Gran Canaria resorts in a practical overview – the south of the island, how the areas differ, what the beaches are like and tips on where to stay.
The south of Gran Canaria is the part of the island most visitors get to know first. This is where the main tourist resorts stretch along the coast, together with long sandy beaches, the famous Maspalomas Dunes and the smaller coves of the south-west coast. Yet each place is surprisingly different – from quiet San Agustín and busy Playa del Inglés to the more elegant Meloneras and the narrow bays around Puerto Rico.
If you are choosing where to stay in the south or where to go for a day out, it matters which part of the coast you pick. Here is an overview of the resorts, ordered from the shortest distance from the airport to the longest – from Bahía Feliz (about 24 km) to Puerto de Mogán (about 55 km).
On a package holiday, the tour operator’s transfer will take you to your hotel. If you are travelling independently, you can book an airport transfer in advance.
If you are planning a winter trip, read the article Gran Canaria in winter as well.
To see what the sea, wind and sun are like on the southern beaches today, check IslaBu.
Bahía Feliz is the most easterly of these quieter areas. The key thing to know is that the beach here is pebbly – it is not the place for anyone who pictures a Gran Canaria holiday on a wide beach of fine sand. That is exactly why the area feels less touristy than the big resorts further west. Distance from the airport: about 24 km.
For older children there is a go-kart track in Bahía Feliz, and the Wild West-themed Sioux City Park is close by – more in the article Gran Canaria with kids.
A pebble beach. Expect a different kind of coastline from a wide beach of fine sand.
A family-oriented hotel right on the coast in Bahía Feliz, suited mainly to families and a comfortable stay without long journeys. The beaches in the area are mostly pebbly.
A quieter, sports-focused apartment option in Bahía Feliz, good for an active holiday or a longer stay.
An apartment complex by the sea with a quieter resort atmosphere and good facilities for families. The beaches in the area are mostly pebbly.
I like Playa del Águila precisely because it has kept its more intimate character. The area has pleasant undeveloped beaches, Playa del Pirata and Playa del Besudo, with dark sand and easy access to the water. Do not expect rows of sunbeds, big beach bars or a busy promenade – these are smaller beaches where people really come mainly to swim and relax. Also suitable for naturists and dog owners. Distance from the airport: about 25 km.
Playa del Pirata and Playa del Besudo: dark sand, easy access to the water and a pleasant, undeveloped setting.
A larger resort with good facilities for families on the border of Playa del Águila and San Agustín, yet away from the busiest part of the south.
Small bungalows right by Playa del Águila, suited to a quieter stay with direct access to the sea.
Accommodation by El Pirata beach with a beautiful ocean view. An ideal place for mornings to the sound of the waves and relaxing by the sea.
San Agustín offers more services and classic holiday facilities. The beach is wider, with dark sand and easy access to the water, which makes it more practical for families or for anyone who wants restaurants and a promenade close at hand but would still rather avoid the bustle of Playa del Inglés. Distance from the airport: about 27 km.
Dark sand, a wider beach and more services. A quieter alternative to Playa del Inglés.
A pleasant choice for those who want to be close to the promenade and the sea. Excellent facilities and services.
A quieter option in San Agustín, suited mainly to a relaxed stay on the coast.
A larger resort with good facilities for families on the border of Playa del Águila and San Agustín, yet away from the busiest part of the south.
Playa del Inglés is a completely different world. Large hotels, apartment complexes, restaurants, shops and nightlife – the tourist infrastructure here is concentrated on a truly large scale.
Its main advantage is its location. From Playa del Inglés you can easily reach the Maspalomas Dunes, and the long beach continues towards Maspalomas practically without a break.
It is a good choice for visitors who do not want to depend on a car and want restaurants, shopping and entertainment within walking distance. Distance from the airport: about 30 km.
Playa del Inglés is the busiest and most organised beach in the south. You will find sunbeds, parasols, showers, restaurants, bars and water sports, and during the day there are far more people here than on the smaller beaches nearby. The stretch of sand is long, though, and gradually changes towards Maspalomas – there are fewer services and buildings, and the beach feels more open and natural.
An all-round choice with the facilities of a big resort and a good location for trips. Ideal if you want everything close at hand.
A quality hotel in Playa del Inglés, for adults only (16+).
A good choice if you want to be close to Maspalomas and have full resort facilities. Right next to the dunes.
A practical option for those who want to be close to both the beach and the centre of the resort. It is in an excellent location in Playa del Inglés, about 200 metres from the beach.
Maspalomas is not just another resort. Its most striking feature is the Dunas de Maspalomas nature reserve, which covers around 400 hectares and includes, besides the dunes themselves, the La Charca lagoon and protected vegetation.
This is where you will find one of the images most closely associated with Gran Canaria: sand dunes on one side and the Atlantic on the other.
At the western end of the beach stands the Faro de Maspalomas lighthouse, another landmark of this part of the island.
The dunes are a protected area, so it makes sense to stick to the marked paths and not to see them simply as a huge beach attraction. Distance from the airport: about 35 km.
A short distance inland from Maspalomas lies Palmitos Park, one of the most beautiful attractions for children on the whole island.
Long, wide and sandy. You will find services by the lighthouse and at the edges, but much of the beach feels far more open and natural. Bear in mind that distances on the sand are longer than they look on the map, and there is practically no shade in the middle of the beach.
A more spacious resort option, also suitable for families or a longer stay. The nearest beach is by the Maspalomas lighthouse.
A quieter resort away from the immediate bustle of Playa del Inglés. It is connected to the Suites & Villas complex.
A more affordable resort option; it is not right on the beach, so allow time for getting there. Very good amenities in the surrounding area.
Meloneras begins beyond the lighthouse. Compared with Playa del Inglés it feels calmer and more refined – instead of lots of bars and tourist centres, it is dominated by a seafront promenade, hotels, restaurants and shops.
It is a good choice for visitors who want to be near Maspalomas but are looking for a quieter setting.
An evening stroll from the lighthouse along the promenade in Meloneras is one of the nicest ways to end a day in the south. Distance from the airport: about 36 km.
Playa de Meloneras is smaller than Maspalomas, but it has its own facilities, a promenade and calmer water. If you want long walks on the sand, Maspalomas is more interesting; if you prefer a smaller beach with restaurants right behind you, Meloneras is more practical.
A higher-category hotel right on the promenade, just a short distance from the Maspalomas Dunes.
A comfortable option by the lighthouse, the beach and the start of the Maspalomas Dunes.
The further south-west you go, the more the landscape changes. The coastline becomes more rugged, and the resorts are often built on the hillsides above deep valleys.
Puerto Rico is a typical example. It is a very touristy resort with a harbour, and hotels and apartments scattered across the surrounding slopes.
Its advantages are the wide range of services and its location on the south-west coast. If your accommodation is high above the sea, though, bear in mind that the distance “to the beach” may look much simpler on the map than it is in reality. Distance from the airport: about 50 km.
Boats leave Puerto Rico harbour for dolphin watching, and the town also has the Pokiddo and Angry Birds children’s parks.
Small, sheltered and with very calm water thanks to the harbour and breakwaters. It is good for relaxed swimming and for families, but in atmosphere it is a typical town resort beach, not a natural coastline.
A typical example of accommodation on the hillside above Puerto Rico; the reward is the views, but you need to allow for the climb.
A resort above Puerto Rico and Amadores with beautiful ocean views. It offers all-inclusive services, pools and comfortable facilities.
A large resort on the hillside, suited to those who want plenty of services right in the hotel. It has several pools and beautiful ocean views.
Amadores is a wide, light-coloured beach in a sheltered bay. Unlike the longer, more natural Maspalomas coastline, it feels like a typical holiday beach: calmer water, with a promenade and services right behind it. Distance from the airport: about 50 km.
Anfi del Mar is very similar – it also has imported white sand and a sheltered bay with very calm water. It is good for easy swimming and for families with children, but it is very popular and busier in the middle of the day. Distance from the airport: about 45 km.
You will find tips on where to go with children on the island in the article Gran Canaria with kids.
Amadores and Anfi del Mar are man-made beaches with imported white sand and very calm water. Amadores is larger and connects to the coastal path to Puerto Rico; Anfi feels more compact, almost like a lagoon. At both you can expect full beach services.
A good choice between Puerto Rico and Amadores if you want both areas within reach.
A higher-category hotel right above Amadores, suited to a quieter, beach-focused stay.
Taurito is a smaller, more compact resort enclosed in a valley between steep slopes. Compared with Puerto Rico it feels more self-contained, and most of the hotels and services are concentrated in a relatively small area.
It is a good choice for those who mainly want a relaxing resort holiday and do not need a big promenade or a busy centre every evening. As in Puerto Rico, though, hotels on the hillside mean a climb. Distance from the airport: about 53 km.
A smaller beach with dark sand right in the valley. Facilities and services are close by, so it suits a relaxed resort stay without long journeys.
A resort choice for a relaxing holiday with an easy trip to Puerto de Mogán.
An apartment option for those who want more space and a more independent style of stay.
At the end of the main tourist area of the south-west lies Puerto de Mogán.
The harbour, low white houses, narrow lanes and flowers give it a completely different character from the big resorts around Playa del Inglés or Puerto Rico. That is why it is worth a visit even if you are not staying here.
Bear in mind, though, that it is also a very well-known tourist spot – not a forgotten fishing village, as it sometimes appears in photos. Distance from the airport: about 55 km.
Just beyond Mogán, on the GC-200 road towards La Aldea, are the colourful rocks of Fuente de los Azulejos.
A small sandy beach right by the harbour, well sheltered and with calm water. It is pleasant for families and for those who want to combine swimming with restaurants, cafés and a stroll around the harbour.
A more comfortable resort option in the Puerto de Mogán area with quality facilities, pools and a pleasant atmosphere.
A good combination of hotel facilities and the atmosphere of Puerto de Mogán itself.
On the map, the coast from San Agustín to Puerto de Mogán can look like one continuous area of hotels. In reality, each part has a different atmosphere.
That is why, instead of asking “Is the north or the south of Gran Canaria better?”, I would rather think about which stretch of the south suits the kind of holiday you want.
Maspalomas and Playa del Inglés offer a completely different stay from Playa del Águila, Meloneras or Puerto de Mogán.
When you want a break from the beaches, head inland or to the north – to the mountains, the Barranco de Guayadeque gorge or Las Palmas and the north.