El Medano, Tenerife

El Medano

A quiet resort on the southeastern side of Tenerife, El Medano offers something a bit different compared to the rest of Tenerife. The main attraction of El Medano is its white sandy beach, and the resort is also well known for watersports.

When to go

Tenerife is lucky enough to boast a near year-round climate and there is minimal variation between seasons. The hottest months are July and August with an average temperature of 25℃, and they are also the driest months. The coolest months are December to February with an average temperature of 18℃.

Top Attractions

For those interested in hiking, try the Special Red Nature Reserve with beaches and a volcano to admire. There is a cave-shrine dedicated to Saint Peter to visit, too, with a rustic landscape it is traditional El Medano. The fishing village of Los Abrigos is located close by with a small in-use fishing harbour.

For a bit of excitement out of the quiet village, popular resort Playa de Las Americas is only 20 minutes away, and buses are available to get you there with ease.

Beaches

People come to El Medano for their endless beaches of soft sand. For a family friendly beach, head close to the stretch near the Plaza de Príncipe de Asturia. It has a children’s playground nearby, too. If you’re looking for good surf, check out Playa Machado instead. It’s to the west of the resort.

You can also take a walk along the coastline to La Tejita, the most beautiful beach in the south of the island with a view of the mountains.

El Medano is also home to a nudist beach. Just head to the eastern edge of the resort to find Playa de La Paleda.

Culture

Spanish culture is strong all over the Canary Islands and can be discovered at every turn. Every February/March, Carnival is celebrated, and the Canary Islands have their own folklore festival, Sabendeno Festival.

Dining

Some of the best tapas bars in Tenerife can be found in El Medano along Paseo Marcial Garcia. But, that isn’t the only cuisine you’ll find. Just take a walk along the boardwalk to find pizzas, burgers and even traditional Canarian food. Best of all, most of the restaurants here have terrace seating to watch the sunset on the water!

For dinner and a bit of a live music, head to Restaurant AguaViva in the harbour.

Entertainment

El Medano is the place to go for a laidback night out in Tenerife. For most of the late night venues in El Medano, head to Plaza Roja where the most popular venue is Flashpoint, located right on the boardwalk.

Adventure and Sports

Watersports in El Medano are a big attraction, try out:

  • Surfing and windsurfing
  • Kayaking
  • Snorkelling
  • Scuba Diving
  • Paragliding

Only a 20-minute drive from El Medano is Aqualand in Playa de Las Americas, a waterpark with slides, flumes and the chance of a dolphin encounter.

You can also take a trip to Tiede for a quad bike tour of Spain’s highest mountain or Golf del Sur for a 27-hole golf course.

Getting Around

El Medano is only a short taxi or bus ride from the airport, and both are relatively cheap. Once you get into town, everything is easily accessible on foot!

Popular hotels in El Medano

1/10
El Medano, TenerifeArenas Del Mar Hotel
Wed, 4th Dec
7 nights
TripAdvisor rating
Bed and Breakfast from
€509
pp
1/10
El Medano, TenerifePlaya Sur Tenerife
Mon, 9th Sep
7 nights
TripAdvisor rating
Bed and Breakfast from
€455
pp