The Ultimate Guide to Nude Beaches of Gran Canaria

When most people think about Gran Canaria, their minds immediately drift to the famous dunes of Maspalomas. Well, at least those who want to spend their vacation with the least clothes as possible. And who can blame them? These iconic stretches of golden dunes have become synonymous with clothes-free holidays in the Canary Islands. But what if we told you that this amazing island hides many more naturist treasures along its coastline?

We’ve spent several weeks exploring Gran Canaria’s shores, and there are actually numerous nude beaches scattered around the island. In this guide, we’ll take you on a coastal road trip around the island, starting in the touristic south and then making our way further to discover all the nude-friendly spots this beautiful island has to offer.

If you’ve ever heard about naturism in Gran Canaria, you’ve probably heard about these two. Maspalomas and Playa del Inglés form an impressive stretch of golden sand dunes on the southern coast, where nude sunbathers have been enjoying the sunshine for decades.

The official nude section lies roughly between beach bars 3 and 8, but in reality, numbers are quite relative here, and you’ll likely find naked people all along the beach. It’s definitely not a place where you’ll be alone, but the atmosphere is incredibly relaxed and welcoming. Whether you’re looking to sunbathe, swim, or simply admire the endless sand dunes, this is the place to be. One of our favorite features is that you can visit several beach bars in the nude, something rather rare at nude beaches.

This place comes with a warning, though. The dunes of Maspalomas are famous for more nude activities than just sunbathing. Especially around sunset, we’d recommend not taking your kids for an evening walk because you may have to do the birds and bees talk sooner than you expected.

The eastern coast of Gran Canaria doesn’t offer many nude beaches, but Playa de Aguadulce is definitely worth a visit if you’re in the area. It’s the only real nude beach on this side of the island, a small, quiet bay with dark volcanic sand and crystal clear waters.

What makes this beach particularly attractive is its accessibility. Unlike some of the more remote nude beaches you’ll read about further in this guide, Aguadulce is relatively easy to reach, just steps away from the picturesque town Tufia.

The downside of this beach is that it’s located very near the airport. It’s great if you want to wave at airplanes, but you need to be able to cancel out the noise to truly enjoy it.

Heading into the southwest, we discovered three nude beaches located right next to one another: Playa Mujeres, Playa Montaña Arena, and Playa Carpinteras.

Playa Mujeres is a small cove with black sand and a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere. You’ll often find naked sunbathers here, but never too many, creating a perfect balance between social and peaceful.

Just a short walk from Playa Mujeres, Montaña Arena is the most popular of these three beaches. It has a long sandy stretch that gives excellent access to the sea, and the atmosphere tends to be more vibrant than at the neighboring Playa Mujeres. If you’re looking for a bit more vibe but still want to avoid the crowds of Maspalomas, this is your spot.

The third beach is Playa Carpinteras, which we found to be the least attractive because it’s mostly covered in pebbles rather than sand. It does offer a peaceful, nude-friendly environment, perfect for those looking to escape the crowds, but we’d recommend choosing one of the other two beaches instead.

To reach any of these three beaches, you’ll need to park next to the highway and follow the hiking trails down. It’s not the easiest access, but that’s exactly what keeps these beaches pristine and relatively quiet.

Further up the coast is Playa Triana, which deserves a quick mention as it is a nude beach, but its location right next to the highway doesn’t make it a very attractive option. Unless you really want to visit all of the nude beaches on the island, we’d recommend skipping this one.

Just north of the popular tourist city Puerto Rico is Playa de Tauro, which we found to be a pretty interesting place. During our visit, the main beach was 100% textile, while the naked beachgoers were hidden in the back behind some bushes. We’re not sure if this is always the case or if it was just a thing of the moment (a local TV crew filming nearby may have had something to do with it).

A more interesting beach in this region is Playa Medio Almud. To get there, you’ll need to park next to the highway and follow a strange, unused road that doesn’t at all represent the beauty that awaits.

Playa Medio Almud is a stunning, sheltered cove with a very relaxed vibe. Unlike some of the larger beaches, it has a more intimate feel, making it a favorite among nude sunbathers. When we visited, everyone was enjoying the beach completely naked.

Beyond Playa Medio Almud, the beaches get more remote and less easy to access. Playa Veneguera is a great example. It’s a long, quiet beach where you’ll rarely find other people. The beach is fully covered with pebbles and the sea is rough, so swimming isn’t really an option. Be prepared for an adventure to get here – the 10-kilometer drive on the dirt track from the main road took us over an hour, so plan accordingly.

If you’re feeling particularly adventurous, there are even more isolated beaches nearby, such as Playa de Güi Güi and Playa Tasarte. We won’t go into too much detail about these, but just know that if you want to be completely alone with nature, this part of the island is perfect. Just be ready for long drives or hikes to reach them.

The further we headed north, the more rugged the landscape became. According to our internet research, there are several nude beaches in this area, but we found them either extremely difficult to access or sometimes even impossible. Take Playa de Faneroque, for example. It looked like an impressive beach from above, but we couldn’t find a trail to get down.

For a more accessible option in this region, head towards the town of Agaete. You can park just outside of Puerto de las Nieves and follow the hiking trail north. After about half an hour, you’ll reach Playa del Juncal, a beautiful cove in the middle of nature. The pebbles and strong current make swimming impossible, but if you like sunbathing and hiking, this is definitely a recommendation.

The area north of Puerto de Sardina is said to have nude beaches as well, but we couldn’t find any during our exploration. The next place worth mentioning is Playa de la Guancha. It’s not the most beautiful beach, but it’s said to have the world’s best bodyboarding wave. If naked bodyboarding happens to be your thing, this is where you want to be!

Getting closer to Las Palmas city, we found Playa El Bufadero. It’s not much of a beach but rather some really large flat stones. The scenery, however, is absolutely amazing, with ancient salt mines on one side and spectacular waves on the other. This place combines history, culture, nature, and nudity all in one unique location.

Just north of Las Palmas is the La Isleta peninsula with Playa El Cofital. According to the signs, there’s a designated nude section, but we found that nude sunbathers just spread along the parts with few other people. It’s one of the few places in the north where the sea is easily accessible. It’s a great place for a quick skinny dip without leaving the city, or for spending a whole day in the nude if you have the time.

Whether you prefer lively beaches with amenities or remote coves where you can be completely alone, Gran Canaria has something for every nude beach lover. The year-round sunny climate makes it possible to enjoy time without clothes here even during the winter months when other European destinations are too cold for clothes-free activities.

Add to that the stunning landscapes, the crystal clear waters, and the generally accepting attitude towards nudity, and you’ve got yourself the perfect naturist holiday destination.