Sand Sun Bath
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Around Tenerife, the island whose city Santa Cruz de Tenerife was formerly the capital of the island group, the range of different beaches should provide something for everyone. The natural black Tenerifan sand may not be the most attractive, but this is the real Tenerife and once you get over the unusual colour of the sand, these beaches can be enjoyed just like all the others. The municipal authorities have however recognised that black sand is not to everyone’s taste and have used imported sand from the nearby Sahara Desert to create man-made beaches of golden coloured sand in several resorts.
As far as natural beaches go the stretch at Playa Socorro is one of the most popular. It’s a hit with sunbathers and water sports fans too and the long promenade alongside to the beach makes getting around very easy. The advice here is to time your arrival perfectly, otherwise you could be faced with a long walk from your parked car. There is a car park near to the beach but this gets full early on, forcing people to park back on the road leading down to the beach.
If you are in Santa Cruz then a short trip to the north brings you to the idyllic beach of Playa de la Teresitas. This is a long sweep of golden sand that is replenished at regular intervals by Saharan sand and is very popular with residents of the capital. Palm trees provide shade over the large car park and there’s a good choice of food outlets and amenities. Don’t reckon on this place being quiet or relaxing at peak times, as this is a firm favourite.
Further around Tenerife’s northern coastline the shoreline becomes more dramatic with jagged cliffs and offshore rocks adding to the effect. The Atlantic waves here attract surfers and the beaches of Almaciga, Benijos and Playa Roque de la Bodegas are all popular.
In the south of Tenerife tourists are well catered for by the wonderful twin beaches at Los Christianos. These are both well organised and look after areas, perfect for a family day out. Safe bathing and designated play areas allow parents to relax while young ones do what they do best on the beach.
The nearby Playa de las Americas resort is the location for perhaps the best known beach on the island at Playa de Troya, which has been host for millions of visitors to the island over the past twenty years. It’s a large beach and offers room for everyone even at busy times. Finally on Tenerife we suggest trying the beaches at the newer resorts along the coast at Costa Adeje. If you are not worried by a lack of sand then the bay at La Caleta is an pretty little spot, but beach lovers will prefer the tiny Playa de la Enramada. One last suggestion for those who like to keep away from the crowds is the secluded bay at El Peuertito. There is very little here save for a few fishing boats, some cave houses and a picturesque bay with a small beach.
For sports fans, windsurfing and kitesurfing are both great activities on the windier east coast of the island. Tourists tend to avoid these locations as they look fairly bland, are not pretty and get blasted by onshore winds fairly regularly. But for members of the surfing community that is music to their ears. You see, onshore winds are great for their sport as they provide the power for their equipment, while the onshore wind direction makes for a safe environment and little chance of getting blown out to sea. Get blown out to sea here and your next taste of land could be the coast of Africa almost 200 miles away.
El Medano is a favourite spot for the kitesurfers and even if you don’t intend to get out on the waves yourself, the activity makes an interesting scene to just sit and watch. El Medano is not the prettiest of resorts with a mixture of tired and modern hotels and a odd collection of cafes and restaurants, but there’s something quite unique about the place that makes it quite attractive. The town is a network of narrow streets and squares and seafront establishments that get battered by the waves. On a good day with the red mountain as its backdrop the surfer’s beach at El Medano would be one of my Tenerife hot spots.
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