Playa Leocadio Machado - The town beach in El Medano

Published on July 01, 2019
TenerifeBeach guide for Tenerife
el medano playa leocadio machado
Playa Leocadio Machado - very busy on a warm and sunny January afternoon

El Medano is a small town in the municipality of Granadilla de Abona, on the east coast of the island, very close to the Reina Sofia airport. The town is right next to the beach, so you can easily find public parking on the streets nearby.

Location: El Medano, municipality Granadilla de Abona
Map: see on Google maps
Beach type: urban beach with Blue Flag
Access: Easy access
Facilities: Sunbeds, umbrellas, showers, toilets, bars and restaurants
Nudist friendly: No
Lifeguards: Yes
Parking: Yes
Public Transport: Yes
Wheelchair accessible: Yes

Playa Leocadio Machado - One of the largest natural beaches in Tenerife

El Medano beach is one of the most popular beaches in Tenerife, loved by locals and tourists alike, for its fine sand and beautiful landscape. It is one of the largest natural beaches in Tenerife, along with the neighbor beach of La Tejita, from which it is separated only by the Montana Roja (Red Mountain).

Straight from Playa El Medano you have access to plenty of restaurants and small shops, so you can have lunch while enjoying the view of the ocean. On weekends there is also a small craft fair, very different from the large markets in Los Cristianos or Santa Cruz de Tenerife. The entire town has a very relaxed vibe, the kind of place where you come to get away from the crowds.

El Medano beach has been a Blue Flag beach since 2004, with amenities like changing rooms and beach showers. Sunbeds are also available, but most people prefer a towel on the sand since the place is so vast that you can easily find a corner just for you.

Also known by the locals under the name of Playa Leocadio Machado, this beach is 750 m long and 43 m wide, with several more small bays in the area: El Cabezo, La Jaquita, De Pelada, El Salado and La Rajita.

El Medano Beach - the ideal choice for windsurfing and water sports

El Medano is most popular among tourists that come to Tenerife seeking good conditions for windsurfing and kitesurfing. With strong winds all year round, this place is one of the top favorites for surfers and the main reason why many competitions are organized here annually.

During the last years there have been more developments in the area, new constructions like restaurants and apartment buildings, which seem to affect the power of the wind and as a result, the surfing conditions. Even so, this is the best place to stay in Tenerife if you are interested in surfing.

Hiking on Montana Roja - a different beach experience

The beach is located between Montana Roja (a natural reserve) and Montana Pelada and both of these formations can be climbed in about 30 - 45 minutes. From the top of Montana Roja you will have beautiful views over both El Medano beach and La Tejita and the journey to the top is not too difficult.

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