El Medano Holidays

Set on the south coast of Tenerife, El Medano used to be a little fishing village but now it’s grown into a middleweight resort. It’s got an easy, laid-back vibe – probably something to do with the surfer set who hang out here. They’re not the only ones who love the beach, though – with a long, white sandy stretch, this place gets the family vote, too.

True to Canary Island form, this resort’s got 2 main beaches. Playa El Medano is the biggie with 2 kilometres of soft white sand – the largest stretch on the island – and it comes with a boardwalk lined with bars and cafes. If you follow the coastal path round the rocks you’ll come to Playa de la Pelada. This one’s a sheltered, shingly cove – and the favourite for nudists.

El Medano plays to families. In fact, it gets busy here at weekends when the local Tenerife crowd turn up with their young ones in tow. You’ve got a children’s playground in the town square for day-time fun, while evenings take care of themselves with family-friendly restaurants that happily tweak their menus for smaller appetites.

You can’t miss El Medano’s volcanic landmark, Montana Roja – Red Mountain. Ten minutes’ drive gets you to the bottom where you can follow the path up to the top. It’ll take about an hour but the 360-degree view up here is worth it. Down at base camp, there’s a nature reserve with lots of birds. You might want to pack a picnic, as the mountain’s short on snack stops.