Playa de San Juan

Overview

Between banana plantations and flower farms lies Playa de San Juan, a little fishing village with a pretty plaza and a great beach promenade.

The black sand and palm trees make the small beach typical of Tenerife. A children's playground and three restaurants make it family friendly too. The view of the boats in the bay and the marina is a special treat, giving Playa de San Juan a unique feel compared to many of the tourist beaches.

Playa de San Juan is situated between Playa de las Américas and Los Gigantes. There are some apartments and small hotels in the area but they have not given an urban feel to the traditional town. Souvenir shops, a long promenade along the Atlantic coast and the quiet city centre round up San de San Juan. 

History

Formerly, San Juan was a small fishing village. Fishermen came here as this coastline offers a better variety of fish than others of the island. The beautiful beach of San Juan has attracted the tourists, making San Juan a widely known tourist spot.

Economy

Tourism has replaced the local fishery. Hotels and restaurants profit from the growing tourism business established in Playa de San Juan.

How to get there

By bus:
TITSA Bus number 473 Los Cristianos - Los Gigantes
TITSA Bus number 493 Guía de Isora - Los Gigantes

Don’t forget to grab the latest timetable from one of the major bus stations.

By car:
Easiest access is from the South, take TF-1 and connect to TF-47.

Sights

Playa de San Juan has a plaza and a small church. These sights are just several meters away from the beach. Just like anywhere in Spain, the Plaza is the center of life where young and old meet to eat out at restaurants or just to catch up.

The port is worth seeing as well. Here you can watch the fishermen work on their boats and observe the traditional way they fish.

Activities

Two diving schools are located in San de San Juan. The beauty of the Atlantic Ocean is still untouched and Guidos Bubble Club offers a number of very special experiences, such as night diving. Lava reefs with steep walls and caves are the home of seahorses, nudibranchs and cuttlefish. Island tours and whale watching are also available and affordable. Golfers can spend an enjoyable holiday as well; the 18-hole Golf Course Abama is not far from the village.

Beaches

The beach is protected by a breakwater, so the swimming area is calm and peaceful. The fine sand, shower facility, a children's playground and restaurants make up the perfect setting for family beach days. The promenade is a lovely place to walk as it has recently been redesigned and decorated with flowers. The beautiful view of the island of La Gomera can be seen from the beach.

Restaurants

Restaurants in Playa de San Juan are supplied daily with fresh fish, making it the dish of choice for most who eat here. Traditional tapas and wine are also popular. At the harbor the food is a little more expensive due to its prime position. There is also a German restaurant at the Plaza. Here the prices are low but the ambience is just as nice as the one at the beach.

Nightlife

Night life takes place on the Plaza. People meet here for wine and tapas.

Shopping

You will find some small souvenir and bazaar shops around Playa de San Juan.