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. [su_gmap width=»50″ height=»50″ address=»Playa de Almáciga, Tenerife»] 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! [su_gmap width=»50″ height=»50″ address=»Playa de Benijo, Tenerife»] 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. [su_gmap width=»50″ height=»50″ address=»Playa de El Socorro, Realejos, Tenerife»] 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. [su_gmap width=»50″ height=»50″ address=»Playa de Martiánez, Tenerife»] 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. [su_gmap width=»50″ height=»50″ address=»Playa de El Socorro, Güímar, Tenerife»] 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. [su_gmap width=»50″ height=»50″ address=»Playa de El Faro, El Porís, Tenerife»] 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
Kayaking in Tenerife
As I mentioned in the post top 9 must-do activities in Tenerife, kayaking in Tenerife is one of my top experiences. We decided to go to Los Gigantes -an unmissable spot- and slide its waters, parallel to these impressive cliffs, guided by Teno Activo, a top local business, leader on these kind of activities. Did you know that the Acantilados de Los Gigantes (the cliffs) are 12 kms away from Teno? Did you know that Los Gigantes and Anaga were the first places of the island to surface? The guide that lead our group told us these and many more interesting facts… Kayaking by the coast is an excellent activity to do when the ocean wants to show itself calm. This way, it doesn’t turn out to be a very exigent activity, while still keeping you active. You can look up and observe orography at its best. In the image below, you can spot the galleries created in the forties, to transport water from barranco to barranco (water-ways/ ravines). Nowadays, they’re hiking routes. The vertical lines, known as diques, were solidified first, becoming hard stone that takes longer to erode than the rest of the cliff’s wall. Just before jumping in the water, we stopped at the Bay of Echo. It is the only bay without a barranco, and should not be approached, as its wall elevates dangerously over the shore, increasing the consequences of a possible landslide. When separating from that point, still close to the cliffs and safe, a stop is made. There, you can have a snack and jump in the crystalline waters to freshen up. You can take your own gear -or enjoy the one provided by the company- to observe the bottom on the ocean, as the show continues underwater. This excursion is for all ages. We had two guides: one that was next to us, also kayaking, and telling us #funfacts about the area; and another one that went on a boat. The later would check the state of the coast, look for dangers and keep us all safe in case of an emergency; and of course, to close the group, controlling everyone’s on his sight. Also, he’s the one carrying the snacks, so he knows everybody will pay attention to him 😉 Undoubtedly, a little trip to take and repeat (not my first time, not my last 🙂 ). [su_youtube url=»https://youtu.be/AAnl656aMAA»] Do you want to book your excursion via travelOgrafa? Contact me here, and I will organize it for you! 🙂