Most people who visit the south of Tenerife see the same things. The promenade. The beach. Siam Park on a Tuesday. A whale watching boat they booked from a street tout. There is nothing wrong with any of that, but if you have spent a few days in Costa Adeje or Los Cristianos and you are starting to wonder whether there is more to the south than what is immediately in front of you, the answer is yes. Quite a lot more.
The south of Tenerife is one of the most visited holiday destinations in Europe, which means most visitors stick to a well-worn path and never stray more than a ten-minute walk from their hotel. That is enormously helpful for anyone who knows where to look, because it means genuinely lovely spots sit completely untroubled by tourist crowds just a short taxi ride or easy walk away.
This guide covers ten of the best. Some are beaches. Some are villages. Some are walks or viewpoints you would never stumble across without someone pointing you in the right direction. None of them require a car, though for a few it helps. For getting between these spots without a hire car, see our guide to getting around south Tenerife without a car.
El Puertito, Playa Diego Hernández, La Caleta, Mirador de La Concepción, Coastal Walk, Adeje Old Town, Cactus Garden: all within 10 to 15 minutes by taxi from Costa Adeje.
Los Abrigos, Barranco del Infierno: 15 to 25 minutes by taxi or bus.
Playa de Abama: 20 minutes by hire car from Costa Adeje.
Contents
- 1. El Puertito de Adeje
- 2. Playa Diego Hernández
- 3. La Caleta Village
- 4. Los Abrigos Fishing Village
- 5. Barranco del Infierno
- 6. Mirador de La Concepción
- 7. The Coastal Walk from La Caleta to Las Américas
- 8. Playa de Abama
- 9. Adeje Old Town and Thursday Market
- 10. The Natural Cactus Garden Above El Puertito
- A Few Practical Notes
- Frequently Asked Questions
1. El Puertito de Adeje
If you only do one thing on this list, make it El Puertito. This tiny bay sits tucked between Costa Adeje and Callao Salvaje, accessed via a long, narrow road. There is a small car park at the end, a couple of local bars and restaurants, a handful of fishing boats tied up in the cove, and a beach so small and calm it barely qualifies as a beach in the traditional sense.
What makes El Puertito genuinely extraordinary is what is in the water. The bay is home to resident loggerhead sea turtles that spend much of their time grazing on seagrass in the rocky shallows just beyond where the boats are moored. You do not need to book a tour, hire a boat, or pay for anything. A pair of goggles, a short swim of perhaps 20 metres from the shoreline, and you will very likely find yourself face to face with a sea turtle in completely clear water. They are calm, unhurried, and apparently entirely unbothered by people.
El Puertito gets busy in peak season from around mid-morning. Go early and you will often have the turtles almost entirely to yourself. The turtles are also more active in the cooler morning water.
Do not touch, chase, or corner the turtles. They are wild animals. Keep a respectful distance and let them approach at their own pace. They generally come much closer than turtles that are pursued. For more on snorkelling spots across the south, see our snorkelling guide for south Tenerife.
El Puertito de Adeje
| Getting There | Taxi from Costa Adeje approximately 10 minutes. Or walk the coastal path from La Caleta, approximately 25 minutes on a flat well-surfaced path. Limited parking for hire cars |
| Best Time | Before 10am for the turtles. Any time for lunch at the local restaurants |
| Facilities | Two or three local bars and restaurants. No sunbed hire or beach facilities |
| Cost | Free to visit. Restaurant prices are honest local levels |
2. Playa Diego Hernández
This beach does not appear on most tourist maps, which is exactly why it is worth knowing about. Playa Diego Hernández sits between El Puertito and La Caleta on the southwestern coast, accessible only on foot via a rocky coastal path from either direction. There are no sunbed rentals, no beach bars, no facilities of any kind. What there is instead is a small cove of white sand, turquoise water, and a view across the open Atlantic towards La Gomera that is hard to improve upon.
Because it requires a walk to reach it, the beach has a self-selecting audience. The people who make the effort tend to be those who genuinely want a quiet, natural experience. On most days, even in peak season, you will find only a handful of others there. The water is calm and clear enough to snorkel without gear, though a mask and fins reward you with excellent underwater scenery along the rocky edges of the cove.
Everything you need for the day, as there is nowhere to buy anything once you leave El Puertito or La Caleta. Water, sunscreen, snorkelling gear, food, shoes (not flip-flops) for the uneven coastal path.
Playa Diego Hernández
| Getting There | Walk from El Puertito (20 to 25 minutes on the coastal path heading west) or from La Caleta in the opposite direction |
| Facilities | None whatsoever. Bring everything you need for the day |
| Difficulty | Easy walk on an uneven but well-defined path. Shoes essential |
| Cost | Free |
| Best For | Anyone wanting a genuinely quiet, natural beach away from resort infrastructure |
3. La Caleta Village
La Caleta is not entirely undiscovered. Foodies and regular visitors have known about it for years. But compared to the mainstream resort areas, it remains genuinely quiet, genuinely local, and genuinely good in a way that can feel almost surprising when you first arrive from the tourist bubble of Costa Adeje just a few kilometres to the east.
The village sits on a small headland with a mix of sand and rock beach, a short promenade, and a cluster of restaurants consistently rated among the best in the south. The seafood is the real thing: fresh, simply prepared, and priced without the resort premium that attaches itself to everything once you get closer to the big hotels. The sunsets from the headland are outstanding. For the best viewpoints, see our guide to where to watch the sunset in south Tenerife, and our full La Caleta village guide for everything the village has to offer.
La Masía del Mar
| Address | Calle El Muelle 3, La Caleta. Open since 1981. Sea-facing terrace |
| Phone | +34 922 710 895 |
| Booking | Phone booking for weekend evenings |
| Price Range | Approximately €60 to €70 per person for a full dinner |
La Vieja
| Address | Calle El Muelle, Terrazas de La Caleta building |
| Best For | Casual lunch with locals. Fresh fish in an authentic atmosphere |
| Booking | Walk-in for weekday lunch |
Rosso Sul Mare
| Address | Avenida de Las Gaviotas 4, La Caleta |
| Best For | Seafood pasta and sea views. More modern in style than the other La Caleta options |
Taxi from Costa Adeje approximately 10 minutes. Or walk the coastal promenade (25 to 30 minutes from Fañabé area). Walk there for the sunset, taxi back after dinner.
4. Los Abrigos Fishing Village
Los Abrigos is further east than most tourists venture, sitting roughly halfway between Los Cristianos and El Médano on the southeastern coast. A small working fishing village with a harbour, a handful of restaurants strung along the waterfront, and almost no reason for a tourist to be there other than the fact that the seafood is exceptional and the atmosphere is completely, refreshingly real.
The restaurants line the harbour wall and serve what the boats bring in that morning. No menus with photos, no English translations run through a computer, no attempts to cater to anybody’s expectations of what a beach restaurant should look like. What there is instead is freshly grilled fish, excellent local wine, and views of working fishing boats. Los Abrigos is particularly good for lunch on a weekday, when the place is at its most local and least visited. At weekends, residents from the wider south come here specifically to eat, which tells you everything you need to know about the quality.
La Langostera
| Address | Calle La Marina 18, Los Abrigos. On the harbour wall since 1970 |
| Phone | +34 922 170 302 |
| Speciality | Live lobster, oysters, fresh fish. Named Best Seafood Restaurant 2025 by LUXlife Magazine |
| Booking | Advance booking for dinner strongly advised |
| Website | lalangostera.com |
Vista Mar
| Address | Calle La Marina 32, Los Abrigos. Direct harbour views |
| Phone | +34 922 170 184 |
| Opening | Daily from midday |
| Best For | Straightforward fresh fish lunch. Walk-in generally possible on quiet weekdays |
Bus from Los Cristianos or taxi (approximately 20 minutes). A hire car makes combining it with El Médano beach straightforward. Pairs well with a morning at Montaña Roja nature reserve nearby.
5. Barranco del Infierno
Despite its name (Hell’s Gorge), the Barranco del Infierno is one of the most beautiful places in the south and one that a surprising number of visitors never find. It sits just above Adeje town, yet feels worlds away from the resort strip. It is a protected natural reserve and the only place in the south with permanently running water. The hiking trail follows the gorge for around 3.5 kilometres one way, passing through dramatic volcanic scenery and native vegetation before arriving at a 200-metre waterfall. The round trip takes between two and three hours at a comfortable pace.
Entry is strictly limited to 300 people per day. You cannot simply turn up. Book online at least three to five days ahead in peak season. A helmet is provided and must be worn on the trail. Children under 5 are not permitted. Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult.
Barranco del Infierno
| Price | Approximately €11 to €13 per adult. Children under 12 at 50% discount. Helmet hire included |
| Opening Hours | Summer (June to mid-September) 8:30am to 4pm. Winter 8:30am to 4:30pm. Last entry 11:30am both seasons. Daily subject to weather |
| Phone | +34 922 780 078 |
| Booking | Mandatory advance online booking only at barrancodelinfierno.es |
| Getting There | Taxi to Adeje town trailhead (~15 minutes from Costa Adeje) or bus routes 416, 417, 473 from Costa Adeje. Limited hire car parking near the entrance |
| Website | barrancodelinfierno.es |
6. Mirador de La Concepción
Most viewpoints in the south are either well signposted and therefore busy, or genuinely difficult to reach. The Mirador de La Concepción sits in a sweet spot between these extremes: relatively easy to reach, largely ignored by mainstream tourism, and offering one of the finest views in the entire south of the island. It sits above Adeje town looking across the full sweep of the southern coastline, with Mount Teide rising behind pine forests to the north on clear days.
Particularly good at sunrise or in the early morning before haze builds up and softens the view of Teide. Equally excellent at sunset. Almost always quiet, almost always free of tour groups.
Mirador de La Concepción
| Getting There | Taxi to Adeje town and walk uphill ~20 minutes on a steep paved road, or ask the driver to take you directly to the mirador |
| Cost | Free. No facilities |
| Best Time | Early morning for Teide views. Sunset for the most dramatic light across the coast |
| Best For | Panoramic views of the whole south coast. Photography. Combining with dinner in Adeje town |
7. The Coastal Walk from La Caleta to Las Américas
The coastal path running between La Caleta in the west and Playa de las Américas in the east is one of the most enjoyable walks in the south, and one that many visitors who stay in the area for a week or more never complete in full. Most people walk short sections, but the full length is a genuinely rewarding experience, taking in rock formations, natural pools, beach clubs, quieter coves, and stretches of coast that are invisible from the resort promenade.
The walk covers approximately eight kilometres one way and is almost entirely flat on a well-maintained path. The best approach is to walk in one direction and take a taxi back. Morning is most comfortable in summer. Bring water and good shoes as sections involve uneven volcanic rock.
Walk from La Caleta east towards Las Américas and take a taxi back after lunch in La Caleta. Or walk from Las Américas west to La Caleta for dinner and the sunset, then taxi home. Either way, walking one direction and taxiing the other is more enjoyable than the full return.
Coastal Walk: La Caleta to Las Américas
| Distance | Approximately 8km one way. Virtually flat throughout |
| Difficulty | Easy. Suitable for all fitness levels including families |
| Getting There | Start at La Caleta (taxi ~10 minutes from Costa Adeje) or at the Las Américas end (on foot from most hotels) |
| Best Time | Morning in summer. Any time in winter |
| Cost | Free |
8. Playa de Abama
One of the best-kept secrets on the western coast, and it involves a slight leap of faith to visit for the first time because access runs directly past the entrance to the Ritz-Carlton Abama resort. The beach sits below the hotel, accessed via a steep path from the resort entrance, and the combination of a five-star hotel and a narrow access road makes most people assume it is private.
It is not. Playa de Abama is a public beach. Anyone can use it. Park outside the resort and follow the path down (ten to fifteen minutes, reasonably steep descent). The beach has pale golden sand, calm turquoise water protected by natural breakwaters, and a clean, well-maintained setting that benefits from being next to a hotel that takes great pride in its surroundings. No sun lounger rentals and no beach bar, so bring everything you need. On a typical day, even in high summer, you are unlikely to find more than a handful of people there.
Playa de Abama is a public beach despite being accessed past the Ritz-Carlton Abama resort entrance. You are entirely entitled to use it. Follow the signs to the beach on foot from the resort entrance.
Playa de Abama
| Getting There | Hire car is easiest. Drive to the Ritz-Carlton Abama near Guía de Isora (~20 minutes west of Costa Adeje on TF-47), park outside the resort entrance, follow signs to the beach. By taxi, ask for Ritz-Carlton Abama in Guía de Isora and arrange a return pickup as taxis are not always immediately available in this area |
| Facilities | None. No sunbeds, no beach bar. Bring everything you need |
| Cost | Free |
| Best For | Visitors with a hire car wanting an outstanding beach without the crowds |
9. Adeje Old Town and Thursday Market
Adeje town sits just a few kilometres inland from the Costa Adeje resort strip and represents a completely different side of the south. A real Canarian town with a real community, a proper church, a central plaza, local shops catering to residents rather than tourists, and a weekly market on Thursdays that is worth organising your week around.
The Thursday market runs from approximately 8am to 2pm around the town centre near Plaza de España, covering fresh produce, local food, plants, clothing, and crafts. It is the kind of market where you buy things because you actually want them rather than because they are packaged as souvenirs. Go early for the best produce and the most authentic atmosphere. The Iglesia de Santa Úrsula is worth a look inside. The Barranco del Infierno trailhead is also here, making a market visit and a gorge walk a natural full-day combination.
Adeje Old Town and Thursday Market
| Market Days | Thursday only, approximately 8am to 2pm. Near Plaza de España in the town centre |
| Getting There | Bus routes 416, 417, and 473 from Costa Adeje and Los Cristianos. Taxi approximately 10 minutes from Costa Adeje. Walkable throughout once you arrive |
| Cost | Free to visit. Market prices are local levels |
| Best Time | Before 11am for the best produce and atmosphere |
| Best For | Anyone wanting to see Canarian everyday life. Combine with Barranco del Infierno for a full day |
10. The Natural Cactus Garden Above El Puertito
This last entry is the least visited spot on the entire list, partly because there are no official signs pointing to it and partly because it requires a short walk past the edge of El Puertito village before the path becomes apparent. Walk just beyond the residential area at the top of the village, heading inland along the rocky trail towards the cliffs, and you will find a natural cactus garden growing between old stone walls and hardened lava fields, completely unmarked and entirely free.
The cacti here are the large, dramatic Canarian variety, growing to several metres in height among the volcanic rock with the coastline visible below. The whole area has an ancient, slightly otherworldly feel that is very different from the manicured resort environment down the hill. Makes a natural 30-minute extension to a visit to El Puertito.
From the edge of El Puertito village, follow the rocky path heading uphill and inland. No signs, no facilities, no entrance fee. The cactus garden reveals itself over the brow of a low rise. Wear shoes, bring water, do not attempt it in flip-flops.
Natural Cactus Garden, El Puertito
| Getting There | Walk from the village edge of El Puertito, heading uphill and inland on the rocky path. 10 to 15 minutes from the village |
| Facilities | None |
| Cost | Free |
| Best For | A natural extension to an El Puertito visit. Unusual photography. People who like finding things that feel genuinely unmarked |
A Few Practical Notes
For most spots on this list, a taxi works perfectly well. El Puertito, La Caleta, Adeje town, and Barranco del Infierno are all easily reached by taxi from the main resort areas. Los Abrigos and Playa de Abama genuinely benefit from a hire car as they are further afield and not always easy to reach by taxi at convenient times. For more detail, see our guide to getting around south Tenerife without a car.
The coves and beaches on this list are quieter before 11am. The temperature on walks is more comfortable before the midday sun builds. The light for photographs is better earlier in the day. For the Adeje Thursday market, early morning is the only practical option regardless.
For the beaches on this list, facilities are either limited or non-existent. Water, sunscreen, a snorkel for El Puertito and Diego Hernández, comfortable shoes for any of the walks, and cash for the restaurants in La Caleta and Los Abrigos, where some of the smaller places do not accept cards reliably.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best hidden beaches in south Tenerife?
El Puertito de Adeje and Playa Diego Hernández are the two most genuinely undiscovered beaches within easy reach of the main resort areas. Both require a short walk to access, which keeps them quiet even in peak season. Playa de Abama is a third option, with excellent sand and calm water below the Ritz-Carlton resort near Guía de Isora.
Is El Puertito good for snorkelling?
Yes, El Puertito is one of the best snorkelling spots in south Tenerife for families and beginners. The water in the bay is calm and clear, and the resident sea turtles are often visible just beyond the moored fishing boats. A basic mask and fins are all you need. See our full snorkelling guide for south Tenerife for more detail.
Do you need to book Barranco del Infierno in advance?
Yes. Entry is limited to 300 people per day and must be booked online in advance at barrancodelinfierno.es. In peak season, slots can fill several days in advance. Book at least three to five days ahead. The entrance fee is approximately €11 to €13 per adult. Children under 5 are not admitted. A helmet must be worn and is included in the price.
Is La Caleta worth visiting for food?
Absolutely. La Caleta has some of the best seafood restaurants in the south. La Masía del Mar on Calle El Muelle 3 (phone +34 922 710 895) has been open since 1981 and serves fresh fish daily with sea views. La Vieja and Rosso Sul Mare are both excellent on the same promenade. For the full guide to what La Caleta offers, see our La Caleta village guide.
Can you walk to El Puertito from Costa Adeje?
The coastal path from La Caleta to El Puertito is around 25 minutes on a flat, well-surfaced trail. From the main Costa Adeje resort area, the walk to La Caleta first adds around 30 to 40 minutes, making it a manageable but reasonably long walk in total. A taxi to El Puertito and a walk back along the coastal path is a good compromise.
What time does the Adeje Thursday market run?
The Thursday market in Adeje runs from approximately 8am to 2pm near Plaza de España in the town centre. Go before 11am for the best produce and atmosphere. Bus routes 416, 417, and 473 serve Adeje town from Costa Adeje and Los Cristianos.
Opening times, access conditions, and market schedules are subject to seasonal variation. Always check current conditions before visiting. Barranco del Infierno requires advance online booking at barrancodelinfierno.es and cannot be visited without a reservation.