Bahía de El Médano Anchorage Guide
Also known as: El Médano, Tenerife south anchorage
El Médano is Tenerife's windsurfing capital — a small town on the SE coast that catches the consistent NE trade wind and has hosted multiple World Windsurfing Championships. For sailors it offers a clean sand anchorage near the airport (Tenerife South Airport is 1nm away — useful for crew changes) with excellent holding and straightforward approach. The anchorage is not sheltered from E swell but the trade wind conditions make it comfortable most of the year. The beach town has a bohemian atmosphere compared to the resort strip nearby.
Quick Reference
GPS Coordinates
28°02.7'N 016°32.2'W
Depth
3–8m
Bottom
sand
Holding
Excellent HoldingProtected From
N, NW, W, SW
Exposed To
E, SE, S
Best Months
March, April, May, September, October, November
Anchoring Fee
Free
Mooring Buoys
None
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
85m on excellent volcanic sand. Excellent holding — alarm monitors SE swell wrapping around the point.
Set this in Safety Anchor Alarm — FreeThe Anchorage
Anchor in 3–7m on clean volcanic sand SE of the El Médano breakwater and beach. This is one of the cleanest sand anchorages in Tenerife — excellent holding throughout, no Posidonia. The anchorage is used by the windsurfing and kitesurfing fleet — wind conditions are guaranteed, but this means the anchorage can rock in the N trade wind swell that wraps around Punta del Médano.
Setting Your Anchor
The bottom at Bahía de El Médano is primarily sand with reliable holding when properly set.
- Approach slowly — at 3–8m, deploy minimum 7:1 scope (56m chain at 8m depth).
- Drop into the wind or current and pay out chain steadily.
- Set firmly in reverse — 30–60 seconds moderate throttle astern.
- Take a GPS bearing — note position once set and confirm adequate chain.
Recommended anchor types: SPADE, Rocna, CQR.
Overnight Anchoring & Anchor Alarm
Overnight stays at Bahía de El Médano are feasible but require monitoring — exposed to E and SE and S winds and swell.
Set your GPS anchor alarm to 85m radius before going below. 85m on excellent volcanic sand. Excellent holding — alarm monitors SE swell wrapping around the point.
Year-round. Trade winds strongest June–August. October–February: N Atlantic swell episodes possible.
Navigation Hazards
- Airport approach path directly overhead (Tenerife South) — noise
- Trade wind chop from NE wraps around the point
- Windsurfing zone exclusion limits anchoring area
Rules & Regulations
- Anchoring fee: Free
- Key restrictions: Windsurfing/kitesurfing exclusion zone along the beach — stay outside marked area. Speed limit 3 kt within 200m of beach.
Facilities
- Fresh water: Not available on site
- Fuel: Not available — nearest: El Médano town (0.5nm)
- Restaurant: Good selection of restaurants and bars in El Médano town — 500m walk from beach landing.
- Provisions: Available
Skipper's Tips
- Useful stop near Tenerife South Airport for crew changes — taxi to airport is 5 minutes.
- The Friday morning market in El Médano village is excellent for fresh produce.
A note on this guide: Data researched from multiple sailing sources and provided in good faith. Always check current weather, AEMET forecasts, and VHF weather bulletins before visiting. Use a GPS anchor alarm and never rely solely on a guide for navigational decisions.
Sleep peacefully at Bahía de El Médano
Safety Anchor Alarm monitors your GPS position continuously — essential in the Canaries where trade wind chop can make a comfortable anchorage suddenly uncomfortable.
Download Free for iOS