Discovering the South
The south of Tenerife is a world of its own. The sun shines here on over 300 days a year, the sky is steel blue, and temperatures rarely drop below 20°C even in January. What was a barren, water-scarce semi-desert until the 1960s is now the most important tourist area in the Canary Islands — with all the advantages and disadvantages that come with it.
The three major towns — Playa de las Américas, Los Cristianos, and Costa Adeje — seamlessly merge into one another, forming a continuous coastal zone with an impressive tourist infrastructure: hundreds of hotels, shopping miles, restaurants from around the world, and nightlife that pulses until dawn.
But the south is much more than resorts: The cliffs of Los Gigantes in the west are among the most dramatic landscape formations in Europe, the Masca Gorge is one of the most spectacular hikes in the Canary Islands, and pilot whales and dolphins frolic in the waters off the coast. Those who know the south only from the hotel pool are missing the best.
Orientation
The south stretches from Los Cristianos in the east to Los Gigantes in the west:
- Los Cristianos: The oldest resort in the south, once a fishing village. Today: more relaxed than Playa de las Américas, with a real town center, ferry port (to La Gomera), and the beautiful city beach Playa de las Vistas. Popular with families and older travelers.
- Playa de las Américas: The vibrant center — hotels, bars, clubs, shopping centers. The Veronicas Strip is the party mile. This is where the nightlife is concentrated. During the day: wide beach promenades and water sports.
- Costa Adeje: The upscale neighbor west of Playa de las Américas. 5-star hotels, golf courses, high-quality restaurants, and the most beautiful beaches in the south (Playa del Duque, Playa Fañabé). This is also where Siam Park is located.
- Los Gigantes & Puerto de Santiago: At the western end, under the massive cliffs. Quieter, more authentic, with the best starting point for whale-watching tours.
- El Médano: Further east by the airport: Tenerife's surf and windsurf mecca with one of the island's longest natural beaches.
