El Caletón

El Caletón is a series of natural pools carved into volcanic rock in the town of Garachico, on the northwest coast of Tenerife. Born from a volcanic eruption in 1706, it is now one of the island's most popular spots for a swim in the Atlantic.

How did the pools in Garachico form?

On 5 May 1706, the Arenas Negras volcano (also referred to as Trevejo) erupted. Lava poured through the streets of the town, buried part of its buildings, and destroyed Garachico's harbour, sinking roughly 27 ships that were docked there at the time. When the molten rock reached the ocean, contact with the cold Atlantic water made it cool and solidify almost instantly, leaving behind a jagged, black lava shelf along the shoreline. Over time, seawater filled the hollows in that rock, and those hollows are the pools known today as El Caletón.

No lives were lost in the eruption, but it permanently changed the town's fortunes: Garachico lost its position as Tenerife's leading port, a turning point dramatic enough that the event is sometimes described as the island's own "Pompeii."

What are the pools like, and can you actually swim there?

El Caletón isn't a single pool but a whole network of basins of different sizes cut into the black lava, including named sections such as Las Viejas, Los Niños and Los Chorros. Some are shallow and enclosed, others deep enough for proper swimming, so the site works both for families with children and for visitors looking for a longer swim. Because the pools sit within solid rock rather than sand, the seawater inside stays clear, and the surrounding lava also shelters the pools from stronger swell, which is why El Caletón has a reputation as one of the safer natural bathing spots on this stretch of coast.

How do you get into the water, and what's nearby?

Since the rock floor is uneven, metal stairs and platforms have been fitted along the edge of the pools to make getting in and out easier. A restored seafront promenade runs alongside the site, giving views out over the ocean and the surrounding cliffs. Right next to the pools stands the 16th-century San Miguel Castle, one of the few structures that survived the 1706 eruption, and the historic centre of Garachico, with its shops and restaurants, is just a short walk away, so a swim can easily be combined with exploring the old town.

Frequently asked questions

Is El Caletón suitable for children? Yes, some of the pools are shallow and shielded from the swell, making them suitable for families, while other, deeper sections are better suited to adults wanting a proper swim.

Why does the site look the way it does, with black jagged rock everywhere? The pools were shaped by lava from the 1706 eruption of the Arenas Negras (Trevejo) volcano, which solidified rapidly on contact with seawater, leaving behind the dark, uneven rock formations that now hold the pools.

Is there somewhere to eat or shop near the pools? Yes, El Caletón sits right next to Garachico's town centre, where you'll find restaurants and shops, plus a seafront promenade with views of the ocean and the San Miguel Castle.

Is it hard to get into the water because of the rocky terrain? The rock floor is indeed uneven, but metal stairs and platforms have been installed along the pools to make entering and exiting the water safer and more comfortable.