Playa de Puerto Rico

This family-friendly beach on Gran Canaria’s southwest coast is probably best known for being the island’s sunniest spot, with more hours of sunshine than anywhere else. 

Combine this with a sheltered sandy beach and it’s no surprise to know that it’s an extremely popular spot with tourists, but it can get busy quite quickly. 

Adrenaline-filled watersports are big business here, with usual suspects like jet-skiing and windsurfing on the cards. If you like your water activities a little more relaxed, there are glass-bottomed boat trips and dolphin-spotting cruises on the agenda too. 

If you prefer to stay on land, there are parasols and sunbeds for hire, and the golden strip of sand here is backed up by a promenade that’s lined with bars and tropical gardens. There’s a public swimming pool close by too if you’re not a big fan of the sea.

If you do fancy taking a paddle though, the cling film-clear waters here are as calm as they come, partly thanks to the breakwater, which gives the bay a really sheltered feel to it.