TENERIFE INSIDER TIPS

THE MOST BEAUTIFUL BEACHES OF TENERIFE

The most beautiful beaches of Tenerife. Playa de las Teresitas with white sand beach, azure bay, and the capital Santa Cruz de Tenerife in the background.
The most beautiful beaches of Tenerife - Playa de las Teresitas

The most beautiful beaches of Tenerife range from small rocky coves to wide sandy beaches with fine sand and cozy chiringuitos.

The north of the island boasts some beautiful beaches, but the ocean is often a bit rougher here. If you enjoy swimming, the south of the island is often better suited. Keep this in mind when planning your holiday to Tenerife.

To make it easier to navigate, I have categorized the most beautiful beaches of Tenerife by region. On the maps below, they are marked with blue areas. Click on the relevant region for a list of beaches you must visit!

The most beautiful beaches of Tenerife 

By region

Tenerife South - Most Beautiful Beaches: Map of the island with the five most beautiful beaches in the south highlighted in blue, including beach names.
South
Map of Tenerife highlighting the most beautiful beaches of Tenerife West – Tenerife West - Most Beautiful Beaches.
West
Tenerife North - Most Beautiful Beaches. Map of Tenerife showing the most beautiful beaches of the north in blue.
North
Tenerife East - Most Beautiful Beaches. Map of Tenerife with the 5 most beautiful beaches of the east highlighted in blue.
Oosten

Colors of the sand

Tenerife is a volcanic island, and you can see this reflected in its beaches. Many beaches have black sand, which may be a bit surprising if you’ve never seen it before, but it has a unique charm. This sand is popular among locals because of its natural exfoliating effect: a free spa!

But the island also has man-made beaches with white sand. Playa de las Teresitas, for example, near the capital Santa Cruz, has sand that was specially imported from the Sahara. This almost white sand gives the beach an exotic look.

Swimming at the most beautiful beaches of Tenerife

Tenerife is located in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, with an average water temperature of 20.3 ºC. This allows you to enjoy a refreshing swim all year round.

Please pay attention to the beach flags for your safety:

  • Green: Safe to swim, but stay alert.
  • Yellow: Zwem voorzichtig en blijf dicht bij de kust.
  • Red: Niet zwemmen, gevaarlijke stromingen mogelijk.
Wooden lifeguard tower on La Enramada beach in La Caleta, with a yellow flag signaling caution for swimming.
Yellow flag: be careful!
Blue Flag on La Enramada beach in La Caleta, indicating the beach meets all quality standards
Blue flag

Some beaches have a blue flag, a certification for high quality and safety. If a white flag with an image of jellyfish is displayed, caution is advised: do not swim if a yellow or red flag is also flying.

Also, think about nature: do not leave trash or plastic behind. Enjoy the ocean and take care of the unique flora and fauna.

Don't underestimate the sun

  • Use sunscreen with a high SPF.
  • Reapply sunscreen regularly, especially after swimming.
  • Wear a hat or cap to protect your face from direct sunlight.
Cartoon of a sunscreen bottle with SPF 50, encouraging proper sun protection.
Slip-Slop-Slap!
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