El Medano City Guide

Spain

El Medano City Guide

Canary Islands

El Medano is a laid-back town on Tenerife's southeast coast. It's famous for windsurfing and kitesurfing, thanks to strong consistent winds. The town keeps a relaxed vibe with natural beaches and Canarian culture, ideal for outdoor lovers and those wanting calm.

Lifestyle🍽️

🍽️
Food Scene
Excellent
8

Offers traditional Canarian and international dishes. Fresh seafood is common. Vegan and vegetarian options are available. Late-night food spots near the square and promenade.

Local Dishes:
Fresh Fish, Seafood, Papas Arrugadas
International Cuisine:
Spanish, Mediterranean, Vegan
Vegan FriendlyVegetarian Friendly
🌙
Nightlife
Good
7

Nightlife centers on the main square and promenade with bars like Qué Pasa and Cafe Flashpoint. Manfred's Soul Cafe offers a relaxed vibe.

Coffee Culture
Excellent
8

Strong coffee culture with many cafes offering quality and specialty coffee. Try the local "barraquito" drink.

💰
Tipping
Not Required

Tipping is optional but appreciated. Usually rounding up or 5-10% in restaurants; small tips for taxis and services.

Top Attractions
Playa El Medano
beach
Main beach popular for windsurfing and relaxing.
Playa La Tejita
beach
Secluded beach with nudist-friendly area.
Playa de Leocadio Machado
beach
Popular for surfers and kiteboarders.
Montaña Roja Natural Reserve
park
Volcanic cone with hiking trails and views.
Montaña Pelada Natural Monument
park
Protected volcanic landscape.
El Medano Town Square
city
Central square with bars and restaurants.
Bohemian Market
market
Local market with crafts and food.
Teide National Park
park
Day trip to Spain's highest peak and volcanic landscapes.
Los Abrigos Natural Pools
nature
Natural swimming pools nearby.
Arco de Tajao
nature
Natural arch formation.
Castillo de San Miguel
culture
Medieval dinner show venue.
Siam Park
theme_park
Large water park in Costa Adeje.
Loro Parque
zoo
Zoo and animal park in Puerto de la Cruz.
SIM Cards

SIMs available at Tenerife South Airport and local shops. Providers include Movistar, Vodafone, Orange, Yoigo. ID required. eSIMs becoming common.

Available at:
Tenerife South Airport
Local mobile shops
Recommended Apps
ten+móvil (Vía-Móvil)(transport)
Tenerife Topo Maps(navigation)
Tenerife ON(travel)
Packpoint(travel)
Google Maps(navigation)
Moovit(transport)
TITSA App(transport)
Babbel / Google Translate(language)
Booking.com / Airbnb(accommodation)
Wikiloc(navigation)
Infoplayas(local info)
Skylinewebcams(local info)
Windguru(weather)

Services & Infrastructure

Street Cleanliness
Excellent
8

El Medano is clean with regular waste services.

24/7 Services
Limited
4

Few late-night services. Some pharmacies rotate 24/7 openings. Convenience stores rarely open all night.

Groceries
Dialprix

Supermarkets like Dialprix offer international products. Shops usually open 9-10am to 8-9pm, some close for siesta. Smaller shops often closed Sundays. Bargaining not common except some markets.

Cashless Payments
Cash preferred

Cards and contactless payments work well in bigger places. Smaller shops and markets prefer cash.

ATMs

ATMs are common in tourist spots and banks, with lower fees at bank ATMs. Currency is Euro (€).

Schools
International

El Medano has local schools teaching mainly in Spanish. International schools are in other Tenerife South towns, with English instruction.

Available Schools:
Colegio de Educación Infantil y Primaria El Médano
British School of Tenerife
Wingate School

Work & Digital💻

Coworking Spaces
Available
7
Available Spaces:
DeskHub Tenerife
Close to beach, with meeting rooms and good internet.
Chill Co-Working
Largest space in Tenerife South, affordable with kitchen and terrace.
The Treehouse Hostel
Co-working with modern interiors, outdoor tables, bar, and pool.
Amarilla Coliving
Fiber internet, 24/7 access, training rooms in Tenerife South.
24/7 Access
Work-Friendly Cafés
Excellent
Calima Cafe
Beachfront with great views.
Cafe Flashpoint
Surfer favorite, shifts to pub in the evening.
Migas el medano
Friendly staff, good coffee and food.
Bliss Café
Cozy with beach views.
Ubuntu Cafe
Quiet, vegan-friendly, good for reading.
Onda Café Tenerife
Popular café.
Swell Cafe Tenerife
Well-regarded coffee spot.
Café El Medano
Next to main square, beach views.
Alternatives:
Hotel Lobbies
Quiet spots with Wi-Fi in some hotels like Hotel Medano.
Digital Nomad Community
Good
6

Limited in El Medano but growing in Tenerife South. Co-living spaces and meetups mostly in Los Cristianos and Costa Adeje. El Medano cafes offer decent Wi-Fi and atmosphere.

Nature & Activities🌿

Green Spaces
Excellent
9

Natural reserves like Montaña Roja provide green space. Trails and shaded walks are common.

Running
Good
7

Running routes along the beach promenade and Montaña Roja trails. Generally safe and good air quality, except during occasional dust events (calima).

Gyms
Available

Gyms are available mostly in Tenerife South towns nearby but not many specific ones in El Medano.

Tennis
Poor
3

No specific tennis courts in El Medano, but available in nearby towns.

Padel
Poor
3

No specific padel courts found in El Medano, likely available in larger Tenerife South towns.

Yoga
Limited
4

No dedicated yoga studios in El Medano; some classes offered in co-living spaces nearby.

Martial Arts
Poor
3

No martial arts facilities in El Medano; options exist in larger towns.

Skiing
Poor
0

No skiing available in the Canary Islands.

Water Sports
Excellent
9

Kayaking, paddleboarding, sailing, and popular wind sports are widely available year-round.

Surfing
Excellent
9

Top spot for windsurfing and kitesurfing with consistent winds. Beaches have sandy bottoms, great for beginners and advanced surfers. Schools and rentals widely available.

Diving
Excellent
8

Dive centers near El Medano offer sites for all levels with good visibility and marine life year-round.

Health & Safety🏥

Healthcare
Good
7

Public healthcare is good; private clinics offer faster, English-speaking service. Pharmacies marked by green cross, some 24/7 on rotation. Emergency number is 112.

Hospitals:
Hospiten Sur (Los Cristianos)
Hospital Quirónsalud Costa Adeje
Pharmacies:
Farmacia Alvaro
Farmacia La Tejita
Tap Water Safety
Safe to drink

Tap water is generally safe to drink, but many prefer bottled water due to taste.

Common Scams
Persistent street vendors, Pickpocketing in crowded places, Tourist price inflation

Community & Family

Family Friendly
Excellent
8

Family-friendly beaches like Playa La Playita and hiking at Montaña Roja. Local markets and playgrounds add to kid-friendly activities.

LGBTQ+ Friendly
Good
7

The Canary Islands are generally LGBTQ+ friendly, especially in tourist areas. El Medano shares this inclusive attitude.

Pet Friendly
Good
6

Pet-friendly norms follow Spain/EU standards. Veterinary services available in Tenerife. No dedicated pet parks in El Medano.

Communities
Digital Nomads Tenerife (digital nomad)
Tenerife Expats (expats)
El Medano Community (local)
El Medano Windsurf & Kitesurf (sports)
Tenerife South Buy & Sell (market)

Quick Facts

Population
1,000
Power Reliability
Excellent
9/10

Power supply is steady and reliable.

Beach Access
Available

El Medano hosts Tenerife's largest natural beaches with fine golden sand and amenities. Playa El Medano is family-friendly.

Mountains
Available

Montaña Roja volcanic cone and Montaña Pelada monument are nearby. Teide National Park is a popular day trip.

Languages
Spanish(100%)
English(50%)
Italian(10%)
German(10%)
Emergency
112
General Emergency
092
Local Police
091
National Police

⚠️Natural Disasters Risk

🌊
Tsunami
Very Low Risk
2
🏔️
Earthquake
Low Risk
3

🌦️Seasonal Issues

Wind
All year
Strong trade winds ideal for windsurfing but can be intense for other activities.
Calima (Sahara dust)
Winter, Spring
Dust storms can reduce air quality and visibility occasionally.
Extreme heat
Summer
Summers are warm but mostly tempered by coastal breezes.

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