The Canary Islands are a mini paradise for surfing and bodyboarding. World championships are held in some of the islands’ best spots every year. Catching some waves is one of the top activities to do in the island of Tenerife, the one of greatest relief, as it offers a vast choice of beaches to slide off the adrenaline rush.
The island is set in a privileged area, being part of the Macaronesia, in the Atlantic Ocean. The winds, temperatures and types of seabed, offer different kinds of waves for all surfers, from the foam for the newbie to the highest peaks for most experienced ones.
Below, I list a few of the best beaches I personally know for these two sports. Please, be cautious, respect the sea, and good waves for all 😉 
ANAGA AREA
Almáciga
The first time I got on a surfboard, it was a tiny fish board and right on this beach. Sweet memories playing with the waves and discovering how unstable those boards are… especially for beginners!
Access and services: Wild beach. Parking in front of the beach. Refreshments stand. From the capital, you must take TF1 towards San Andrés, and right before entering the village, take left on the roundabout. Go up on that road and take the second exit towards «Taganana/ Almáciga» (TF12). After Taganana and Roque de las Bodegas, you’ll find Almáciga beach.
Municipality: Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
Seabed: black sand.
Direction of the wave: right and left.
Wave characteristics: barrel, wall.
Recommendation by ability level: intermediate and advanced.
Warning: strong current area. Dangerous. Do not go away from the shore. Check weather and tides before going in the water.
Benijo
From my perspective, this is one of the most beautiful beaches of the island. Wild. A local gem. A wonderful beach where to spend the day or the evening (especially with receding tide), and watch the sunset.
Access and services: No services and no parking. About 45-50 minutes away from the capital (27-28 km). After Taganana and Almáciga (check directions above), you’ll find a curve to the right. Next to the restaurant El Mirador, under the caserío de Benijo, you’ll find a pathway and some stairs that will take you to the beach.
This may be my favorite or one of my favorite beaches. Please, take care of it!
Municipality: Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
Seabed: black sand.
Direction of the wave: right and left.
Characteristics: wall.
Recommendation for ability level: intermediate and advanced.
Warning: strong current area. Dangerous. Do not go away from the shore. Check weather and tides before going in the water.
NORTH (TF5)
El Socorro (Realejos)
Home to many competitions, this beach is perfect for bodyboarding, and as a good friend and boogie-boarding mentor of mine would say, wonderful for duck-dive practice! It may probably be the beach where I have practiced them the most, due to the speed of the wave series.
Access and services: isolated beach. Parking (usually full). Toilet, wifi area, and a chiringuito (local beach-style food ‘n drinks stand). Disabled accessibility with reserved parking, access ramp and wheelchair friendly. In Los Realejos (after La Orotava), about 35 minutes away (42ks) from the capital. Access by car via TF5 and then main road c820, towards Mirador de San Pedro.
Municipality: Los Realejos.
Seabed: black sand.
Direction: right and left.
Characteristics: quick wave, barrel, wall.
Best tide: all.
Recommended level: intermediate and advanced.
Warning: strong currents and strong waves.
Martiánez
Close to Lago Martiánez, this beach is the most accessible -and very popular- by Puerto de la Cruz. You’ll find it right in front of the main avenue, where there is also a skate park. Surfing and bodyboarding championships are held on this beach.
Access and services: right from the city. Access right at the entrance of Puerto de la Cruz, exit 32 of TF5, about 35 minutes (37ks) from the capital. When getting off the highway, continue towards Avenida de Colón; and if it is easier for you, follow the directions towards Lago Martiánez – when facing the ocean, it will be on its right hand.
Municipality: Puerto de la Cruz.
Seabed: sand and callao (a type of small stone).
Direction: right.
Characteristics: smooth.
Best tide: high and mid.
Recommendation: beginner and intermediate.
*Tip: You will find surf schools here.
SOUTH (TF1)
El Socorro (Güímar)
Callaos (stones) beach for bodyboarding. You’ll find locals.
Access and services: in the coast of Güímar, close to the Malpaís (natural reserve), about 20 minutes (23 ks) from the capital. Take exit 20 when leaving highway TF1.
Municipality: Güímar.
Seabed: stones and rocks.
Direction: left.
Characteristics: wall.
Recommendation: intermediate.
Playa El Faro – Playa Grande (El Porís)
Beautiful beach by a fishermen’s village where you can eat really good fish. Mostly locals.
Access and services: close to El Porís and a windfarm. Parking. About 35 minutes (44ks) from the capital on TF1, taking exit 39 to continue on TF625 towards Calle Buen Viaje – Carretera del Faro.
Municipality: Arico.
Seabed: light-brown sand.
Direction of the wave: right and left.
Characteristics: smooth.
Best tide: low and mid.
Recommendation: beginners.
Warning: windy.
El Cabezo y La Jaquita (El Médano)
By El Médano village -on my top three villages of the island, and very close to my heart-, these beaches are TOP for getting started (as is the one coming up). This is also a distinguished area for kitesurfing and windsurfing.
Access and services: El Cabezo and La Jaquita beaches are about 45 minutes (64ks) from the capital. South on the TF1, you’ll want to take exit TF64, right before Tenerife South Airport, and all the way down to the shore. After leaving the centre of the village on your right, you’ll go left. You will see various beaches on your right hand. First one is El Cabezo, next one, La Jaquita.
Surfers’ village, laid-back vibes, with stores and other sporty centres. Parking.
Municipality: Granadilla de Abona.
Seabed: volcanic reef, stones and sand.
Direction: right and left.
Characteristics: smooth.
Recommendation: beginner and intermediate.
*Tip: if you love windsurfing and kitesurfing, this is your area. El Médano area is considered one of the best in Europe for the practice of these sports. El Cabezo is where both Kitesurfing and Windsurfing World Championships -and other international championships- take place.
El Médano, the village beach
Very common spot to get started with surfing. Walking along the main avenue, leaving the centre of the village behind and right before the last beach before Montaña Roja (bear in mind it is not possible to surf on that one. Only windsurf and kite). There are plenty of schools, and you’ll definitely see people in the water, with longboards or paddle-surf. Absolutely recommended for those who want to try surfing. Not so much for bodyboarding though.
Access and services: pretty much everything you may need or want in the village of El Médano. When taking TF64 and entering the village, instead of going left (like for the previous two beaches), you’ll go right. You’ll find the main square. In front of it, the beach. You’ll walk right, having the ocean on your left hand side and shops on the right. Parking in the area (not next to the beach). Pedestrian area.
Municipality: Granadilla de Abona.
Seabed: sand.
Direction: right and left.
Characteristics: smooth.
Recommendation: beginner.
*Tip: if you love windsurfing and kitesurfing, go till the end of the avenue and pass the little hill. Surf Centre Playa Sur will be right there. Ask for the Gahmig family and tell them you found them through this site, travelOgrafa 😉 . You’ll learn/ rent from the best, and they’ll treat you so caringly you won’t want to leave! They’re great professionals! I fully recommend!
El Confital or La Machacona (next to La Tejita)
Close to Montaña Roja (perfect sunset from its top!), with long and crystal-clear tubes, this beach is perfect for bugueros (boogie boarders), especially in the Summertime, when the powerful barrels invite advanced riders to slide in ways that will leave beginners in absolute awe.
Access and services: from La Tejita beach, where the parking place is, right in front of the camping site in the area. Between El Médano and Los Abrigos villages, about 45 minutes (64ks) from the capital. When taking exit TF64 off TF1, turn right to TF643 direction La Tejita (before entering the village of El Médano). On your left, you’ll find this awesome beach.
Municipality: Granadilla de Abona.
Seabed: sand.
Direction: right and left.
Characteristics: smooth/ rough (depending on the time of the year and the swells), wall.
Best tide: low and mid.
Recommendation: beginner, intermediate, advanced.
Warning: windy.
El Guincho, El Búnker or «El Conquistador» (playa Las Américas)
Right in front of hotel H10 Conquistador, many know it by that name. El Guincho, El Búnker, or simply «the one in Las Américas, close to Maccas (McDonald’s)». Parking – usually filled with vans and surfing good vibes. Internationally known as one of the best waves in Europe.
Access and services: access from Avenida de Las Palmeras, you’ll find anything you may need (and more!). About 55 minutes (78ks) from the capital, taking exit 28 off TF1 to get on TF665 (Los Cristianos) towards Playa Las Américas – H10 Conquistador (via Av. Chayofita and Av. Antonio Domínguez, towards Calle Arenas Blancas).
Municipality: Arona.
Seabed: volcanic reef.
Direction of the wave: right (!) and left.
Characteristics: barrel and wall.
Best tide: mid.
Recommendation: beginner, intermediate, advanced.
Warning: please mind the shore and the reef. You can easily get hurt.
Las Palmeras (playa Las Américas)
Wonderful for surfing. One of the TOP beaches where you will find surf schools on the island. Very good for bodyboarding as well.
Access and services: those of a city. Big parking place. About 55 minutes (78ks) from the capital. Take same directions from the previously described beach, yet switching final destination for Av. Rafael Puig Luvina. You can also follow the exact same directions yet once you find Maccas, facing the ocean, go right instead of left.
Municipality: Arona.
Seabed: volcanic reef.
Direction of wave: left.
Characteristics: barrel.
Best tide: high.
Recommendation: beginner, intermediate, advanced.
Warning: please mind the shore and the reef. You can easily get hurt.
Punta Blanca
Either one of or the first beach where I started bodyboarding when I was a little girl. Back then, free camping was legal, and we would spend weeks of summertime by the beach. I have amazing memories from back then… enjoying nature and spending the days in the water, on the beach. What a dream! A true adventure!
Access and services: semi-isolated. Natural surroundings and no services. Access after Alcalá village, direction south on the main road. About an hour and fifteen minutes (98ks) from the capital, TF1, direction Los Gigantes. Take exit TF46 which will lead you towards Alcalá when blending with TF47. After Gran Meliá Palacio de Isora, surrounded by banana plantations, take the Camino Finca La Jaquita till you find the ocean.
Municipality: Guía de Isora.
Seabed: volcanic reef and rocks.
Direction of the wave: right and left (big wave).
Characteristics: barrel and wall.
Best tide: low and mid.
Recommendation: beginner, intermediate, advanced.
OTHER BEACHES, and some resources
Los Patos, El Ancón, and El Bollullo are some interesting beaches too… in El Bollullo I caught one of my biggest and coolest waves ever. Still today, I perfectly remember the sensation of sliding down the wall as if I was a pro surfer. These are a bit more #onlylocals . Be mindful, respectful, follow surf rules, and remember you are the visitor.
Punta del Hidalgo and Bajamar are quite reknown. I haven’t surfed there yet so I cannot give a first-hand opinion. Hopefully soon!
Magicseaweed is one of the webs I use to check the tide, wave size and weather conditions.
What do you think about my list?Have you tried any of these beaches yet? Do you agree? Any missing recommendations?
Don’t forget to add this page to your favorites, and share with your friends. Enjoy our beautiful beaches, always respectfully, never leaving but footprints behind you.
This is awesome! What a list! I love this article, it has everything: description, map, directions, opinion, tips, personal experience, all about the waves, level, recommendations, danger or ease, weather… Amazing! Totally bookmarking this!
Nice! Super glad that it is so useful and good for you! It makes me happy! 🙂 Thank you for your comment!