Hostels in El Médano, Spain

El Medano is a beach town near Granadilla de Abona, on the main island of Tenerife in the Canary Islands. The Canary Islands belong to Spain; they are off the northwest coast of Africa. Tenerife is the most populated of the island group and has a lot of resorts that cater to the English tourist. However, El Medano is a vibrant small town with a very laid-back feel and few posh shops or upscale restaurants. If you’re a surfer or a nudist, this is the place to go. To get here, you can fly to the main Tenerife Airport, Reina Sofia and catch a local bus down. It’s only a few minutes away! El Medano has three main beaches, each with a distinctive feel. Surfers tend to congregate at Playa Machado, on teh boardwalk, while kite surfers head around the headland to Playa El Cabezo. Nude sunbathing, one of the most popular activities in El Medano, takes place at Playa Tejita and Playa de La Pelada (much harder to access, so its definitely more private). There are several hostels in El Medano. Most are situated a few blocks from the beach, but El Medano is central enough that walking isn’t a problem. Some of the hostels offer Spanish lessons as well as surfboard and kite surfing lessons or hires. El Medano is famous for its kite-surfing, so definitely take your hostel up on the chance to learn or hone your skills. Town is much more relaxed than the nearby towns of Playa de Las Américas and Los Cristianos but no less full of fun things to do. The boardwalk is the place to go for tapas, wine, and local Canarian food. After the sun sets, join the local surfers at one of the many bars along the beach to watch the fireworks, sip sangria, and enjoy the atmosphere.