Do you remember the first time you arrived on Tenerife? Even before you set foot on Tinerfean soil, you might have caught sight of the island from your plane seat—if you were lucky enough to sit on the right side. First, you saw an awe-inspiring mountain, followed by its sprawling slopes, and finally, the shoreline—the boundary between land and ocean: the coast.
From that altitude, you undoubtedly noticed the colours and shades that the landscape exuded as the plane descended. Blue-green to deep blue for the water, black for the coastal areas interspersed with yellow-brown slopes, green for the forested zones, and at the very top, a crown – sometimes snow-capped. Once you left the plane, you could appreciate it even better. The coasts of Tenerife are all about contrast and harmony.
Dramatic Colours
The coast, the transition between land and ocean, offers a diversity that is unrivalled. Some spots are more picturesque than others, some rugged and wild, others calm and serene. One thing they do not share is uniformity. Every beach is unique, and even among sandy beaches, the variety is remarkable. Some have brown-yellow sand, others black volcanic grains, and some are adorned with fine golden particles. A beach is a place you can physically step onto without obstacles, marking the boundary between two vast entities: water and land.
Tenerife’s coastline stretches for approximately 358 kilometres, much of which cannot be classified as a beach but instead serves as a dramatic backdrop for photos. The rugged, inaccessible coastal stretches form a natural barrier, protecting the island from flooding and preventing the landmass from shrinking significantly.
Climate Change
It is unsettling to imagine how the 2,000 square kilometre island could be attacked by rising sea levels caused by the melting of the Antarctic ice cap. Even if we attribute this directly to ozone layer depletion due to excessive fossil fuel use, we must do everything in our power to protect this beautiful archipelago. The thought of the ocean advancing to my doorstep is unnerving. While coastlines will always exist, beaches may vanish. Living on Mount Teide or climbing its slopes for refuge would be an impossible scenario for all of us.
No Exhaustive List
Before it comes to that, we can still tour and visit a few beaches categorised as sandy beaches. Starting our journey in Los Gigantes, we encounter three types of coastlines. Los Acantilados, the towering cliffs, offer no chance for a beach at 450 metres above sea level. However, there is a black sand beach nestled between the harbour and the cliffs. Further south, Playa La Arena features black sand, while San Juan offers another lava-based beach. And there are more.
Forgive me for not listing all 150+ beaches and coves on Tenerife. Instead, I aim to classify the playas for you.
Types of Beaches
One of the busiest beaches is undoubtedly Las Vistas. Heading slightly northeast, you will find Costa Magallanes, which includes the expansive sandy beaches of El Médano and La Tejita. Whether these beaches were naturally formed or man-made is a debate for another time.
Pebble beaches dominate the eastern coastline, where sand doesn’t find its way between your toes. Whether walking on pebbles is easier is up for discussion. Between Granadilla and Las Caletillas, you’ll find numerous pebble stretches, with exceptions like Candelaria, Abades, and Güímar.
The most beautiful beach is undoubtedly Las Teresitas, and then it’s time to circle around the Anaga mountain range to reach the northern coast.
Charcos
How ingenious have the locals been to transform some of Tenerife’s rugged coastlines into accessible sea pools, known as charcos. With every tide, the ocean refreshes these semi-open basins, and during a mar de fondo (heavy swell), the fun becomes even more exhilarating.
Black sand beaches are abundant along the northern coast, but they end at Garachico. Here lies the dry and elevated Parque Rural de Teno, where swimming is too dangerous due to treacherous currents. Access to the ocean is limited to Masca, via its barranco, and Punta de Teno.
Once you pass these, you return to Los Gigantes, completing the circle.
Unknown © Photography
Coasts of Tenerife ©
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