Five Cool North Gran Canaria Beaches The Locals Keep to Themselves

One of north Gran Canaria's many secret local beaches One of north Gran Canaria's many secret local beaches

There are quiet local beaches dotted all around the north coast of Gran Canaria. If you get sick of long sand beaches covered in sun loungers and parasols then head to one of these secret spots. All of them are great for snorkelling.

 

El Juncal

Juncal is a small, pebble beach about 2 km north of Puerto de las Nieves. It is about 120 metres long with calm, clear water. You can walk to if from the town by following the promenade from the harbour north and then cutting inland. There are no facilities at El Juncal, and it is completely natural. Most of the regulars don't bother with clothes.

El Puertillo

Arucas is famous for its colossal Gothic church and pretty town centre. Few people know that the town also has its own beach and natural swimming pool. El Puertillo is small with dark sand, but you are almost guaranteed to be the only tourist there among a few Canarian families. The beach is sheltered, but the north coast is rough so don't swim out too far. Opposite the beach is a huge natural swimming pool that shelters swimmers from the surf. The village also has fish restaurants, and a promenade. 

Sardina del Norte

Sardina del Norte is packed with scuba divers and local seafood lovers every weekend. It is one of the best places in Gran Canaria to see angel sharks and big rays, as well as amberjacks, and even tuna. The small sandy beach never have anyone except locals on. Combine a day on Sardina Beach with a seafood feast at the restaurants by the harbour. Sardina del Norte is an odd place as the harbour is built right at the bottom of a huge cliff. 

El Risco

El Risco is more famous for its Blue Pool or Charco Azul that for its beach. However, if you head down the valley from the village rather than up the hill, you get to a wide sand and pebble beach that is completely undeveloped. It a quiet spot that rarely has anyone on at all. Nudism is fine, even expected, on El Risco Beach.

San Cristobal

San Cristobal Beach is all pebbles and not that many people ever go swimming off it. Tucked away in town by the harbour is a tiny little sand beach with safe water. San Cristobal is very popular with the locals because it's home to some of the best seafood restaurants in Las Palmas. San Cristobal is on the way into Las Palmas from the south. The original village has been absorbed by the city but still maintains its own charm and local feel. 

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Tip of the day

  • The Parafarmacia In Gran Canaria Is Not A Chemist!
    The Parafarmacia In Gran Canaria Is Not A Chemist!

    If there is one thing we hate it is visitors being tricked in Gran Canaria. In the past we've warned about overcharging at Gran Canaria chemists, and rip off electronics shops in resorts. 

    In this Tip Of The Day we return to the island's chemists or rather, to the island's fake chemists.

    A chemist in Gran Canaria is called a Farmacia and always has a green cross sign. Farmacias are the only place tobuy medicine in Spain, even basics like paracetamol.

    However, there is another kind of shop in Gran Canaria that looks and sounds like a chemist but doesn't sell medicine. This is the Parafarmacia and it also uses a green cross sign.

    A parafarmacia is a herbal medicine shop that is not allowed to sell any normal medicine such as paracetamol, ibuprofen or antibiotics. 

    Instead, parafarmacias sell herbal alternatives to medicine but don't have to prove that they work and they can charge whatever they want.

    We recently heard from a visitor to Gran Canaria who went into a parafarmacia and was charged 40 euros for a herbal alternative to Ibuprofen. It was only when they read the label that they realised what had happened. 

    To locate a genuine farmacia, see this website and search within your municipio (Puerto Rico is in Mogán, Playa del Inglés is in San Bartolomé de Tirajana). At weekends and on fiesta days many farmacias close but there is always one open, known as the farmacia de guardia, in each municipio.

    Search for the nearest one to you with this tool

    Lex Says: To keep costs down, see this article for the way to ask for generic medicine rather than expensive branded alternatives. 

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