We’ve packed our bags and travelled from the Red Sea to somewhere equally gorgeous but different in so many ways: Tenerife. Technically closer to Morocco than the Mediterranean, the Canary Islands identify with Spain, and they’re a great place to visit if you’re eager to enjoy the outdoors.
Also home to El Teide, one of the largest volcanoes in the world (don’t worry, it last erupted more than a century ago), Tenerife attracts an array of visitors, particularly to its beaches, which are wide, flat, warm and sandy. It’s also home to the world-famous Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife (this annual event is the reason why the city of Santa Cruz de Tenerife is twinned with the kaleidoscopic Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, but that’s a topic for another day!).
Tenerife has invested a lot of money in importing sand from Africa to ensure its beaches are island-perfect, and while they may not have that glittering allure of the Bahamas, they’re certainly one of the nicest places to sit back, relax and enjoy life. From golden and sun-baked vistas to sheltered bays screened by tall cliffs and black-sand coves, Tenerife’s beaches alone are worth the visit. Here is a selection of some of the most popular beaches on Tenerife:
Las Vistas, Los Cristianos
Easily many people’s number one choice, this beach is vast, sun-baked and sandy, near two of Tenerife’s biggest holiday resorts: Los Cristianos and Playa de Las Américas in the south of the island. It also provides easy access to shops, bars, restaurants, and of course, it’s so big there’s enough space to claim a sunbed all your own.
El Camisón, Playa de Las Américas
The resort of Playa de Las Américas, is one for partygoers because it’s packed with dance-‘til-you-drop clubs, restaurants, cafes and neon-lit bars; but there are plenty of beaches on which to lounge during the day, and they’ve been filled with imported sand to replace Tenerife’s indigenous volcanic sand. El Camisón is a small bay in the heart of the resort with a mass of golden sand in front of a stylish beach bar on an attractive grassy mound, also perfect for families.
Playa Del Duque, Costa Adeje
A slightly quieter resort on the south-west coast of the island, Costa Adeje strikes a happy medium between bustling activity and romantic seclusion, of which the latter is accentuated by the magnificent backdrop of Mount Teide. Playa Del Duque is tucked into a sheltered bay with panoramic views of the coast behind it, and the clean, soft sand and colourful parasols give it an air of elegance.
Playa Jardín, Puerto de la Cruz
Artist and architect César Manrique is renowned in Tenerife as someone who worked to preserve local wildlife and history. Not surprisingly then the beaches at Playa Jardin have natural and dark volcanic sand and are backed by Manrique’s incredible garden which lies at the foot of the Orotava Valley. Take care when swimming, however, as the sea off this beach has a strong rip current.
This is just the start of a month of exploring Tenerife, so check in again for updates on this beautiful Spanish island off the coast of Africa. Have you been there or are you keen to go? Have a look at our Tenerife holiday deals this March.
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