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Where to Go Snorkelling in Tenerife

Beautiful send beach in Costa Adeje Playa de las Americas on Tenerife, Spain.
Beautiful send beach in Costa Adeje Playa de las Americas on Tenerife, Spain. | © master2 / Alamy Stock Photo
Photo of Charlie Bush
Charlie Bush
6 August 2020

Tenerife’s location in the Atlantic Ocean and off the west coast of Africa makes it a special place for snorkelling. All kinds of marine life can be observed along the island’s coastlines, without the need for any high-tech diving equipment. It is incredibly easy to have an extraordinary snorkelling adventure straight from the beach, making Tenerife the ideal place for beginners and children as well as more experienced snorkellers. The following beaches offer unparalleled snorkelling opportunities, with or without booking a tour.

El Puertito

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Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain - town of El Puertito. Black sand beach of Costa Adeje coast.
© Marek Slusarczyk / Alamy Stock Photo
El Puertito, in the southwest of Tenerife, is widely regarded as one of the best places for snorkelling on the island. It is a small bay, not far from Costa Adeje and Playa Paraíso, and is easily accessible by car for tourists staying in these areas’ many hotels and resorts. El Puertito is particularly renowned for its many turtles, including the large herbivorous green turtle species. Many people come here to snorkel and swim, so if you are seeking a more secluded experience, try a more isolated beach. Plenty of organised snorkelling tours can be found at El Puertito. Alternatively bring your own equipment and discover the bay’s marine life for yourself.

Playa de las Vistas

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Playa de Las Vistas in Los Cristianos, Tenerife island, is considered one of the best beaches of the Canary Islands, Spain.
© Johan Furusjö / Alamy Stock Photo
The artificial Playa de las Vistas boasts crystal-clear waters thriving with bright fish and fascinating underwater flora. It is possible to swim out from shore and find fascinating sights for yourself, although tours are available to take you out to sea in a boat and provide all the equipment at reasonable prices. By venturing into deeper water you are more likely to see rays, turtles and larger types of fish. The fine sand of Playa de las Vistas can be found on the southwest coast of Tenerife, between Playa de las Américas and Los Cristianos.

Playa de Radazul

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Another charming and well-maintained beach, Playa de Radazul is popular with tourists and locals alike for its snorkelling. The main bathing areas are protected by a breakwater so the water is very calm, though the open ocean is accessible for those seeking deeper waters. Playa de Radazul is just 13 kilometers (8 miles) from the capital, Santa Cruz, on the northeast coast of Tenerife.

Playa de las Arenas

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In the northeastern corner of Tenerife, where the Barranco del Monte river meets the sea, is the stunning Playa de las Arenas. This beach’s black sand and clean water create marvellous conditions for snorkelling and it also tends to be less busy than the island’s southwestern beaches. It is worth striking out to the deeper areas where there are more rocks to find the greatest variety of sea life.

Punta de Teno

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View of coast and sea - playa Punta de Teno in Tenerife, Canary Islands
© BBA Travel / Alamy Stock Photo
As far west as you can go while remaining on Tenerife, Punta de Teno is well worth a visit for its unrivalled views of Los Gigantes. But this nature reserve is also an idyllic place for snorkelling, offering small bays, myriad rock pools and a small reef to those willing to plunge beneath the water’s surface. The ocean can get rough here at times, but staying in the shelter of the bays should alleviate the danger. Follow the TF-445 west towards the Punta de Teno Lighthouse. Plenty of parking is available nearby.
These recommendations were updated on August 6, 2020 to keep your travel plans fresh.
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