Tenerife
General Info On Tenerife:
December 2026
General
First impressions okay built up at Santa Cruz, but out on the TF1 heading south in no time. Free camping anywhere. Less scruffy than GC, old plantation stuff/rubbish not visible.
Windsurfing
El Medano
Is the main area of windsurfing in Tenerife. It is a small town with enough shops, cafes, restaurants, windsurf rental/shops to make anyone happy. The winds are NE or ENE (cross on) normally, but usually the wave period is short (5-7). If the wind goes N then it does not appear to reach inshore in the Bay. The wind is there all year around, over our stay of 4 months we got 50% of days over Force 5 , with our kit we do not sail in less than 20 mph. It does gets busy on weekends, however it is a big area to windsurf in. The wave average is normally less than 2 meters cross on.
Cabezo
A rocky shore with just a couple of spots to get in and out, the wave is cross onshore. Parking on the roads adjacent. Cabezo windsurf shop (very helpful) is nearby for those needing sail repairs like me and the new tws Cabezo shop.
I did a utube video https://youtu.be/fuRz5taDtkM
There is also a good air/drone video at
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WH0wixN_Sk0
Muelle (Harbour Wall)
My first choice, I found it the best at low to mid tide. It takes 3 tacks from the main beach, but is less crowded and has a cross onshore wave. It is reasonably safe as the wave peels to deeper water.
El Medano Bay
The bay is great, if a little busy. Its only flaw is the upwind hotels which can make it gusty on/off inshore in the Bay, you can see why the windsurfers complained years ago. The beach is big and mainly a gritty sand. Park on the hill top road, it gets busy here.. Kiters normally use the south end of the Bay.
Weather Sites
Muchoviento seems the most accurate and usually shows more wind as it takes into account the local (3k) thermal effect etc, the wind meter at Cabezo proved the forecasts were best whilst we were there, looking on the other forecasts would make you think of a much lighter wind scenario generally.
https://www.windguru.cz/int/index.php?sc=49358
https://www.windfinder.com/forecast/el_medano
https://www.bbc.com/weather/6297190
https://www.eltiempo.es/el-medano.html
Spot Guides
Web Cam and Windspeed
Windsurf Shops/Schools
At least 7, no shortage of brands or repair outlets.
Kiters
Ah yes at least 3 Kiter only shops as well as the above. They definitely outnumber the wind surfers except at Cabezo.
Wiki Guide
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_M%C3%A9dano
Camping Inland with Permits
https://www.tenerifehiking.com/camping-in-tenerife/
Snorkleing
Not bad the water is clear and some fish but you have to find shelter from the wind and waves.
Walking
Loads, free walking maps available.
Campsites
Use Park for Night
.
Water, Empty and Fill
Use Park for Night
Site Seeing
Whatever floats your boat…saw some of the carnival stuff 2nd only to Rio, we were in Garachico for an Easter parade – this is also a nice town. Orotavia is pretty. The main mountain area is beautiful in good weather and Pico El Teide at 3718 meters is stunning. Teide is accessible by cable car and can be hiked by the fit, to put it in perspective it most often pokes out far beyond the local cloud level. Whale and dolphin watching, all year around.
Other Motorcaravaners
Double what we saw in 2011, a lot of Spanish registered ones, but also a lot more French, German and even the odd English one!
LPG/Gas
Disa is again the local 11kg gas, at some Disa garages, but also at other garages and “ferreterias. CEPSA garages also now has 11kg bottles
Wi-Fi Access.
Use UK Three sim.
Television
TV Canaries had local news and weather (in Spanish) many stations have some English language films etc if you can select the audio.
Libraries
In San Isidro, wifi but no English books.
Shopping
Same as other islands, Iceland, Spars, Lidl, Hipo Dino, %Dia, Mercadano, but also had Carrefour in Santa Cruz, Bottled water 5ltr from as little 60 cents, Fresh milk available..
BookSwaps
Tourist Office in El Medano.
Some Bars.
Laundry
As of 2020 now found in towns/resorts.
Rubbish and Re-cycling
Same as others – plenty everywhere!
Other Info:
Fuel Price – from E1.11 diesil
Gas Price – E17.50 for 11Kg DISA Gas the local one and all you can get, we already had a cylinder, not sure how to get one, but asking at a garage would get you that info.
Ferry Price
Free Camp Spots
Unless otherwise said all these had a shop within walking or 4k cycling distance and most a lot closer.
Use Park for night, lots of places you could stay as you travel round the island, I’ve listed where we stayed and a couple of “useful” other spots we saw, but basically you stay you like and where you want to be and use common sense!
|
Place |
Description and Directions – going clockwise from Santa Cruz |
|
El Poris |
Nice spot, had a harbour, shop and then drive on past the town and lots of free ground, popular for serious windsurfing, surfing and fishing – looks like it would be busy at weekends, we only did during the week. |
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Abades |
Lovely “new build” which has car park with official 72 hour parking, a little harbour, shops etc, then a whole load of nice waste ground where others were parked. |
|
El Medano North |
Out of the other side of town and onto waste ground – can swim/snorkel off the beach, quieter at night, nice spot, near big hotel. |
|
On way to Los Abrigos 1 |
An old car park between the first lot of houses after the camp site and one lot of banana plants. It was sheltered when the wind was blowing 30+ knots at night, otherwise nothing to go for. |
|
On way to Los Abrigos 2 |
On the lower road between Los A and El M. There is a large area of free ground past the agricultural area, bits of beach etc, we stayed a couple of times. |
|
Las Galletas |
Not seen, but apparently motorhome bays have just been marked out in the centre of the residential area there. |
|
Palm Mer |
We spent a night there, on a street on the south side of town, was actually Ok with 4 other vans, nice walk (over an hour) to the lighthouse – loads of dolphins! Heard afterwards that they have since marked out motorhome bays there as well. |
|
Los Cristianos |
On Avda Amsterdam, down on the beach end. We went to look (coz of letters in paper). Might stay for a night but not a place we’d want to be, although perfectly nice. |
|
Alcala |
Between the town and the large posh looking resort, sort of waste ground parking, nice actually, 5 vans the night we stayed, “rock pool” for swimming and path along the coast both ways. There were also vans to the north of the resort, but we never found the road to get there! |
|
Buenavista |
Between the banana plantations to the “west”, not easy drive with big van, but “official” parking area. We spent the night as could not find anywhere else and had been watching whales and dolphins, not one I would recommend (no view, enclosed!) A bit of a walk to town. |
|
Los Silos |
Cliffs to the west. Found by accident as busy Easter weekend and could see vans, would normally be quiet. Locals in town told us where to go. Basically follow the main road into town and along the coast and you will see the parking areas, it is past the Piscina Municipal. Nice for walk, cycle, fish and swim! Again bit of a walk to town. |
|
Puerto de la Cruz |
We saw a few vans at different times parked on the front, in front of the main swimming pool area. The road goes past the real C/S and you can turn left or right at the top and stay there – we did not as used the C/S the times we were there. Brilliant for eating out! |
|
Punto del Hidalgo |
Went to C/S but closed so stayed on the front – fantastic sea pools to swim in, but no other real reason to be there – apart from the strenuous walks up into the mountains! |
|
Bejima Beach |
We were going to stay there (it’s just parking on the edge of the road, but very quiet), but the van sprang her leak! Again, not much there, but it is near the start point for several walks. No shops around, but a couple or restaurants in the two villages. |
|
Teresitas Beach |
This is carry on through San Andres, it has showers, the beach is man made – we were told it was noisy at the weekend, it was busy enough with walkers and runners when we were there on a weekday – again, no big reason to be there! |
|
Santa Cruz |
Car park near the main swimming pool, edge of main road, on the way south out of town. Did not stay but were told people did – looked OK, but noisy! |
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As with anywhere, drive around and see what you find. |