| Area | Best for | Facts from the tourist board |
|---|---|---|
| El Médano | Windsurfing, kitesurfing, a lived-in seaside town | 750 m Blue Flag beach, fine grey sand, windsurfing area, cafés and restaurants on the promenade |
| La Tejita (next door) | Space, an empty beach | 1,000 m, cars cannot reach the sand, nudists welcome |
| Costa Adeje | Resort hotels, Siam Park, golf | 14 beaches usable all year, marina, about 20 minutes from the airport |
| Los Cristianos | Ferries, calm water | Port for La Gomera, El Hierro and La Palma, 850 m Las Vistas beach |
Why El Médano
- The beach. El Médano beach is 750 m long and 43 m wide, in an urban setting with a view of Montaña Roja. The tourist board lists toilets, showers, bars, restaurants, loungers, parking for more than 100 cars, an inter-city bus, disabled access and a Blue Flag. Its address is Paseo Amalia, 5.
- Wind sports. The section of the beach furthest from the town is the main area for windsurfing and kitesurfing, and surf shops line the promenade. The beach has hosted international windsurfing and kitesurfing championships, according to the tourist board.
- Families. The section nearest the town has gentler waves and suits swimmers and families, so one beach can serve both a beginner's day and a windsurfing day.
- A second beach. La Tejita is 1,000 m long beside Montaña Roja. It is a protected natural area, so you park along the Médano to Los Abrigos road and walk about five minutes. See La Tejita.
What you give up
El Médano is not on the strip of resort hotels that runs from Playa de las Américas to Callao Salvaje. That strip has the beaches and services described in where to stay in Costa Adeje: a marina, a golf course, Siam Park and 14 beaches usable all year. If you are travelling with children who want a water park every day, the coast to the west is a better base; see Siam Park tickets. For ferry days, where to stay in Los Cristianos is closer to the port.
How to choose
- Decide your sport. If you will windsurf or kitesurf, El Médano is the place the tourist board points to for it. If you will only sunbathe, the resort beaches in the best beaches in Tenerife offer more services.
- Look at the map before you book. The beach, the promenade and the surf shops are close together, so a room near the promenade puts you within a short walk of food and the water.
- Check what is included. Booking shows breakfast and board per rate; compare the total price, not the nightly figure.
- Plan your day trips. The whole island is reachable from the south, but Teide and the north are covered in Tenerife excursions and Tenerife north or south.
Mistakes to avoid
- Booking El Médano for nightlife. The tourist board describes cafés and restaurants on the promenade, not a nightlife strip; Playa de las Américas is the livelier base.
- Planning to drive to La Tejita's sand. Cars cannot reach it.
- Expecting calm water at the far end of the beach. That section is the windsurfing and kitesurfing area.
FAQ
Is El Médano a good place to stay in Tenerife?
It is a good base for windsurfing, kitesurfing and a quieter seaside town. It is not a resort strip with a marina and water park.
Is El Médano close to the airport?
It is in the same municipality as Tenerife South airport, Granadilla de Abona. The tourist board gives no drive time for the town.
Does El Médano have a Blue Flag beach?
Yes, according to the tourist board's page for El Médano beach.
Is there another beach nearby?
Yes: La Tejita, a 1,000 m beach beside Montaña Roja, reached on foot from the parking.
The Tenerife Authority editorial team, 7 November 2026.
