The Canaries are the perfect place for a break by the sea. With 3,000 sunshine hours a year, there’s no denying the region has a great climate. The Islands also boast more than 500 beaches on their 3,500 km of coastline.
Sandy beaches where you can walk for hours, or lie down and enjoy the heat on your body; small, isolated bays where the waves gently rock you as they lap the shore... Whether you fancy enjoying the sea and the sun, doing water sports, or just relaxing, there’s a lot to choose from.
The colour and texture of the sand are different at every beach, like the colour of the sea and the surroundings. Every beach is unique and special. Many of them have something specific for the LGBTQ community.
On Gran Canaria it’s very easy to find the perfect choice for everyone. City beaches, like Las Canteras, in the heart of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria; wild, natural beaches, like Güi Güi; or more touristy beaches that are well-known to visitors, like anywhere in the south of the island: Amadores, Puerto Rico... They’re all perfect for enjoying the sun and taking a refreshing dip.
The LGBTQ crowd tends to hang out at Playa del Inglés and Maspalomas. These areas are home to most of the accommodation catering for the LGBTQ community, and Maspalomas has an area for nudist sunbathing. It’s also the venue of a very special beach bar: Number 7, a hangout for LGBTQ locals and tourists.
For a complete change from Maspalomas, head to Guayedra or Montaña de Arena, two unspoilt secluded beaches that are hard to get to, but that’s what makes them special - there’s hardly anyone there. You can also enjoy nudism at these beaches while you swim in the crystal-clear water. Perfect for switching off!
Tenerife has something for everyone, but Tejita’s definitely one of the best-loved LGBTQ beaches. It’s in a protected natural area and you have to walk there, but the 1 km stretch of black sand is sheltered by the volcanic cone of Montaña Roja. A secluded spot where nudism’s allowed, this beach is a fantastic choice for a day out.
Further south, there are more beaches in Las Américas, Los Cristianos and Costa Adeje, with miles of coastline and endless places to eat, water activities, nightlife and good vibes… The kind of place where you won’t have time to be bored.
On Lanzarote and Fuerteventura you’ll find wild, untouched beaches with a backdrop of mountains, like Caletón Blanco and Famara (with a nudist section at the end) on Lanzarote, and Sotovento and Cofete in Fuerteventura. For more touristy beaches, you can head to Corralejo and Jandía, Fuerteventura’s crowning glory, and Playa Blanca and Puerto del Carmen, on Lanzarote, with all kinds of hangouts (some of them LGBTQ) and terrace bars to suit every taste, right by the sea.
Not far away, La Cocina and Montaña Amarilla on La Graciosa are untouched beaches with clear water where peace and quiet reign. Add any little corner of the small island of Los Lobos and you’ll appreciate the huge variety that’s totally different from what you’ll find on the western islands.
Highlights on La Palma include the picturesque Playa de Nogales and Charco Verde, and on El Hierro the coves in Tacorón and El Verodal are wonderful places to switch off. La Gomera has its own Playa del Inglés, one of the best-known and best-loved beaches among LGBTQ visitors, because naturism’s allowed and, even though it’s hidden away by the mountainous backdrop, it’s relatively close to the tourist area of Valle Gran Rey.
It’s not easy choosing from more than 500 beaches, but you really don’t have to. Every island has busy stretches of beach that are just moments away from wild, secluded bays. All you have to do is decide what takes your fancy. The Canary Islands will take care of the rest.
