Best spots to Surf and Bodyboard in Tenerife
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.
9 images that will inspire you to visit Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii
Welcome to Honolulu, the biggest city and capital of the state of Hawaii (USA). Located on the island of Oahu, and hosting visitors at about 105ªF / 40ªC on any August day, it invites you to roam around in your automatic convertible, to visit its well-known beaches, and to freshen up in its waters (never under 23-24ºC). Have you still not visited? Here, some inspiration if you still need that little push to visit this wonderful place. Enjoy!Did you know that Hawaiian language has only 13 letters? The famous word Aloha is used as a common greeting, translated as hello, goodbye, and even thank you. For Hawaiians, though, aloha is a much wider concept – it is love, affection, peace, compassion and mercy. Aloha Spirit is the motivation of each individual to connect with themselves and express their thoughts and feelings towards others. It is the coordination of mind and heart within each person. It implies mutual affection and warmth with no obligation in return, to coexist, sharing happiness. It is a gift that cures the spirit. Surfing is a remarkable sport on the islands of Hawaii. There, international championships are held, and it is even considered the home of surfing. This sport has been known for over 500 years on the islands of Polynesia; and it was already practiced in Hawaii when captain Cook arrived in 1778. This statue, named Makua and Kila was built in honor to the Hawaiian values of love and respect for Ohana (family) and the Ocean. Do not forget to dance on the waves when on your visit to the hula islands! 🙂 Waikiki beach belongs to the Honolulu suburb holding the same name, and it is worldwide famous due to being surrounded by the vast majority of the hotels in the capital. Its crystal clear waters, less wavy than the ones in the North Shore, welcome the whole family. On top of that, the area offers entertainment for everyone, from the beach to the active nightlife, shopping centres and even free hula shows in the streets. Even being an artificial one, Waikiki beach is full of surfers all year round. It is fair to say that those looking for bigger waves in winter should definitely check out the North Shore. 😉 Never stop smiling!! 🙂 Hard to stop while being in Hawaii, I must say… High hotel buildings, shopping centres and beaches is NOT everything Honolulu has to offer. Wandering around its many parks and recreational areas is a must. Especially as you leave the centre and approach the more residential areas. Biking is for sure a very nice and doable option. Hawaii’s climate, open areas, the Ocean breeze, and all of its beautiful parks make locals live their daily life outside. Don’t forget to take your time to wander around and go for walks then you visit. Do as the locals do. Honolulu is perhaps the Hawaiian place where you’ll best see the influence of being part of the United States. Whomever has been to this country already knows that they like everything big. Here, you can see the very ample roads – seven lanes just for one direction. Don’t forget: you drive on the right, sitting on the left, and generally, automatic cars (careful trying to find the clutch, you readers used to drive manual!). Sand Island is not a very touristy spot, or at least not so well known. It is a little island that belongs to Honolulu, where detention camps took place from the Pearl Harbor attack until March 1943 – thus its former name, Quarantine Island. Nowadays, there’s a recreational park, a camping and fishing area, and it is very nice to take a walk by its coastline. Honolulu can be observed by its shore, even while surfing and swimming. Access is restricted in some areas due to the port traffic – so please, mind the signs. And now… what are you waiting for to go and visit Honolulu? 🙂
9 images that will inspire you to visit North Shore, Oahu, Hawaii
When staying around Waimea Bay, it is so easy to just rent a bike and cruise around the wonderful beaches in the area. An absolute recommendation! Remember that the North Shore is worldwide famous for its huge winter waves, some of the biggest in the World in fact. Due to this, Oahu is the legendary mecca of surf, with its crystal waters that welcome, every year, the best surfers of the Planet! There are so many peculiar handmade street signs in the area. It is not strange to find them made out of old surfboards, indicating the way to a touristic attraction, for private houses, or to warn for the famous «neighbor watch», where inhabitants collaborate with the police to «catch the bad guys». Walk around, wander and move. Admire your surroundings and take in the beauty that encircles you. The turquoise crystalline waters of Hawaii embrace you with warm temperatures, usually above 23-24 degrees Celsius, and generally around 26-27 degrees. It may be shocking at first to the ones used to colder waters, but even with high temperatures, diving in is still refreshing! Due to their location, precipitations on the islands are quite frequent. As a result, the land shows off its green and lush. Oahu gets about 250 days of rain per year, being it also quite abundant. Tunnels between the city – in the South – and the North Shore, do not stop Nature’s thirst to manifest. Ready for its international fame, the North Shore welcomes surfers, backpackers and travellers from all over the world. Hostels -or backpackers– are well known in the area, and staying there you will have the chance to meet wonderful and interesting people. From young and determined fighters of public and governmental affairs to ex-marines with impressive survival, orienteering and accuracy skills. One of the best activities to share with the small new family you will build once there, is setting up a bonfire on the beach… singing under the stars, observing the fire, having good conversations, and coming-and-going in the water to freshen up by the shoreline. Greetings to the Sun, or checking your balance skills. Sunsets in the North Shore are warm, even smooth, and absolutely peaceful. A little bit of Paradise for those who enjoy yoga, some moments of meditation, of simply watching the Sun going down to hide behind the horizon for the night. A lesson of humbleness coming from the Pacific. When biking around, wandering around the Shore, finding these gems comes as a very pleasant surprise – far from the concrete jungle landscape, administration buildings and city life. It is highly recommendable to walk or ride around enjoying the views, appreciating the difference, and the simplicity that we often forget in our daily routine. Those turquoise crystalline waters though… There’s not much more than can be said, as a picture is worth a thousand words. #takemeback. How can you NOT fall in love with #Oahu? After all of these images, and seeing this breathtaking Hawaiian sunset, do you still need more reasons to start daydreaming and planning your journey to the North Shore? #AlohaOahu
TOP activities to do in Tenerife
There are SO many activities to do on the island of Tenerife. I love number 9, so here, I introduce you to my top 9 must-do activities on the island. 1. Walk – hiking Walking can be done in many places throughout the island, with a vast variety of scenery and difficulty. I’d say go on the registered trails, as some can be dangerous to do by oneself without guidance. Also, please do not go alone, bring enough water, and follow the local recommendations. And, of course – enjoy!! 🙂 This is me a few years back, on the peak of Spain, on the island of Tenerife. Such an incredible, recommended hike – one of my most favorite ever. You get to an altitude of almost four thousand meters! It is also a super accessible hike, both getting to the trail, and moving between the mountain and the ocean shore. Imagine this: the same morning I was at the top of El Teide wearing my snow gear, I was sailing in my swimwear on the South coast. 2. Go underwater – diving/ freediving/ snorkeling I know, I know… this is not one but a group of activities… Whichever you choose, you need to explore the underwater life, the bottom of the Tenerife waters and its unique and endemic species. Please, do respect the fauna and flora around you – remember that you are the visitor; and apply the basic safety on all underwater activities, always going with a buddy and with the proper certification. Enjoy, being safe! I am a lover of the underwater world, and am passionate about these three sport disciplines. Are you in Tenerife and want to learn how to dive? Leave your comment below! I’ll teach you!* [click here to dive with me!] If you dive, please bring your diver ID, diver insurance, and make sure you have a dive buddy! (Also, if you need to know where to rent your material or book a nice dive, drop me a comment below!*). If you freedive, Tenerife will also be your paradise. International freediving championships are held each year on this Atlantic island, home of Apnea Academy West Europe, which welcomes Umberto Pelizzari each year. If you are keen to explore without getting too extreme, you can enjoy snorkeling! We have plenty of safe beaches and crystal clear spots to catch sight of the world below the surface. Check out this video of one of my most favorite organized adventures on the island! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlgcA4niGOg 3. Get under land – speleology Tenerife is home to some of the most amazing volcanic tubes in the World, and specifically to the longest one in Europe. Globally, it is only outstripped by some in the Hawaii islands. Visiting Cueva del Viento is a great approach to vulcanology, a magnificent way to get to know the island to its core. 🙂 4. Navigate the skies – paragliding In Tenerife, there are several spots to jump from and go paragliding. To the one who has never tried, I must say, it is an experience like no other. The nervousness one gets before jumping absolutely disappears once the feet are off the ground and you let yourself go. Suddenly, a feeling of tranquility and peace surrounds your body as you see the skies before you and the land under your feet. Tenerife is definitely a place to navigate the skies, be it for the first time, or one more to add to the check-list. (More adventure in the heights: Forestal Park Tenerife, at night!) 5. Taste – gastronomy Canarian food is something Canarians are very proud of, and we have strong reasons to be!! 🙂 Well, if you like eating and appreciate trying new flavors, that is! There are many dishes that are worth trying. Please, do so with the locals, in a Canarian restaurant, or in an authentic guachinche (a place where food is served, with a homey environment and similar to, although not-so-much, a restaurant). 6. Observe the stars – astronomy Being home to some of the best skies in the world*, the amazing firmament can be clearly viewed from many spots on the island. My favorite best is the National Park of El Teide. From up there, the Milky Way and wonderful constellations can be easily spotted throughout most of the year. Many tinerfeños (demonym for people from Tenerife) enjoy the Perseids Meteor Shower roughly every month of August, when el Llano de Ucanca becomes the playground for the night: Night photography at its best! *The Canary Islands are recognized as some of the best sky friendly and sky accessible locations in the world. They are one of the three best spots in the world to observe the sky, together with the Hawaii Islands and Chile. Also in these three locations, observatories are found, as well as the world giant telescopes. The island of La Palma holds the world’s largest single-aperture optical telescope, famous GranTeCan, Gran Telescopio de Canarias or GTC, of which Canarians also take pride. 7. Capture the beauty that surrounds you – photography When you’re a photography lover, you seek opportunities to embrace the beauty that surrounds you, be it landscape, be it people, be it Nature. In Tenerife you have the chance to practice your skills and to be involved with the environment that will undoubtedly welcome you and make you want to stay for longer. 8. Slide on the water – kayaking/ surfing Tenerife is home for international championships of many sports, amongst them, surfing. Apart from this, it is not only perfect for surfing and bodyboarding, but also for kayaking when/ where the Ocean waves are calmer. From Puerto de la Cruz or El Socorro in the North of the island, to Las Américas or El Médano in the South, waves show their sensual moves to excited surfers. And in places like Los Gigantes, the ocean remains peaceful to attract sliders to enjoy the coastline and even crystal clear waters. If you like the ocean, this is