El Medano (Tenerife)

El Medano has gained popularity over the last twenty years due to its consistent 20 to 25 knot trade winds, its subtropical climate with warm dry summers and mild winters, and some of the best kept golden sand beaches along this stretch of the coastline. El Medano town is situated near the largest natural beaches of Tenerife, the Playa Grande and the Playa La Tejita. Between the beaches is La Montaña Roja (“The Red Mountain”), a volcanic cone that is a protected natural reserve.

It is located in the municipality of Abona on the south coast of Tenerife, 7kms away from Tenerife South Airport. It is some 20 to 30 kms from the larger tourist resorts of Los Cristianos and Playa de las Americas, and 60km south west of the island’s capital town of Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Tenerife North Airport. Both the north and south airports fly internationally to the major European cities.

El Medano is very much a town on the sea front that has turned itself into a resort. It is clean and well kept, laid back and casual, with restaurants and bars lining the sea front promenade and Plaza de Principe de Asturía, the main town square, that is also situated on the sea front. El Medano has quite a Spanish feel to it, and feels quite  ‘hippie’ and  bohemian in its ambience. Its continuously growing facilities make it ideal for partners and family members not engaged in water-sports, and is therefore so much more than a windsurfing and kitesurfing destination.

There are a number of windsurfing, kitesurfing & wing foiling spots around Tenerife, mostly suited to advanced wave riders, but El Medano is the only spot where there are a range of conditions to suit all levels, that also has the sandy beaches and full holiday infrastructure including supermarkets, banks, swimming pools, shops, cafés, restaurants and nightlife. It has grown massively over the last 30 years from little more than a fishing village with a couple of houses and two hotels.

El Medano is a year round destination with a very mild winter. The winter months have average air temperatures of 22-24 ° C during the day and 16-19 ° C during the night.  The water temperatures are around 18-20 ° C in winter, with the coolest water temperatures occurring in February and March, before climbing back to over 21 ° C with the approach of summer. In summer, the air temperature can rise to 30 ° C, and at night cool down to 19-21 ° C, with water temperatures around 23 ° C.  A long leg short arm wetsuit in winter, and a shorty wetsuit in summer is adequate for most. As for regular clothing, usually a sweater will suffice in the evenings, and board-shorts with a T-shirt and flip-flops during the day regardless of the season.

The Sailing around  El Medano

The windsurfing and kitesurfing at El Medano is focused on two bays, that of  South Bay, where the various wind and kite centres are located, and El Cabezo Bay to the north. The two bays are divided by a flat but rocky headland known as the Harbour Wall, which also provides excellent conditions of its own. All the sailing areas are accessible from the sandy launch area at South Bay.

The wind that blows most predominantly and that works so well with these sailing locations is the north-east trade wind which blows 90% of the time. El Medano also works well in the other less frequent wind directions to a greater or lesser degree depending on the exact sailing spot. Launching off the beach is possible in all tides.

The windspeed statistics below show the percentage of days with wind above 15 knots (force 4 Bft) and average sea and air temperatures at El Medano throughout the year:

Summary of the wind at El Medano:

• Cross-onshore 90% of the time (north-east).
• About 14 days of side-offshore wind a year.
• 35% of high winds over 22 knots (force 6 Bft).
• 37% of planing winds of 13 to 21 knots (force 4 to 5 Bft).
• 22% of non planing winds of 9 to 12 knots (force 3 Bft).
• 6% of winds under 8 knots (force 3 Bft).
• 1-2 days a year of “too much” wind!

Best Suited To

• Intermediate and advanced freeride.
• First time wave sailors.
• Intermediate and advanced wave sailors and slalom windsurfers.
• Professional level wave sailors.
• Great holiday destination for families, couples, friends
  and singles.

Hazards

• Shorebreak if its windy and there is a swell.
• Strong currents in the open ocean, an area that should be avoided.
• Rocks in various areas.

Pros

• 7kms from Tenerife South Airport.
• Suitable for entry level windsurfing and kitesurfing.
• Ideal for intermediate to advanced windsurfers and kitesurfers (side on-shore wind and ocean waves with shorebreak).
• World class wave  conditions for pros at El Cabezo Bay
• Blue water.
• Easy access launching with fine sand and plenty of room.
• Safety boats and observers.
• Launch areas are close to the hotels and a five minute walk from town.
• Year round wind.
• Year round warm temperatures.
• An abundance of accommodation from low budget to luxury.
• Plenty of amenities, cafes, restaurants and nightlife.
• Easy and plentiful gear hire.
• Lessons.
• Lots of alternative activities.
• No dangerous currents inside South Bay whatever the tide.
• Safe as long as you don’t leave the bay.

Cons

• Shorebreak in certain conditions.
• Have to go elsewhere for busy nightlife.