Playa Jardín

Playa Jardín, the black-sand beach designed by César Manrique

Playa Jardín is the great urban beach of Puerto de la Cruz, on the north coast of Tenerife. It is a beach of black volcanic sand stretching several hundred metres along the seafront, set in a landscaped environment that is, in itself, one of its hallmarks. The whole is divided into several adjoining zones or coves, among them the section known as Punta Brava, and it forms one of the best-known bathing areas in the municipality. Its contrast between the dark sand, the green of the vegetation and the blue of the Atlantic makes it one of the most photographed beaches in Puerto.

The mark of César Manrique

The design of the Playa Jardín setting bears the signature of the Lanzarote artist César Manrique, who in the 1990s conceived the gardens, paths and landscaped areas that surround the beach. The work championed the endemic and subtropical vegetation of the islands, integrating palm trees, waterfalls and volcanic-stone corners that extend the experience beyond bathing. The result is a botanical promenade by the sea that sets this beach apart from any other urban beach on the island.

Services and access

As a fully equipped urban beach, it has a complete range of services designed for both residents and visitors.

• Surveillance: it has a lifeguard service during the bathing season.

• Hygiene: it has showers, toilets and bins, with a municipal cleaning service.

• Comfort: it offers sunbed and parasol rental in season.

• Families: it includes a children's area and landscaped rest areas.

• Dining: there are bars and food and drink venues in the immediate surroundings.

Bathing and recommendations

The beach is protected by jetties and breakwaters that help contain the swell of the north Atlantic, which eases bathing in normal conditions. Even so, this is a coast open to the ocean, so you should check the state of the sea and always respect the instructions of the lifeguard service and the flag system, especially on days with heavy seas or when a ground swell comes in. In the Punta Brava area the rip current can be strong: in early November 2026 the lifeguards had to recover a bodyboard that the current had dragged more than 200 metres from the shore, beyond the breakwaters. If you are new to surfing or bodyboarding, or do not know the beach, ask the lifeguard about the day's conditions first.

Bear in mind that in 2026 the bathing area has had several temporary closures due to water quality: Punta Brava was closed to bathing in August and again, partly, in September, and the central cove of Playa Jardín was closed for two days in October. Before you go, check the latest notices from the Puerto de la Cruz town council and follow the flags and signs on the beach.

More information at the Puerto de la Cruz Town Council and on the Tenerife Tourism portal.