Exploring La Chafira – Tenerife South’s Practical Shopping and Leisure District
Between San Miguel de Abona and Las Galletas lies La Chafira, one of the most convenient and vibrant commercial zones in southern Tenerife. This guide walks you through its streets, local landmarks, and palm-filled promenades that blend practical shopping with small artistic touches and island character.
Start of the walk: palm promenades and open spaces
La Chafira greets visitors with broad sidewalks and landscaped public areas. The mix of volcanic gravel, palms, and flowering bushes creates a surprisingly green setting for an industrial-commercial district. These zones make it easy to walk from one store to another under the shade of tropical vegetation.
Unusual sights: art and sculptures
La Chafira adds creativity to its practical side. Along one of the walkways you’ll find a small open-air display of anime-inspired art pieces by local young artists, and at a nearby roundabout the famous camel sculptures honor Tenerife’s agricultural past.
Local landmarks and community places
Among the modern warehouses and showrooms, you’ll also find community spaces like the Parroquia Santa Teresa de Calcuta, a minimalist modern church that serves the local residents and workers.
Where to shop in La Chafira
Most visitors come to La Chafira for its concentration of major retailers and outlet stores. It’s an ideal stop for home decoration, groceries, and everyday errands — all within a few minutes of each other.
IKEA Tenerife South
The unmistakable blue and yellow building of IKEA La Chafira offers furniture, lighting, kitchenware, and a small cafeteria with Scandinavian snacks.
Mercadona supermarket
Right beside IKEA stands Mercadona, one of Spain’s favorite supermarket chains — perfect for stocking up before heading back to resorts like Costa del Silencio or Los Cristianos.
Chinatown Shopping Center
Across the main avenue, the bright red Chinatown Shopping Center is famous for its variety — home goods, gifts, decoration, and electronics under one roof. Visitors often spend hours exploring its countless aisles.
Other local businesses
Beyond the big brands, La Chafira surprises with local creativity: Comunicación 6 studio offers personalized gifts and large-format printing, while Supermercados TODOS covers daily essentials. Just a few steps away stands the cheerful Don Perro veterinary clinic, instantly recognizable by its huge pink dog statue.
Central blocks and professional offices
Several office buildings house lawyers, accountants, and design firms — useful for residents and small businesses operating nearby.
Cafés, banks, and everyday services
Near the roundabout, locals meet for coffee or lunch in small cafés. You’ll also find ATMs and a CaixaBank branch with easy access and parking in front.
Residential streets and local life
Just a few blocks away, you reach residential sections of La Chafira. They combine practical apartments, tidy streets, and views toward the lighthouse tower that signals the coastal direction to Las Galletas.
Visiting La Chafira
La Chafira is easy to reach from the TF-1 motorway — just take the San Miguel / Las Chafiras exit. There’s plenty of free parking and public bus service to nearby resorts. Whether you come for groceries, furniture, a quick lunch, or simply to see the quirky camel sculptures, La Chafira shows another face of Tenerife South: practical, organized, and full of everyday life.