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About El Médano
El Médano has long been
popular with island residents, because of its natural sandy beaches and
year round sunny climate. It is between two mountains which form cliffs
into the sea. Both Montaña Pelada, ‘the bald mountain’, and ‘the red
mountain, Montaña Roja, are Nature Reserve areas and can be climbed
in less than half an hour giving extensive views.
Tejita Playa is beneath
the west side
of Montaña Roja . This beach is ideal for beach picnics
and now has a beach bar, loungers and palm-leaf covered roundels. Nearest to the
mountain is a secluded small naturist beach, and the sea here is fine for
snorkelling. This bay is used by windsurfers and kite boarders when the
wind is from the west.
Playa El Médano. This is
claimed to be the longest natural sandy beach in Tenerife. It stretches
from Plaza de El Médano, the town square, to foot of Montaña Roja
to the west. There are wide variety of restaurants and bars around the
square and along the boardwalk at the top of the beach. This whole area is
traffic free. By the square the beach is sheltered from the predominantly
easterly wind by the Hotel El Medano which extends out over the sea.
Towards Montaña Roja the bay is
very popular with wind surfers and kite boarders and there are shops for
their requirements.
To the east of El Meulle, the small harbour, is Playa El Cabezo, ‘The head’. Although
rocky it is the favoured area for experienced windsurfers and kite
boarders because the wind and wave conditions are often to their liking. A
refreshment bar provides the social focus.
Further along the coast the bay
area beside the Hotel Playa Atlantica is used by those learning the sport.
Beneath Montaña Pelada is the
sandy beach Ensenada de Pelada. It is an undeveloped beach where
beachwear is optional, ideal for sunbathing and swimming. Under the
unusual weather-sculptured cliffs is a good snorkelling area.
There are a good variety of
small shops in El Médano including small supermarkets, a pharmacy,
opticians, photographers, and of course many small boutiques, souvenir and
gift shops. In the town square is the Tourist Information Office and two
Banks and the taxi stand. The town has many good restaurants, including
Italian, Chinese and Japanese.
There is a good bus service
called Titsa . The local name for a bus is gua-gua, pronounced ‘gwa-gwa’
Find your gua-gua at El Meulle to go to Santa Cruz, Granadilla, Los
Cristianos and Las Americas.
The nearest Health Centre is at
San Isidro a large commercial centre about 4km away just the other side of
the Autopista, motorway, however a new health centre is being built at El
Médano.
There is a very good English
doctor in Los Cristianos.
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