Playa de Benijo
A spectacular black-sand beach beneath Anaga's cliffs — but the beach access is currently closed because of rockfall risk.
Important current status: Playa de Benijo remains closed to public access. Santa Cruz de Tenerife Council closed the only formal beach access on 8 July 2024 after rockfalls from the slope beside the stairs. In July 2026 the council was still working through approvals for slope-stabilisation and access works. Do not cross barriers or use improvised paths to reach the sand.
That does not make the wider Benijo and Taganana coast pointless to visit. The Anaga scenery, roadside viewpoints and nearby restaurants remain a memorable part of the northeast, but plan the trip as a scenic coastal stop, not a beach day.
Black sand, sea stacks and Anaga
Benijo sits beyond Taganana and Almáciga on Tenerife’s wild Atlantic side. The beach is roughly 300 metres long, backed by steep cliffs and facing the Roques de Anaga offshore. Before the closure, visitors descended a stair path to the black sand; the exposed setting and strong surf were always better suited to scenery and photography than casual swimming.
The official Tenerife tourism description still highlights the sunsets and powerful waves. Treat older descriptions of normal beach access as historical context, however: the municipal closure notice is the relevant safety instruction while the stabilisation project remains unresolved.
Enjoy the coast without entering the closed beach
Continue through the Anaga villages, stop only where parking is legal and safe, and enjoy the coast from public roads and viewpoints. Roque de las Bodegas and Almáciga are nearby alternatives for a coastal stop, but Atlantic conditions can be rough there too, so check local flags and access notices on the day.
Benijo is also a good add-on to a broader Anaga day based around Cruz del Carmen, Taganana and the north-coast viewpoints. The road is narrow and winding, and congestion around the coastal hamlets can be frustrating on busy weekends.
| Current practical detail | |
|---|---|
| Beach access | Closed; do not descend or bypass barriers |
| Reason | Rockfall risk beside the formal access route |
| Best use of the area | Scenery, viewpoints, restaurants and a wider Anaga drive |
| Swimming | Not an option at Benijo while the closure remains in force |
Car or bus, with patience
The coastal road through Anaga is part of the experience but it is not a fast road. Parking is limited and badly parked cars can obstruct residents and buses. Public transport serves the area, though frequencies are much lower than on the main urban and resort corridors, so check the live TITSA timetable before relying on a return connection.
- ✓Check Santa Cruz council beach notices before travelling; reopening depends on safety works, not a fixed tourism-season date.
- ✓Do not follow social-media posts showing people on the sand as evidence that access is legal or safe.
- ✓Allow extra road time through Anaga and avoid blocking narrow village roads when parking.
- ✓For an accessible, conventional beach day near Santa Cruz, Playa de Las Teresitas is a much easier choice.