Santa Cruz de Tenerife: Las Teresitas Stand Up Paddle Course

Las Teresitas is an unusually kind place to learn stand-up paddleboarding. The clear, sheltered water gives beginners room to find their balance without fighting strong waves or currents, while the Anaga Mountains rise behind the beach. I like the setting, and I like that your formal lesson lasts 20 minutes before you get about an hour to practice freely.

The other strong point is the small group, limited to 10 people. That keeps the session from feeling like a crowded beach class, and instructor Caaho has been praised for patient, friendly help, including support for first-time paddlers. The main drawback is simple: non-swimmers cannot take part, and you must arrange your own transport to Las Teresitas.

Key points at a glance

• Protected water for beginners: Las Teresitas is sheltered from waves and currents, making balance practice less stressful.
• A striking Tenerife setting: Paddle with views toward the Anaga Mountains, a Biosphere Reserve.
• 20 minutes of instruction: Learn how to use the board before spending roughly an hour on the water.
• Small groups: The activity is limited to 10 participants, with English, German, and Spanish spoken.
• Good value at $21: The price includes the paddleboard and instruction for an 80-minute session.
• Bring swimwear and a towel: Food, drinks, and hotel pickup are not included.

Why Las Teresitas is a smart place to learn

Stand-up paddleboarding looks easy from the beach. You stand on a wide board, hold a paddle, and move across the water. Then you try it, and your ankles begin negotiating with the rest of your body.

That is why Las Teresitas works so well for a first lesson. The beach is protected from waves and currents, giving you calmer water in which to learn the basic movements. You still need balance and coordination, but the conditions remove one of the biggest frustrations for beginners: trying to stay upright while the sea keeps moving beneath you.

The beach itself stretches for about 1.5 kilometers and has pale sand imported to create one of Santa Cruz de Tenerife’s best-known seaside spots. It is close to the capital, yet the setting feels removed from city traffic. From the water, your view turns toward the Anaga Mountains, a Biosphere Reserve with steep slopes and dramatic forms.

This is not simply a workout beside a pretty beach. The setting gives you a reason to slow down between attempts. Once you feel steady, you can paddle along the beach, pause, and look back at the sand and mountains. One useful detail from the experience is that the water may be quiet enough for you to stop paddling and enjoy the view without being surrounded by heavy boat traffic or large crowds.

What happens during the 80-minute session

You meet at Teresitas Paddle Board, Anaga Experience, on Las Teresitas Beach. The activity lasts 80 minutes in total, with the opening part used for instruction and preparation.

The instructor provides about 20 minutes of teaching on how to use the board. For a beginner, that time matters. You need to understand how to hold the paddle, how to position yourself, and how to move from a kneeling position toward standing. You also need a basic sense of how to steer and regain control if the board shifts.

The lesson is intended to help you get your bearings fast. It is not presented as an advanced coaching session, and that is useful to know before booking. You are learning the essentials so you can enjoy the remaining time on the water rather than spending the whole session listening to instructions on the beach.

After the class, you get about one hour to paddle independently. That does not mean you are abandoned. The group is small, and the instructor begins the session with you. But the format gives you more freedom than a tightly guided route. You can work on standing, turning, and moving along the shoreline at your own pace.

For a first attempt, this balance is sensible. Too much instruction can make a short activity feel formal. Too little can leave you wobbling without knowing why. Here, the 20-minute introduction gives you a starting point, while the longer practice period lets you repeat the movements until they feel more natural.

The setting: white sand, clear water, and Anaga views

Las Teresitas has a 1.5-kilometer white sand shoreline near San Andrés, a fishing town close to Santa Cruz. The beach is one of the most attractive places in the capital area for a water activity, especially if you want something gentler than open-sea paddling.

The clearest visual reward comes from looking inland. The Anaga Mountains form a strong backdrop, and their status as a Biosphere Reserve adds context to the view. You are not paddling beside an anonymous resort strip. You are looking toward one of Tenerife’s most distinctive natural areas.

The water is the practical reason to choose this location. Protection from waves and currents makes it better suited to beginners than a more exposed coast. It also means you can spend your attention on technique. If you have never stood on a paddleboard before, that calmer setting may be the difference between enjoying the session and spending it repeatedly falling off.

The beach can also suit people who want a relaxed outing rather than a demanding sports session. The activity uses your whole body, but it is not described as a race or a strenuous expedition. You can expect to work your legs, stomach, arms, and shoulders as you balance and paddle. At the same time, the quiet rhythm of moving across the water can feel calming.

Learning to stand without turning it into a drama

Your first few minutes on a paddleboard are usually about control. The board may feel wider and more stable than you expect, but standing still on it is different from standing on the beach. Small movements in your ankles and knees affect your balance.

The opening instruction is especially useful for learning how to lower your center of gravity. You may begin from your knees, use the paddle for support, and then stand when you feel ready. The precise sequence can vary with the instructor and conditions, but the goal is to make standing feel manageable rather than mysterious.

The instructor speaks English, German, and Spanish. That gives mixed-language groups a practical advantage, and it is helpful if you are more comfortable receiving safety and technique instructions in one of those languages.

Caaho is identified as an instructor associated with this session, and the teaching style described around the activity is friendly and patient. That matters for beginners. A good first lesson is not only about technical information. It is also about giving you enough time to try, correct yourself, and try again without feeling rushed.

Once you are standing, the basic paddle stroke becomes the next challenge. Paddling on one side helps move you in one direction, while switching sides helps you steer. You may spend much of your hour repeating simple movements. That is not wasted time. Repetition is what lets you move from thinking about every motion to enjoying the water.

What the one-hour practice period is really worth

At $21 per person, this is a low-cost way to try a water sport in Tenerife. The price includes the paddleboard and the opening instruction, while the total activity lasts 80 minutes. For someone curious about paddleboarding but unwilling to commit to a longer or more expensive lesson, that is a fair arrangement.

The value depends on your expectations. If you want a fully guided coastal tour with a long route and several stops, this is not that product. After the introductory class, you have about an hour to enjoy the board on your own. The emphasis is learning and practice, not sightseeing by paddleboard.

For a beginner, the open practice time may be more valuable than a fixed route. You can repeat the basics, regain your balance, and spend more time standing as you improve. The sheltered setting makes that possible without adding the pressure of strong surf.

The price also works well for couples or families with swimmers who want a short activity before or after time on the beach. Remember that food and drinks are not included, and neither is pickup or drop-off. If you are staying in Santa Cruz or elsewhere on Tenerife, you need to make your own way to Las Teresitas.

That transport point is the main practical cost beyond the listed price. The beach is close to the capital, but the activity does not include a transfer. Plan the paddleboarding as part of a beach visit rather than assuming someone will collect you from your hotel.

Who will enjoy this activity most

This course is best for a first-time paddleboarder who can swim and wants a gentle introduction. You do not need prior paddleboarding experience. The protected water, basic instruction, and small group all help reduce the usual beginner problems.

It also suits you if you want an active break from sightseeing. Santa Cruz has plenty to see on land, but an 80-minute session at Las Teresitas gives you a different view of Tenerife. The activity is long enough to learn the basics without taking an entire day.

Couples can make good use of the format because both people can learn together and then practice at their own speed. It may also suit families with older children, provided every participant is a swimmer and meets any booking requirements that apply at the time.

You should think twice if you are looking for advanced coaching, strong waves, or a long-distance paddle. The sheltered conditions are the attraction here, not a challenge. Someone already comfortable on a board may find the session too basic.

You should also skip it if you do not swim. That restriction is clear and important. Even calm water requires basic swimming ability, and the activity is not suitable for non-swimmers.

Planning your beach time around the class

Bring swimwear and a towel. Those are the only specific personal items listed, but they are essential for a water activity. You should also consider how you want to spend the rest of your time at Las Teresitas, since the paddleboarding session takes less than an hour and a half.

The meeting point is Teresitas Paddle Board, Anaga Experience, on Las Teresitas Beach. Pickup and drop-off are not provided, so leave enough time to reach the beach before the stated start time. Check the available starting times when booking, since the schedule can vary.

The small-group limit of 10 participants is worth noting. It does not guarantee private instruction, but it should keep the class more manageable than a large beach gathering. For first-time paddlers, a smaller group usually means less waiting and a better chance of hearing the opening explanation clearly.

The cancellation policy gives you some flexibility. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, and the reserve-now, pay-later option means you do not have to pay at the time of booking. Those terms are useful when your Tenerife plans depend on weather, transport, or a shifting sightseeing schedule.

What the activity does not include

The simplicity of the booking is part of its appeal, but it also means you need to arrive prepared. The paddleboard is supplied, and an instructor gives the opening lesson. Food and drinks are not part of the activity.

There is no hotel pickup or drop-off. You will need to reach the beach independently and return on your own. That is not a problem if you are already planning a visit to Las Teresitas, but it matters if you are staying far from Santa Cruz or building a packed day around the class.

The session is not a full coastal excursion. You should not book it expecting a narrated tour of Anaga, a long paddle to another beach, or a catered outing. Think of it as a beginner course with a generous practice period in a beautiful location.

That clear definition helps you decide. If you want to learn the basic skill at a modest price, it offers good value. If you want a guided adventure with transport and a planned route, choose a different type of activity.

Final verdict: should you book it?

Book this Las Teresitas paddleboarding course if you can swim, want a first lesson, and like the idea of practicing in calm water beneath the Anaga Mountains. The $21 price, small group, multilingual instruction, and roughly one hour of independent paddling make it an easy activity to add to a Tenerife day.

I would especially recommend it to beginners who are nervous about balance. The sheltered beach gives you a fair chance to learn, and the instructor’s patient approach can help you move from kneeling to standing without turning the session into a test.

Skip it if you need transport, want advanced instruction, or hope for a strong-surf challenge. For everyone else, this is a straightforward, scenic, and sensibly priced introduction to stand-up paddleboarding near Santa Cruz.

FAQ

How long does the Las Teresitas paddleboarding course last?

The activity lasts 80 minutes. About 20 minutes are used for instruction, followed by roughly one hour of paddleboarding practice.

Is the course suitable for complete beginners?

Yes. The session is designed as a beginner course, and an instructor explains how to use the board before you practice on the water.

Do I need to be able to swim?

Yes. The activity is not suitable for non-swimmers.

What languages does the instructor speak?

Instruction is available in English, German, and Spanish.

What should I bring?

Bring swimwear and a towel. Food and drinks are not included.

Is hotel pickup included?

No. You meet at Teresitas Paddle Board, Anaga Experience, on Las Teresitas Beach, and you must arrange your own pickup and drop-off.