Playa San Juan in Tenerife, a charming place

Oh to be back in Tenerife and feeling very happy to start planning my “days out” to see some of the island. I could not imagine a whole 10 days sitting by the pool or staying in the hotel, this to me is too much. My decision was to visit Playa San Juan and see what this place had to offer!

I was staying in Fañabé, Costa Adeje, and decided to take the “guagua” (bus) to Playa San Juan. I had not travelled by bus before so it was a new experience for me. I must say, I was very impressed with the local bus services as they were regular, extremely clean and air-condition was provided to keep the passengers cool. Loved it.

This small town was recommended by by sister Maureen who had visited here before so I was intrigued to see if it lived up to her word. Well, we arrived and the coastline was simply stunning.

The sea was beautiful with the stunning shades of blue, turquoise and green colours blended together across the water. The white crashing waves against the rocks kept me transfixed for quite some time. It was fresh, wild but simply gorgeous. The rocks that were along the shore, were a good barrier to the waves crashing against them.

Picture perfect harbour

I always think there is something nice about harbours, especially on holiday. It gives a presence to the area and lots of character. Playa San Juan harbour was certainly a pretty place and a little sun trap. It was really hot on this particular morning and the fishermen were at work on their boats.

Playa San Juan harbour was not about fancy yachts or money, no this was more about industry, working and a homely feel. To me, it was the hub of the town where the main activity was happening.

Dark and golden sands

Looking across from the harbour, you will see the small beach directly opposite. It is sheltered from the winds and not very heavily occupied by sunbathers. The first part of the beach is black sands and pebbles but then it stretches up into golden sands with sun-loungers and canopies. Immediately I thought, ‘what a hidden little gem of a place’ ideal for privacy or a quiet beach getaway.

It is very different from the main beaches in Playa Las Americas, Los Cristianos and Costa Adeje. This beach was really small but personal which was nice as it had some character about it and very relaxing. There were not many tourists here so it was a good opportunity to take it all in and see what the place was really like. It felt hotter here than back in Costa Adeje but maybe this was just my opinion.

I liked the well planned beach with the hut style showers which are perfect to keep you cool or dust the sand off you. The sun-loungers can be hired or you can sit at the beach bar in the comfy chairs and take a cocktail to look out to the harbour and enjoy the views.  It was very nice, simple and unspoilt.

A pretty little walkway

I was quite impressed to see such a pretty little walkway, steered with red blossom trees which were used to shade people from the radiant sunshine. Here you could soak up the views and sit for a while to see what was happening on the beach.

At the start of the walkway, I was happy to find a tourist information place so I called in to see what was available. Sylvia was really helpful and spoke excellent English so it is good to know that Guía de Isora makes tourists very welcome to this up and coming little town. In fact, it is becoming the main attraction for people wanting to rent property and it is certainly expanding rapidly. I got a really positive feeling about Playa San Juan.

At the end of the walkway, I noticed above the cliff, a sculpture of the tail of the whale (Alcaravan) which was created by artist Roberto Marinon. Just below the sculpture and on the beach, I noticed a cone shape stone building (Horno de Cal). The history behind the Horno de Cal is that the lime Kiln dates back to the mid-nineteenth century where it was used for producing lime. The lime was then transported around the island for the use of building materials. It has recently been restored due to the erosion of the stone from the sea but it is not in use anymore.

Market days I believe are on Wednesdays so it might be worth timing your visit and there is plenty of parking facilities available. You could jump on the “guagua” which will drop you off right next to the beach front.

The old church has been demolished with a new church replacing it.  If you are travelling with small children, next to the beach is a small park which is ideal for the young ones to have a little fun.

There are a few restaurants and cafes in the town, mainly opposite the beach. My afternoon entailed a glass of wine in “Como Casa” in Avenida Emigrante No 3 (street) and it was perfect. You can take a seat outside or inside where it is cooler. The place is beautifully decorated and there is no pressure on you to eat. Perfect end to our few hours walking around.

I would highly recommend you to take the plunge and visit Playa San Juan on your next visit to Tenerife… if you are looking for a quiet little town to get a feel of typical Canarian life, this is ideal for you. Perfect for a few hours out from the poolside hotel.