Tenerife Holidays

El Médano is a small resort in the south east of Tenerife very near the airport. El Médano is a very laid back resort, where there are no karaoke bars or discos, and is mostly occupied by mature holiday makers and families, and is very typically Spanish.

The town is clean and well-kept and is very popular with windsurfers and tourists who tend to be in the mature age bracket. In the back streets you will find many restaurants some right by the sea, where you can enjoy lunch overlooking the sea, or a nice glass of wine.

Due to the proximity to the airport the will be some aircraft noise, the flight path is a bout 1KM north of the beach front, but the airport is not too busy, but be aware of your accommodation in relation to the flight path.

El Médano Nightlife

The resort is relaxed, so if you are looking for wild night life with loud music and neon lights this is not the place for you. However if you are looking for a relatively peaceful resort this will suit you.

El Medano is a traditional family resort, with some excellent restaurants.

El Médano Attractions

This makes the resort feel safe and friendly with Spanish families enjoying the beach and restaurants. Often you will see Spanish families out at restaurants at weekends. The square has a small children’s playground, so parents can keep an eye on the little ones while enjoying a drink in the sunshine.

El Médano Beaches

El Médano has some of the best stretches of natural sand beaches on Tenerife. The beach at El Médano is 2km long making this Tenerife’s longest, and the waters are shallow making it ideal for children.

There is a nice sandy beach by the main square lined with cafes and restaurants. The sea front and beach are very busy at the weekends as the Spanish do enjoy the sunshine and the restaurants are packed even in the winter.

The far western end of the resort near the Montaña Roja, is where the windsurfers and wind kites congregate. Here you can take wind sport lessons, or if you are already a pro get out into some of the best windsurfing conditions in the world.

There are surf hire shops where you can hire all the equipment you need, and a couple of café bars where you can chill out with surfing crowd. As you can imagine the resort can be very windy.

Beyond the Montaña Roja is Playa de La Tejita a beach with parasols, a 1km stretch of sandy beach where the kids can explore the rock pools, build sand castles or fly a kite. The main draw back here is the strong currents in the sea and this therefore is no place for lilos and other inflatables, and be warned it is also a beach where nudism is allowed.

Tenerife South Airport to El Médano Transfer Times

The distance from Tenerife Reina Sophia Airport to El Médano is approximately 9km by road that takes about 15 minutes

El Medano Street Tenerife	El Medano Promenade Tenerife

El Medano Beach Tenerife	El Medano Beach Tenerife

Jane the Tourist Opinion

Jane the Tourist

On arrival in El Médano I feel I have left the hussel and bustle of Los Cristianos behind.  The seafront of El Médano has a lot to offer, combined with a more relaxed feeling than that of Los Cristianos.

On Saturday morning there is a market in the square, the stalls are bright and colourful selling handmade jewellery, leather goods, clothes, plants, and lots more. I bought a leather belt for six euros. On this occasion I did not barter, as the seller cut the belt to my size, a service I have not come across in the UK! The Indian stall selling dream catchers and relaxing music is worth a look.

El Médano has a Spanish feel to it, with some of the best kept golden sand beaches along this stretch of the coastline. The seafront hosts most of the restaurants and café bars.  There are squares where the Spanish children play. Along the beach walls are small traders selling their goods. In particular one guy is painting on glass, another trader has unusual jewellery. Don’t overlook these small traders with their handmade goods. The side streets off the square by the beach also have a good selection of places to eat, and some interesting boutiques .It is nice to stroll up these side streets in the evenings. And remember if the locals are eating in the restaurants, it means they are good.

If you walk along the seafront towards Montaña Roja you will see the windsurfers. There is a small surfing shop, and café bar this is worth a stop. Flashpoint bar will serve you a cold beer, and good food. They have a bohemian lounge area, where you can relax with a coffee or use the internet. My favourite is the apple strudel served with ice cream and cream along with some tea. All the different teas are served in silver pots on small silver trays. A bit of the Ritz!  Combined with beach combers.

El Medano Cafes Tenerife	El Medano Seafront Tenerife

Keep walking and you can make your way across to another beach the other side of Montaña Roja.  This is a beautiful beach but be aware of bare bottoms! As this is a Nudist beach, although used by families as well, most do have their swimwear on. It is a nice walk across to the beach; make sure you take plenty of water with you, as this particular beach has no bars. A guy selling water and fruits goes along the beach at certain times.

The hub of El Médano is definitely along the seafront, with the best natural sand beaches on the island. The town will offer you what you need in the way of supermarkets, and general shopping.

For accommodation you can rent an apartment or stay at the Hotel El Médano this is right on the sea front. If you are on a budget there is a Hostel called Carel. This is situated near to the seafront. Just be aware the weekends can be a bit noisy, but overall the rooms are cleaned daily with fresh towels, and bathroom toiletries provided. Some rooms have a fridge, and there are safety deposit boxes. The weather here is good, but well known for the long hard winds which howl along this South-eastern point, so do pack a jumper! But you will enjoy this delightful place. Written by Jane Goossens.

• El Medano Beaches El Medano Beaches
• El Medano Beaches El Medano Beaches
• El Medano Beaches El Medano Beaches
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