Apartamento Playa Chica Tenerife

Hotel Description

You know what struck me first about Apartamento Playa Chica? The location is honestly perfect – and I mean that without the usual travel writer hyperbole. It’s right on Carretera de las Gaviotas, which sounds fancy but is actually just the road that hugs the coastline in San Andrés. The thing is, most people rush past this area heading to the bigger beaches, but they’re missing out on something special here.

The building itself has that solid, unpretentious feel that I actually prefer over the flashy resort complexes. When you step onto your balcony (and trust me, you’ll spend a lot of time there), you’re looking out at Playa Chica – literally “little beach” – which is exactly what it sounds like. It’s this intimate stretch of dark volcanic sand that locals seem to know about but tourists often overlook. I’d sit there in the mornings with my coffee, watching the early joggers and dog walkers, and it felt like I was getting a glimpse of real Tenerife life, not the tourist version.

The apartments themselves are well-equipped – I mean, really equipped, not just the basics they throw in most places. The kitchen actually has everything you need if you want to cook (and you should, because the local market in San Andrés has incredible fish). The beds are comfortable, the Wi-Fi works without the usual Spanish internet drama, and honestly, the whole place just feels like someone actually thought about what travelers need. The 9.1 rating makes sense once you’re there – it’s not trying to be the fanciest place on the island, but it does everything right.

What really won me over was the neighborhood vibe. San Andrés isn’t trying to be anything other than what it is – a working fishing village that happens to be gorgeous. You can walk to the Playa de las Teresitas (the famous golden sand beach) in about fifteen minutes, but you can also just hang around the local bars where the fishermen actually drink their morning coffee. The whole area has this authentic feel that’s getting harder to find on Tenerife, especially on the southern coast where everything’s been built up for tourists.

Parking can be a bit tricky during peak summer months – the streets get narrow and everyone’s trying to squeeze into the same spots near the beach. But honestly, once you settle in, you probably won’t want to drive much anyway. The local bus connections are decent if you want to explore Santa Cruz or head up into the mountains, and there’s something to be said for just slowing down and enjoying the rhythm of this part of the island. I found myself taking longer walks along the coast, discovering little coves and viewpoints that aren’t in any guidebook. That’s the kind of place this is – it gives you permission to actually relax instead of constantly feeling like you should be somewhere else.

Rooms

• Estimated price from: $100. Apartment with 1 double bed and 1 sofa bed for Max persons: 4

Reviews

• Superb – Petr from Czech Republic – 6 May 2024 (9/10)

  the view from the terasse was manifique, just sound of sea and nothing else this was what were looking exactly…😍, the appartement was clean and easily accessible.
  
  What could be improved: To sleep on the canapé was not very comfortable…

• Exceptional – Joan from United Kingdom – 21 October 2023 (10/10)

  Playa chica is an amazing apartment block built into the cliff with direct exclusive access to a stunning beach. The beach is great for swimming and snorkeling. We spent an excellent few days here. It is also very close to the Anaga mountains

• Exceptional – Vykintas from Lithuania – 8 June 2023 (10/10)

  Best place ever =)

• Peaceful and tranquil – Noureye from United Kingdom – 19 April 2023 (10/10)

  I recently had the pleasure of staying at this apartment and I must say, it was an unforgettable experience! The location is simply perfect, with the beautiful beach right in front of the apartment. It was such a peaceful and tranquil environment, far away from the hustle and bustle of the city, making it the perfect spot to relax and unwind.
  
  One of the highlights of my stay was being able to fall asleep to the sound of the waves crashing against the shore – it was so soothing and peaceful. The apartment itself was also fantastic, with all the necessary amenities and utilities that you would expect in a home. I was able to cook my own meals, do my laundry, and just generally feel at home.
  
  The staff were incredibly friendly and helpful, always on hand to answer any questions I had or to offer recommendations on places to go and things to see. They really went above and beyond to ensure that my stay was as comfortable and enjoyable as possible.
  
  Overall, I would highly recommend this apartment to anyone looking for a peaceful and relaxing getaway. The location, amenities, and staff are all top-notch, making it the perfect place to stay for a memorable vacation.

• Exceptional – Iuliia_dmitrieva from Spain – 2 April 2025 (10/10)

  Nice apartments, great location! Magical beach. Polite and helpful staff. Can't get there without a car. But for this view, it's worth renting a car. Thank you! We'll come again.

• Nice apartment, great beach – Tjaša from Slovenia – 11 December 2024 (9/10)

  Access to the keys with the codes was much easier than it initially seemed.
  The apartment was clean, with a beautiful view of the sea and the beach. Communication with the owners was excellent; they were very helpful and responded quickly.
  
  What could be improved: It offered quick access to a lovely beach. The only downside was the small, uncomfortable double bed, which squeaked. Additionally, the drawer handles on the bed stuck out, leaving my legs scratched and bruised.

• Superb – Michal from Czech Republic – 30 September 2022 (9/10)

  Right on the beach, amazing view from balcony. Well equipped kitchen with all cooking necessities. In bathroom you can find also everything you need.
  
  What could be improved: Not enough blankets for 4.

• Beautiful, definetly recommendation – Lucija from Croatia – 27 May 2024 (9/10)

  The locantion is unbelieveble, perfect, peace and quiet, enjoying the sound of the sea, view spectacular, right on the private beach. Easy organisation with the owner!
  
  What could be improved: It could be cleaner.

• Superb – Giacomo from Italy – 10 October 2023 (9/10)

  Free parking, nice apartment and private beach
  
  What could be improved: No air conditioning

• Poor hygiene, poorly equipped, poorly serviced, but on a quiet beach – Kerilyn from United Kingdom – 28 May 2023 (3/10)

  The beach was nice, soft black sand and not many people, but you lost the sun mid-afternoon.
  
  Lots of parking but none of it covered, so a parked car turns into an oven quickly.
  
  Good to have washing machine, if only there had been somewhere to hang large laundry like the smelly blanket.
  
  What could be improved: By all appearances this is a holiday flat which has been owned by the same family since the building was built in the 1960s, who leave the bare minimum accessible to guests and only clean it superficially.
  
  The young woman who gave me the keys didn't even meet me there, I had to find her in Santa Cruz, 15km away. There is absolutely nothing by the apartment building but the beach, if you want so much as a roll of toilet paper (which you will need to bring yourself) or a loaf of bread you have to get in the car and drive the narrow winding road back to San Andres.
  
  Not wheelchair accessible at all, flat is accessed down a long hallway with a step every few feet – annoying if you can walk, difficult dragging a suitcase, impossible in a wheelchair. Also there is a step up to the flat and then to the bathroom.
  
  Not enough hot water to fill bath, few towels that wouldn't dry, bidet with broken lid, lights that kept flickering, bathroom full of tiny ants. When in or near the bathroom you could hear all of the noises (!) from neighbouring bathrooms.
  
  Hard and nasty pillows (I had to sleep without and got a sore neck!), stinky blanket smelling of dirty feet, useless roller blinds that don't keep out the lights of LNG ships moored opposite the building.
  
  There were two power cuts on the first night, but there is no mobile coverage there, so if the power goes you are left in the dark with no way of communicating with anyone that the power has gone. Just as well the LNG ships leave their lights on all night.
  
  Kitchen a disgrace, fridge smelled of rotten lettuce, gigantic cockroach, plates dirty on arrival, would have to drink tea in espresso cups as nothing else but two drinking glasses and two wine glasses, not even bare minimum for basic cooking (see photos, this is all there is). Nothing for you to clean up with, no wonder it has insects.

SURROUNDINGS

Facilities