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TenerifeTenerife · The south

Costa Adeje, Playa de las Américas and Los Cristianos: things to do in south Tenerife

Three names for one stretch of coast: Los Cristianos is a town with a harbour, Las Américas is the nightlife and surf zone, and Costa Adeje runs from apartment blocks to five-star hotels.

Airport
Tenerife South, 19 km: bus 40 (€3.20–3.70) or taxi (about €30)
Harbours
Puerto Colón (Costa Adeje) and Los Cristianos
Blue Flag
Las Vistas, El Duque and Torviscas
Whales
all year, trips of 1.5 to 4.5 h from about €25
La Gomera ferry
from Los Cristianos, about 50 min
Water park
Siam Park, with a free bus from all three

Updated 2 October 2026Facts checked against official sourcesContains affiliate links

Costa Adeje & Las Américas
ESP Tenerife, Adeje, Costa Adeje, Playa del Duque 0008 · Photo: -wuppertaler · CC BY 4.0

In October · Tenerife

Air20–27 °CSea °C24 °CRainy days2Hours of sun a day7 h Weather and what to do →

What to do in Costa Adeje, Playa de las Américas or Los Cristianos has a short answer: a quiet beach in the morning, a boat in the afternoon and, if you feel like it, a late night. The three run into each other and bus 467 links them for €1.45–1.50, so your hotel matters less than you'd think; what changes is the atmosphere.

Playa de las Américas isn't a town but a resort dating from the 1960s, mostly in the municipality of Arona, which merges with Costa Adeje with no visible border. That's why many "Las Américas attractions", such as Siam Park, Puerto Colón or Fañabé, are actually in Costa Adeje.

Our pick

1

Whales close to the harbour

Two hours from Los Cristianos with a swim stop at the end; the harbour is a few minutes from the pilot whale area.

2

Catamaran from Puerto Colón

A boat for up to 50 people with a drink included; the operator limits time with any one group of whales or dolphins to 15 minutes.

3

Kayaking and snorkelling

Paddling below the Guaza cliffs with gear and photos; turtles are possible, never certain.

4

Surfing in Las Américas

Where the island's surf schools are concentrated; small-group or private lesson.

Los Cristianos, Las Américas or Costa Adeje: which one suits you

Who it suits Beaches Watch out for
Los Cristianos families with small children, older travellers, wheelchair users, day trips to La Gomera Los Cristianos (inside the harbour) and Las Vistas the harbour car park fills up in high season
Playa de las Américas groups of friends, surfers, nightlife Las Vistas, El Camisón, Troya, El Bobo noise and safety at night around Las Verónicas
Costa Adeje couples on the El Duque–La Caleta stretch, families in Fañabé and Torviscas El Duque, Fañabé, Torviscas, La Pinta "Costa Adeje" on a booking may mean Playa Paraíso or Callao Salvaje, 10–12 km from Siam Park

Los Cristianos is the only one of the three with the life of a real town. It was a fishing and cargo port when, in the late 1950s, the first Swedes arrived with rheumatism or the after-effects of polio in search of the climate, which is why its main street is called Avenida de Suecia (Sweden Avenue). Today it's the best base if you need an accessible beach.

Costa Adeje isn't all luxury: the El Duque and La Caleta end has the five-star hotels, but Torviscas and Fañabé are classic family holiday territory and Troya is the oldest part. La Caleta still feels like a fishing village.

Beaches in Costa Adeje, Las Américas and Los Cristianos

The pale beaches of the south are made with imported sand and protected by breakwaters; that's why they are so calm.

  • Las Vistas (Arona): 850 m between breakwaters, Arona's only Blue Flag beach, and assisted bathing all year with two amphibious chairs and a hoist, no booking needed (times on the Arona website).
  • Playa de Los Cristianos: inside the harbour, the flattest water in the south for babies. It has lost its Blue Flag and its assisted bathing only runs in summer and at Easter.
  • El Camisón (Las Américas): 350 m of fine sand between breakwaters, with parking.
  • Troya and El Bobo: town beaches by the promenade; neither has parking.
  • El Duque (Costa Adeje): Blue Flag, changing rooms and over 100 parking spaces; it has ramps, but no amphibious chair.
  • Torviscas and Fañabé: sheltered, with assisted bathing all year; Torviscas keeps its Blue Flag and Fañabé no longer has one.
  • La Pinta (Puerto Colón): the most sheltered, with floating mats for children.

In Las Américas, the Francisco Andrade Fumero promenade is good for walking, running or cycling, and the Parque Central de Arona adds 42,000 m² of free gardens. The island's other beaches are in our Tenerife guide, and Adeje's on the council website.

What leaves from Puerto Colón and Los Cristianos harbour

Whales and dolphins

Pilot whales and bottlenose dolphins live off this coast all year, so there's no bad season. Puerto Colón has the island's biggest fleet (64 licensed boats, against 11 in Los Cristianos), but Los Cristianos is closer to the pilot whale area, which is why the short 90-minute trips work there.

  • Los Cristianos: Travelin' Lady (1 h 30, from €27.90 on its website, kiosk no. 2 in the excursions area) and Mar de Ons's "no-chase" catamaran (€25 online, no swim). To reach the boarding point, follow a blue line painted on the ground.
  • Puerto Colón: Freebird (2 h, €30 adult and €15 child, pontoon 10 or 15) and Royal Delfin (2 h, €33, pontoon 12). The latter is a catamaran with underwater windows, not a submarine. The 4.5 h trips go up to the Los Gigantes cliffs and Masca.

The pontoon depends on the boat: check your voucher. No operator guarantees sightings in writing, and swimming with whales and dolphins is illegal. We compare every trip in whale watching in Tenerife.

Jet ski in Playa de las Américas and Puerto Colón

Jet skis leave from Puerto Colón and, on circuits, also from the beaches of Troya, Fañabé, Torviscas, El Duque and Los Cristianos. The 20-minute circuit between buoys (€60 for a single jet ski, €54 online) and guided routes need no licence; going off on your own does. At 16 or 17 you can drive one, but the law requires written permission from a parent and a copy of their ID. Parasailing also leaves from Puerto Colón (€54–60 per person).

Ferries to La Gomera, La Palma and El Hierro

Two ferry lines sail from Los Cristianos harbour: Fred. Olsen Express (up to 5 sailings a day, from €39.74) and Baleària Canarias, formerly Naviera Armas (from €42). Both take about 50 minutes to San Sebastián de La Gomera and close boarding 20 minutes before departure for foot passengers and 40 with a car. The fares of about €10 you'll see advertised are for Canary residents; visitors pay the full fare. There are also boats from here to La Palma and El Hierro.

You can walk to the harbour from almost any hotel in Los Cristianos. An organised trip to La Gomera costs around €110 with lunch; the return ferry on your own, €80–84. More in La Gomera day trip and in our reviews of Fred. Olsen and Baleària Canarias.

Siam Park, Aqualand and other things to do with kids

Siam Park is in Costa Adeje, above the motorway, and its free bus picks up every morning on Calle Llanos de Troya (Las Américas), at CC Pasarela (Los Cristianos) and at CC The Duke Shops (Costa Adeje). The last one leaves between 13:00 and 13:50. Aqualand Costa Adeje and Jungle Park also have free buses from the same areas; their published timetables are out of date, so confirm them by phone. Prices, height limits and the Twin Ticket are in Siam Park and Loro Parque.

If it rains, which is rare here, bus 110 takes you to Santa Cruz in 55 minutes, where the island council's museums are free on Fridays and Saturdays from 16:00.

Las Américas at night: nightlife areas and staying safe

  • Las Verónicas: four seafront buildings on Avenida Rafael Puig Lluvina, full of bars and clubs. It only really gets going after 01:00.
  • Starco: a shopping centre about 200 m inland; it starts earlier and is home to Tramps, open until 06:00.
  • The Patch: towards Los Cristianos, quieter and with an older crowd.
  • Playa de Troya: Monkey Beach Club and Papagayo, restaurants and terraces on the beach that hold ticketed parties at night.

For dinner with a show: Music Hall Tavern (€49 adult, €39 child aged 4 to 12), the musical History at the Pirámide de Arona and Scandal, over-16s only.

Getting there from the airport and getting around

From Tenerife South (TFS), 19 km away:

  • Bus 40: Airport – Los Cristianos – Costa Adeje bus station, every 30 minutes from 07:00 to 21:40, about 40 minutes. It costs €3.20 to Los Cristianos and €3.70 to Costa Adeje; with the Ten+ card (€2, shareable) it drops to €2.80–2.90. It runs along the inland avenue: seafront hotels are a 500–900 m walk.
  • Bus 711, at night: leaves the airport for Los Cristianos and Costa Adeje nine times between 23:00 and 04:50.
  • The 111 doesn't go into the terminal: it stops at the motorway junction.
  • Taxi: there's no fixed fare; on the interurban meter it comes to about €30 by day and a little more at night and on Sundays. Taxis take four people, children included.

From Tenerife North (TFN), about 83 km away: the 343 goes direct to Costa Adeje (€12.40), but only four times a day; if the times don't suit, take the 20 to Santa Cruz and the 110 from there.

Getting around: the 467 runs along the coast from Los Cristianos to La Caleta (€1.45–1.50); the 477 reaches Los Gigantes in 50 minutes (€4.20); the 342 goes up to Mount Teide just once a day, at 09:25 from Costa Adeje bus station and 09:40 from Los Cristianos. Get on at the bus station to be sure of a seat.

N ↑ Los Cristianos1Playa de las Américas2Costa Adeje3Puerto Colón4Siam Park5Aqualand Costa Adeje6Tenerife Sur (TFS)7Los Gigantes8
  1. 1Los CristianosportDirections ↗
  2. 2Playa de las AméricastownDirections ↗
  3. 3Costa AdejetownDirections ↗
  4. 4Puerto ColónportDirections ↗
  5. 5Siam ParkparkDirections ↗
  6. 6Aqualand Costa AdejeparkDirections ↗
  7. 7Tenerife Sur (TFS)airportDirections ↗
  8. 8Los GigantesportDirections ↗
Outlines: © OpenStreetMap contributors

See all options on GetYourGuide →Prices checked on 2 October 2026

Tips for south Tenerife

  • The sea is warmest in September and October (about 23–24 °C) and coolest in February and March.
  • Las Américas has good waves from October to March, but they break over rock: ask the surf school for reef boots.
  • More ideas across the islands in Canary Islands activities.
What is there to do in Costa Adeje with kids?

Siam Park or Aqualand with a free bus, the sheltered beaches of Torviscas, Fañabé and La Pinta, and a short whale-watching trip. Under 1.10 m, Siam Park is limited to the children's areas, the river and the wave pool.

What can you do in Costa Adeje for free?

The promenade to La Caleta, the beaches, the Parque Central de Arona and the Fañabé market on Avenida de Bruselas, held two days a week.

Los Cristianos or Playa de las Américas: where should I stay?

Los Cristianos if you want a real town, calm water and the ferry to La Gomera; Las Américas if you want nightlife and surf. They're side by side: you can walk from one to the other.

How much is it from Tenerife South airport to Costa Adeje?

On bus 40, €3.70 (€2.90 with the Ten+ card); by taxi, about €30 by day.

Do you need a licence for a jet ski in Playa de las Américas?

Not on circuits between buoys or on guided routes; you do to hire a jet ski and go off on your own.

Keep exploring

TenerifeTenerifefrom €28 TenerifeMount Teidefrom €56 TenerifeWhales in Tenerifefrom €27.81 TenerifeSiam Park & Loro Parquefrom €44 TenerifeAnaga & Mascafrom €24