Playa de Benijo

Playa de Benijo

Playa de Benijo is one of the wildest and most photographed beaches in northern Tenerife. It is in the hamlet of Benijo, next to Taganana, within the Anaga Rural Park and in the municipality of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Its dark sand of volcanic origin, its vertical cliffs and the silhouette of the sea stacks rising from the Atlantic make it one of the most recognisable coastal landscapes on the island.

The great protagonist of the place is the group of Anaga sea stacks, with the Roque de Benijo and the Roque de la Rapadura standing out against the shore. It is a spot especially sought after at sunset, when the sun falls behind the rock formations and tints the sea and the black sand in warm tones. The beach belongs to a coastline of great natural value, protected by the rural-park designation.

What the beach is like

It is an open beach of black sand and gravel, about 300 metres long and an average width of around 30 metres. Benijo is greatly conditioned by the tides: at low tide the sandy strip widens considerably and allows long walks along the sea, while at high tide the sand area shrinks considerably and can largely disappear. It is worth checking the tide table before visiting.

It is a virgin beach, with no development at the shore, frequented above all by island residents and by those seeking nature and calm away from mass tourism. It is among the best wild beaches of the Anaga massif. It is also one of the municipality's beaches where nudism is practised.

Safety and bathing

Benijo is a beach with strong swell and open sea, with currents and undertow that can be dangerous, especially on rough-sea days. Bathing is not advisable when sea conditions are adverse. Santa Cruz de Tenerife Town Council maintains a seasonal lifeguard service in the summer season, but outside those hours there is no surveillance. Take extra care, do not be over-confident with the waves and always keep an eye on children.

Services and access

• Type of sand: black volcanic, with gravel

• Setting: a virgin beach in the Anaga Rural Park, with no facilities at the shore

• Access: via the TF-134 road towards Taganana and Benijo; final stretch on foot

• Lifeguards: seasonal service in summer; outside the season there is no surveillance

• Tides: visit preferably at low tide, when the largest area of sand is exposed

It is worth checking for possible access restrictions before going, as the slope has suffered landslides that have prompted occasional closures ordered by the Town Council. You can check the official information on the website of the Santa Cruz de Tenerife Town Council and on the tourism portal Web Tenerife.