La Aldea Beach is the shore of La Aldea de San Nicolás, the westernmost municipality of Gran Canaria. The beach is made of large stones and faces the open Atlantic. Beside it lie a park, a small harbour with steps into the water and the La Marciega wetlands, with restaurants close by. A festival is held here every year on 11 September.
La Aldea Beach
Local name: Playa de La Aldea
Stone beach on Gran Canaria's west coast, with a small harbour, swimming steps and Atlantic sunsets.
- Entrance
- Free; it is a public beach.
- Accessibility
- The beach is large, loose stones, which a wheelchair cannot cross and which are hard going for anyone unsteady on their feet. The harbour has steps down into the water.
- Parking
- Free car park (Playa) about 500 m away; another car park about 350 m away.
- Difficulty
- The approach is a walk from the car park, about 350–500 m in a straight line; the beach itself is loose stones, awkward underfoot.
- Transport
- Bus stops El Puente (about 450 m away) and Puerto de San Nicolás (about 550 m away).
- Advance booking
- Not needed.
- Hours
- Open at any time.
- Address
- La Aldea Beach, 35479, Las Palmas, Spain
What makes it special
The sun sets straight into the Atlantic here, and the beach is the place to watch it go. The stones are large, and loose enough for heavy waves to shift them. They are also made for balancing: stacking a tower of them is a good way to wait for the light to fade.
Mountain valleys run down to the coast behind the shore. What stands by the sea is plain — a park, the beach and a small harbour where locals swim from steps that drop straight into the water. Boards near the shore explain the La Marciega wetlands and the osprey, and there are restaurants nearby for a drink after dark.
Good to know
- The beach is all large stones: bring water shoes or sturdy sandals.
- For a swim, the harbour has steps straight down into the water.
- Free public toilets are about 450 m away. There is no drinking fountain nearby, so bring water.
- A festival is held here every year on 11 September; expect the place to be busy that day.
- Restaurants close to the beach cover food and drink.
Getting there
The improved GC-2 has made the drive down the west coast from Agaete much easier than it was. You leave the car either about 350 m from the beach in a straight line, or at the car park called Playa, about 500 m away, and walk the rest. Without a car, buses stop at El Puente, about 450 m away, and at Puerto de San Nicolás, about 550 m away.
Best time to visit
Best: late afternoon through to sunset, and weekday afternoons for a quiet swim. Avoid: days of heavy swell, and 11 September if you want the place to yourself.
The beach looks west over the Atlantic, so the sun goes down over the water; big waves break hard on the stones, and the yearly festival fills the shore.
Sun & daylight
Nearby Places
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La Aldea Beach on the map
The beach faces the open Atlantic, and big waves can shift even the large stones. When the sea is running high, keep off the stones and out of the water, and never turn your back on the waves.
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Frequently asked questions
Is La Aldea Beach sandy?
No. It is a beach of large stones, and water shoes make getting in and out of the sea easier.Where is the best place to swim at La Aldea Beach?
The small harbour has steps straight down into the water, and locals swim there. Stay out when big waves are running.Is there parking near La Aldea Beach?
Yes. One car park is about 350 m away, and another, called Playa, about 500 m away.Is La Aldea Beach good for watching the sunset?
Yes. The beach looks west over the Atlantic, and the sun goes down over the sea.What happens at La Aldea Beach on 11 September?
A festival is held here every year on that date, and the shore gets busy.