Beaches in Gran Canaria

Gran Canaria has a large number of beautiful beaches with the added advantage that visitors can swim in the sea all year round. The island has a warm climate and the temperature of the water is around 18ºC in winter and 22ºC in summer. As in other areas of Spain where tourism is the biggest source of income, all beaches have good facilities and are kept very clean.

In the south of Gran Canaria the weather is generally warmer and it is nearly always sunny. There are some nudist beaches as well as many pretty small coves. The best known beaches are:

Beaches in Las Palmas:

• Playa de Las Canteras: This is the best beach and is considered to be one of the best in Spain. It is 3000 metres long with fine, golden sand and a calm sea. There are very good facilities as well as many bars with terraces, restaurants and a promenade. There is a reef 2 kilometres from the shore which protects the beach and sea life from the open sea creating a unique ecosystem. Nearest port: Puerto de Las Alcaravaneras. An ideal place for diving, surfing, bodyboarding and windsurfing. Very busy.
• Playa de Alcararavenas: Located in Puerto de La Luz and next to 2 nautical clubs. This beach is almost 1000 metres long, very busy, near the town, with fine, golden sand and a calm sea. Nearest port: Puerto de Las Alcaravaneras. Accessible by bus, facilities (showers and toilets etc), life guards. Ideal for wind surfing, surfing, sailing and bodyboarding.
• Playa El Confital: This is an open beach. Idea for wind surfing, surfing, sailing and body boarding. Located next to the small island in Puerto de la Luz. The nearest port: Puerto de Las Alcaravaneras. It is 180 metres long, not very busy, unspoilt with fine, golden sand, large waves and strong currents, surrounded by rocks, accessible by bus, facilities (showers and toilets etc)
• Playa de San Cristóbal: A wide beach 950 metres long, near the town, medium sized waves. Ideal for surfing, windsurfing and bodyboarding.
• Playa de La Laja: Unspoilt, 1200 metres long with fine, grey sand, a paradise for surfers, busy, medium sized waves, accessible by bus. Nearest port Puerto de Las Alcaravaneras.

Beaches in Maspalomas:

• Playa de Maspalomas: Dunes, fine. golden sand, calm sea, 2700 metres long, busy, near the town, accessible by bus, there is a nudist area. Ideal for surfing, windsurfing and bodyboarding.
• Playa Pasito Blanco: Located next to the port, 450 metres long, near the town, fine, golden sand, calm sea, accessible by bus, life guards. An ideal place for diving.
• Playa del Inglés: Located in Maspalomas, sand dunes, fine, golden sand, 2700 metres long, busy, in an urban location, accessible by bus, life guards. The nearest port is Pasito Blanco. Near hotels with gardens, very good facilities, good for water sports and ideal for surfing, windsurfing and bodyboarding.
• Playa del Faro de Maspalomas: Sand dunes and an old lighthouse. This is in a protected natural reserve. Ideal for surfing, windsurfing and bodyboarding.
• Playa de San Agustín: Located in Maspalomas, peaceful with dark sand, good facilities. Ideal for surfing, windsurfing and bodyboarding.
• Playa del Faro: In Maspalomas, 560 metres long, busy, near the town, sandy with pebbles, windy with medium sized waves, life guards, car park. Nearest port: Pasito Blanco.

Puerto Mogán:

• Playa de Puerto Rico: Located in Puerto Mogan. Very good artificial beach with good facilities, you can do all sorts of water sports here as well as go on boat trips, 250 metres long with fine, golden sand and calm sea, busy, accessible by bus, life guards, good facilities. Nearest port: Puerto Rico.
• Playa Mogán: Located in Puerto Mogán, 190 metres long, grey sand with pebbles, calm water, accessible by bus, life guards, good facilities. Ideal for surfing, windsurfing and bodyboarding.
• Playa Patalavaca-Anfi del Mar: Located in Araguineguín (Puerto Mogán). A small artificial beach with fine, grey sand, 290 metres long, calm water, surrounded by a marina and hotels, near the town, busy, accessible by bus, good facilities. Nearest port: Pasito Blanco.

Beaches in Tirajana:

• Playa Meloneras: Located in San Bartolomé de Tirajana, 460 metres long, unspoilt, busy, fine golden sand with pebbles, windy, calm sea, life guards, car park. Nearest port: Pasito Blanco.
• Playa Mujeres: Located in San Bartolomé de Tirajana, 500 metres long, unspoilt, windy, calm sea, good facilities, busy. Nearest port: Pasito Blanco.

Beaches in Arinaga-Aguimes:

• Playa Cabrón: Located 31 kilometres from the airport in Arinaga. This beach is 290 metres long, unspoilt, quite busy, windy, calm sea, life guards. Nearest port: Puerto Taliarte. Ideal for diving.

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Related: Guide to Gran Canaria