Beaches & Hidden Coves — Gran Canaria

This is the Gran Canaria most tourists never see. Tucked inside the protected Tamadaba area near Agaete, Guayedra is a wild cove of dark volcanic sand and black pebbles, framed by cliffs and palms — with the silhouette of Mount Teide across the water on a clear evening. The sunsets here are honestly some of the best on the island. It’s a relaxed, clothing-optional beach, though nobody’s forced to undress. There are no facilities, no bins, no bar — you bring everything and take everything home. You reach it on foot down the Guayedra ravine (about 15 minutes from where you leave the car), or on a longer walk from Agaete.

A long, unspoilt stretch of sand and pebble on the wild south-west coast, Playa de las Mujeres is for people who want to settle in for the whole day. It’s the kind of beach where you bring a sun tent, your own food and water, and stay until the light goes. No resorts, no noise — just open sea and space. It’s a relaxed, clothing-optional beach, mixed and uncrowded, popular with locals who know it.

A quiet, easy-going beach where you can happily lose a whole day sunbathing without the crowds. Montaña la Arena has a relaxed, mixed atmosphere — it’s clothing-optional, so naturists and non-naturists share the sand comfortably side by side. The mood is calm and unhurried: bring your things, settle in, and let the hours go. A real local favourite for a peaceful sun day between the bigger southern resorts.

One of my favourites in the south-west. Tauro stands out for its intense golden-yellow sand and beautifully clear, calm water — sheltered enough that it stays peaceful even when the wind picks up elsewhere. It has a laid-back, almost “hippie beach” feel: far quieter than busy Amadores or Puerto Rico next door, mostly locals. There’s a relaxed beachfront restaurant serving fresh fish and traditional Canarian dishes (the kind of honest food and cold beer that makes an afternoon disappear). The sunsets are something else.

Arguineguín is a proper Canarian seaside town rather than a resort bubble, and its beach has a charm all its own — especially at sunset, which here is genuinely magical. Beyond sunbathing, it’s a great spot to get on the water: kayaking and snorkelling are popular in the sheltered bay. And right on the seafront there’s a fish restaurant where you can eat with your feet practically in the sand. A lovely mix of beach, local life and good food.

Right next to the famous Maspalomas dunes but with a completely different mood, Meloneras is calm, elegant and quietly beautiful. It’s the kind of place you come to slow down — a peaceful beach backed by a lovely seafront promenade, with wide-open views over the Atlantic that are simply breathtaking. Less party, more peace.

A wild, natural beach away from the crowds, Los Militares is for those who like their sand untouched and their surroundings quiet. There’s nothing built here — it’s pure nature, a relaxed clothing-optional spot where you come to disconnect. No services, so it’s a bring-everything kind of place.

Up on the green, rugged north coast, the whole stretch around San Felipe is an absolute picture. This is the Atlantic at its most dramatic — wild water, black volcanic rock, and a coastline that feels a world away from the sunny south. It’s known among locals for fresh fish and that raw northern beauty. Come for the scenery and the seafood more than for a classic sunbathing day.