Soco Negro Natural Pool lies in Arinaga, the coastal town of Agüimes in southeastern Gran Canaria. A barrier in the water holds back the Atlantic waves, leaving a pool that is mostly calm and relatively shallow throughout. It is known for swimming and snorkelling among a good variety of fish, and for a sun-trap of seating sheltered from the wind beside the water. The bottom is covered in stones of mixed sizes. The pool is open at all hours, with toilets close by.
Soco Negro Natural Pool
Local name: Soco Negro
Sheltered sea pool behind a barrier on the Arinaga shore, with calm, shallow water and fish for snorkelling
- Entrance
- Free; there is no ticket.
- Accessibility
- Wheelchair-accessible parking, entrance and toilets. Getting into the water means crossing stones of mixed sizes.
- Parking
- Two car parks about 310 and 330 m away; spaces in Arinaga are hard to find.
- Difficulty
- No real approach: about 300 m from the car parks to the pool. The only awkward part is entering the water over stones.
- Transport
- Bus stop Arinaga (Alcalá Galiano), about 210 m away.
- Advance booking
- Not needed; there is nothing to book.
- Hours
- Open 24 hours, every day.
- Address
- C/ de Colón, 9, 35118 Arinaga, Las Palmas, Spain
What makes it special
Put your face in the water and the fish are already there, several kinds of them, in a pool shallow enough that children can follow along. The barrier out in the sea takes the force off the waves, so the surface stays mostly calm while the open Atlantic works away beyond it.
On land, the draw is the sun-trap: seating tucked out of the wind, where people lie out between swims. It fills with sunbathers, and the mood stays calm and friendly. Arinaga itself is a quiet town with few tourists, so the crowd here is mostly people who live nearby.
Good to know
- Water shoes: the bottom is stones of various sizes, hard on bare feet getting in and out.
- Toilets stand about 80 m away.
- No drinking water nearby — bring your own.
- Parking in Arinaga is hard to find; the nearest car parks are about 300 m away.
- Busy: the sheltered seating fills with sunbathers.
Getting there
The pool sits in Arinaga, on the coast of Agüimes. By car, the nearest car parks are about 310 and 330 m away in a straight line, and finding a space in town can take a while, so allow time to circle.
By bus, the stop Arinaga (Alcalá Galiano) is about 210 m away, close enough that the last stretch is a short walk through town to the water. Toilets are about 80 m from the pool.
Best time to visit
Best: a calm-sea day, when the pool behind the barrier is at its stillest and the water clearest for snorkelling.
Avoid: days of heavy swell.
The barrier only softens the Atlantic: when big waves roll in, the pool loses its calm and the snorkelling suffers. On windy days the sheltered seating is the place to be.
Sun & daylight
Nearby Places
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Soco Negro Natural Pool on the map
Beyond the barrier is open Atlantic, and in heavy swell waves can push over it; stay out of the water when the sea is rough. The stones underfoot are uneven and can be slippery, so wear water shoes.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Soco Negro Natural Pool good for children?
Yes. The water is relatively shallow throughout and mostly calm thanks to the barrier. The stony bottom is uncomfortable underfoot, so water shoes help.Can you snorkel at Soco Negro?
Yes, snorkelling is the main reason to come: the pool holds a good variety of fish in calm, shallow water.Where do you park for Soco Negro Natural Pool?
The nearest car parks are about 310 and 330 m away. Parking in Arinaga is hard to find, so allow time to look for a space.Are there toilets at Soco Negro?
Yes, toilets are about 80 m from the pool, and they are wheelchair accessible. There is no drinking water nearby, so bring your own.