardwalk, Playa Machado belongs to the surfers, so this is the place to go if you’re looking to hop on a board and attempt to master the ocean.

The wild waves of Playa El Cabezo on the eastern headland keep the kite boarders flying high should this be your daytime activity of choice. If you would rather just take a stroll, the promenade is the place to be – especially for those on the hunt for an ice cream.

Playa El Medano boasts shallow waters – great for swimming and paddling, especially if you have little ones with you.

A range of activities

If it isn’t too windy, you can hire a bike and visit Hermano Pedro’s cave to soak up some culture. This is sacred place is where the first Canarian saint, Hermano Pedro, lived as a young shepherd. The cycle route is easily accessible and sign-posted from just outside of El Medano, on the Abrigos road.

The monkey park, as well as the water parks AquaLand and Siam Park, are only a 45-minute drive away in Santa Cruz. They’re a great day out if you want to burn off some energy!

Wind down

Visit Plaza de Principe de Asturía, in front of the main beach – Playa El Medano, where there’s coffee and tapas for you to relax and chat over for a few hours. If you’re traveling with kids, the playground here will keep the little ones entertained for hours, and you can take the stress out of travel by booking a Tenerife All Inclusive holiday with one of the nearby hotels.

For a spot of retail therapy head to the neighbouring resorts of Playa de Las Américas and Los Cristianos, where you’ll find bigger stores and souvenir shops.

Go off with a bang

Fiestas usually end with explosions in Tenerife. A spectacular annual firework display is held across the bay in September and it’s a real treat for the eyes. It usually takes place a week after the Los Abrigos fiesta – with events ramping up in July and August. Puppet shows, bouncy castles and exercise classes on the beach abound, giving you a chance to mix with locals and holidaymakers.

A slice of Las Americas

If you’re itching for a slice of hedonism then you can head to Las Americas, which features some of the biggest and best clubs in Tenerife – a 45-minute drive away. When you’ve had enough of the bright lights you can escape back to the peace and quiet that El Medano offers.

A range of cuisine

In El Medano things are much more relaxed – there are many restaurants offering seafood, tapas and international dishes (such as Italian and Japanese). Try the catch of the day, tapas or typical Canarian cuisine. There are bars and cafes dotted along the shore – these places are great to indulge in some people watching and watch the world go by.