Playa de las Teresitas is an artificial sandy beach near Tenerife’s capital, Santa Cruz. It was created by human hands and consists of more than 100,000 cubic metres of the finest sand from the Sahara. Despite – or perhaps precisely because of – its artificial origins, Playa de las Teresitas is considered one of the most beautiful beaches on the island.
Playa de las Teresitas – an oasis of tranquillity
Although the 1970s marked a golden age for tourism on Tenerife, this period also saw the creation of various architectural eyesores. Playa de las Teresitas proves that not everything built during that time was bad. With this artificial beach, the government sought to create an oasis of tranquillity for residents and tourists alike. This project was largely successful.
However, its man-made origin also poses a major threat to the beauty of Playa de la Teresitas. This is because, following storms, cubic metres of sand have to be brought in on a regular basis. Nature simply did not intend for there to be a sandy beach at this point on the island, and when the floodwaters run off from the Anaga Mountains after a thunderstorm, they often sweep the fine sand out to sea.
Palm trees on Teresitas Beach on Tenerife
Yet on sunny days, Teresitas Beach is all the more beautiful: the palm-lined beach is one of Tenerife’s true must-see attractions. Another row of palm trees conceals the large car park and provides a passageway to the bars at the upper end of the beach.
One particularly positive aspect is that this stunning beach isn’t always crowded: although many travel guides highlight the beauty of Playa de las Teresitas, on weekdays sunbathers have plenty of space and peace and quiet to sunbathe to their heart’s content until early evening. During their lunch breaks, in the evenings and at weekends in summer, the residents of Santa Cruz use the beach as a welcome break from their daily routine.
Teresitas Beach, which is just over two kilometres long, is situated to the north of the capital, just beyond the industrial estate that forms part of the harbour. Teresitas Beach is protected by an artificial reef. It is also situated in a bay and therefore usually has very little or no surf, making it ideal for swimming and splashing about.
Playa de las Teresitas is easily accessible via the TF-11 road. It’s always worth a visit. You can find more beaches worth visiting on Tenerife here.
Map: Where is Playa de las Teresitas on Tenerife?
Sea temperature: How warm is the sea on Tenerife?
How warm is the Atlantic Ocean around the Canary Islands, actually? You can find the current sea temperature in Tenerife here.
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