El Médano, once a fishing village, is a town of around 8,000 inhabitants in the south of Tenerife, about five kilometres from Tenerife South (Reina Sofía) airport. Its name comes from the Spanish word médano, which means “dune”.
The beach of the same name is very popular with tourists, especially fans of water sports that need wind and big waves. Kitesurfing and windsurfing are hugely popular here, with several local schools teaching the techniques (it is one of the most renowned places in the world for water sports). Numerous national and international events are dedicated to these sports (the Kitesurfing World Championships are held here every year).
Playa El Médano is a golden-sand beach loved by sports enthusiasts and families alike: on one side is the area for those who prefer to soak up the sun, on the other the zone for water-sports lovers and anyone who wants to fly a kite.
Also worth a mention is the beautiful Playa La Tejita, south of Montaña Roja.
El Médano’s coastline lies between Montaña Pelada and Montaña Roja (the “red mountain”), where hiking trails have been marked out – highly recommended for taking in the views over the whole surrounding coastline.
A lovely stroll along the seafront lets you feel the caress of the trade-wind sea breeze and be lulled by the sound of the waves. The charming promenade is lined with plenty of restaurants, bars, cafés and shops for visitors.
In the surrounding area, look out for the Parque Eólico de Granadilla, a wind farm that powers around 3,000 homes, and, 5 km away, the Cueva del Hermano Pedro, a cave shrine dedicated to the earliest saint of the Canary Islands.
Places of interest
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