Best beaches of Gran Canaria

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Preciosa vista a pie de playa.

With this article we want to give you an overview of the beaches, coves, puddles and natural pools that you can find along the coast of the island of Gran Canaria, so that depending on the days you come on your trip, you can choose the places you like the most. So get ready to discover the best beaches of this charming island. By clicking on the title of each municipality, you can access all the beaches of the same with photos and more information.

If you've never been here before, the natural pools are cavities on the waterfront, which hold back the water and when the tide goes out you can enter and swim in them. The pools are similar, but a concrete dam has been built to hold back the water.

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Let's go there! Come and discover the incredible coast of Gran Canaria.

South of Gran Canaria

We will start in the south, which has the most days of sunshine and good weather in Europe and with few exceptions and regardless of the time of year you travel, you will find good weather and you will be able to enjoy 100% of the beaches in the south.

Best beaches of San Bartolomé de Tirajana

Maspalomas - San Bartolomé de Tirajana - Playa del Inglés

This municipality is home to one of the most touristy areas of the island, concentrated in the town of Maspalomas, where the large Maspalomas beach  and El Inglés beach stand out, linked together by their unique and famous dunes, which are undoubtedly a must-see. We can also highlight Meloneras beach and Las Burras beach. A little further north we have San Agustín beach,  Pirata beach and Aguila beach, all of which are also urban beaches.

If you like to go out and discover places away from the city, to the southwest of Maspalomas there are several beaches in the middle of nature that you can't miss, such as Montaña de Arena beach, Carpinteras beach and Triana beach. These last two beaches are full of rocks and boulders where you will find locals and some travellers with their camper vans.

If you are looking for adventure plans or activities in San Bartolomé, in the link above you can see the selection of the best plans we have made for you.

Best beaches of Mogán

Puerto de Mogán - Playa de Mogán

Here, in the first place, we have turistic beaches with large hotel and residential complexes such as Puerto Rico beach, Amadores beach, Anfi del Mar beach, Taurito beach and Mogán beach. All of them have all the services, restaurants and shops.

Then there are other beaches where you don't see so many tourists and more locals or from other parts of the islands, these are less crowded and we highlight Marañuelas beach, Patalavaca beach and Tauro beach.

Lastly, we have a very peculiar area of ravines and cliffs, with less accessible beaches but with great charm for those who like adventure, natural landscapes and vanlife lovers, such as the cove of Tiritaña or Medio Almud beach and the remote and paradisiacal beach of Veneguera.

There are a multitude of plans and activities that you can do in Mogán, in the link above you can see all the options we have selected for you.

North of Gran Canaria

Due to the strong north swell and the lack of any kind of natural protection except for the Isleta in the city of Las Palmas or Sardina del Norte, there are few beaches that are suitable for bathing. Most of them are bowls and only recommended for surfers. What you will find are natural pools and puddles that at low or medium tide you can use for a refreshing swim. This is not the best area to go to the kind of beach you are used to.

Best beaches of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria

Las Palmas - Playa de las canteras

We start in the capital, a must for travellers. I recommend you visit the old district of Vegeta, with the Cathedral and the Casa Colón among many other old buildings. Also the adjoining neighbourhood, more recent and with emblematic buildings with a lot of charm.

Here you have the best urban beach in Europe: Las Canteras beach with fine sand, a large extension and a promenade with a wide gastronomic offer. If you like snorkelling, don't hesitate to go snorkelling here in the bar area at low tide. You will enjoy crystal clear waters and abundant fauna. If you like surfing or want to learn how to surf, you'll find surf schools and a perfect area for catching waves on La Cícer beach, next to this beach.

On the outskirts of the city we can enjoy the beach of La Laja, which has strong currents and where you will also find surfers. Nearby there are several natural pools of La Laja where you can enjoy a nice cool swim without waves at low or medium tide. Another place for nature lovers, very close to the city, is the Confital beach, although the bathing area is very small and most of it is rocky, a visit to this natural area will not leave you indifferent.

Find out here what there is to do in Las Palmas.

Best beaches of Arucas

Arucas - Playa del Puertillo

In this municipality we can highlight the Puertillo beach, the only sandy beach to be found here and with a rocky outcrop that protects it from the waves. It is small in size but the only one with these characteristics and is usually quite busy. Not far from it we find the natural pools of Los Charcones, which are large and ideal for swimming and bathing without waves. There are also two areas of the coast that are very striking due to the volcanic rock formations and the pools they contain. Both are very small and not at all touristy, such as the puddle of La Paloma and the puddle of Salinas del Bufadero.

Be sure to visit this beautiful town to stroll through the streets and observe its beautiful architectural style and the Gothic church of black volcanic rock will surprise you very pleasantly.

Best beaches of Moya

Moya - Playa de San Felipe

In Moya we can highlight several beaches for surfers, such as Quintanilla beach, the adjoining Campo de los Cangrejos and San Felipe beach. There are two natural swimming pools, El Altillo and San Lorenzo. A very characteristic and curious place to see is El Roque, where there are houses on a rocky outcrop that ends in a point. Passing along the road you will see it. Arriving at San Felipe beach there is a campsite with space for motorhomes and camper vans.

Best beaches of Gáldar

Gáldar - Playa de Sardina del Norte

In this municipality we highlight the town of Sardina del Norte, with a rocky outcrop that protects from the north swell and which has the best sandy beach in the area, the beach of Sardina. This enclave is also one of the best diving spots in Spain, so if you like this sport, don't miss this place. Then there is another fine sandy beach called Bocabarranco beach. In the area there are numerous natural pools, the most outstanding of which are Punta de Gáldar, Roque Prieto, La Furnia, Emiliano and El Agujero. The most outstanding pools are Punta del Faro, Los Espejos and Barranquillo del Vino. We also have a cove, La Caleta de Arriba in a picturesque village with ornaments overlooking the sea.

East of Gran Canaria

Best beaches of Telde

Telde - Playa de la Garita

This municipality has a multitude of beaches, and is one of the closest destinations from Las Palmas, so there are many Canary Islanders who come here to enjoy the sea. The beaches of Melenara, La Garita and Las Salinetas stand out. All of them have fine sand and are protected from the usual north swell, making them very good for snorkelling. Hombre beach is an ideal place if you want to surf or walk along its long sandy area and even dunes.

I recommend that you visit the beach of Tufia, which is tiny, but its charming village decorated with marine references is worth a visit to contemplate its streets and its slope towards the sea. Ojos de Garza beach is also quite peculiar, as the waves reach the houses at high tide.

Best beaches of Ingenio

Ingenio - Playa de la Burrera

There are only three beaches in Ingenio so we will name them all, each of them has its own peculiarities. Firstly, there is the Burrero beach, with fine sand and a rocky outcrop that protects it from the north swell. Its southern part is bowling and has different areas reserved for windsurfing and kitesurfing because this area has a strong wind.

Nearby is the beach of San Agustín, with fine sand and in an isolated spot where you can practise nudism, and lastly the extensive beach of Vargas. It is a bowling beach and has two different areas for kitesurfing and windsurfing. There are car parks near each area and a campsite with space for motorhomes and campers vans.

Best beaches of Agüimes

Agüimes - Playa del Cabrón

In this municipality we can highlight first of all the Cabrón beach, located in a nature reserve and which is an excellent destination for divers. In the town of Arinaga we have the Arinaga beach, which is very long and has pebble parts and access from the quay. The cove of Risco Verde is an ideal place for diving or snorkelling and the natural pool of Soco Negro, perfect for a good swim without waves and for children to play or snorkel in a protected area.

Best beaches of Santa Lucía de Tirajana

Santa Lucía de Tirajana - Playa de Pozo Izquierd

From here we highlight the beach of Pozo Izquierdo, which has different delimited areas, a beach dedicated to bathing with a large dyke that blocks the strong waves and other areas for kitesurfing and windsurfing. At the main entrance you will find shops and centres for these sports. There is also another beach on the outskirts of the municipality called La Gaviota.

West of Gran Canaria

This part of the island is undoubtedly the wildest, most mountainous and least populated. Much of its coastline is made up of cliffs that reach down to the sea and the beaches are at the end of long, monumental ravines that create beautiful landscapes. I assure you that you will not tire of contemplating them. From here you can enjoy beautiful sunsets, with the sun setting behind the island of Tenerife and the peak of Teide, or Tetilla as it is popularly known here, standing out at the top.

Best beaches of Agaete

Agaete Playa del puerto de las Nieves

In this municipality we have spectacular views of the Tamadaba mountain and how it rushes down to the sea. The group of mountains that gradually recede and become smaller and smaller are called the dragon's tail, as it resembles this mythological being. The best beaches to be found here are Las Nieves beach, the natural swimming pool of Las Salinas and the wild beach of Guayedra in the ravine of the same name. Agaete is a small municipality, nice to visit and in the port we have a great variety of restaurants and local gastronomy of the sea.

Best beaches of Aldea de San Nicolás

Playa de la Aldea de San Nicolás

The urban beaches are La Aldea beach, the cove of La Aldea and finally, the cove of El Puerto, which is further away and is nudist. The surroundings of La Aldea are mountainous and if we want to see the other beaches we will have to go all the way down the ravine to reach them. There are the beaches of Tasarte and Tasartico, both of which are bowling beaches in an incredible setting. One of the most remote and paradisiacal is Gui Gui beach, which is sandy. To get there you will have to walk for about 3 hours or take a boat from Puerto Rico but it is worth the effort to go there and enjoy the views.

Beaches by municipality

Agaete

Agaete

Agüimes

Agüimes

Arucas

Arucas

Gáldar

Gáldar

Ingenio

Ingenio

La Aldea de San Nicolás

La Aldea de San Nicolás

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria

Mogán

Mogán

Moya

Moya

San Bartolomé de Tirajana

San Bartolomé de Tirajana

Santa Lucía de Tirajana

Santa Lucía de Tirajana

Telde

Telde

Selección de playas

Wind and waves foreacast

Aquatic sports

FAQ's

Which beaches and coves in Gran Canaria are dog friendly and can you go with our dog?

List of coves and beaches in Gran Canaria that are dog friendly and you can go with our pet:

Which beaches and coves in Gran Canaria are nudist?

List of coves and beaches in Gran Canaria are naturist and nudism is allowed:

Which beaches and coves in Gran Canaria have a blue flag?

List of coves and beaches in Gran Canaria that have been awarded the blue flag?

Which beaches and coves in Gran Canaria have an area where for a camper van or motorhome?

List of coves and beaches in Gran Canaria where you can spend the night with our van, camper or motorhome. It does not mean that you have the specific services of water supply or sewage disposal. If there is a campsite it is also included in this list.