Best Beaches in Gran Canaria

Playa de Maspalomas

With the heart of Maspalomas town on hand, Maspalomas beach is a protected nature reserve and the second largest beach on the island. With yellow sand, this beach is characterised by its sand dunes, which offer undulating spots of privacy away from the seaside stretch of beach. The beach also has a long promenade ideal for walking and taking in the beach in all its glory. This large beach attracts families and adults in equal measure. There are also plenty of water sports available to do from the beach, plus you can book boat trips directly on the beach too, including a catamaran tour and dolphin watching.

Playa de Mogán

This golden sandy man-made beach is found in Puerto de Mogán, a resort known as Little Venice because of the canal ways found there. Playa de Mogán is located in the south west of Gran Canaria, particularly loved by visitors because it has almost consistently warm weather and clear skies. Found in a pretty bay, the waters are calm, making it popular with families as well as couples. There’s plenty of activity if you want it – however – with jet skiing, parasailing and banana boat rides all on tap.

Playa de Amadores

This stunning white sandy beach with shallow turquoise waters is a man-made beach whose name translates into ‘lovers beach’. Popular with both couples and families, Playa de Amadores is a nicely sheltered 500-metre-long fine sand beach in a high-end area in the south west of the island. As well as the beautiful beach, there are play areas for children, a beach bar with a pool, a miniature golf course and a spa area for massages. A couple of promenades make wandering to the restaurants, shops and ice cream houses a pleasant experience. Other beach facilities include sun loungers, umbrellas and pedal boat hire.

Las Canteras

Found in the capital of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, this 1.7-mile-long beach is the longest beach on the island. The rich yellow sandy beach is lined with a coral barrier, providing shelter and calmer conditions for swimmers. The Las Palmas locality is known for its hot desert climate offset by the cool Canary Current, meaning the resulting temperatures are usually pleasantly warm year-round. This huge beach has something for everyone, with sun loungers ideal for families and general relaxation at the northern end of the beach, and water sports to the south, including scuba diving, surfing and windsurfing. A promenade running behind the beach gives access to restaurants serving fresh seafood and Canarian staples.

Playa de Sardina del Norte

Ideal for diving enthusiasts and those who want to enjoy a slice of local life, this beach has it all. The clear waters make it especially popular with divers and snorkelers. It’s possible to rent equipment from the beach and spot Angel Sharks and rays in the local waters. With a mixture of sand and stones, the beach is a popular place for people to come and sit to watch local fishermen. A number of nearby restaurants mean it’s possible to eat their freshly caught sardines and other fish.

Playa de Aguadulce

This small and sheltered sandy beach is popular with couples, who view it as a small corner of paradise on the island. Reached via a short hike over a rocky outcrop, days can be spent relaxing on the soft sand or exploring the nearby waters with a snorkel. Located in the small village of Tufia, this is a place to walk along traditional Canarian streets. Playa de Tufia is another beach with black volcanic sand next door, almost entirely visited by locals.

Playa de Melenara

Another popular local beach on the east of the island, Playa de Melenara is spacious and easy to access, making it especially popular with wheelchair users and families. Lifeguards here are specially trained to help wheelchair users, while a shaded area peppered with picnic tables at the back of the beach makes it a popular spot with families and day-trippers.

Playa de Vargas

This unspoiled beach is made up of a combination of rock and sand. Although it doesn’t attract sunbathers and swimmers, it is the perfect spot for those who love long beachside hikes. Keen mountain bikers also enjoy taking advantage of the mountain biking trail directly behind it.

Playa de la Aldea

This stony beach visited mostly by locals has three bays, one with sun loungers and showers. It’s a quaint but sheltered spot to spend some traditional Canarian time, with some local restaurants with tasty food just a short walk away.