Playa de la Arena
A compact black-sand cove in the west, with clear water that's popular for snorkelling.
Playa de la Arena is a small, sheltered black-sand beach in Puerto de Santiago, on the west coast between Los Gigantes and Playa de las Américas. Its size means it can feel crowded in peak season, but the trade-off is calmer, clearer water than most of the west coast's more exposed spots.
It's a good base for combining a beach day with the boat trips that leave from nearby Los Gigantes marina for whale watching or sightseeing along the cliffs.
Because it sits within Puerto de Santiago rather than a purpose-built resort strip, there's a genuine choice of local restaurants right by the sand rather than only hotel beach bars, and prices tend to be a little more reasonable than the bigger southern resort beaches as a result.
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Sand | Black volcanic |
| Facilities | Loungers, showers, nearby restaurants |
| Good for | Snorkelling, a quieter alternative to the bigger south-coast beaches |
| Nearest town | Puerto de Santiago / Los Gigantes |
- ✓Small beach — arrive early in summer for space, especially on weekends.
- ✓Water is generally clear and reasonably calm, good for casual snorkelling near the rocks.
- ✓A short drive from Los Gigantes marina for boat trips.