El Confital Beach

Waves break white on dark volcanic rock along the shore, and their noise follows you the length of the boardwalk. The city's crowded beaches feel a long way off. Here the coast is left to surfers, walkers and people tucked into the coves between the rocks.

Benches along the path face the open sea, and sunset is the hour to sit on one. For the wider view, climb the rocky hill above the beach: a cross stands at the top, caves are cut into the cliff facing the sand, and Las Palmas spreads out below.

• There is no drinking water nearby. Bring your own.
• Bare volcanic rock and sand give no shade at midday, so bring a hat and sunscreen.
• There is a public toilet on the site.
• The rockpools and wet rock are slippery; wear shoes with grip.
• Naturists sunbathe in the coves among the rocks.

By car, a gravel car park lies about 140 m away. By bus, the nearest stops are María Dolorosa, 1, about 580 m away in a straight line, and Coronel Rocha (Nueva Isleta), about 680 m away; the rest is on foot. Once at the coast, the wooden boardwalk follows the shore, and information boards stand along the way. The climb to the cross on the rocky hill is an extra walk on top of that.

Best: late afternoon, staying on for sunset.

Avoid: the middle of a sunny day if you need shade, and the rock edge on days of heavy swell.

The shore looks out over the open Atlantic, so the sun goes down over the sea, while bare rock offers nothing against the midday sun and a big swell, most often in winter, throws waves over the rocks.