Playa de Abama
Secret cove behind the Ritz-Carlton. 100m golden sand, turquoise water at the mouth of Barranco de Chabugo gorge, banana plantations on the cliff above. Breakwater = calm water. Beach bar, sunbeds for rent. Descent from parking: 1 km steep stone steps (~20 min). FREE.
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Playa de Abama is one of south Tenerife's best-kept secrets. Golden sand (partly imported for a tropical beach effect), turquoise water with a breakwater, the Barranco de Chabugo gorge descending straight to the sea, and banana plantations on top of the cliff above your head - this combination doesn't look like Tenerife. It looks like the Caribbean hidden in rocks.
The beach is just 100 meters long and 20 meters wide - it's small, which means it feels like a private beach even when it's busy. The breakwater keeps the water calm and safe for children. There's a beach bar (belongs to the hotel but open to everyone) - food and drinks. Sunbeds and parasols available for rent (Ritz-Carlton guests get them free).
A warning you won't find in other guides: the descent from the parking lot is ~1 km of steep stone steps, about 20 minutes downhill. You'll need to climb the same way back - uphill, after a day at the beach, in the sun. An elevator exists but is for hotel guests only. Head back before 6 PM if you want energy for the climb. Not suitable for people with limited mobility.
There's a small pier with steps if you prefer swimming in the open sea. The water is crystal clear - perfect for snorkeling.
TF-1 -> exit TF-47 toward Playa San Juan / Puerto Santiago / Los Gigantes. After ~8 km the Ritz-Carlton Abama hotel appears on the right. Free public parking by the hotel (28.1720, -16.7984). From parking: 1 km / ~20 min downhill via steep stone steps.
TITSA - Abama (T) stop, near the beach coordinates. Check current connections at titsa.com.
Get here by busFree public parking at Ritz-Carlton Abama. Fills up by noon in season - arrive before 9:00 AM.
Navigate to parkingArrive before 9:00 AM - the free parking fills up by noon, especially in season. Head down to the beach early morning - fewer people, better light for photos, cooler for the descent. Sturdy-soled shoes for the steps - the stone can be slippery. Bring your own snacks and water (the beach bar is expensive - you're on Ritz-Carlton territory). Best shot: stand by the pier and turn toward the cliff with banana plantations - La Gomera in the background, palms and cliff overhead. If you have a snorkel, bring it - underwater visibility is exceptional. The Melvin by Martin Berasategui restaurant at the hotel above the beach has a Michelin star - book a week ahead if you're planning to go.
Playa de Abama sits at the mouth of the Barranco de Chabugo gorge in the municipality of Guia de Isora on Tenerife's west coast. The Ritz-Carlton Abama hotel - one of the most luxurious on the island - built the beach and access infrastructure, but under Spanish law the beach remains public and free. The hotel manages services (bar, sunbeds) and maintains cleanliness - hence the remarkable tidiness for a public beach. The village of Guia de Isora above is an authentic, non-touristy municipality with local bars and a market - a stone's throw from one of the island's most exclusive beaches.
Ritz-Carlton Abama parking (free) -> descent via steps (~20 min) -> Playa de Abama (morning/afternoon at the beach, snorkeling, bar) -> climb back up before 6 PM -> optional: Playa San Juan (10 min drive) for dinner by the harbor with local fish.
Cliff with banana plantations from the pier
Stand by the pier and turn your back to the sea: cliff, bananas, golden sand and calm waters in one frame.
Sunset from the beach with La Gomera in the background
At sunset: La Gomera's silhouette on the horizon in oranges and pinks, best from the rocks at the north end of the beach.