El Médano
El Médano is a town in Granadilla de Abona. El Médano is one of the world's best windsurfing and kitesurfing locations, with three different windsurfing spots, the Bay (flat/swell), the Harbour Wall (wavespot sideshore), and Cabezo Beach (wavespot onshore).
Understand
El Médano (Spanish, "The sand dune") is a town in the municipality of Granadilla de Abona, on the island of Tenerife, one of the Canary Islands.
A place of strong winds, it has been the site for various windsurfing competitions and championships, though the construction of high-rise hotels and apartment buildings in the early 21st century has reduced these winds' power.
Get in
El Médano can be reached by bus or by taxi (€12-15 from the airport). See www.titsa.com for bus timetables.
- TITSA (bus). South Tenerife is served by the following bus routes 040, 111, 343, 416, 417, 418, 420, 424, 447, 448, 450, 467, 471, 473, 477 and 483. Tenmás is the ticket.
Get around
El Médano is small enough to cover everything on foot.
- TITSA (bus). South Tenerife is served by the following bus routes 040, 111, 343, 416, 417, 418, 420, 424, 447, 448, 450, 467, 471, 473, 477 and 483. Tenmás is the ticket.
See
The town is close to the largest natural beaches of Tenerife, the Playa Grande and the Playa Tejita. There is a large town square in front of the main beach, which holds many local fiestas, especially during the summer months and a spectacular annual public firework display across the bay. Around this square are many bars and restaurants where you can take a coffee or eat Spanish tapas or sea food. El Medano is just east of the Reina Sofia airport, in the south of Tenerife.
- 🌍 Red Mountain Natural Reserve (Reserva natural especial de Montaña Roja). 24/7. A protected area with an area of 166 ha with some of the best sand habitats and wetlands of Tenerife, and the Red Mountain volcanic cone (171 m) at the coastline. The combination of extensive sandy areas, beaches, and dunes gives the Reserve an important landscape value. A great place to relax and wind down. Free.
- 🌍 La Tejita Beach (Playa de la Tejita). 24/7. Protected beach that is very popular with windsurfers, and hosted the 2015 world championship. Free.
- 🌍 Montaña Amarilla (Monumento Natural de Montaña Amarilla). 24/7. Unusual rock formation on the south coast of Tenerife. There is a small beach popular with naturists. Free.
- 🌍 San Blas Natural Reserve (Reserva Ambiental San Blas), Avenida Grenamora 1, Hotel Sandos San Blas, 38639, San Miguel de Abona, ☏ +34 922 74 90 10. Guided tours through the Natural Reserve, focusing on geology, volcanology, and local ethnology. There are also night tours for stargazing. €15.
Learn
- Bla Tenerife Language School, Avenida Magallanes, Local 5, ☏ +34 922 17 94 31, info@babel.es. 09:00-17:00. Language school - offers Spanish courses from beginners to advanced
Eat
Budget
- 🌍 Tasca Casa Rafa, Av. Príncipes de España, 18.
- 🌍 Enxebre, Avenida magallanes, local 12.
- 🌍 Gocharepa, El Médano, C. Pescadores, 5.
- 🌍 The Metro King, C. La Graciosa, 2.
- 🌍 Tasca El Lagar, C. Evaristo Gómez González, nº3.
- 🌍 Hong Kong Restaurante, P.º Amalia, 4.
- 🌍 La Casa de Crêpe, Paseo Ntra. Sra. de las Mercedes de Roja. Also offering savory crepes and dishes.
Mid-range
- 🌍 El Ancla, Avenida de Europa 2, ☏ +34 608 03 68 96, restaurante.elancla@knhoteles.com. Fine dining restaurant.
- 🌍 Restaurante Maracuja, Calle Francisco Garcia Feo, 3.
- 🌍 Familiar, C. Carmen Nobrega, 23.
Sleep
- Casa Grande Surf Hostel, Paseo Galo Ponte, 7, ☏ +34 922 17 63 76, info@casagrandehostel.com. 4-bed dorms €21 per person, double room €50 per night, 10% discount with Hostelling International card.
- Hotel Medano, Picachos Street, 2, ☏ +34 922 17 70 00, reservas@medano.es. The hotel has spacious rooms, a terrace with a solarium, an outdoor swimming pool and also a restaurant.