Roque Prieto Natural Pools are sea-water pools on the north coast of Gran Canaria, in the municipality of Santa María de Guía, on the shore at Barranco de Roque Prieto. The sea itself keeps them filled: waves break against the walls and wash into the water. The pools are known for clear water with plenty of fish and for their quiet setting facing the open Atlantic. There is no sand; the area around the water is bare concrete and rock.
Roque Prieto Natural Pools
Local name: Piscinas Naturales de Roque Prieto
Sea-water pools set into the rocky north coast of Gran Canaria, with Atlantic waves spilling over the wall.
- Accessibility
- The pools are reached down a slope from the car park. The surround is bare concrete, and the pool floors are rocky.
- Parking
- Asphalt car park above the pools, about 157 m away in a straight line, with a slope down to the water.
- Difficulty
- A walk down a slope from the car park, about 157 m away in a straight line, and back up again afterwards.
- Transport
- The nearest bus stops are about 2 km away in a straight line.
- Hours
- Open at all hours, every day.
- Address
- Barranco de Roque Prieto, Las Palmas, Spain
What makes it special
Even on a calm day the Atlantic gets in. Waves hit the outer wall and spill over into the pool, so a swim here comes with the odd dousing from above. It is half the fun.
The water is clear and busy with fish, and a mask turns a dip into a look at what lives on the rocky floor. Nothing stands between the pools and the horizon, and the place is quiet: on plenty of days you have it close to yourself.
There are no sun loungers and no beach. You spread a towel on the concrete and go back in when the sun gets too much.
Good to know
- Wear water shoes: the pool floors are rocky, and sea urchins sit among the stones.
- There is no sand and there are no sunbeds; the only place to lie out is bare concrete, so bring a mat or a thick towel.
- No toilets and no drinking water at the pools, and none nearby. Bring water with you.
- At high tide the waves come in hard. Check the tide and the sea state before you set out.
- Bring a mask: the pools hold plenty of fish.
Getting there
The pools lie on the shore below the road. An asphalt car park sits up above them, about 157 m away in a straight line, and from there a slope runs down to the water, so the return is uphill.
The nearest bus stops are about 2 km away in a straight line, which means a walk of at least that distance for anyone arriving by bus.
Best time to visit
Best: a calm day with a low swell, away from high tide.
Avoid: high tide when the sea is up, as the waves then wash into the pools with force.
The pools face north onto the open Atlantic, and this coast takes its biggest swell in winter, so the sea decides the day more than the calendar does.
Sun & daylight
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Roque Prieto Natural Pools on the map
At high tide and in rough seas, waves break over the pool walls with real force; stay out of the water when the swell is up. Sea urchins live on the rocky floor, so wear shoes.
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Frequently asked questions
Can you swim at Roque Prieto Natural Pools when the sea is rough?
At high tide in a strong sea the waves wash into the pools forcefully, and on those days it is safer to stay out and watch. On a calm day the swim is easy, with waves splashing over the wall now and then.Do I need water shoes?
Yes. The pool floors are rocky and there are sea urchins among the stones.Where do you park?
There is an asphalt car park above the pools, about 157 m away in a straight line. A slope leads from it down to the water.Are there toilets or a beach?
No. There are no toilets or drinking water at the pools or nearby, and no sand or sunbeds; the area around the pools is bare concrete.Is it worth bringing a snorkelling mask?
Yes. The pools hold plenty of fish.