Tenerife's coastline was not made for conventional beaches. The island's volcanic origins produced a shoreline of black lava shelves, sea caves and crevices that the Atlantic has spent thousands of years shaping into pools of extraordinary clarity. Where the south offers resort beaches, often of imported sand, the north and west coasts offer something rarer: seawater swimming spots — charcos or piscinas naturales in Spanish — refreshed by every tide, with water so clear you can watch fish several metres below you.
The best of them range from the famous lava pools of El Caletón in Garachico, shaped by the same 1706 eruption that buried the town's old port, to quiet local favourites in La Guancha, Los Silos and Tacoronte, and calm, sheltered pools on the south and west coasts. Some have showers, steps and a promenade; others have nothing but a path, the rocks and the ocean. This guide covers the twelve we think are most worth your time — with honest notes on facilities, crowds and, above all, safety.
Before you swim anywhere on this list: natural pools are part of the open Atlantic. Waves can surge into sheltered pools without warning, particularly on the north coast between October and March. Check the official coastal forecast from AEMET before every visit, respect closure flags, and never turn your back on the sea. There's more in our safety section below.
Quick Decision Guide
Short on time? Match your priority to our pick, then scroll down for the full review.
Best Overall
Free lava pools beside a beautiful historic town, with steps, a promenade and cafés.
Best Local Favourite
Four natural pools protected by arms of lava, reached through banana plantations.
Best for Families
Large seawater pools with a children's pool and facilities on the north-east coast.
Best in the South-West
A calm, family-friendly pool with views of the Los Gigantes cliffs.
All 12 Pools at a Glance
| Pool | Area | Facilities | Swell Exposure | Crowds | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| El Caletón | Garachico (NW) | Good | Moderate | High in summer | Everyone |
| Charco del Viento | La Guancha (N) | Basic | Moderate | Medium | Local atmosphere |
| Charco de La Laja | San Juan de la Rambla (N) | Minimal | High | Medium | Photographers |
| Los Chochos & Charco de la Araña | Los Silos (NW) | Minimal | High | Low | Wild swimming |
| Piscinas de Bajamar | La Laguna (NE) | Very good | Low–moderate | Medium | Families |
| Punta del Hidalgo | La Laguna (NE) | Good | Moderate | Medium | Views & Anaga walks |
| Mesa del Mar | Tacoronte (N) | Good | Moderate | Low–medium | Relaxed swims |
| El Pris | Tacoronte (N) | Basic | Moderate | Low | Fishing-village charm |
| Isla Cangrejo | Santiago del Teide (W) | Basic | Low | Low–medium | Families in the south |
| La Jaquita | Alcalá (SW) | Basic | Low | Low | Sunset swims |
| Los Abrigos | Granadilla (S) | Restaurants nearby | Low–moderate | Low | Swim & seafood lunch |
| Punta Prieta & La Caleta | East coast | Minimal | Moderate | Very low | Off the beaten track |
All pools listed are free to use. Conditions change with the tide and swell: a pool rated "low" exposure can still be dangerous in a storm. Always check the day's forecast before you go.
North & North-West Coast: The Essential Pools
The north and north-west of Tenerife take the brunt of the Atlantic swell, which makes the pools here more dramatic — and more dependent on the day's conditions — than their southern counterparts. Garachico, La Guancha, San Juan de la Rambla and Los Silos are the anchors of this route, all linked by the scenic coast road.
I. El Caletón, Garachico
North-West Tenerife · The Benchmark Natural PoolsEl Caletón is the most celebrated natural pool complex in Tenerife and deserves its reputation. It's a series of interconnected lava pools — known locally by names such as Las Viejas, Los Niños and Los Chorros — spread along Garachico's waterfront. They were formed by the 1706 eruption of the Trevejo volcano, whose lava flows buried the town's port, then the most important on the island, and left behind this remarkable stretch of coast. Steps and platforms make getting in and out easy, and the calm, shallow Charco de los Niños is ideal for young children in settled weather.
The pools are free and open-air, so there are no fixed hours, but they can be closed off when the sea is rough — always respect the local signs. Garachico itself deserves a few hours: cobbled streets, the 16th-century Castillo de San Miguel right beside the pools, and plenty of cafés and seafood restaurants. Parking near the waterfront is limited and there are paid car parks, so arrive early, or take TITSA bus 363, which serves Garachico from Puerto de la Cruz.
II. Charco del Viento, La Guancha
North Tenerife · The Local FavouriteCharco del Viento — "the pool of the wind" — is the swimming spot local families from La Guancha actually use, which says everything about its quality. Reached by a narrow path through banana plantations in the Santa Catalina neighbourhood, it's a complex of four natural pools protected from the swell by long arms of lava, created, like El Caletón, by the 1706 eruption. The water is constantly refreshed by the Atlantic and exceptionally clear.
It's less polished than El Caletón, with only basic facilities, but that's part of its charm. Come on a weekday morning in spring or autumn and you may have much of it to yourself, and check the swell before you go, as the outer pools are exposed on rough days.
III. Charco de La Laja, San Juan de la Rambla
North Tenerife · The Most PhotogenicBetween Icod de los Vinos and Puerto de la Cruz, the small town of San Juan de la Rambla hides one of the most photographed pools on the island: a near-circular basin of intense turquoise water set in black basalt, filled by the tide. Start at the Mirador de La Laja for the classic view, then take the steps down to the water.
It's stunning on calm days, but it is also one of the more exposed pools on this list: when the swell is up, waves break straight over the rocks, and swimming is not safe. Treat it as a fair-weather stop, ideally combined with Charco del Viento a few minutes away.
IV. Los Chochos & Charco de la Araña, Los Silos
Far North-West · Wild and QuietThe coast around Los Silos is one of the least-visited stretches of the island, and its natural pools are among the most atmospheric. Los Chochos and the neighbouring Charco de la Araña sit on a wild lava shoreline, reached from the town along the road to the small harbour, with views of the Teno massif and the cliffs of La Culata. Further along the same coast, pools such as Charco Gabino continue the theme.
There are few facilities and the coast is exposed, so these are pools for settled days and confident swimmers. The payoff is quiet: outside summer weekends, you'll often share them only with locals.
North-west route tip: Start early at El Caletón in Garachico before it fills up, continue east to Charco del Viento and Charco de La Laja for a second swim, then head west to Los Silos for a late lunch and an afternoon at the quieter pools. Only a car makes this route realistic — compare car hire prices here.
North-East Coast: Bajamar, Punta del Hidalgo & Tacoronte
The north-east coast, below La Laguna and the Anaga mountains, has some of the best-equipped natural pools on the island, popular with local families and easy to reach from Santa Cruz, La Laguna and Tenerife North airport.
V. Piscinas de Bajamar
San Cristóbal de La Laguna · The Family FavouriteIf you're travelling with children, start here. The Piscinas de Bajamar are a complex of large seawater pools set into the coast and refilled by the Atlantic, with a separate children's pool, showers and a seafront promenade with cafés. They're the most comfortable and family-friendly natural pools on the island, and the backdrop of the Anaga mountains is spectacular.
Bajamar is around 20 minutes from La Laguna and is served by TITSA buses from Santa Cruz and La Laguna. Our Tenerife with kids guide has more family ideas nearby.
VI. Punta del Hidalgo
San Cristóbal de La Laguna · Pools at the Edge of AnagaA few minutes beyond Bajamar, Punta del Hidalgo's natural pool reaches out into the sea at the foot of the Anaga massif, with open Atlantic views and a lighthouse at the end of the road. It's one of the most characteristic swimming spots on the La Laguna coast and a natural finish after a hike in the Anaga Rural Park, whose trails start nearby.
VII. Mesa del Mar
Tacoronte · Pools, Beach and CliffsMesa del Mar is a small coastal settlement below Tacoronte, built on a flat lava platform — the "table" that gives it its name. It combines two main natural pools with a black-sand beach and dramatic cliffs, and on swell days it's memorable to float in the protected water while waves crash against the outer rocks. The access road drops steeply and parking is limited, so arrive before late morning.
VIII. El Pris
Tacoronte · A Fishing Village SwimJust along the coast from Mesa del Mar, El Pris is a small fishing neighbourhood with natural pools carved into the lava and a genuinely local feel. It's quieter than its neighbour and a good place to combine a swim with lunch in one of the simple seafood restaurants by the water.
South, West & East Coast Pools
The south of Tenerife is famous for its resort beaches, but the lava coastline between the resorts hides several calmer natural pools that most visitors staying in the south never find. They are generally more sheltered than the north coast pools, which makes them the better choice in winter.
IX. Isla Cangrejo, Santiago del Teide
West Tenerife · Calm Swimming Under the CliffsTucked into the Isla Cangrejo residential area on the coast of Santiago del Teide, this natural pool offers calm, family-friendly swimming with spectacular views of the Los Gigantes cliffs. It's a short drive from Los Gigantes and Puerto de Santiago, and a relaxing stop before or after a boat trip along the cliffs.
X. La Jaquita, Alcalá
South-West Tenerife · Sunset SwimsOn the coast of Alcalá, in Guía de Isora, La Jaquita is a group of volcanic natural pools facing La Gomera, ideal for a late-afternoon swim when the light turns golden. Alcalá is a small fishing village with a handful of good seafood restaurants, and it's also home to Gran Meliá Palacio de Isora, one of the south's best resorts.
XI. Los Abrigos
Granadilla de Abona · Swim, Then SeafoodLos Abrigos is a small fishing village on the south coast near Costa del Silencio, around 10 minutes from Tenerife South airport, known for its harbourside fish restaurants. Its natural pools are among the most popular on this stretch of coast, and the combination of a morning swim and a seafood lunch is hard to beat — a useful final stop on the way to the airport.
XII. Punta Prieta & La Caleta, East Coast
East Tenerife · Off the Beaten TrackOn the rarely visited east coast, the tiny villages of Punta Prieta and La Caleta stretch their houses along the shoreline and hide natural pools of their own, quite different in character from the big north coast complexes. They're a peaceful detour when combined with a visit to the Pirámides de Güímar nearby.
Worth knowing: Lago Martiánez in Puerto de la Cruz, designed by César Manrique, is often listed with natural pools, but it's a paid seawater lido rather than a natural pool — excellent on rough days when the natural pools are closed. For adventurous hikers, the remote coast at Roque Bermejo, at the tip of the Anaga peninsula, is reached on foot from Chamorga; it's a full-day outing and only suitable in calm conditions.
When to Visit
April to June is the sweet spot: the sea has warmed from its winter low (around 19°C in January to 21–22°C by May), the Atlantic swell is easing into its calmer summer pattern, and the pools haven't yet filled with July and August crowds. September and October are nearly as good and bring the warmest water of the year, often 23–24°C.
July and August have the calmest conditions but the biggest crowds — El Caletón in particular can be packed on summer weekends — so arrive before 10am. Between November and March, the north and west coast pools can be spectacular to watch in heavy swell but are frequently unsafe or closed for swimming, while the south and east coast pools usually remain swimmable.
Getting There: Why a Car Makes All the Difference
Tenerife's natural pools are spread along more than 100 kilometres of coast, and public transport only serves a few of them well. TITSA buses reach Garachico (line 363 from Puerto de la Cruz) and the Bajamar and Punta del Hidalgo pools from Santa Cruz and La Laguna, but the rest are only practical by car. With a hire car, you can combine three or four pools in a single day, stop at viewpoints like the Mirador de La Laja, and adapt your plans to the swell — if the north coast is rough, drive south to the calmer pools.
Book your car before you travel: in summer and school holidays, availability at both Tenerife airports runs short and walk-up prices are much higher. The north motorway (TF-5) and south motorway (TF-1) connect all the main pool areas, and the coast road from Garachico to Los Silos is slower but one of the most scenic drives on the island.
What to Bring
- Water shoes — lava rock is sharp and slippery, and sea urchins are common.
- Reef-safe sunscreen, a hat and plenty of water, as there are no vendors at most pools.
- A snorkelling mask — the clear water is made for it.
- A towel and a light layer for the wind, especially on the north coast.
- Some cash for parking and small cafés.
- A charged phone with offline maps and the AEMET app or website for coastal forecasts.
- A small first-aid kit for cuts and scrapes on the rocks.
Ocean Safety: The Non-Negotiables
Natural pools feel protected, but they are part of the open ocean, and accidents happen every year when unexpected waves surge over the rocks. A few simple rules make all the difference:
- Check the forecast. Look at AEMET's coastal forecast before every visit, and treat any yellow or orange coastal warning as a reason to stay out of the water.
- Watch before you swim. Spend 10–15 minutes watching the pool from a safe spot to see how the bigger sets of waves behave.
- Respect closures. Red flags, tape and signs are there for a reason — some pools are closed off on rough days.
- Never turn your back on the sea. If a wave washes unexpectedly high, get out of the water and away from the edge immediately.
- Don't swim alone at remote pools with no lifeguards, and keep a close eye on children at all times.
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Our Honest Verdict
If you only have time for one pool, make it El Caletón in Garachico. For a more local experience, Charco del Viento is the favourite; for families, nothing beats the Piscinas de Bajamar; and if you're staying in the south, Isla Cangrejo and Los Abrigos are the easiest swims. Whatever you choose, check the swell first — the Atlantic decides whether a pool is a paradise or off limits that day.
For the rest of the coast, see our best beaches in Tenerife guide, and for where to stay near the north coast pools, our best hotels in Tenerife North guide. Our Tenerife island guide and hidden gems of Tenerife guide will help you plan the rest of your trip.