Life’s a beach
Your summer holiday guide to the South’s sandy hotspots.
With so many beaches to choose from in the Playa De Las Américas and Los Cristianos area, it’s hard to know which one to choose. This guide points out the virtues and vices of each one to help you make a decision on where to top up the tan, starting from the furthest point of Los Cristianos.

Paloma Beach At the far end of Los Cristianos, this is a quiet, secluded area that has rocks instead of sand.  Access is not easy and requires a short walk over some uneven ground, but if you are looking to be away from the masses, you won’t get disturbed here.  Shops and bars are a fair walk away, and there are no sun beds. Arona Gran Hotel Beach Another rocky spot, also without sun beds, this beach offers picturesque views of cliffs to the left and the harbour to the right.  Shops and bars are nearby, but the focus is definitely on quiet sunbathing rather than watersports and swimming. Los Cristianos Beach Ideally located in front of the shopping precinct, the main beach of Los Cristianos is perfect for families, with freshwater showers, parking close at hand, and a number of different restaurants and shops just off the beach.    Boat trips are available from the harbour, and the ferry docking and departing provides mild amusement throughout the day.  A short walk away is a sailing school with boats to rent, and trampolines for the kids. Las Vistas Beach A European Blue Flag beach, Las Vistas is a long strip offering showers, toilets, safety flags, a Red Cross centre and lifeguards on duty for added peace of mind.  A number of watersports activities are also available, including pedalos, jet-skis, banana boats and parascending.  On the promenade there are many restaurants, shops and bars so food and drink are not a problem.  Las Caletillas Beach - in front of Hotel Sir Anthony Las Caletillas is a small, quiet, beach with no shops nearby which means food and drink must be bought from the restaurant at the top of the promenade.    The bathing area is very calm, however, offering safe swimming for all ages. Hotel Europe Beach In front of the Hotel Europe, this is a small beach intended for sunbathing only.  The sea is almost closed off by rocks, but the area does offer a retreat away from the crowds.  Some shops are close by, but facilities are limited. Las Palmeras Beach Also focussing on sunbathing, the sea meets rocks at the shore making both paddling and swimming very difficult, particularly for young children. Several outlets on the promenade offer food and drink.  There is currently some building work going on close by, meaning the sunbathing might not be that peaceful! Playa de Troya, Playa de Las Américas This long stretch is the main beach in Las Américas, and has a variety of facilities.  Watersports including pedalos, kayaking, jet skis, banana boats and parascending are on offer, and as a European Blue Flag beach there are toilets, showers, changing rooms and safety flags.  Unfortunately, there are no bars or shops on the promenade directly behind the beach unless you cross the road, though vending machines are situated at different points along the strip.  Parking is limited. Playa de Bobo, in front of Hotel Gran Tinerfe Smaller than Playa de Troya, this beach nevertheless offers similar watersports facilities and has the advantage that bars and shops are directly behind it.  Sheltered on one side by a cliff, the beach is not prone to any strong breezes that may be blowing in other areas.  Safety flags fly and showers are available; sun beds cost 400 pesetas. Las Rocas Beach Club Though not strictly speaking a beach, this lido is affiliated with the Hotel Jardin Tropical but is open to the public.  Swimming pools and tiled sunbathing areas are the order of the day here, and although it is attractive the facilities are expensive and drink are only available from the on-site bar, which is not cheap either.  Nevertheless, it is a nice place to be if the sand becomes too much. Puerto Colon Beach Easy to get to, ample parking and numerous bars and shops are all in the favour of this sheltered beach.  There are no watersports available, but the marina is in close proximity for those who want to take boat trips and enjoy the sea with the benefit of an engine.  The beach has safety flags but only one shower.  Two sun beds and a parasol cost 850 pesetas. Torviscas / Fañabe Beach A massive stretch that has also been awarded the accolade of a European Blue Flag, this beach is actually two-in-one, comprising of the old Torviscas beach and the new Fañabe area.  The promenade features a multitude of bars and shops catering for all tastes, and if the beach does not keep the kids entertained then the trampolines and play area will.  A full compliment of watersports is on offer, overseen by the lifeguards on duty, and throughout the day showers, toilets and changing rooms are available.  Bahia Del Duque Beach A sheltered, well kept beach that is directly in front of the exclusive Bahia del Duque Hotel.  Access on foot involves a long walk as the beach is quite a way out of the centre of town, but there’s an underground car park for those who hire or own vehicles, making it a favourite for residents.  There are no watersports on this beach, but the swimming area is safe, and monitored by flags.  For the nostalgic Brit there are even deckchairs and beach huts to make you feel at home!

Print this page