Find out 5 ways to enjoy Playa de Las Canteras

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One of the Canary Islands’ main draws for tourists are their incredible beaches, creating unique landscapes across the islands. In the city of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, in the north-east of the island of Gran Canaria, you’ll find one of Spain’s most famous urban beaches: Las Canteras.

It’s a beach where you can enjoy endless activities with family and friends, thanks to the wonderful weather – all year-round. In this post we’ll take a look at 5 activities you simply can’t miss when you visit this popular beach in Gran Canaria’s capital city.

Snorkelling by night

Snorkelling at Playa de Las Canteras is a must for the daring – or anyone looking for an utterly unique experience. 

The coastline boasts an impressive ‘natural aquarium’ with an extraordinarily diverse array of marine life, right in the heart of the city. Plus, the tranquil sea makes it a go-to tourist destination for anyone visiting the island. 

Diving is always an amazing experience… just imagine doing it by night! Thanks to the glorious climate, you can indulge in this fabulous activity by night, using torchlight to illuminate the wonders of the seabed. You’ll find diving schools along the seafront promenade offering these fascinating snorkelling tours (led by a professional, of course).

Dining by the sea

Spanning more than three kilometres, Las Canteras is the ideal beach for a long walk. You can go from La Cícer – where you can check out the Alfredo Kraus Auditorium, to La Puntilla, with countless terraces, pubs and restaurants. 

Why not simply spend a day enjoying the sun and local climate one day? The perfect place to try one of the restaurants offering a selection of typical Canary Island dishes and international cuisine. La Bikina Cantina, La Marinera and Restaurante Nuevo Gran Playa all come highly recommended. 

As the evening draws in, you can take in the sunset with a refreshing drink at one of the pubs on the Avenida. Top spots include The Block Cafe, Mumbai Sunset Bar and NYC Taxi RockBar. If the weather plays ball, you can even see Tenerife from La Plantilla, and gaze at Teide volcano on the horizon.

Visit ‘La Barra’

Another iconic Playa de Las Canteras spot is ‘La Barra’ (a reef barrier) formerly also known as ‘el arrecife’ (the reef). This long rock formation, which you can see close to the coast, blocks waves from getting to the beach, making it the ideal place for a pleasant swim.

Further north, in the part of the beach known as La Cícer, bigger waves come crashing into the beach – there’s no barrier there to protect it. Over the years, some of the ‘barra’ has been eroded by the waves, shifting the surf spots further towards the north of the beach.

To get as far as the ‘barra’, you’ll need to swim around 200 metres from the shore and you’ll get to this natural enclave with around two kilometres to explore. You’ll need to wear the right footwear if you want to explore the rocks safely.

Surfing

No matter how skilled – or unskilled – you are, surfing at Playa de Las Canteras is a must. The sport has become a major pull for tourists in the region, and it’s one of the main reasons surfers flock to stay in La Cícer.

In fact surfing is so popular for people visiting that a number of surfing and paddle boarding businesses have sprung up on the Avenida, all ready to give you a truly unforgettable experience.

Whether you’re doing it for the first time, or looking to up your game to expert level, we recommend taking some surfing lessons in one of the schools in the area. They include: Mojosurf, University Surf School and 3RJ Surf Time.

Clear kayak

The conditions at Playa de Las Canteras are perfect for kayaking, with lovely calm water… so just imagine doing it whilst you take a look at the seabed! You can ride in a transparent kayak and cruise through the crystal clear waters whilst taking in the incredible marine life.

Sound good to you? Ask in one of the local businesses where you can rent this kind of kayak, and you’re all set for a unique experience with friends or family, with a supervisor leading the way.

Categories: Canaries, Travel Tips, Gran Canaria, Lifestyle