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San Marcos district · Icod de los Vinos, Tenerife

Playa de San Marcos

Everything you need to know before you go: Getting there, parking, prices, best time.

Last checked: September 2026

Common questions, answered

Does it cost anything?No, €0Free beach. Car parks by the sand are free, per OpenStreetMap.
How do I get there?Bus 362, 10 minHourly from Icod bus station, or by car down the TF-414.Where do I park?By the beachFree car park 100 m away, under 50 spaces. Full early in summer.When is it best?Summer, low tideLittle sand left, gone at high tide. Swim with lifeguards on duty.
The San Marcos cove with its harbour and promenade in 2019, when there was more sand
Photo: El Grafo, License: CC BY-SA 4.0

A small cove below high cliffs in the fishing quarter of Icod de los Vinos, with a Blue Flag for 2026. But the beach has lost most of its sand: in 2026 residents described it as mostly stones, with broken accesses and showers. Photos on tourism sites are years old.

Straight talk

What to know before you go.

  • More stones than sand. The beach has lost sand for years; the harbour walls are blamed. In May 2026 residents called it impractical for swimming, and the sand that is left goes under at high tide.
  • Broken infrastructure. In April 2026 an access next to the showers collapsed, stairs were closed, the wooden walkways were gone and the showers did not work.
  • A Blue Flag anyway. The flag rates water quality and services. It says nothing about the missing sand.
  • No fix in sight. The restoration is stuck in approvals, and a plan to refill the beach with volcanic ash from La Palma by summer 2026 did not happen.
  • Small car park. Fewer than 50 spaces. In summer they are gone early.
  • A sewage spill in 2025. In May 2025 the beach was closed for two days after the sewage plant failed. No closure since.

Getting there

San Marcos is the coastal district of Icod de los Vinos, about 190 m below the old town and 1.3 km from the Drago.

By car

From Puerto de la Cruz
~30 min
From the Drago
~5 min
From Costa Adeje
~1 h
  1. 01Take the TF-5 and TF-42 to Icod de los Vinos. From the south come over the hills via Santiago del Teide and El Tanque.
  2. 02In Icod follow the signs for Playa San Marcos. The TF-414 (Paseo Las Américas) winds down to the coast.
  3. 03Park in the car park on Paseo Las Américas just before the beach.
  4. 04Walk about 100 m to the sand.

In summer the few spaces fill early. A local guide suggests arriving before 9:30 or in the afternoon.

Route to the car park

Other

  • Bus 362 from Icod

    About once an hour and only 10 minutes down to the stop next to the sand. At weekends there is a two-hour gap around midday, so check the return trip. The last bus back leaves at 20:35.

  • Getting to Icod

    Direct lines end at Icod bus station: 363 from Puerto de la Cruz, 108 from Santa Cruz, 460 from Costa Adeje. From Costa Adeje they run only about every two hours.

  • On foot from Icod

    About 1 km as the crow flies, but around 190 m of height difference: easy going down, a tiring climb back up.

Check before you go

When big waves are expected, the Canary Islands government declares a coastal alert (fenómenos costeros). Stay out of the water then, even in this sheltered cove. The emergency service's page shows whether an alert is in force today.

Parking & arriving

Paseo Las Américas
Under 50 spaces · 0 €
100 m from the beach. The town publishes no parking rules; the details come from OpenStreetMap.
Second car park
0 €
Another car park about 160 m away, plus some roadside spaces along the promenade.
On the harbour wall
Older photos show cars on the harbour wall. In May 2026 access there was not open to the public.

On site

A small cove of black sand and stones below high cliffs, with the fishing harbour on one side and bars along the Avenida Marítima. Getting into the water means crossing stones.

Time there
~1–2 h
Walk from car park
~100 m from the Paseo Las Américas car park
Toilets
Free toilet by the beach
Food & drink
Bars and restaurants on the Avenida Marítima; the town-owned premises on the promenade were closed in April 2026
Wheelchair
Amphibious chair on request from the lifeguards; several accesses damaged in 2026

When is it worth it?

The beach is always open. Tap a time of day.

00–10Early morning

No lifeguards yet, but parking is easier.

10–19Lifeguard hours★ Recommended

Swim while the lifeguards are on duty. At low tide there is more room on the little sand left.

19–21Evening

Restaurants on the Avenida Marítima. The last bus back to Icod leaves at 20:35.

21–24Night

The beach stays open, but there are no lifeguards.

Lifeguard hours: the town's page says 11:00–19:00 in summer, the 2026 tender 10:00–20:00. Who has been on duty since July 2026 is not confirmed.

Summer

Busy with local families. The car parks fill early.

Winter

Lifeguards daily 10:00–18:00 according to the town, 10:00–17:00 in the new tender.

Tides

At high tide the remaining sand disappears. Check a tide table.

Forecast

    Facts

    Size
    Source: Turismo de Tenerife · 09/2026
    Officially 160 m long and 40 m wide. Far less usable sand today
    Sand
    Source: Press · 09/2026
    Black sand with many stones
    Blue Flag
    Source: Blue Flag · 09/2026
    Yes, 2026
    Assisted bathing
    Source: Town · 09/2026
    922 86 96 00 (town of Icod de los Vinos)
    Showers
    Source: Press · 04/2026
    Reported broken in April 2026
    Parking
    Source: OSM · 09/2026
    Free by the beach, fewer than 50 spaces
    Bus
    Source: TITSA · 09/2026
    Line 362 from Icod, about hourly, last back 20:35
    Repairs
    Source: Press · 09/2026
    A restoration project of over €6 million has been blocked since 2025
    History
    Source: Town · 09/2026
    In 1590 six frigates against pirates were built in the San Marcos shipyard
    Emergency
    Source: Gobierno de Canarias · 09/2026
    112

    Nearby

    Start route to the car park