El Médano Hostel Guide: Enjoy the Wind and Waves Without Selling Your Soul
Addicted to kitesurf? Looking for a cheap, laid back beach side escape?
Look no further than El Médano in Tenerife. The small bubble of a coastal town is known for beaches, wind related watersports and its relaxed atmosphere. If you want to chill out for a few days or plan to take wind or kitesurf classes while in Tenerife, you’ve come to the right place.
El Médano has direct beach access, a compact and easily walkable center and just enough interesting restaurants and bars to explore. It attracts visitors looking to escape the built for tourism free-for-all of Las Américas, and those wanting a more easy-going lifestyle where the main question is, are there good wind and waves today?
Hostels in El Médano are the primary budget-friendly option for visitors and fiercely divided between the pack ’em in variety or the lifestyle centric. Which hostel might be best for you? Let us help you choose!
No Time to Read? Our Quick Recommendations in El Médano
⭐️⭐️ Daydream El Medano Coliving – Click here for rates & availability
⭐️The Tree House Hostel and Coworking – Click here for rates & availability
El Medano Hostels: Your Central Options
If you want regular watersport action or to be within a quick walking distance of the main hub, staying in El Médano´s downtown center makes the most sense. Four hostels fall in this category: Casa Grande Surf Hostel, Daydream El Medano Coliving, Medano Nest and Ashavana Nest.
Casa Grande Surf Hostel
You can’t get more central than Casa Grande Surf Hostel, located just 1 minute away from the beach and boardwalk and less than a 10 minute walk to the edge of town in each direction.
The colorful hostel offers a basic free breakfast and common spaces that include a rooftop terrace. Dorm rooms are shared between 4 – 8 people and there is also one private double room and apartment which can be booked for longer stay guests.
The hostel brands itself as a surf hub, but in reality, any of the hostels will be able to direct you towards the right people for classes.
Book Here: Casa Grande Surf Hostel
Daydream El Medano Coliving
Location, location, location is also the strong point of Daydream El Medano Coliving, which is located just one street behind Casa Grande Surf Hostel.
You´ll find colorful nooks and a variety of places to hangout, pop open a laptop or chill including a rooftop terrace. The hostel’s dorm rooms are also between 4-8 people and the property also has a private bedroom available for those wanting a bit more privacy.
Book Here: Daydream El Medano Coliving
Now we come to the pack ’em in hostels in El Médano:
Medano Nest Hostel
Medano Nest is part of the Nest hostel network which operates in Tenerife and Gran Canaria. Dorm rooms hold between 9 – 15 people on triple bunk beds that look like something you’d expect in an El Salvadorian prison.
While the rooms lack any sense of cozyness, the Nest network offers flexibility and a loyalty program for extended stay users. Expect cheap accommodation (although the value for money question still remains), where your experience is heavily influenced by the volunteer staff and other hostel-goers rather than the infrastructure of the hostel itself.
Book Here: Medano Nest Hostel
Ashavana Nest Hostel
Ashavana Nest Hostel also belongs to the Nest network and visitors can expect the same setup of triple bunk beds in form rooms ranging from 9-15 people. The property was the most recent of the Nest brand in El Médano, but their reviews are slightly less enthusiastic.
Book Here: Ashavana Nest Hostel
Other Hostel Options Around El Médano
Hostel options within a short drive or 30-40 minute walk of El Médano
If you are looking for a bit more space with less people per room and a better value for money, consider two hostel options just outside El Médano’s downtown center. These spots are best for independent travelers, visitors renting a car or staying for a longer period of time. These hostels allow you to discover El Médano without the hustle of a 15 person dorm room.
The Tree House Hostel and Coworking
The Tree House Hostel and Coworking is a self-contained property with coworking spaces, a large pool and regularly organized social events. Getting to the hostel alone is part of the adventure as you’ll either walk there from El Médano or turn down a non-descript dirt road off the highway that leads to the property.
Private bedrooms with private bathrooms are available as well as dorm rooms for up to 6 people.
If your primary goal is regular watersport use, you’ll want to have a car if you stay here. The 40 minute walk to El Médano center is novel once or twice but quickly becomes a time-suck.
Book Here: The Tree House Hostel and Coworking
Aloe Vera Shared House
The Aloe Vera Shared House is a mix of smaller four bed dorm rooms and private bedrooms in a larger house in the adjacent Arena del Mar neighborhood. The small residential outpost is only a 6 minute drive or 30 minute walk from El Médano.
The accommodation gives off a home-away-from-home vibe and is best for those looking to settle into a more laid-back experience. In terms of amenities, the house has a small pool that’s perfect for a quick dip, or you can jump into the ocean at Montaña Pelada’s secluded beach which is just a short five-minute walk away.
Like the Tree House Hostel, this accommodation is best for people who are renting a car and want a calm and quiet base to come back to.
Book Here: Aloe Vera Shared House
Which El Medano Hostel Should You Choose?
While El Médano is small, there are a few niche options to choose from when looking for a hostel. From larger social hostels to your home away from home stays, there is surely an option to fit your budget and taste.
In town, the location and vibe of Daydream El Medano Coliving can´t be beat. For a more relaxed but social vibe, The Tree House Hostel and Coworking is an oasis among the desert landscape. And lastly, for a cheap option within a hostel network, Medano Nest Hostel may be your best bet.
Check Out Our Other El Médano Guides
A Travel Guide to El Médano: Everything You Need to Know
Budget Accommodation Beyond Hostels: Where to Stay in El Médano + Money-Saving Tips
What To Do in Tenerife: The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Tenerife
