La Garita Beach

At low tide the sand opens out and the water runs clear over it, with the dark, broken lava coast on either side and the volcanic hills of the north rising behind the village. It is a quiet beach that is easy to drive past.

The same water serves two crowds. On calm days it suits swimming and families; when the Atlantic sends waves in, the surfers take over. A bar-restaurant beside the sand looks out over the bay and the jetty, and it serves Spanish food, so a swim and a long lunch fit into the same afternoon.

• There are no public toilets at the beach and none nearby, and no drinking water: fill a bottle before you come.
• The sea changes from day to day, calm enough for swimming on some and carrying surfable waves on others. Look at it before you go in.
• The sand has no natural shade, so bring a hat and sun cream for the middle of the day.
• A bar-restaurant stands beside the beach, which covers food and drink.
• The beach is at its best at low tide, when the most sand is uncovered.

Most people come by car. Parking sits about 50 m away, so the approach ends almost as soon as you step out: from the car you walk straight onto the sand.

Without a car, the nearest bus stops are named Tabayesco and stand about 300 m away. Guideposts pointing to Arrieta and El Lajero stand close by.

Best: around low tide, on a calm day if you want to swim, or on a day with swell if you have come to surf.

Avoid: the middle of a hot day if you need shade, and rough seas if you are not surfing.

Low water uncovers the most sand, while the open sand offers no shelter from the midday sun and breaking waves turn the bay into surfers' water.