The editor's take
Reached only by a steep path from the sleepy hamlet of Benijo, this jet-black volcanic beach in the Anaga UNESCO biosphere is the antidote to the south's polished resorts. Three vast sea-stacks — los Roques de Anaga — rise like sentinels from the Atlantic, the surf crashes hard, and at low tide rock pools reveal an entire underwater garden. There is no infrastructure beyond two hilltop restaurants, no lifeguards, no loungers, just an unforgettable vista that draws photographers from across Europe at sunset. Come prepared: the currents are strong and the path is uneven, but the reward is one of the most authentic beach experiences in the Canaries.
Drive from La Laguna via TF-12 — narrow but stunning road through laurel forest.
Use a 24mm lens at low tide to include sea-stack reflections in wet sand.