Playa de Las Teresitas

Playa de Las Teresitas is probably the most iconic image of Tenerife and one of the most famous beaches in the Canary Islands. 1.3 km long, 80 m wide, with golden Saharan sand among palm trees and crystal-calm water. But this beach did not exist naturally: it is the work of engineers and materials shipped in by sea.

The history is fascinating. Originally there were three separate beaches of stones and volcanic black sand: Tras la Arena (closest to San Andrés), Los Moros (middle) and the Las Teresas ravine area. In the middle section stood a private manor house belonging to Princess Diana of Orléans (daughter of the Count of Paris) and Duke Karl of Württemberg. In 1968, a 1 km breakwater was built 150 m from the shore. In early 1973, the sand arrived aboard the ship Gopegui: over 270,000 tonnes of golden Saharan sand in 5 million sacks. The beach opened to the public on 15 June 1973. During construction, the old San Andrés cemetery was buried under the sand. Over 400 palm trees were planted. In 1998, 2,800 tonnes of replacement sand arrived (costing 400 million pesetas).

The result: a tropical-postcard beach in the Atlantic. The breakwater keeps the water calm like a swimming pool: ideal for families with children. The beachgoers are mostly Santa Cruz residents: this is THEIR weekend beach, not a tourist one. Beneath the beach lies an underwater Quaternary palaeontological site (~400 m²) with endemic fossil molluscs.

200 metres away lies the village of San Andrés: fresh fish restaurants and Bambola Gelato (artisan ice cream and waffles, Av. Pedro Schwartz 9, Tue-Sun 13:00-21:30). But what truly sets Las Teresitas apart is the Mirador. Leaving the beach towards Igueste de San Andrés on the TF-121, a few minutes uphill, there is a viewpoint from which you can see the ENTIRE beach from above: the arc of golden sand, palm trees, blue water, Anaga mountains. It is the most famous photograph of Tenerife, on every guidebook cover. At sunset the light is magical.