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Voykit pocket guide · Spain
El Médano
Spend 1–2 days in El Médano for windsurfing, beach walks and a quick bite; add a half‑day if you want a guided reserve tour.
El Médano is a small coastal town on Tenerife famous for windsurfing and nearby natural reserves. Its sights are within walking distance, so a short stay covers the main activities.
- Country
- Spain
- Best months
- Oct–May
- Avoid
- Jun–Aug (heat, reduced wind)
- Stay
- 1–2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- EUR
- Money
- Currency is the euro (EUR, €). Cards and contactless work almost everywhere, including tapas bars and taxis in the cities.
- Daily spend
- Budget €30–50 excl. bed · Mid €50–80 excl. bed · High €80+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- EU and EEA plans roam at home prices; UK and other plans may charge — check before you land.
- Emergency
- Police 091 · Fire and ambulance 062 · General emergency 112
- Plugs
- Types C, F · 230 V · 50 Hz · Round two-pin plugs; UK and US plugs need an adapter.
- Tipping
- Bar or café: Leave small change or nothing.; Restaurant: Round up or 5–10% for good service; service is not usually added.; Taxi: Round up to the next euro.; Hotel porter: €1–2 a bag.; Guide on a free walking tour: €10–15 a person is the expected payment.
- Water
- Tap water is safe across the mainland; it tastes of chlorine in some coastal areas. Ask for 'agua del grifo' in restaurants — by law since 2025 they must offer it free (check local application).
- Toilets
- Few public toilets; use bars and cafés (buy a coffee). Stations and shopping centres have free or cheap toilets.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Taxi from TFS airport | €12–15 |
| Tenmás bus ticket | €1.50–2.00 |
| Coffee at a café | €1.50–2.50 |
| Tapas plate | €3–6 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- TFS · Tenerife South Airport
- Taxi €12–15; bus via TITSA (see below).
Typical fares
- Airport → El Médano, taxi
- about €12–15, 15 min (check)
- Bus Tenmás ticket
- ≈ €1.80 per ride, buy on board (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
The town is walkable; bus routes (040, 111, 343, 416, 417, 418, 420, 424, 447, 448, 450, 467, 471, 473, 477, 483) serve the area – buy a Tenmás ticket on board (price check).
See and do
Known for
- windsurfing and kitesurfing
- Red Mountain Natural Reserve
- Playa de la Tejita
- Playa Grande
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Playa de la Tejita | Walk 15 min east along the coast | ≈ 20 min |
| Red Mountain Natural Reserve | Bus 040 to Montaña Roja stop, 10 min walk | ≈ 30 min |
| Los Cristianos (southern Tenerife) | Bus 416, about 30 min | ≈ 45 min |
Sleep
- Casa Grande Surf Hostel
- 4‑bed dorm €21 per person, double €50; HI discount 10%.
- Hotel Medano
- Terrace, pool, restaurant; rooms €80–120.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Disculpedisˈkulpe |
| Thank you | Graciasˈɡɾasjas |
| How much is it? | ¿Cuánto cuesta?ˈkwanto ˈkwesta |
| Where is the bus stop? | ¿Dónde está la parada del bus?ˈdonde esˈta la paˈɾaða del ˈbus |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Two kisses on the cheek (right then left) between friends and when introduced socially; handshake in business; avoid: Being stiff — Spaniards stand close and touch arms
- Meal times: Late lunch and dinner; long sobremesa (chat after eating); avoid: Rushing to leave or asking for the bill with the last bite
- Noise: Join in the lively conversation; avoid: Reading loud voices as anger
- Siesta hours: Keep noise down in residential buildings 15:00–17:00 and after 23:00; avoid: Phone calls to people at lunch time
- Dress: Smart casual in cities; locals rarely wear shorts in Madrid in town; avoid: Swimwear or bare torsos away from the beach
- Regional pride: Ask about local dishes and festivals; avoid: Assuming Catalan or Basque are dialects of Spanish
Scams and watch-outs
- High‑rise development has weakened some wind spots – check current conditions before planning a session.
- Bus tickets are sold on board; keep small change for the Tenmás fare (price check).
- Summer heat can be intense; stay hydrated and use sunscreen.
El Médano is generally safe; watch for strong winds on the water and keep valuables secured on the beach.
One and two days
No timed day plan for El Médano yet. Suggested stay: 1–2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- windsurfing and kitesurfing
- Red Mountain Natural Reserve
- Playa de la Tejita
- Playa Grande
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Red Mountain Natural Reserve: www.webtenerife.co.uk/what-see/beaches/playa-montana-amarilla.htm
- Wikivoyage: El Médano, revision 5239498 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5239498
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/el-medano). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.