Playa de las Américas together with Los Cristianos and Costa Adeje is a city in the south of Tenerife. The different names are part of separate local government regions but are otherwise indistinguishable from each other. Playa de las Américas is roughly 2 km southeast of Costa Adeje and 2 km northwest of Los Cristianos.
The city was built for tourists and is mostly made up of hotels with plenty of beaches and restaurants. English is widely spoken.
Little in the resort but lots of travel agents willing to book you on island and other tours, including to other islands, including La Gomera which you can see some distance away.
Beaches are what many tourists come here for. Sunloungers are available at a few euro a day (or just buy a parasol and take a beach mat). The beaches are busy during all sunlit hours, although it is perfectly warm enough to swim in the evenings too. Black sand in Las Americas, better yellow sand beaches towards Los Cristianos.
Some end up having sex on the beach in the midnight hours. While the police probably will not bother you, local voyeurs may.
- Aqualand, Avd. Austria 15, San Eugenio Alto (bus stop Aqualand, +34 922 715 266. A swimming theme park with slides and flumes. An impressive dolphin display is held twice a day at 13:00 and 15:00. Adults €29, children and seniors €21, tickets purchased online €2 cheaper.
- Whale-watching boat trips are common, many guaranteeing whales and often with a swimming stop half way. Prices vary between €20 per person for short 2 hours trips to about €50-60 per person for 4-6 hours trips with included lunch.
*Eden Catamaran, CC Puerto Colón, local 129C, Costa Adeje, +34 922 712993. Offers whale and dolphin watching trips.
- Glass-bottom boat tours to see wildlife.
- Submarine trip to 25 m below see level (€60 per person)
- Scuba diving experience trips where each person is accompanied by professional diver when going underwater who handles all equipment. Cost of 2-3 hour trip with 20 minutes underwater is about €50 per person. There are many health conditions which may prevent you from enjoying it.
- Golf courses are available nearby. These are expensive.
- Karting Club Tenerife, close to playa de las Américas (free bus service. Go karts and motor bikes are raced in the main track and two sizes of cart on the kit track.
- Bike Point Tenerife, Avda.Quinto Centenario s/n, Edificio las terrazas, Las Americas (Opposite of the police station in Las Americas, Magma and bus station, +34 922176273. Biketours, Rental & Shop in Las Americas and El Medano
Bike Point Tenerife, Avda.Quinto Centenario s/n, Edificio las terrazas, Las Americas (Opposite of the police station in Las Americas, Magma and bus station, +34 922176273. Biketours, Rental & Shop in Las Americas and El Medano
Aqualand, Avd. Austria 15, San Eugenio Alto (bus stop Aqualand, +34 922 715 266. A swimming theme park with slides and flumes. An impressive dolphin display is held twice a day at 13:00 and 15:00. Adults €29, children and seniors €21, tickets purchased online €2 cheaper.
Whale-watching boat trips are common, many guaranteeing whales and often with a swimming stop half way. Prices vary between €20 per person for short 2 hours trips to about €50-60 per person for 4-6 hours trips with included lunch.
*Eden Catamaran, CC Puerto Colón, local 129C, Costa Adeje, +34 922 712993. Offers whale and dolphin watching trips.
Glass-bottom boat tours to see wildlife.
Submarine trip to 25 m below see level (€60 per person)
Scuba diving experience trips where each person is accompanied by professional diver when going underwater who handles all equipment. Cost of 2-3 hour trip with 20 minutes underwater is about €50 per person. There are many health conditions which may prevent you from enjoying it.
Golf courses are available nearby. These are expensive.
Karting Club Tenerife, close to playa de las Américas (free bus service. Go karts and motor bikes are raced in the main track and two sizes of cart on the kit track.
- Plenty of shops offer alcohol and tobacco at prices cheaper than elsewhere in Europe.
- Tenerife Pearl is a short car journey away if you want to buy expensive jewellery, but do not believe the publicity calling it an exhibition since there is little to see.
- Sunday market in Los Cristianos and one on Thursday and Saturday in Costa Adeje. A fair number of shops shut on Sundays.
Lots of touristy shops selling cameras, video cameras, binoculars, etc. They are great salesmen and will make you think you are going to get a bargain from them but you will not. At best you will pay more than you would pay back home and at worst you will buy something totally worthless. Avoid them! The purchase of a timeshare is also something you could regret later.
Plenty of shops offer alcohol and tobacco at prices cheaper than elsewhere in Europe.
Tenerife Pearl is a short car journey away if you want to buy expensive jewellery, but do not believe the publicity calling it an exhibition since there is little to see.
Sunday market in [[Los Cristianos]] and one on Thursday and Saturday in [[Costa Adeje]]. A fair number of shops shut on Sundays.
Most of the restaurants offer the usual selection of burgers, chips, pizza, etc. There are also Chinese buffets, usually at €6.
- El Tejado, Avenida de los Pueblos, 16, +43 682 00 94 12. M-Sa 14:00-23:00. A Spanish sea food tapas bar with plenty of vegetarian options. €5 - €26.
- El Jardin De La Abuela, Plaza Salyten 43, +43 922 79 51 95. W-M 12:00-23:30. Restaurant with a selection of Catalan and sea food oriented Canarian cuisine.
El Tejado, Avenida de los Pueblos, 16, +43 682 00 94 12. M-Sa 14:00-23:00. A Spanish sea food tapas bar with plenty of vegetarian options. €5 - €26.
El Jardin De La Abuela, Plaza Salyten 43, +43 922 79 51 95. W-M 12:00-23:30. Restaurant with a selection of Catalan and sea food oriented Canarian cuisine.
There is plenty of nightlife in Los Cristianos.
Cocktail bars on the beach are an especially relaxing way to end a day, although at €9 a drink, quite expensive.
- Matrix Club, Avenida Ernesto Sarti 10, +34 922 71 47 93. Upscale night club.
- Cocoriba, Av. Ernesto Sarti 6, +34 690 82 34 50. Coctail bar with finger food.
Matrix Club, Avenida Ernesto Sarti 10, +34 922 71 47 93. Upscale night club.
Cocoriba, Av. Ernesto Sarti 6, +34 690 82 34 50. Coctail bar with finger food.
Built for slob tourists, Playa de las Américas' ethical status is already questionable during day time, however gets much worse during night time. There are reports of drugs being sold openly in night life areas after midnight, and prostitutes equally openly advertising their services. Brawls are no rare occurrences, usually resulting from clashes of drunk tourists.
Pick pocketing is rampant, and includes theft of belongings left unattended on beaches.
- The town of Costa Adeje is 2 km northwest. Adeje is further inland, with some historic buildings and few tourists.
- El Teide volcano
- The well-known Loro Parque Zoo on the other side of the island.
- Los Gigantes.
- Masca village.
- Day ferry trips to La Gomera island.
The town of [[Costa Adeje]] is 2 km northwest. Adeje is further inland, with some historic buildings and few tourists.
[[Teide|El Teide]] volcano
The well-known [[Puerto de la Cruz#Loro Parque|Loro Parque Zoo]] on the other side of the island.
Day ferry trips to [[La Gomera]] island.