El Médano

About This Spot

El Médano is Tenerife's premier kite spot and one of Europe's most wind-reliable, driven by the NE 'Alisios' trade winds that accelerate between Tenerife and Gran Canaria and around Mount Teide. Expect ~250+ windy days/year. Prime season is May–September with the most constant 18–30kt; July–August are most bulletproof. Spring (Apr) and autumn (Oct) still deliver good wind with fewer crowds. Winter is hit-or-miss: glorious trade-wind weeks alternate with windless spells, though air stays 20–26C and water ~19–24C (a shorty/3.2 suffices most of the year). Forecast tip: in NE flow, add ~5–10kt to Windguru due to terrain acceleration. Wind is cross-/side-onshore (NE) ~90% of the time, making the main beach (Playa El Médano / Playa Sur, Leocadio Machado) a safe, sandy, easy-launch spot good for all levels — onshore wind blows you back to shore. Water is choppy bump-and-jump, building to real waves at high tide. Two other zones: Cabezo (just east, a world-class PWA wave spot) is for experienced riders only — small high-tide beach and sharp rock/reef. Around Montaña Roja to the SW, La Tejita goes flat and offshore when El Médano is onshore, useful for freestyle/flat-water days — but offshore there means use a school/boat and don't go solo. Hazards: rocks/reef exposed and hard to see at high tide (beach shrinks, kite traffic increases); strong open-ocean currents offshore — stay inside the bay; summer brings swim zones and signed kite-launch areas you must respect; Levante (E/SE) days can be gusty and offshore-ish at some launches. The town beach itself can be crowded with swimmers and schools, so launch from the designated kite zone. Free seasonal rescue (boat + jet ski) operates via Granadilla de Abona. Plenty of kite schools, rentals and accommodation make it ideal for a travel trip at any level.