Explore 14 North Tenerife’s Secret Beaches

Travel agencies won't tell you about these beaches in Tenerife! There are no crowds, but there are lava rocks, black sand, and wild panoramas. This guide features 14 places that the Canarians themselves love. Some are wild and deserted, others have waves, bars, and surfing. And all of them are worth turning off the beaten tourist path. Let’s start!

Playa El Bollullo is located in the El Rincón area, municipality of La Orotava, about 4 km from Puerto de la Cruz. It is situated at the foot of the cliffs, surrounded by black volcanic sand and banana plantations.

The waves here are strong, and the sand is warmed by the sun. The beach is approximately 200 meters long and 40 meters wide. There are spectacular volcanic rocks surrounding the entire beach. They create a striking contrast with the green plantations. The sea is always clean, but there are often strong waves and underwater currents, so swimming requires caution.

Nearest cities: Puerto de la Cruz, La Orotava.

Amenities: Bollullo Chiringuito (bar and restaurant, located directly above the beach), toilets, and garbage containers. No showers or changing rooms.

Viewpoints and interesting places nearby: Mirador El Bollullo is where you can enjoy the best panoramic view of the beach.

Playa de Benijo is located in the northeast of the island, inside the protected area of Parque Rural de Anaga. Nearby is the small village of Benijo. This is a wild beach with black volcanic sand and gravel.

The ocean is harsh with powerful waves and strong currents. During high tide, the width of the coast is greatly reduced, and when the tide rises, a natural "jacuzzi" appears. This shallow stone pit is filled with seawater. In the ocean, you can see two rocks: Roque Benijo and La Rapadura. Families with children and older people should be careful - not only because of the waves, but also because of the difficult climb back up the steps.

Nearest cities: The Benijo village and Taganana, both of which are situated in the Anaga zone.

Important notes: Since July 2024, part of the beach has been closed due to the risk of rockfalls. It still hasn't officially reopened.

Amenities: No amenities on the beach at all.

Viewpoints and interesting places nearby: The best view on the beach is from the top of the stairs.

The Playa de Castro beach is located in the Rambla de Castro nature reserve near Puerto de la Cruz. Similar to the first beach, the path here goes through a tropical forest with banana plantations and palm trees. This beach has black volcanic sand, pebbles, and large stones. It is long but narrow, only 30 meters wide, and during low tide, the sand can be completely covered with water. There’s also an artificial waterfall that flows from the cliffs into the sea, and a small cave near the big cliff on the right. The path down is great — winding, with wooden bridges along the way.

Nearest cities: Puerto de la Cruz (20 minutes drive), Los Realejos.

Amenities: There are no showers, cabins, sun loungers, or cafes. The nearest restaurant is Restaurante Cafetería Mirador San Pedro.

Viewpoints and interesting places nearby: Fortín de San Fernando, Caserío y playa de la Rambla de Castro.

Finally, we have reached one of the most beautiful and comfortable beaches in the northern part of Tenerife. The Playa de Las Teresitas is located in the village of San Andrés and at the foot of the Anaga mountain. It's only 6-8 km from the center of Santa Cruz de Tenerife.  It is also the first artificial beach more than a kilometer long and up to 80 meters wide.

The beach has golden sand that was brought from the Sahara in the 1970s. There are breakwaters, so the ocean is calm, warm, and transparent, almost like a swimming pool. There are palm trees around the beach, creating natural shade for tourists.

Nearest cities: Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

Amenities: There are showers, toilets, sun loungers, and cafes. You can rent umbrellas, lockers, kayaks, and more. The beach is very convenient for everyone.

Viewpoints and interesting places nearby: Playa Las Teresitas, Castillo de San Andrés. If you’re traveling by car, you can also visit Mirador Las Teresitas.

The next beach is Playa del Socorro. It is located in the municipality of Los Realejos, about 3-5 km from the center of Puerto de la Cruz and San Pedro, along the coast. The beach has black volcanic sand and is approximately 300 meters long with a width of 30-60 meters. The ocean here is very harsh with powerful waves and constant currents. This makes it a great place for surfing and bodyboarding. The waves break quite far from the shore, creating an area for experienced and beginner surfers at the same time. This beach is something between wild beaches and Playa de Las Teresitas.

Nearest cities: Los Realejos, Puerto de la Cruz.

Amenities: The beach is considered accessible as there are parking spaces, ramps, showers, toilets, and lifeguards.

Viewpoints and interesting places nearby: There are no special viewpoints, but the beach itself is very beautiful.

Want to visit a beautiful beach in a small village? You should go to Playa de la Arena, which is located in the Mesa del Mar village. Here, you will again be greeted by black volcanic sand with small pebbles. The beach is quite long (350 meters) but not wide (30-35 meters). It is protected by rocks in the form of a bay, which makes the ocean calm, without strong waves and currents. Entry into the water is convenient for children and older persons.

Nearest cities: Puerto la Madera, Tacaronte.

Amenities: There is everything for a comfortable stay, including a playground, showers, and toilets. Nearby, there are kiosks with drinks and snacks + a grocery store.

Viewpoints and interesting places nearby: Mirador Mesa del Mar is nearby.

Playa de Garachico is situated right on the coast of Tenerife's heritage site, Garachico. This beach is not very large and, like most other beaches on the island, is covered with black volcanic sand and pebbles. Its dimensions are approximately 60-70 meters long and 30 meters wide. The water here is transparent, and you can often see small crabs along the beach. It is better not to swim after 5 p.m. because it gets much colder. Examine the current information before visiting the beach, as it may be closed due to large waves.

Nearest cities: Garachico.

Amenities: The beach is comfortable enough for a family holiday. There are lifeguards, showers, and toilets. The area is cleaned, and there are garbage bins. Not far from this place, there are cafes, restaurants, and hotels.

Viewpoints and interesting places nearby: Mirador San Pedro - from here, you can see the beach, mountains, and the ocean.

In the Punta Brava area, you can visit another of the best beach complexes in Tenerife - Playa María Jiménez and Playa del Castillo. It is located just a kilometer from the center of Puerto de la Cruz, one of the most tourist places on the island. Of course, you will again be greeted by black volcanic sand, but this time it is finer and softer, so walking barefoot is much more pleasant. The beaches are long and wide enough, and the entrance to the water is gentle, but rocky in places. The ocean here is crystal clear, but swimming can be restricted due to strong waves.

📍Important details: The beach complex is now open again, and officials say the pollution problem has been fixed. Just watch the flags — a red flag with a black dot means the beach is closed and swimming is forbidden.

Nearest cities: Puerto de la Cruz.

Amenities: The beach facilitates umbrellas, sun loungers, shady gardens, and alleys with palm trees. There are no cafes on the shore itself, but if you go up a little, then just 50 meters away, you will find Andana Beach Club and other restaurants.

Viewpoints and interesting places nearby: After walking a little along the embankment, you can see Cascada de la playa.

Right in the heart of Puerto de la Cruz is Playa de San Telmo beach. It’s adjacent to the historic Ermita de San Telmo chapel and bordered by the Paseo de San Telmo promenade. The beach is compact and is only 20–30 m in both length and width. Of course, there is black volcanic gravel, coarse sand, and rocky edges. The cove, framed by a jetty and volcanic rock, has natural tidal pools that emerge at low tide. However, be careful. While the seawalls provide protection, currents can be strong outside the bay.

Nearest cities: Puerto de la Cruz.

Amenities: There are showers, toilets, foot-washing stations, and ramps for wheelchair accessibility.

Viewpoints and interesting places nearby: San Telmo Shrine.

Our next stop in Puerto De la Cruz is Playa del Muelle. It's another beach located in the historic heart of the city, near the fishing port. Approximately 50 m long and 15 m wide, the beach is a mix of dark volcanic gravel and coarse sand, more pebble-like in texture. A gentle slope with moderate waves is protected in part by the jetty and harbour walls. Swimming is possible, but careful attention is needed due to submerged rocks and uneven seabed. This beach is a mix of maritime authenticity and urban life.

Nearest cities: Puerto de la Cruz.

Amenities: access ramps, showers, waste bins, foot-washing stations - everything for good Tenerife holidays.

Viewpoints and interesting places nearby: Casa de la Aduana, Batería de Santa Bárbara.

Playa de la Caleta is nestled on the northwest coast of Tenerife, just beneath the town of Garachico. This is a rocky, non-touristy beach in the village of La Caleta de Interián. It has a very simple and authentic Canarian atmosphere. Instead of sand, there are black volcanic rocks, but there are also wooden boardwalks along the shore, where you can walk barefoot.

Nearest cities: Garachico.

Amenities: No formal infrastructural amenities on the beach, only cafes and restaurants within a short walk.

Viewpoints and interesting places nearby: Iglesia de San Andrés Apóstol, Restaurante Mundial.

The Playa de las Arenas is located in the rural area of Buenavista del Norte, about 2 km west of the town center. The surface mixes dark volcanic sand, pebbles, and larger rocks. The left side of the beach offers the best stretch of sand. Yet, in winter, the surface is mainly pebbly due to currents and tides that wash away the sand.

Nearest cities: Buenavista.

Amenities: Large open parking, waste bins, seasonal bars.

Viewpoints and interesting places nearby: Charco de las anémonas, Mirador de Buenavista. The only restaurant here is Restaurante El Burgado, with a 3.8-star rating on Google Maps and fairly high prices.

Playa de Rojas is part of the rocky coastline of Costa de Rojas in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. It is not a classic sandy beach, but a stretch of volcanic coastline with small platforms and natural pools called "charcos". In calm weather, the beach is suitable for swimming, and the water is perfectly clean. There are no crowds of tourists here.

📍Important details: The descent is steep and full of tight switchbacks—drive cautiously and only if you're experienced with mountain roads.

Nearest cities: Puerto de la Cruz.

Amenities: Small parking lot, trash bins, navigation signs, and ladders for going down into the water.

Now, you have a map to the most impressive beaches of northern Tenerife. Want peace and quiet? Look for a wild coastline. Do you like waves and action? There are such places. Or maybe all at once? This list is the perfect start to discover the north as the locals see it.