10+ Beaches in The South of Tenerife That You Must Visit

There are over 40 beaches in Tenerife to choose from, but choosing which of them to visit during your vacation can be difficult. With so many different types of beaches in Tenerife on offer, there’s no shortage of inspiration when it comes to deciding which beach you want to visit on your next holiday.

I’ve been holidaying in Tenerife for 15+ years, and have visited many of it’s amazing beaches. This has helped me put together the list of the best beaches in the South that I highly recommend visiting.

Whether you want sandy beaches with idyllic water sports or rocky beaches with enchanting views and sunsets, you’re sure to find what you’re looking for in one of these 10+ must-see beaches in the South of Tenerife.

Playa de Las Teresitas, San Andrés

Playa de Las Teresitas is a beautiful beach located in San Andrés, one of the best and most popular resorts in Tenerife. The beach is known for its golden sand (that was imported from the Sahara), pleasant calm blue sea, and beautiful promenade lined with rows of palm trees.

With its calm clear waters and with lifeguards regularly patrolling the beach, it is a great place to go swimming or snorkeling. This Tenerife beach is surrounded by an artificial reef, which has helped create the perfect spot for swimming.

If you’re lucky you may spot some of the colorful fish that come here due to the reef. Las Teresitas is also a great place to hire a pedal boat, or hire a paddle board and do some stand-up paddleboarding. 

If you’re new to paddleboarding, I really recommend heading to Las Tereistas to practice paddleboarding, as thanks to the calm waters it’s a great place to develop better control and learn to balance without worrying about waves knocking you off.

If you’d prefer to just chill on the beach, you can hire an umbrella and sun lounger for €4 Euros, and soak up the sun. Just remember to use reef-friendly sunscreen so you don’t end up burnt.

There’s also a beach volleyball court, and in the summer there’s sometimes an inflatable water park on the beach for the kids to enjoy. The beach also has a shower, and changing rooms so you can wash off the sand before heading back to your accommodation.

There are plenty of places to get food or drink along the beach, with the option of food stalls or going to one of the beach bars such as Flow Beach Club or La mar & Klub.

Getting to Playa de Las Teresitas:

If you can drive, why not hire a car? You can then explore Tenerife at your own pace, and many beaches including Playa de las Teresitas have free parking available. Car hire in Tenerife is really affordable, even for automatics.

I recommend looking for car hire through Discovercars as they’ll do all the price comparisons for you, and include free cancellation. 

If you’d prefer to use public transport, there is a bus stop right next to the beach. You can get a bus from Santa Cruz de Tenerife, which takes about 25 minutes to get to Playa de Las Tereistas. The buses from Santa Cruz depart every 10 minutes from the main bus station, Intercambiador Santa Cruz. You’ll want to get the 910 bus, and you can find the timetable online here. You can find out information on using buses in Tenerife, here. 

Playa de Los Cristianos

Los Cristianos is a popular resort area, with two beautiful beaches; Playa de Los Cristianos and Playa de las Vistas. Both of these beaches are right by each other, so you can easily visit both in one day.

Both resorts are both great places to stay in Tenerife, with some amazing all-inclusive hotels, and good connections to other areas of Tenerife such as Mount Teide National Park.

Playa de Los Cristianos is a white sandy beach, with calm waters that make it perfect for swimming. It’s also a popular place for different water-based activities such as snorkeling, kayaking, paddleboarding, dolphin watching and even spotting turtles. There’s a range of tours and experiences to pick from, a few of which are wheelchair-accessible. 

I highly recommend considering the following experiences during your visit:

• Wheelchair-accessible whale watching boat trip and snorkeling: If you or a member of your party is a wheelchair user, you could consider this tour that uses a wheelchair-accessible boat. The boat has wheelchair-accessible bathrooms and a subversive hydraulic platform that’ll allow disabled passengers and wheelchair users to enjoy the waters as well. During the tour, you’ll search for whales (and possibly dolphins), before taking a dip in the water. Whilst in the water you can spot a range of sea life including turtles, manta rays, and more. You can book this tour here.
• Dolphin and Turtle Watching Kayaking Safari: Why not take a kayaking tour, that’ll give you the chance to spot dolphins and turtles? This tour will start in Los Cristianos and take you out towards the cliffs of Guaza where you’ll visit a cave, and hopefully see some dolphins and turtles. You’ll also get the chance to go snorkeling. You can book this tour here.
• 2-hour Viking Cruise (Wheelchair accessible): If you’re visiting Los Cristianos with children, then I recommend booking this Viking-themed cruise. You’ll board Ragnarok, a Viking-style boat where you’ll be greeted by the crew who are dressed as Vikings. The crew will entertain you whilst you look for whales and dolphins as you sail through Tenerife’s waters. You’ll also have the chance to take photos with the crew. This cruise is also a great option if you or a party member is disabled, as the boat has been adapted to ensure disabled people (including wheelchair users) can board and take part. You can book this tour here.
• Whale & Dolphin Watching Boat Tour: Another option for spotting whales and dolphins, is a 2-hour boat tour that leaves from Los Cristianos harbor. The guides will help with spotting dolphins, whales, and other sealife as you sail through the waters around Los Cristianos. This tour sadly isn’t wheelchair accessible. You can book this tour here.
• Standup Paddleboarding and Snorkeling: Instead of kayaking, why not go paddleboarding on a stand-up paddleboard? You’ll paddle out towards Guaza where you’ll have a chance to spot some of the local wildlife such as turtles and dolphins. You’ll also get to go snorkeling and if you’re lucky, you may get to swim with turtles. You can book this tour here.

If you need a bite to eat, or want to go for some drinks there are plenty of restaurants and pubs near the beach. Such as Tsuki Sushi Bar, or Restaurante Miami Beach. If you’re looking for a pub, I recommend heading to Kinsella’s Irish Bar – this is also a great place to watch the football

There are also tons of shops near the beach, that sell souvenirs, and duty-free and offer money exchange. If you need to hire a mobility scooter, you’ll also find a few options near the beach such as Jose Mobility.

You will also spot places offering car hire and whilst some of them are OK it is much safer to book your car hire online via Discovercars. Booking online lets you take your time to consider things without the rush sales tactic, so you can check reviews, and the terms before booking. 

Playa de las Vistas

Playa de las Vistas is the bigger of the two beaches in Los Cristianos that I recommend visiting. The water here is more choppy, as it’s less protected and more open to the wind/currents so Playa de las Vistas is more suitable for sunbathing, picnicking, sandcastle building, and volleyball. 

Playa de las Vistas has some wheelchairs accessible areas via a ramp that will take you down to an area covered by wooden boards. You won’t be able to reach the sea on these boards, but you can enjoy the atmosphere and sunshine. The beach also has a wheelchair-accessible toilet. Both the ramp access and toilet is located near the tourist information center. 

The beach also has a selection of eateries offering ice cream, snacks, and drinks. If you’d prefer to eat at a restaurant, there are plenty of these near the beach such as Sun King Restaurant.

Getting to Playa de Los Cristianos and Playa de las Vistas:

One way of getting to Playa de Los Cristianos is to drive. If you’re driving here, you will probably need to pay for parking unless you can find free on-street parking.

One of the easiest places to park is Parking Puerto Los Cristianos. This car park is between Playa de Los Cristianos and Playa de las Vistas; making it a great place to park if you wish to visit both beaches. However, you will pay 1.80 euros an hour or 20 euros for 12 hours of parking. 

You can find free on-street parking in Los Cristianos. These areas are marked with bleu P signs and white lines. Don’t park in areas marked with a yellow line as these are only for those loading/unloading, and always check the signs for parking limitations. There is some disabled on-street parking available but you need a blue disabled parking badge.

Here are some streets with free on-street parking:

• Avenida de Suecia – A few disabled parking spots (for disabled parking badge holders), motorbike parking, and on-street parking.
• Avenida La Habana – A few disabled parking spots, motorbike parking, and loads of car spots. This is the best place to park for access to Playa de las Vistas. 
• Calle del Valle Menéndez – There’s a free car park at street level, or a paid underground car park (which costs about 2.30euros per hour). The street car parking has a few disabled spots available.

Playa de las Américas

Playa de las Americas is a lively party resort in Tenerife, with an amazing man-made golden sand beach. This beach is a great place to spend the day, hanging out with your friends/family and soaking up the sun. The beach has tons of water-based activities that you can enjoy such as surfing, and paddleboarding.

If you’re new to surfing, I recommend taking some lessons to help you get started. You could book this class, which includes all the equipment needed, and 2 hours of tuition to help you build your confidence and get started with surfing. The class is beginner-friendly, and groups are kept small enough to ensure you’ll receive personalized attention. Book your surfing lessons here.

If you’d prefer one-on-one tuition you can book a private surfing lesson on Playa de Las Americas beach. No experience is required and they’ll supply you with the surfboard, wetsuit rental, and reef booties. Book a private surfing lesson here.

If you’d prefer to go paddleboarding on Las Americas beach then why not book this sunset paddleboarding lesson, where you’ll get to improve your paddleboarding skills while watching the sunset? Tenerife’s sunsets are amazing, and being able to enjoy them on the waters makes for an awesome experience. Book to go paddleboarding here.

Another great way of experiencing the waters in Tenerife is to go scuba diving. If you’re a beginner, then you could book this introduction to scuba diving where you’ll learn the basics and develop your scuba diving skills. Depending on your skill level you’ll either start this lesson in a pool or on a shallow beach. Before heading out to the waters, and diving from the shore or off a boat. 

If you’re more serious about scuba diving, you can also get your PADI open water certificate in Las Americas! You can sign up for a 3-day course that’ll cover everything you need to know to get your PADI open water certificate. For those with more experience, you can also opt to do an Advanced diving certificate or Rescue Diver courses. You can book the PADI open water certificate course here.

After a day at the beach, why not head to one of the many bars/pubs or restaurants in Playa de Las Americas? The town is known for its nightlife, and there are plenty of cheap bars/pubs with live music for you to enjoy. There’s also a row of shops right next to the beach, that run along the street called Calle Francisco Andrade Fumero. Here you’ll find a range of sores such as a kids clothing shop, a perfume store, a homeware store, a souvenir store, and loads more.

Getting to Playa de las Americas:

If you’re driving, there’s a free off-street car park at the south end of the beach near Mcdonald’s. This car park is free at certain times, just remember to check the parking signs. The car park is in a great location to get to the beach and shops. Click here to view the location on Google Maps.

You can also park for free, towards the north side of the beach in a car park that’s near the Sol Tenerife resort hotel. This car park is smaller but is also in a great location, near to the beach, shops and a few bars and clubs. Tip: The North side of the beach has some pebbles, so I recommend parking further south if you want to avoid walking over those. Click here to view the location on Google Maps.

If you’re not driving, you can take a bus to Playa de Las Americas from almost any town on the island. The 711 bus, from Santa De Cruz has a stop in Playa de Las Americas that isn’t far from the beach. You can find the stop on Google Maps here. 

You can look up bus routes, and timetables and find out how to use the buses on the official Tenerife public bus website. You can also use Google Maps to check bus routes/times, but I recommend confirming these on the official website in case there’s any unexpected delays or cancellations.

Playa de Fanabe, Costa Adeje

If you’re looking for a beach that’s both beautiful and serene, look no further than Fanabe Beach in Costa Adeje. The white sand and clear waters make it a popular spot for swimming, sunbathing, and snorkeling, but there are plenty of other things to do as well. Head to the beach bar for a cold drink or take a walk down to the beachfront restaurants to find some great seafood, tapas or steak. 

Fanabe Beach has some level of wheelchair and disabled access. There are a few ramps giving access to the beach, but most of them will take you onto the sand except for the one near the tourist information center. This ramp takes you down to some wooden boards that open into an area covered with the boards near the first aid/sos station. Half the boards are covered so you can sit out of the sun if you prefer. 

Fanabe Beach is one of the best beaches in Tenerife to go whale watching and I highly recommend joining an eco whale-watching tour to ensure the whales are not disturbed. By joining a whale-watching eco-tour, you can visit the Teno-Rasca Marine Protected Area where you’ll spot whales, and hopefully dolphins. You’ll also have the opportunity to listen to the whales using a hydrophone and the biologists will give you live commentary on the whales and dolphin species you see during the tour. Book this whale-watching tour here.

You could also ride on a fish fly boat, which is sort of like a banana boat but a bit different. It’s a really fun thrilling boat ride. If you’re looking for something adventurous then this is something you just have to do. The tour starts at $15.74 per adult, and riders have to be over the age of 10.  You can book this fly fishing experience here.

If you’re new to snorkeling, why not book this private snorkeling lesson that is beginner friendly? You’ll learn how to use snorkeling equipment and discover Tenerife’s marine life. Prices start at $46.55 per adult, which includes a 3-hour lesson and the use of the snorkeling equipment. You can book the lessons online here.

Book your snorkeling lesson

If you’d like to go shopping, there are plenty of different shops near the beach. Including clothing stores, a homeware store, a mini supermarket, and more. There are also some great places to go for food. If you fancy an ice cream, I recommend heading to Gelatería Exótica where they sell great icecream (including a tiramisu flavor), coffee, and pastries. If you’d prefer something savory then why not get a tapas at Michelle Restaurant? If you’re vegan, you could eat at BuenaVida Vegan which is a 100% vegan restaurant selling tacos, bao, and more. 

Playa del Duque, Costa Adeje

Another great white sandy beach in Costa Adeje is Playa Del Duque. If you’re looking for a great sandy beach in Costa Adeje that’s perfect for swimming, sunbathing, and many other fun beach activities, then you should check out Playa Del Duque. This beach is great for all types of visitors and it has plenty of amenities to keep you busy.

There are plenty of sun loungers and parasols that you can hire and relax on, as well as a few restaurants and cafes near to the beach such as La Torre del Mirador. La Torre del Mirador is a Canarian seafood restaurant so if you want to taste some amazing local food, I recommend heading here and ordering their paella. It is recommended to book a table, by calling them. You can find more details here.

If you’d like a drink, I recommend heading to the Beach Club Bahia del Duque where you can enjoy a pint of beer whilst enjoying the view of the beach. 

The water here is crystal clear and perfect for swimming, there are also some small waves which are great for bodyboarding. I’d recommend going for a swim in the morning as it’s not too busy and the water is lovely and refreshing. 

The beach has a few accessible ramps, such as one that starts near the El Mirador Shopping Center (Google Maps link here). However, at least during my visit, there was a lack of wheelchair-accessible wooden boards so once I reached the bottom of the ramp, I was onto the sand. 

If you’d like to get a photo of the beach, I recommend heading to the statue, Mirador Javier Pérez Ramos. This area has a great viewpoint over Duque beach and there’s a viewing telescope (which you have to pay for) that your kids may enjoy looking through.

Playa La Pinta, Costa Adeje

This is another beach located in Costa Adeje, that I really recommend visiting. The beach is quite small with golden sand and is near some great bars and restaurants. You could enjoy sunbathing, or swimming here but the best thing about this beach is the many activities you can enjoy including parasailing and scuba diving. 

If you’re traveling as a couple, why not book this private romantic night cruise, where you’ll get to enjoy the scenery as you pass by La Caleta’s Cliffs, and also enjoy the view towards Tenerife as it illuminates at night?  You can also enjoy drinks, snacks, and hookah during this cruise. You can book this cruise here.

If you’re traveling solo, or with friends/family you could book this whale & dolphin-watching catamaran tour. You’ll spend a few hours spotting dolphins and whales, with an experienced crew. Book this tour here.

If you’d like to go parasailing, you could book this parasailing experience where you’ll rise 100 meters above sea level and be able to enjoy both amazing views over Tenerife, and experience the thrill of parasailing. Book here to go parasailing.

If you enjoy fishing, you could book this fishing experience, where you’ll hop on a boat and be taken to the best fishing spots in Tenerife by the captain of the boat. All the fishing equipment is supplied for you, so no worries about needing to hire your own. Book your fishing trip here.

Costa Adeje is also a great place to go scuba diving. If you’re new to scuba diving you could book a lesson with a PADI-qualified instructor. After diving, you’ll also get to go on a snorkeling safari. You can book the scuba diving lesson here.

How to get to the beaches in Costa Adeje

All the beaches in Costa Adeje have access via Tenerife’s public buses, from most towns on the island.

A bus to Fanabe Beach only takes about 15 to 20 minutes from nearby towns such Los Cristianos. The bus to Fanabe Beach drops you off at Fanabe Plaza, which is about a 10 minutes walk from the beach. You can find the bus stop on Google Maps here.

For Playa de Duque, the bus stops at Bahia del Duque which is about a 5-10 minute walk from the beach. You can find this bus stop on Google Maps here. The bus to Playa la Pinta is a bit further from the beach, about a 10-minute walk away. You can find this bus stop here on Google Maps.

If you’re driving, there’s a paid car park at Fanabe Plaza. If lucky, you may get a free parking spot at this small car park that has one disabled parking spot and is located right next to the beach. You can find this car park on Google Maps here. You could also park at this on-street parking area, located on C. Londres which is near to the Yucca Park Aparthotel. This car parking area is a 5-10 minute walk to the beach but has more spots available. You can find this car park on Google maps here. 

Located between Fanabe Beach and Duque Beach is a paid underground car park. From this car park, you can walk to both beaches in about 5 minutes. You can find this car park on Google Maps here. Another free place to park near Duque beach can be found here.

If you’re going to Playa de la Pinta, you could park in this paid car park that’s near the beach and Puerto Colon marina, which you can view on Google Maps. Or, if you are disabled you may be able to find some on-street disabled parking spots. 

Playa de los Guios, Los Gigantes

With its large cliffs, and black sandy beaches Los Gigantes is one of the most amazing beaches to visit in Tenerife. My favorite beach here is, Playa de Los Guios. Whilst small, you get an amazing view over the waters and towards the cliffs. There are also some nice places to eat nearby if you’d like Spanish food I recommend going to Maria Rosa which has some amazing seafood dishes. 

Playa de los Guios has a ramp down to the beach, but there are no wheelchair-friendly wooden platforms. But those without a beach-friendly wheelchair can still enjoy the views of the beach and the cliff. 

If you want to get a view from the cliffs themselves, there is a hiking trail that follows a path that will take you to a viewpoint so you can enjoy the views over Tenerife and this beach. You can find this path’s starting point on Google Maps here. Continuing further along this trail takes you to other viewpoints but the trail quickly becomes much more rocky and uneven. 

If you’re visiting Tenerife on a cruise, Los Gigantes is a great place to stop off as part of a one-day cruise itinerary.

Whilst you’re in Los Gigantes I really recommend booking a whale watching tour. This is easily one of the best places on the island to spot whales, and the boat trip gives you the opportunity to enjoy the views of Los Gigantes cliffs. You could consider this tour that’ll also include snorkeling & swimming at a quiet spot. 

Getting to Los Gigantes

There are some buses going to Los Gigantes, but the bus stop is quite far from the beach. You can see it’s location on Google Maps here.

If you’re driving to Los Gigantes, there’s one main car park near the harbor which you have to pay to use. You can find this on Google Maps here.  If you do want to park on the street, look for spots that are marked with white lines to ensure it isn’t resident parking. 

Playa de El Médano

Playa de El Médano is a sandy, family-friendly beach located in the resort town, of El Medano in Southern Tenerife. This beach is popular with both locals and tourists alike and is located near some of the best restaurants and bars in El Medano. 

El Médano is known for its great windsurfing and surfing conditions, as the waves here are some of the best on the island. There are several kitesurfing schools in the area, such as Sunset Surf and Kite School. So even if you’ve never surfed before, you can easily learn how. 

When it comes to accessibility, there is one wide ramp on the east side of the beach but there’s no raised wooden platform for wheelchair users to roll over. Although access to the beach itself sucks, there is a nice path that runs along the beach that you can follow to enjoy views across the water and toward Montaña Roja (Red mountain). 

If you’re a certified diver, looking for somewhere to go scuba diving on the island then I recommend booking this diving experience which takes place in El Médano. Your guide will take you to two different diving locations, where you’ll have the chance to see some of Tenerife’s amazing marine life including octopuses, moray eels & more. You could also see some of Tenerife’s shipwrecks and caves. Book your diving experience here.

If you’d like to grab a drink or bite to eat, there are plenty of restaurants and bars right by the beach. If you fancy Icecream, I recommend heading to Planeta Goloso. There are also plenty of shops, selling souvenirs, surfing equipment, clothes, and more.  

If you’re interested in visiting a nudest beach, you could also visit the nearby beach Playa Montana Pelada which is about a 10 minutes drive from El Médano. The beach is one of the best nudest beaches in Tenerife and Spain.

How to get to El Médano Beach

If you’re coming by public bus, there’s a stop right by the beach (El Médano (T), which you can view on Google Maps here. 

If you’re driving, there’s a free public car park called Parking El Medano, that’s about 5 minute walk from the beach. You can find this here, on Google maps. There’s also some limited on-street parking a few minutes’ walk from the beach, on Av. José Miguel Galván Bello and C. García Osorio.

Playa de la Arena

Playa de la Arena is a popular beach resort, on the west coast of Tenerife, that has black sand that’s made from lava. The waters here can be deeper, and the waves stronger than in other areas of the island so I don’t recommend swimming here. But it does make for a great beach to go windsurfing, or surfing on.

Even though you can’t swim here, the beach is still great for relaxing and enjoying the sun. There are sun loungers and umbrellas for you to hire and plenty of restaurants and bars nearby. 

You could also enjoy going for a walk to Cueva la Vaca, which is a small natural swimming pool that’s quite beautiful. For a longer hike, and views over Playa de la Arena, you could head to the Paseo de Punta Blanca hiking area. This hiking trail also gives access to two beaches – Punta Blanca and Punta Juanita. Both of these are quite rocky and unsuitable for swimming, but they’re popular with local experienced surfers.

Getting to Playa de la Arena

If you’re traveling without a car, you can get a bus to Playa de la Arena from most towns on the island. Los Gigantes is only 7 minutes away by bus and Costa Adeje is about 1 hour away. Most buses stop at the La Arena bus stop which is only a few minutes walk from the beach.

If you’re driving, you can park for free right by the beach. There’s loads of on-street parking following the main road, Av. Marítima Acantilados de los Gigantes. You can view this on Google Maps here.

Playa Las Galletas

Las Galletas is a town on the south coast of Tenerife. The town has a small beach, Playa Las Galletas which is made up of black lava sand and pebbles. While you can’t really sunbathe here, the beach is great if you want to get out on the waters or enjoy the scenery.

One of the best things to do in Las Galletas is to go Jet skiing. You could consider this jet skiing tour which includes transfers from your chosen pick-up location, and 2 hours of jet skiing. You can book to go jet skiing here. 

Another thing I highly recommend doing is going on a snorkeling trip to see the underwater lava tongues which were created by flowing lava. You may also see some of the local marine life. This tour can be booked here.

If you’re looking for somewhere to go scuba diving and have your PADI certificate, you could consider this diving trip. You’ll get to experience 2 dives, at 2 different sites. You’ll have the chance to see some of Tenerife’s amazing marine life including sea turtles. You can book this tour here.

Getting to Playa Las Galletas

Playa Las Galletas is about 15 minutes from Los Cristianos on the 467 bus and in under 2 hours from Santa Cruz de Tenerife. If you’re coming from Santa Cruz de Tenerife, you’ll need to change buses in Los Cristianos. The nearest bus stop to the beach is La Paz (T), which is a 5-minute walk away. 

If you’re driving, you can park near the beach either at a car park which is by the first aid station (Google Maps link here) or at a car park off La Paz. You can view this on Google Maps here.

I hope you found this guide helpful. Whilst in Tenerife, why not visit Mount Teide National Park? It’s my favorite place in Tenerife and has tons of hikes, wildlife, dark skys, and scenery for you to enjoy.