Playa de la Arena Holidays

This resort’s a little way up the coast from Tenerife’s livelier towns, so peace and quiet’s definitely on the cards. Traditional restaurants and family-friendly hotels are in good supply, and the seafront promenade has a gentle buzz after dark. It’s got everything from tapas bars to familiar Irish bars, plus souvenir shops where you can stock up on beach gear.

The shoreline here’s smothered in the Canary Islands’ trademark black sand, and it’s one of the darkest volcanic sweeps on the west coast. A couple of rocky headlands keep the shallows calm, so the water’s ideal for paddling. A few smaller sunbathing spots pepper the coastline between here and Los Gigantes, but you won’t find a better beach nearby.

You don’t have to venture far for a glimpse of Tenerife’s natural beauty. Next-door, in Los Gigantes, you can see the sheer namesake cliffs from the village’s Blue Flag-accredited marina. Playa de la Arena itself lays on great Atlantic Ocean views. And when you turn inland, Spain’s highest peak – Mount Teide – rises up in the centre of the island.