If you’re planning a trip to Tenerife, you’ve most probably already heard about Las Teresitas Beach or El Duque Beach. These are all famous beaches in Tenerife, but the island also has a few well-kept secrets like Benijo Beach.
This hidden gem located near Taganana, a quaint village isolated from traffic, chaos and tourists, was one of my favorite destinations in Tenerife. Playa de Benijo is surrounded by the incredible Anaga Rural Park and its majestic cliffs and mountains.
The beach is rocky, covered in black sand and pebbles and the views are simply spectacular. In this article, I’ll share everything you need to know when planning a trip to Playa de Benijo, one of the hidden beaches in Tenerife.
1. What to expect at Playa de Benijo
Playa de Benijo is located in the north-eastern part of Tenerife, in the incredible Anaga Rural Park. The road to Benijo Beach has a lot of curves and turns, but the views are pretty spectacular. The tall cliffs and mountains seem to be rising from the ocean and the houses of Taganana are scattered through the thick vegetation.
The beach is quite isolated and unspoilt. There are no hotels, restaurants or facilities there.
Also, there is no lifeguard, so you’re on your own. Unlike Benijo, the most famous beaches in Tenerife, such as Los Gigantes, Duque Beach and Las Teresitas all have showers, changing cabins and lifeguards.
I recommend bringing some snacks and water with you when visiting Benijo Beach. Also, don’t forget your sunscreen at home! The sun in Tenerife can be very harsh.
If you want to enjoy the nature, Benijo Beach is a great choice. There are no sunbeds on the beach and most of the time, only a few tourists arrive here.
-> Other must-see places in Tenerife:
- Climb Mount Teide – The tallest mountain in Tenerife
- Take a whale watching cruise
- Siam Park – The world’s best water park
2. The stairs leading to Benijo Beach
To get to the beach, you’ll have to go down quite a few stairs. To get to the stairs, park your car at El Mirador. This is a local restaurant with a great view of Benijo Beach. Unfortunately, when we visited, it was closed.
After you parked your car, look for the stairs. It takes about 10 minutes to reach the beach from the restaurant. We stopped for a few minutes on the stairs to take some photos and admire the views.
3. Explore Playa de Benijo
Benijo is about 300-meters long and 30 meters wide. I recommend taking a walk from one end to another to fully experience this place’s natural beauty.
There are 2 huge rocks on the beach called Roque Benijo and Roque de la Rapadura. These rocks rising from the ocean are the perfect backdrop for a few photos.
Most of the time, the waves are too big and the currents are too powerful for swimming. However, Benijo Beach is a popular place for surfers, especially during winter.
After exploring the beach, hop in your car and drive a bit further, toward Anaga Senderos de Poesia. After only about 1-2 kilometers, you’ll reach a fabulous viewpoint.
We found this place by chance while we were looking for the stairs going down to Benijo Beach.
4. Sunset at Benijo Beach, Tenerife
The best time of the day to visit Playa de Benijo is at sunset. We arrived at Benijo after a long day of driving around the island. We started our journey early in the morning near Playa del Duque and we visited Charco El Diablo, Los Gigantes Beach, Playa del Castillo, Bollullo Beach and then we arrived at Benijo after a short stop in Taganana.
I don’t recommend visiting that many places in a single day, but we were on a tight schedule. Anyway, try and plan your visit to Benijo Beach at sunset and you won’t regret it! The orange light shining on the beach brings everything to life.
5. How to get to Benijo Beach
Traveling to this part of the island is anything but easy. The road has many hairpins, making the drive very tiring. However, the views along the way are breathtaking.
You’ll pass through one of the most beautiful areas in Tenerife – Anaga Rural Park, a protected area known for its majestic mountains and unique flora.
When in Tenerife, I recommend renting a car. We rented our car from Oasis for about 35 EUR per day. The best part was that we were allowed to pick up the car from one place and return it in another place.
Most parking places in Tenerife are free and exploring the island by car gives you the freedom to plan your schedule as you like. It’s the best choice!
To get to Benijo Beach, follow the TF – 12 road to El Bailadero. From there, follow the TF – 134 road to Taganana and then to Benijo Beach.
Make sure to stop for a few minutes in Taganana. It’s one of the most picturesque villages in Tenerife. Only a few hundred locals live here, away from the chaos of big cities.
6. Where to stay in Tenerife
Tenerife is a relatively small island, but the main income comes from tourism. Therefore, there are many resort towns with hundreds of hotels each. It might be overwhelming to search for the perfect accommodation through thousands and thousands of hotels.
I’ve searched for the best hotels for every budget to make your life easier. Here they are!
- Budget – Atlantic Holiday Hotel – amazing ocean view, beautiful modern studio, good location, friendly staff, good amenities
- Mid-Range – Labranda Bahia – beautiful pools, good location, spacious rooms and good services, friendly staff, all-inclusive
- Luxury – Fantasia Bahia – perfect for couples and families, excellent services, all-inclusive, huge & modern rooms, beautiful pools
7. Final thoughts
Benijo Beach is one of the best black sand beaches in Tenerife. This hidden gem is tucked away from the tourists’ eyes and this is exactly what makes it beautiful. I love remote places, that still preserve their natural charm.
If you’re looking for an incredible beach, away from the busy areas of Tenerife, head to Playa de Benijo and you won’t be disappointed.
If you have any questions about this place, don’t hesitate to ask me in the comments section below. May the travel bug bite you!
Pin it for later!
Aurelia Teslaru is a professional travel blogger and the writer behind Daily Travel Pill. With a 4-year experience as a travel writer and photographer, Aurelia only shares travel guides about destinations that she visited.
She has been to more than 40 countries during the past 10 years and aims to explore 50 countries before turning 30 years old. Aurelia is a digital nomad who transformed her passion for travel into a lifestyle. Read more about her here.
To follow her adventures, check out her Instagram and Facebook pages!