16 Best Nudist Beaches in the Canary Islands
You probably already knew that the Canary Islands were a paradise for beach-goers. A combination of guaranteed year-round sunshine, the mildest winters in Europe and kilometre upon kilometre of sandy beaches. But in addition the Canaries have possibly the best selection of nudist beaches in Europe.
As in mainland Spain attitudes to naturism are pretty laid back and in fact there are no laws against public nudity. So while it may not be exactly acceptable to wander around the local supermarket naked, many beaches are considered a perfectly acceptable place to abandon one’s clothes.
Naturist beaches in the Canary Islands range from those attached to resorts, officially designated beaches and those secluded, remote spots (of which there are many) where nobody really cares. In total there are in the region of 200 clothing optional beaches dotted around the eight islands which should be ample choice for even the most discerning of naturists.
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El Cofete Beach // Fuerteventura
© eyewave Cofete Beach is located just around the headland from the southern tip of Fuertaventura. The bright lights and resorts to the north of the island will do nothing to prepare you for the awe-inspiring scale and wildness of this beach. The beach is a wide expanse of golden sand that continues for as far as the eye can see. Directly behind the beach the dramatic… read more »
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Maspalomas Beach // Gran Canaria
© Tono Balaguer Set on the southern tip of the island of Gran Canaria is a little slice of the Sahara Desert. Over the centuries the fine golden sand here has been sculpted into an extensive network of dunes extending several hundred metres back from the beach. With a landscape like this you won't be surprised to know it hardly ever rains and the temperature rarely dips below… read more »
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Playa de Las Conchas // Lanzarote
Gonzalo Serrano Espada Playa de las Conchas lies on the northwest coast of the little island of La Graciosa, five kilometres along a gravel road from the ferry departure point back to Lanzarote. Its almost white sand stretches for 600 metres beside shallows the colour of turquoise. Reaching a maximum width of around 100 metres, Playa de las Conchas is surrounded by the red-tinted foothills of the volcano… read more »
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Playa de la Tejita // Tenerife
Jose Mesa Southward facing, Playa de la Tejita is located immediately to the west of the hill called Montana Rosa, a short distance from Tenerife Sud International Airport. One of the island's clothing optional beaches, the dark coloured sands run for around a kilometre, giving plenty of options for seclusion for those looking to go au naturel. Away from the tide line it is edged by shingle.
At… read more »
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Sotavento // Fuerteventura
© Dirk Vorderstraße / CC BY Situated on the "Calma Costa" which runs along the south east coast of Fuerteventura is Sotavento beach. A vast tract of golden, windswept beach this stretch of coast is about one of the most remote areas on the island.
Sotavento is a collection of beaches which together create a virtually unbroken stretch of sand from Playa Barca right down to Morro Jable on the… read more »
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Playa de Esquinzo // Fuerteventura
Iván Hernández Cazorla Not to be confused with the beach of a similar name in Fuerteventura's south, Playa de Esquinzo is a relatively remote stretch of soft golden sand on the northwest coast, six kilometres from El Cotillo. It lies within a small horseshoe shaped bay at the end of a gravel road and beyond a footpath leading from the car park down the dark cliffs to the… read more »
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Playa Del Matorral // Fuerteventura
Dirk Vorderstraße Curving around the southernmost point of the island, the three-kilometre-long Playa del Matorral can be roughly split into two equal parts. Its rich golden sands have been awarded Blue Flag status for cleanliness time and time again over the years, while the waves that come ashore are also normally calm.
The section closest to the city of Morro Jable is where you'll find the majority of… read more »
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Playa del Águila // Fuerteventura
Sebastian Köttinger A wild and relatively wind-swept section of Fuerteventura's northwest coast, Playa del Águila also goes by the name of Playa de la Escalera, or Stairs Beach. A beach for a romantic sunset stroll rather than family day out, its orange-gold sands are backed by high sheer cliffs and lack any kind of facilities.
To reach it, visitors must travel a short distance along an unsurfaced road… read more »
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Playa de Benijo // Tenerife
busbusbus Forming a part of Parque Rural de Anaga, Playa de Benijo lies on Tenerife's northern coast close to the island's easternmost point. It runs without break into the neighbouring beach of Playa de Fabin although its widest point sits at the base of the curve of the bay.
Because of its location within the reserve, Playa de Benijo is one for lovers of nature and… read more »
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Playa del Inglés // Gomera
© Jörg Bergmann This volcanic, black sand beach is nestled along La Gomera's western coastline, just a couple of miles north of Valle Gran Rey.
Like most of the island's beaches, there's a shortage of facilities and amenities on the sands, which helps to keep them unspoilt. Like you'd expect though, the scenery is stunning and the sand is scattered with volcanic rocks.
As for the waters, they're very calm… read more »
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Playa de Guayedra // Gran Canaria
- Nestled along Gran Canaria's northwest coast, this secluded beach is as far away from the tourist trail as it gets.
The closest town, Agaete, is around 15 minutes' drive away, or just over an hour if you fancy the scenic walk, which takes you along the roads and down the hillside.
Alternatively, if you are driving straight to the beach, you'll still need to park up and… read more »
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Güi-Güi // Gran Canaria
Lexthoonen All but hidden by the crashing waves of the Atlantic Ocean at high tide, at low tide Güi Güi Beach reveals a narrow stretch of dramatic sand. A rich brown-black in colour and backed by towering mountain slopes dotted with tall cacti, it lies in a remote area of the Reserva Especial Natural de Güi-Güi.
Pronounced ‘wee wee', Güi Güi Beach can be subdivided into two… read more »
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Playa del Confital // Gran Canaria
Bengt Nyman This laid-back spot is Gran Canaria's most northerly beach and is fairly off the beaten track. The vast majority of beachgoers who come here are locals, and it's a popular spot for sunset picnics and family barbecues.
In terms of facilities, there aren't any, and that's how the locals like to keep it. There's a tiny town with a supermarket and a handful of restaurants that's… read more »
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Playa Famara // Lanzarote
Victor R. Ruiz Playa Famara faces out into the waters of Bahia de Penedo on Lanzarote's northwest coast. Part of the Chinijo Archipelago Nature Park, it offers excellent views of La Graciosa island, which sits off Lanzarote's northern tip.
Stretching for an incredible five kilometres, Playa Famara's yellow sands never get crowded, though in places they are mixed with ancient volcanic pebbles from the massif of rock that overlooks… read more »
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Playa de La Cantería // Lanzarote
MoveinBlue Facing north, Playa de la Cantería is Lanzarote's most northerly beach and has something of an edge of the world feel to it. Located close to the village of Órzola, it is a beach made of pale yellow sand, although at high tide it can look black because of a ribbon of loose volcanic rocks further back.
Surrounded by a typical Lanzarote landscape of steep, bare… read more »
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Playa de las Gaviotas // Tenerife
Beneharo Hdez. Located among the bare cliff faces of Tenerife's north, Playa de las Gaviotas is a nudist friendly beach with charcoal grey sand on a small curve of coastline. Although just a short distance from Playa de la Teresitas, Gaviotas is altogether a much more relaxed affair.
Almost disappearing entirely with the waves of high tide, the beach is backed by a sloped retaining wall, which… read more »
