Playa de Puerto Rico, in the south-west of Gran Canaria, is a popular destination for holidaymakers. They come in droves to enjoy the fine sand and calm waters. It’s true that it’s a great place to relax and swim. Our article, complete with photos, will give you a comprehensive overview of this popular venue.
Here’s our guide to help you plan your visit: map, access, sand, conditions…
This review is completely independent, we visited the area anonymously and paid our bills in full.
Why visit Playa de Puerto Rico beach?
In our opinion, this beach is well worth a visit. This is one of Gran Canaria’s most beautiful beaches. We really enjoyed the fine sand and calm waters, which are ideal for swimming and lounging. The beach is protected and offers a safe environment that is particularly suitable for families. Last but not least, it’s an urban beach, and its proximity to the village of Puerto Rico means you can combine beach relaxation with urban entertainment.
Is Playa de Puerto Rico beach worth it?
It’s a very popular artificial beach. It is famous for its golden sands and calm waters. We also appreciated the proximity of many tourist facilities: hotels, restaurants, but also nautical activities as the port is very close by. Sheltered and sunny, it appeals to families. For all these reasons, it can be very busy in high season.
Why choose this beach?
In our opinion, there are 3 main reasons to choose Playa de Puerto Rico:
- The ideal climate: the beach enjoys a microclimate. It’s well protected from the wind and pleasant all year round.
- Calm, safe waters: the 2 harbor breakwaters protect the beach and waves are virtually non-existent.
- Facilities and activities: sunbeds and umbrellas are available for hire; there are plenty of dining options; there’s no shortage of water sports activities.
Access and map – Playa de Puerto Rico beach(Gran Canaria)
Where to find Playa de Puerto Rico beach
- From downtown Puerto Rico: 6min walk
- From Gran Canaria Airport: 35min by car
- From Las Palmas: 55min by car
- From Telde: 45min by car
Here’s a map of Gran Canaria’s main beaches to help you find your way around:
How to get there – access road
The beach is on Puerto Rico’s waterfront, right in the center of town. It is easily accessible by car.
Playa de Puerto Rico beach parking lot
There is a large pay parking lot just above the beach. Another parking lot, next to the port, is also accessible from the beach. It, too, is not free. However, in high season, the 2 parking lots are often full. If you’re staying nearby, we advise you to come on foot.
OUR ADVICE FOR RENTING A CAR IN Gran Canaria
- Compare prices on our preferred platform: DiscoverCars – one of the best rated sites.
- If you’re planning to explore the mountains, don ‘t take the smallest cars. A more powerful engine will be more comfortable.
- But don’t take too big a car either, as some roads are narrow.
- There’s a lot of demand and it’s an island, so book early.
Access to the beach from the parking lot
- From the beach parking lot, just walk towards the sea to reach the beach access ramp.
- From the port parking lot, take the pedestrian bridge at the entrance to the parking lot, and follow the quay behind the deckchairs. There are stairs leading down to the sand. You can also continue up to the access ramp.
On the sand and in the water…practical advice
Best time to visit
The best time of year to enjoy the beach is usually spring or autumn. Temperatures are milder and there are fewer tourists. We loved going there in the morning when the beach was still calm and the bathers rare. It’s a very popular beach, especially in the summer months. This makes mid-day a busy time, when many holidaymakers want to cool off.
Beach type and size
The soil is composed of fine golden sand. The beach is 284m long and 105m wide. Find out more here.
Conditions for swimming
Swimming conditions are ideal, with a gentle slope and a suitable depth. The waters are calm and tranquil, protected by the harbour breakwaters. There are no particular risks to report.
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Facilities and activities
Monitoring
The beach is supervised in season and has a Red Cross first-aid post.
Showers, toilets, deckchairs…
There are plenty of facilities on the beach. We were able to see:
- Showers and foot rinses
- Toilets
- Parasols and deckchairs for hire
Shadow
The beach is shaded early in the morning, when the sun is still behind the mountains to the east. The rest of the time, she’s out in the sun. For shade, use the parasols available for hire.
If you don’t like sand. Some umbrellas are lined up on the quay overlooking the beach.
The water can then be accessed without having to cross the sand.
Nautical activities
We saw a wide range of water sports equipment and pedalos. There’s also a sailing school in the marina overlooking the beach. That’s why we offer a wide range of boat rentals for day trips out to sea.
Catering
There are plenty of restaurants on the waterfront, but it’s possible to stray a little farther afield to discover our culinary delights in Puerto Rico.
Information for children, mobility, dogs, naturism…
Playa de Puerto Rico beach with children
It’s a family beach, ideal for children. Its waters are calm and tranquil. There are no waves and the beach is well supervised. However, ball games are prohibited. Departing from the port, if your children are over 5, you can take them to see the dolphins and whales.
Playa de Puerto Rico beach with a dog
Unfortunately, dogs are not allowed on the beach.
The Playa de Puerto Rico beach with reduced mobility
On the beach, we noted numerous facilities specially designed to offer easy access for people with reduced mobility. This includes access ramps, wheelchair paths, adapted toilets and showers.
Playa de Puerto Rico beach and naturism
The beach is in the center of town, and naturism is not permitted.
OUR ADVICE FOR RENTING A CAR IN Gran Canaria
- Compare prices on our preferred platform: DiscoverCars – one of the best rated sites.
- If you’re planning to explore the mountains, don ‘t take the smallest cars. A more powerful engine will be more comfortable.
- But don’t take too big a car either, as some roads are narrow.
- There’s a lot of demand and it’s an island, so book early.
What to see on and around the beach
In addition to beach restaurants and water sports, Playa de Puerto Rico is an urban beach, and we counted several shopping centers in town.
If you’ve got kids, there’s also the Angry Birds Activity Park. It’s one of the must-do activities in Puerto Rico.
Other beautiful beaches nearby
There are other beaches to swim at in Puerto Rico:
- Playa de Amadores is very similar to Playa de Puerto Rico, with its 2 dikes and cove shape.
- The wilder Playa de Tauro, to enjoy the ocean away from the crowds.
- Playa del Cura, further north, with its dark sand and huge volcanic rocks.
SHE MADE THE TRIP Claire
