La Tejita: Tenerife’s Largest Natural Beach Balances Conservation and Tourism
La Tejita beach in Tenerife remains a protected, rugged natural landmark that balances environmental conservation with its popularity as a premier destination for wind-based water sports.
La Tejita beach, located in Granadilla de Abona, is Tenerife’s largest natural sand beach. Situated in the south of the island next to the Montaña Roja Special Nature Reserve, it serves as a prime example of how to maintain a rugged, natural coastline despite the urban development seen elsewhere in the Canary Islands.
Stretching over a kilometer, the beach is defined by the striking 170-meter-high Montaña Roja volcanic cone. Because it is a protected area, development has been kept to a minimum, with infrastructure limited to basic necessities like waste disposal, beach maintenance, equipment rentals, and public transport links.
Accessing the beach requires a bit of effort. To protect the environment, vehicles are not allowed to drive right up to the shore. Instead, visitors must park near the road connecting El Médano and Los Abrigos and walk the rest of the way along marked paths. Currently, the area lacks facilities for people with reduced mobility, highlighting the ongoing challenge of balancing environmental conservation with the need for universal access.
The beach is known for its constant wind, which shapes how people use it. While the breeze can make traditional sunbathing less comfortable, it makes La Tejita a top destination for water sports like surfing, kitesurfing, and windsurfing. Additionally, the area near the volcanic massif has a long-standing tradition as a nudist beach, offering a sense of privacy not found on more commercial stretches of sand. Ultimately, La Tejita remains a unique example of how to preserve a natural ecosystem while managing the demands of tourism.