Playa de Las Canteras
The Playa de Las Canteras is not just a city beach — it is one of the best city beaches in Europe and the heart of modern Las Palmas. The golden sandy beach stretches over 3.2 kilometers along the Istmo de Guanarteme, protected by a natural rock reef called La Barra, which runs parallel to the beach and tames the waves.
The Beach
Las Canteras can be divided into three sections:
- Playa Grande (South): The main section with the best sand, protected by La Barra. Calm waters, ideal for swimming and snorkeling. Life pulses here: joggers, families, surfers, skaters on the promenade.
- La Cícer (Middle/North): The surfer section. Here, La Barra breaks, and the waves reach the beach unimpeded. Local surfers and bodyboarders share the waves with international surfers. Onshore: trendy cafés and surf shops.
- El Confital (North End): Untouched rocky beach at the far end, without tourist infrastructure. Wild, rugged, and popular with locals. Famous for the El Confital wave — one of the best surf waves in Europe, breaking only with a big swell.
The Promenade (Paseo de Las Canteras)
The beach promenade of Las Canteras is the social center of the city: 3.2 kilometers long, lined with restaurants, bars, ice cream parlors, and small shops. In the evenings, half of Las Palmas strolls along here — the Paseo (evening stroll) is a deeply rooted Spanish tradition. Sunsets at Las Canteras are among the most beautiful in the Canary Islands: the sun sets directly into the sea, and the sky turns all shades of orange.
Snorkeling at La Barra
The natural reef La Barra is an underrated snorkeling paradise right at the city beach. At low tide, the rocks protrude from the water; at high tide, you can snorkel over the reef and observe parrotfish, trumpetfish, moray eels, and occasionally angel sharks. Masks and snorkels are available at rental stations on the beach (from 5€/day). Best to snorkel in calm seas and at high tide.
