Rojas Beach

The water is the thing. It is very clear off these rocks, and from the ladder you can watch fish moving over the bottom while crabs scuttle across the stone around you.

Above the waterline there is a platform of dark lava sand to lie on in the sun, with steps down to the rock pools and a shower for rinsing off the salt. When the sea is too rough for bathing, the promenade takes over: a well-built path along the ocean, easy underfoot, with open views over the Atlantic the whole way. The coast here also makes a good outing by electric bike.

• The shore is rock, and the edges are not always smooth: bring water shoes and something soft to sit on.
• The sea varies from day to day. Some days the waves are gentle enough to swim; on others they are too high to go in at all.
• Getting into the water is easiest at high tide, using the steps and the ladder. Check the tide times before you set out.
• There is a shower at the bathing area, but no toilets at the beach and none nearby.

By car, the last stretch is the hard part. The road down to the shore is very steep and narrow, and traffic runs in both directions, so go slowly and be ready to meet cars coming up. Parking lies about 300 m away in a straight line, with a second area around 600 m away.

Without a car, the nearest bus stop is Los Naranjos, about 1.1 km away in a straight line. From the bus the walk down takes around 50 minutes, with plants lining the way, and walkers share the road with cars, so keep to the edge and watch the bends. The climb back up comes at the end of the day, when you are tired.

Best: a sunny day with a calm sea, timed around high tide.

Avoid: days when a big swell is running.

Bathing from the steps and ladder is easiest at high tide, while high waves make the water unsafe; on rough days the promenade is still worth the trip for the walk and the view.