La Garita
La Garita is a small coastal town in the municipality of Telde, on the east coast of Gran Canaria. It lies south of Las Palmas and north of the airport, away from the island’s main holiday resorts. You can combine time on the beach with a walk along the coast and a good lunch overlooking the sea.
Playa de La Garita
Playa de La Garita curves around a small bay, with about 260 metres of fine, dark volcanic sand. The bay offers good shelter, although easterly winds can bring large waves.
The beach is popular with locals, but we’ve found it less crowded than the busy resort beaches in the south. You’ll find showers and toilets, but no sun lounger or parasol hire.
A pleasant promenade runs behind the beach. Walking south, look out for the Monumento a las Nadadoras, a bronze sculpture of two swimmers by Gran Canarian artist José Luis Marrero Cabrera. Further south, the promenade leads towards the neighbouring beaches of Playa Hoya del Pozo, Playa del Hombre, Playa de Melenara and Playa de Salinetas.
Visiting with children
There is room for children to play in the sand and a small playground behind the beach. Larger waves can make swimming difficult for young children.
Water sports
There are no organised water sports at La Garita.
Restaurants and cafés
There are several restaurants and cafés near the beach. Our favourite is La Sabina, where you can enjoy a good paella with views across the beach. We also recommend the local bakery Panadería La Fuente for its good coffee, bread and cakes. Stop for a coffee or pick up something sweet to take to the beach.
The town of La Garita
La Garita has a relaxed, residential feel, with small shops, supermarkets and a pharmacy. There are no large hotels. Just inland, the large La Mareta shopping area includes an Alcampo hypermarket and a wider choice of shops.
A short walk south along the coast brings you to Bufadero de La Garita. Here, the sea rushes into cavities in the volcanic rock before being forced through smaller openings. We find this natural phenomenon fascinating to watch.
For a break from the beach, take a short drive inland to Telde. You can explore the historic quarters of San Juan and San Francisco, with their traditional houses, squares and cobbled streets. The Basilica of San Juan Bautista is one of the main sights.
Map of La Garita
The map shows Playa de La Garita in the centre, with Bufadero de La Garita near the bottom of the map. Move the map south to see the neighbouring beaches you can reach along the promenade, the best known being Playa de Melenara.
