Costa Adeje, Tenerife: Beaches, Parking and Day Trips by Car

Costa Adeje is the stretch of hotels, beaches and seafront promenades on the southwest coast of Tenerife. It runs from Playa de Troya, where it meets Playa de las Américas, to the old fishing village of La Caleta. This is the most upmarket resort area on the island: most of the five-star hotels are here, along with Siam Park, the Puerto Colón marina and a coastal walkway that links almost every beach.

You can spend a week here without a car, walking between the beach, the restaurants and the shopping malls. A car becomes useful the moment you want something else: the Barranco del Infierno hike above Adeje town, a quiet cove beyond La Caleta, or a day at Teide, Masca or Los Gigantes. This guide covers the beaches, where to park, and the best drives that start from Costa Adeje.

Getting to Costa Adeje by Car

Tenerife South Airport (TFS) is about 25 km away. Take the TF-1 highway west toward Los Cristianos and Adeje. Outside rush hour the drive takes around 20 minutes. The exits for Torviscas, Fañabé and La Caleta come one after another, so check which one your hotel uses before you set off. Our guide to driving from Tenerife South Airport to the resorts lists the route for each area.

From Tenerife North Airport (TFN), allow about 1 hour 15 minutes on the TF-5 and TF-1 highways around the east side of the island. If you would rather not drive straight after a flight, rental cars can also be delivered to your hotel in Costa Adeje, so you only start driving when you actually need the car.

Driving Times from Costa Adeje

The Beaches of Costa Adeje

Most beaches here are man-made and protected by breakwaters, so the water is calmer than on the open coast. The promenade runs behind all of them. From south to north:

Playa de Troya

On the border with Playa de las Américas, Troya is lively, with sunbeds, lifeguards in season and bars right behind the sand. It suits families who want everything within a few steps.

Playa de Torviscas

Torviscas lies next to the Puerto Colón marina, where most of the boat trips leave. It is a convenient base if you plan a whale-watching trip or a sunset cruise.

Playa de Fañabé

A long beach with rows of sunbeds and a wide choice of restaurants on the promenade. Street spaces along Avenida de Rafael Puig Lluvina, the main road behind the beaches, are usually gone by mid-morning.

Playa del Duque

The smartest beach in the resort, with light golden sand, striped beach huts and some of the most expensive hotels on the island behind it. The Plaza del Duque shopping mall next to the beach has an underground parking garage, which is the easiest option once the street spaces are full.

La Enramada and La Caleta

At the northern end, the big hotels give way to the low houses of La Caleta. The beach of La Enramada has darker sand and fewer people, and the village waterfront is lined with fish restaurants that are busiest at sunset.

Playa de Diego Hernández

Beyond La Caleta, this cove has no road to it. Park at the top end of La Caleta and follow the coastal path for 20 to 30 minutes over rough, uneven ground. There are no facilities, so bring water and shade. The beach is clothing-optional. It is one of the spots in our list of south Tenerife beaches you can only reach by car.

Parking in Costa Adeje

Parking is the main hassle of having a car here. Street spaces near the beaches are usually taken by mid-morning, and many hotels charge for their garage, so ask about parking when you book your room.

• Shopping mall garages are the most reliable option: Plaza del Duque next to Playa del Duque, and Siam Mall, with more than 1,000 spaces, next to Siam Park.
• Yellow lines mean no parking, and the local police do fine cars left on them or in bus stops.
• In La Caleta the streets are narrow and spaces are few. Leave the car on the main road above the village and walk down.
• Do not leave bags or phones visible in a parked car, especially at viewpoints and beach parking areas.

La Caleta and Adeje Old Town

La Caleta still feels like a village, even with large hotels right next to it. Come for lunch or dinner: the restaurants along the seafront serve the catch of the day, and the rocks at the end of the promenade are a popular place to watch the sunset.

Adeje town is a ten-minute drive uphill from the coast and has a different pace altogether. Calle Grande, the main street, climbs past the church of Santa Úrsula to the remains of the Casa Fuerte, a fortified house from the 16th century. The town is also the starting point of the Barranco del Infierno trail.

Hiking the Barranco del Infierno

The Barranco del Infierno (“Hell’s Ravine”) is the best-known hike in the south of the island. The path runs about 6.5 km there and back, from the top of Adeje town into a deep gorge, and ends at a waterfall. Most people need three to three and a half hours.

• Booking online in advance is compulsory. Only 20 people are let in every 30 minutes, so morning slots in high season sell out.
• At the time of writing, a ticket costs €16 for adults who do not live in the Canary Islands. A helmet is included and must be worn.
• Children under 5 are not allowed.
• The trail is open in the morning only and closes in rain or strong wind. Check the official website on the day.

The trail starts at the end of Calle de los Molinos. The streets around it are steep and narrow, and the few spaces fill early, so arrive well before your slot or park lower down in town and walk up.

Siam Park and Boat Trips

Siam Park sits next to the TF-1 at the southern end of Costa Adeje, a five-minute drive from most hotels. The park has its own paid parking lot. Our Siam Park guide covers tickets, rides and the best time to arrive.

Puerto Colón, between Torviscas and Playa de las Américas, is the busiest harbor in the south for boat trips. Whale and dolphin trips leave several times a day, and pilot whales live in the strait between Tenerife and La Gomera all year round. Our guide to whale and dolphin watching in Tenerife explains how to choose a boat.

Day Trips from Costa Adeje

Costa Adeje sits at the western end of the main southern highway, which makes it a good starting point for the west coast and the center of the island.

Los Gigantes

Half an hour away on the TF-1 and TF-47, the cliffs of Los Gigantes drop up to 600 m into the sea. Stop at the Mirador Archipenque on the way down to the town. There is more in our Los Gigantes guide.

Masca

The village of Masca hangs above a gorge in the Teno mountains. The TF-436 is narrow, with tight hairpins and buses coming the other way, so drive it early in the day. Our Masca guide covers both the drive and the hike.

Teide National Park

There are two ways up. The southern route climbs through Vilaflor on the TF-51 and TF-21. The western route goes via Guía de Isora and Chío on the TF-82 and TF-38, with wider and gentler bends. Going up one way and down the other shows you both. Read our guide to driving to Mount Teide before you go, especially the part about parking at the cable car.

La Gomera

Ferries to La Gomera leave from Los Cristianos, 15 minutes from Costa Adeje, and the crossing takes about an hour. If you want to take the car across, check that your rental agreement allows it and tell the rental company before you go.

For more ideas, see the 7 best day trips in Tenerife by rental car.

Tips for Driving in Costa Adeje

• Roundabouts are everywhere. Traffic already on the roundabout has priority, and you should move to the outer lane before your exit.
• Speed cameras are common on the TF-1 around Costa Adeje.
• The roads along the beachfront are slow in the evening. To cross the resort quickly, take the TF-1 for one or two exits.
• Fill up before heading into the mountains: there are few gas stations on the roads to Teide and Masca.