14 Best Beaches in the Canary Islands

tenerife light beach

Contrary to popular belief, the Canary Islands offer some really beautiful beaches with fine golden sand.

It is important only to know where these places are and how to find them.

If you are looking for natural white or golden beaches, you will probably be most impressed by the island of Fuerteventura.

Lanzarote and Isla de Lobos also can boast a few natural beaches that are worth visiting.

More from Canary Islands:

The islands of Tenerife and Gran Canaria are places to offer some really attractive bright-sand beaches, but most of them are traditionally artificial.

La Gomera, El Hierro and La Palma have very few beaches, and they are mostly black and volcanic.

Here’s a list of some of the most attractive places to choose from in the Canary Islands.

1. Las Teresitas, Tenerife

tenerife light beach
Las Teresitas is considered to be one of the most beautiful beaches in Tenerife, and it quite often plays the role of a symbol of the Canary Islands.

It is an artificial beach with sand brought from the Sahara Desert.

It is located north of the city of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, and is protected from large waves by volcanic stone wave breaker.

This is the most important and attractive coastal hot-spot for residents and visitors of the city.

2. Los Cristianos and Playa de Las Americas, Tenerife

Often called “the Canarian Riviera”, Los Cristianos and Playa de Las Americas can boast a wide variety of beaches.

Several of them are artificial, and they are made up with bright and fine sand from the Sahara Desert.

However, there are also several natural beaches with black volcanic sand.

The beaches of Los Cristianos and Playa de Las Americas are situated close to each other in a north-south direction.

They are located in the southwest of the island of Tenerife, and are very popular with visitors, especially when it comes to visitors from the Northern European countries.

3. Playa de Las Canteras, Gran Canaria

Playa de Las Canteras is one of the most popular beaches on the Canary Islands.

It is located on the west coast of Las Palmas, the largest city.

The beach is usually pretty busy and crowded.

It enjoys a great interest from tourists, especially during the Christmas holidays, when people from all around the world come here to bathe into the sea.

4. Playa de Mogan, Gran Canaria

Playa de Mogan is a small but really beautiful beach with golden sand and coconut palm trees.

Near the beach there are plenty of entertainment options and attractions to be enjoyed.

Narrow channel separates the beach from the charming streets of the so-called “Venice of the Canaries”.

The combination of sand, calm sea and beautiful views creates the perfect holidays hotspot.

5. Playa de Amadores, Gran Canaria

Situated on the southwest coast of Gran Canaria, Playa de Amadores is one of those man-made beaches with gentle bright sands that will easily make you fall in love with them.

The beach is considered one of the most popular on the island, and it is all year round full of visitors.

Like all the other artificial beaches on the Canary Islands, Playa de Amadores is also made up with sand from the Sahara Desert.

6. Playa de Puerto Rico, Gran Canaria

Puerto Rico is one of the best Canarian resorts, and no one could resist its superb beach.

The blue balmy water is almost always mirror-calm because the beach is protected by a large breakwater and modern marina.

Well-maintained golden sand attracts even the most capricious sunbathers.

The beach offers beautiful view toward the resort and its wild rocky surroundings.

7. Playa de Anfi, Gran Canaria

fuerteventura golden beach and sunbathing woman
Anfi Beach (or Playa de Anfi) is located on the coast of the famous Canarian resort “La Verga”.

Most people describe this place as the most beautiful artificial beach ever seen.

It boasts fine snow-white sand and promenade fringed by beautiful coconut palm trees.

Good-looking buildings and rich tropical vegetation complement each other perfectly, creating the best conditions to spend an unforgettable holiday.

8. Playa del Ingles, Gran Canaria

The famous resort of Maspalomas boasts one of the largest beaches on Gran Canaria – Playa del Ingles.

Completely natural, it is the coastal part of a small island desert.

Huge sandy dunes separate the bustling resort center from the ocean, and sometimes one has to go through several hundred meters of fine sand to reach the sea.

9. Playa da Costa Calma, Fuerteventura

If you are planning to visit the Canary Islands only for their beaches, then Fuerteventura is the best place for you.

The island is known for its natural white sandy beaches and crystal clear sea.

Costa Calma is one of the jewels of the island.

The resort town is located in the southeast of Fuerteventura, and it boasts several kilometers of great beach that looks calm and deserted even during the busiest times of the year.

10. Playa de Corralejo, Fuerteventura

Playa de Corralejo is no doubt the most beautiful of all the beaches in the Canary Islands.

This piece of paradise is 100% natural, and it is located in the northeastern part of Fuerteventura.

With few interruptions, the beach extends more than 10 km in a north-south direction.

In fact, in this part of the island has formed a sort of desert that gives the coastline its wild and authentic charm.

11. Playa de La Concha, Isla de Lobos

Playa de La Concha is located in a small bay on the southern coast of the island of Isla de Lobos.

The place is completely untouched, and it has an extraordinary magnetism.

It offers a combination of light sand and sparkling shallow waters that shine under the tropical sun in multiple shades of azure.

This place is desolate and deserted, and below the mirror surface can be seen an amazing variety of small fish.

12. Playa de Papagayo, Lanzarote

Playa de Papagayo is a gorgeous beach, known for its natural and unspoiled beauty.

It is located in a small bay in the southeast of Lanzarote.

The bay is quite sheltered, so this is the best place in Lanzarote if you are looking for calm and transparent sea waters.

However, with a length of less than 100 meters, the golden sandy beach of Papagayo is relatively small.

The combination of desert surroundings and almost constant sunny weather is what makes this place so exciting.

13. Playa Flamingo, Lanzarote

Playa Flamingo is the pride of Lanzarote.

It is considered the most beautiful artificial beach on the island.

Two massive concrete piers protect the beach from large ocean waves, and they keep the water calm even on windy days.

The beach is dotted with exotic coconut palm trees that give even more appealing look of this heavenly place.

14. Playa Blanca, Lanzarote

With a length of over 350 meters, Playa Blanca is the largest white man-made sandy beach on the island of Lanzarote.

Along the coast there is a beautiful promenade with tropical plants, hotels and restaurants.

Because it is located in one of the most dynamic and busy tourist areas, the largest beach in the south of Lanzarote is one of the most crowded on the island.

More from Canary Islands: