Las Salinas Natural Pools lie on the shore at Puerto de las Nieves, the port of Agaete on Gran Canaria. Three pools of calm seawater, roughly 1.8 m, 1.4 m and 1 m deep, are held in volcanic rock that shuts out the open Atlantic. The name recalls the salt pans that once worked this stretch of coast, and an information board nearby covers them. The pools are open at all hours and fill with locals at weekends.
Las Salinas Natural Pools
Local name: Piscinas Naturales de Las Salinas
Three seawater pools set in volcanic rock at Puerto de las Nieves, walled off from the Atlantic swell.
- Accessibility
- No wheelchair-accessible entrance. The ground around the pools is rough volcanic rock.
- Parking
- Free car park on a dirt surface about 150 m away; paid gravel car park about 290 m away. Spaces are hard to find at weekends.
- Difficulty
- A walk along the promenade from the harbour, then rough volcanic rock at the pools; sea shoes help.
- Transport
- Bus to the Puerto de las Nieves stop, about 500 m away.
- Hours
- Open 24 hours, every day.
- Address
- C. el Muelle, 17, Agaete, Las Palmas, Spain
What makes it special
Waves crash against the outer rock while the water inside lies flat enough to float on. The roar of the surf carries over the pools the whole time you swim.
There are three pools, each at a different depth: the deepest, about 1.8 m, comes up to a tall adult's head, and the shallowest is about 1 m. The rock around them is dark volcanic stone, and cliffs rise along the coast to one side. The pools face the open sea to the west, which makes them a favourite at sunset as much as during the day. Afterwards the harbour at Puerto de las Nieves is a walk away along the promenade, with places to eat.
Good to know
- Bring sea shoes: the volcanic rock around the pools is rough on bare feet.
- Free toilets and basic changing rooms stand by the pools. Bring your own toilet paper and hand sanitiser.
- There is no drinking water nearby, so bring your own.
- The pools depend on the sea. On days of strong swell, swimming is off.
- There is no wheelchair-accessible entrance, and the rocky ground is hard going with small children.
Getting there
The pools sit along the promenade from the harbour at Puerto de las Nieves. The nearest bus stop, Puerto de las Nieves, is about 500 m away in a straight line. Agaete is a long way from Las Palmas by bus, and some services call at many stops while express buses save time, so check the timetable before you set out.
Drivers have two car parks: a free one on a dirt surface about 150 m away and a paid gravel one about 290 m away. Spaces are hard to find at weekends, so arrive early. The final stretch to the water crosses rough volcanic rock.
Best time to visit
Best: early morning, especially at weekends, or late afternoon into sunset on a calm day.
Avoid: weekends after the early hours, and any day of heavy swell.
Locals fill the pools and the car parks at weekends, the bare rock gives no shade in the middle of the day, and a big sea makes the pools unswimmable.
Sun & daylight
Nearby Places
Similar Places
Las Salinas Natural Pools on the map
In heavy swell, waves break over the rock walls and the pools become dangerous. Stay out of the water, keep off the outer rocks and never turn your back on the sea.
Get directions
Your whole travel map in one place
Get inspired by new places around the world and find the ones worth the journey
Frequently asked questions
How deep are Las Salinas Natural Pools?
There are three pools, roughly 1.8 m, 1.4 m and 1 m deep, so swimmers of different abilities can pick one.Can you swim when the sea is rough?
No. When the waves are strong the pools are dangerous and swimming is off. Whether you can swim depends entirely on the state of the sea that day.Are there toilets and changing rooms?
Yes. Free toilets and basic changing rooms stand by the pools. Bring your own toilet paper and drinking water, as neither can be counted on.Are the pools suitable for children?
The shallowest pool is about 1 m deep, but the volcanic rock around the pools is rough, which makes it hard going for small children. Sea shoes help.Can you get there by bus?
Yes. The Puerto de las Nieves stop is about 500 m away. From Las Palmas the journey is long, and express services are quicker than the buses that call at every stop, so check the timetable first.