El Bollullo
Best for. Surfers, bodyboarders and scenery lovers who want a wild black sand cove with real character a short walk from town.
Best spot. The black sand below the cliffs for the view and the swell, with the little beach bar above for a barraquito and a watch of the sets.
Know this. This is an exposed north coast beach with shore break and current and little lifeguard cover. Surf only if you are experienced, swim only on calm days, and wear proper shoes for the walk in.
El Bollullo is the north coast escape that locals near Puerto de la Cruz keep coming back to. It hides below the cliffs east of town near La Orotava, a black volcanic sand cove framed by ochre rock walls with banana terraces stepping down above it. There is no road to the sand, only a walk in, and that small effort is exactly why it stays wilder and quieter than the resort beaches.
For the active traveller the draw is the swell. This stretch of coast faces the open Atlantic and El Bollullo is a known surf and bodyboard spot when the north fills in, with a punchy beach break that rewards riders who can read it. It is not a beginner wave, and the rocks and current are real, so it suits experienced surfers and on the bigger days it is a watch from the sand rather than a paddle out. If you read forecasts the way some people read the news, this is one of the north coast spots worth tracking.
The swimming follows the same honest logic as the rest of the exposed north. On a calm, small day the cove is a fine dip for a confident swimmer, but when the surf is up the shore break and the pull of the water are not to be underestimated, and there is little or no lifeguard. The default mindset here is respect, not relaxation, and the smartest move is to check the swell and tide before you commit to the walk down, swimming early and only when the sea allows.
What makes the effort worth it, beyond the wave, is the setting and the small pleasures. There is a simple beach bar above the cove that typically serves drinks and food, and a barraquito coffee looking out over the black sand and the breaking sets is one of the better north coast moments going. Bring water, sun cover and proper shoes for the path through the plantations, treat the day as a small adventure, and stay for the late light when the cliffs warm and the crowds thin.
Who should skip it. Families wanting safe shallow swimming and full facilities, and anyone unsteady on a walk down a track, will be happier on the tamed sand of Playa Jardin or the sheltered south. But if you want a wild, scenic, honest north coast beach with real surf and real character, El Bollullo is one of the best near Puerto de la Cruz.
Clubs on this beach
El Bollullo is a wild cove with a single beach bar rather than a daybed club on the sand, so for loungers, pools and table service we route you to the beach clubs of southern Tenerife.
No beach club on this beach
This is a wild north coast cove with a simple beach bar above the sand rather than a club with daybeds and table service, and the walk in keeps it that way. For a club style day with loungers, pools and food brought to your sunbed, the scene gathers on the south coast around Las Americas and Costa Adeje, and we list every option in the Tenerife beach clubs directory.
La Orotava, north coast
El Bollullo sits east of Puerto de la Cruz below the cliffs near La Orotava. The usual way in is from El Rincon, where you park and walk down a track and path through the banana plantations, and there is a longer coastal walk from the Puerto de la Cruz side for those who want it.
Facilities are minimal beyond the beach bar above the cove, so bring water and sun cover, and wear proper shoes for the descent. Confirm the bar hours locally, as they vary with the season and the weather.
Read the swell and tide before you go, the way a surfer would. A calm day is a fine black sand swim and a great walk, while a big north swell is for watching the sets with a coffee rather than getting in.
Photo: Anna Walldorf via GoogleBook a beach club
Tell us your dates and party size and we will help arrange a daybed or table at a beach club on the south coast, where the island club scene lives. We reply by email.
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Common questions about El Bollullo
Can you swim at El Bollullo?
With care, and not on every day. El Bollullo is a wild north coast beach open to the Atlantic swell, so the water is often lively with shore break and current and there is little or no lifeguard cover. On a calm small day a confident swimmer can enjoy it, but when the surf is up it is for experienced water users only. Read the conditions before you go in and treat it as a wild beach rather than a safe pool.
Is El Bollullo good for surfing?
Yes, it is a well known north coast spot that picks up swell, and surfers and bodyboarders come for it when the conditions line up. It is a powerful beach break on an exposed coast rather than a gentle learner wave, with rocks and current to respect, so it suits riders who can read the ocean. On big days the safest move is to watch rather than paddle out.
How do you get to El Bollullo?
There is no road to the sand. The usual approach is from El Rincon near La Orotava, where you park and walk down a track and path through the banana plantations to the cove, and there is also a longer coastal walk from the Puerto de la Cruz side. Wear proper shoes for the descent and allow time, as the walk in is part of the experience.
Is there a beach bar at El Bollullo?
Yes, there is a simple beach bar above the cove that typically serves drinks and food and is a fine spot for a barraquito coffee with the view. Beyond that the facilities are minimal, so bring water and sun cover, and confirm opening hours locally as they can vary with the season and the weather.
Why is El Bollullo worth visiting?
For raw north coast beauty close to town. The black volcanic sand, the ochre cliffs and the banana terraces above make it one of the most scenic beaches near Puerto de la Cruz, and the short walk in keeps the crowds lighter than the resort sand. It is the wild alternative to the tamed beaches, with real character and a great sunset.
