Playa de Las Teresitas
A golden, palm-backed beach just outside the capital, made with sand shipped in from the Sahara.
Las Teresitas is the beach locals actually use — a long, gently curving stretch of golden sand a short drive from Santa Cruz, created in the 1970s using sand imported from the Western Sahara and protected from the open Atlantic by a breakwater.
That breakwater is what makes it stand out: the water stays calm even though it's on the more exposed north side of the island, which is unusual and part of why it's such a popular family beach with residents, not just tourists.
Weekends see it fill up with local families rather than tour groups, which gives it a noticeably different atmosphere from the resort beaches in the south — more Sunday picnic than package holiday. There are simple beach restaurants along the back of the sand serving straightforward Canarian food, generally at fairer prices than you'll find in the tourist resorts.
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Sand | Golden (imported) |
| Facilities | Loungers, showers, beach restaurants |
| Good for | Families, a more local atmosphere |
| Nearest town | Santa Cruz de Tenerife / San Andrés |
- ✓Very calm, shallow water thanks to the breakwater — a reliable choice for young children.
- ✓Palm trees along the promenade give proper shade, unlike a lot of resort beaches.
- ✓Popular with locals on weekends — an easy, low-key contrast to the resort beaches further south.