Best beaches in Gran Canaria
One of the best things to do in Gran Canaria is hit the beach. And on this warm, sunny island there’s no shortage to choose from. But these were our favourite beaches in Gran Canaria.
Playa de Meloneras
A small beach with bars and restaurants along the back, and a perfect spot to view the sunset. There is a dedicated car park and free street parking within a 5 minute walk of the beach, which was quiet in the evenings.
Las Dunas de Maspalomas
Maspalomas beach is a long stretch that spans the south west of Gran Canaria. Accessing it from Faro is an easy walk along the sand. Or you can walk through the dunes for a longer, more scenic hike.
The dunes are, obviously, pretty hilly so if you’re not up for a 20 minute up-and-down walk to your sun lounger you might want to give that a miss. But it’s definitely one of the best sights to see if you’re visiting Maspalomas.
This beach is sectioned by numbered kiosks which attract different groups of people. There are gay, nudist, and other areas along the vast expanse of beach. So look into the best areas depending on what you’re into! These kiosks were closed during our visit in November, but still act as markers.
Playa de Tauro
One of my favourite beaches in Gran Canaria. When visiting Playa de Tauro it’s best to park at Amadores and walk 5-10 minutes from either the free overground or paid underground car park.
The beach bar, Pio Pio, is great for mojitos and fresh food. And we also ate at Bistro Salsa near Amadores one day because Pio Pio was closed for a movie filming. Tauro is relaxed and peaceful, despite the bar, and is a beautiful place to watch the sunset.
Güigüí
Not for the faint hearted or the fair weather beach-goer, Güigüí is a ‘secret’ virgin beach that sits at the end of a 5k hike. Stunning and peaceful, it’s well worth the walk. Which takes you over the peak of a small mountain and down a winding dirt track with very little shade.
Though difficult due to the steep uphill and intense heat, it is not a technically difficult walk. So most fit and healthy walkers should be able to manage the hike.
Just remember that once you get there, you have to come back! Although many people do choose to camp overnight on this secluded beach… Which means bringing more equipment and supplies with you on the trek. In the high season, there are boat trips from Puerto Rico to Güigüí. But we did the walk there and back in an afternoon.
You can read about our hike to Güigüí in my blog: The best hikes in Gran Canaria.
Anfi, Puerto Rico, Amadores, and Puerto de Mogán
There are plenty of seafront towns in Gran Canaria. So if you like this kind of spot or are staying in one of these towns it makes for an easy trip to the beach. And you won’t even need to drive.
These are all beautiful but fairly busy spots. We prefer beaches that are set away from bars and boardwalks, so we only wandered along these beaches and didn’t go in the sea or sunbathe here.
Looking for more things to do in Gran Canaria? Check out our blog.