9 Best Things to Do in Costa Adeje

Take in the seaside vibes of this coastal town at one of its scenic beaches. Playa Fañabe is a great beach to head down to, overlooking the blue waters of the Atlantic and with a boardwalk as a bonus. This lets you enjoy scenic ocean-view walks (or bicycle rides) along the half-kilometre coastline, with plenty of shops, bars, restaurants and even full-service beach clubs along its length. The northern end of the beach easily connects you to Costa Adeje’s main downtown hubs, such as San Eugenio shopping centre.

The coastline of Costa Adeje is linked by a long boulevard, with each beach catering to a different crowd. Playa Del Duque is one of its most exclusive white-sand beaches, where the scene is somewhat upscale thanks to the grand shopping and lifestyle complex next to it. South is Playa Fañabe, which is especially good families. The Puerto Colon Marina has its own small beach where you can enjoy a host of water sports activities. Playa de Troya and the adjoining Playa de la Américas have grassy sections where you can enjoy the laidback seascape with a picnic.

Uniquely Thai-themed, this waterpark is one of the best places in Costa Adeje to take the family to. For relaxation, hop on an inflatable to float along the tropical garden-lined Mai Thai lazy river pool, or at the enormous Wave Palace with its artificial beach and waves. For adrenaline rushes, there’s the spiralling Kinnaree slide that ends with a big splash, and the ultimate Tower of Power where you drop down a slide from 28 metres high, reaching speeds of up to 80 km/h. 

Costa Adeje’s marina of Puerto Colon is dotted with the sails and masts of neatly docked luxury yachts and catamarans. It’s also where you’ll usually depart from for exciting whale and dolphin watching tours that Tenerife’s popular for. Some tour operators provide packages that include snorkelling and swimming with turtles. Most of the captains are master mariners who know how to reach and safely sail around the pods, and you can usually get amazingly close to one within the 2-hour ride (for around €35 per person).

This large, circular-shaped mall also serves as a junction for 4 main streets, and is easily accessible from beach it takes its name from. The mall offers an eclectic shopping experience, with stores including international designer fashion brands such as Porsche Design, Boss and Armani. They’re mostly high-end, but the real deal. It’s also a great spot to take cover from the heat of the day or when it rains in, with creperies and cafés, as well as restaurants serving Canarian delicacies. For an open-air experience try the San Eugenio shopping centre, around 10 minutes’ drive south.

Paragliding operators in Costa Adeje such as Tenerfly offer tours that let you fly tandem with a professional paragliding pilot. The steadily cruising flights also optionally include flyovers of the spectacular mountainous landscapes nearby. The flight down is usually the most exhilarating part, concluded with a cocktail at a beach bar nearby. Note that they will only fly when the wind and weather conditions are right, putting safety foremost. Flights usually take up to 25 minutes, costing around €90 per person.

Costa Adeje has plenty of beach clubs to choose from. Kaluna, north of the marina on the other side of Puerto Colon Beach, is one of the most luxurious. You can treat yourself to a private VIP area with sun loungers and Jacuzzis from around €600, inclusive of meals and drinks. Dip into the infinity pool and soak up the vibes during their regular infinity pool parties, with DJ sets and dancers. Lower-key but great beach clubs leaning more towards the seaside dining experience include Le Club Tenerife on Playa Fañabe and Papagayo Beach Club on Playa de la Américas.

As one of Tenerife’s favourites, Restaurante Sebastian in Costa Adeje serves Spanish cuisine with an emphasis on tapas. You’ll find a very varied selection, such as their wonderful Iberian ham croquettes, mixed chorizos and chistorra (traditional Basque fast-cured sausages). Warm tapas for seafood lovers include squid rings “a la Romana” and mussels in tomato marinara sauce. Average prices for tapas are €6 per serving. Their Spanish rioja house wines are great for pairing, all under €13. Despite its refined atmosphere, they also welcome families with a special kids’ menu available.