Tufia

A tiny coastal hamlet of pre-Hispanic origin with a modest black-sand beach sheltered from the trade winds, unusually calm for the eastern coast. The volcanic headland above hides a complex of rock-cut openings and ancient stone structures that make up a Protected Cultural Heritage Site. The natural pools at the foot of the cliffs and the ruins visible on the headland give the cove an intimate, layered character, very different from the developed beaches further south.

Tufia is genuinely peaceful and free of commercialization — one of those unexpected encounters that define the best days on the bike. There are no services; the hamlet is tiny. Climb up toward the headland to take in the views over the cove and the coastline stretching north and south. The endemic plants on the protected fossil dunes around the site are worth a closer look.

Just off the coastal road south of Las Palmas. The eastern coastal strip isn't the island's most spectacular stretch, but Tufia itself — an authentic hamlet with ancient roots and a headland with a wild feel — is exactly the kind of place you'd miss by sticking to the main roads, and one that's well worth a visit.