Seashells and Surfers at La Laja Beach in Las Palmas

La Laja beach at the southeast end of Las Palmas city La Laja beach at the southeast end of Las Palmas city

Drive into Las Palmas along the coast road from the airport and you can't miss La Laja beach and its mob of seagulls. While everybody sees it, only boogie boarders and locals appreciate it.

La Laja is a 1200 metre, east-facing, black sand beach at the south-eastern fringe of Las Palmas. It's linked to the city by the main coast road, and by the beachfront promenade that runs the length of Las Palmas' east coast. 

Lex says: Nudism is allowed if not actively encouraged at La Laja after a local naturist group staged a naked sit on until the city authorities just left them to it. 

Head to the north end of La Laja for surfing and the south end for sunbathing and swimming: The calmest part is by the breakwater at the south tip. This is also where you'll find the most seashells; look out for large red clams and smaller orange cockles. 

There's parking at the south end (exit just past the huge statue of Triton if you're heading into the city) and at the north end. The viewpoint here, called the Punta del Palo, has a great view north towards Las Palmas. 

New natural swimming pools at the north end are great on rough days. 

Toilets are at the north end of the beach and La Laja has lifeguards on weekends and during local holiday periods. There are no shops or bars by the beach; the nearest restaurants are in San Cristobal village about a kilometre north. 

 

Additional Info

  • Lifeguard: No
  • Calm water: No
  • You're sitting on: Sand
  • Sand colour: Volcanic black
  • Looks best at: Sunrise
  • Nudist: Yes
  • Hippy rating: 7

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Tip of the day

  • The Parafarmacia In Gran Canaria Is Not A Chemist!
    The Parafarmacia In Gran Canaria Is Not A Chemist!

    If there is one thing we hate it is visitors being tricked in Gran Canaria. In the past we've warned about overcharging at Gran Canaria chemists, and rip off electronics shops in resorts. 

    In this Tip Of The Day we return to the island's chemists or rather, to the island's fake chemists.

    A chemist in Gran Canaria is called a Farmacia and always has a green cross sign. Farmacias are the only place tobuy medicine in Spain, even basics like paracetamol.

    However, there is another kind of shop in Gran Canaria that looks and sounds like a chemist but doesn't sell medicine. This is the Parafarmacia and it also uses a green cross sign.

    A parafarmacia is a herbal medicine shop that is not allowed to sell any normal medicine such as paracetamol, ibuprofen or antibiotics. 

    Instead, parafarmacias sell herbal alternatives to medicine but don't have to prove that they work and they can charge whatever they want.

    We recently heard from a visitor to Gran Canaria who went into a parafarmacia and was charged 40 euros for a herbal alternative to Ibuprofen. It was only when they read the label that they realised what had happened. 

    To locate a genuine farmacia, see this website and search within your municipio (Puerto Rico is in Mogán, Playa del Inglés is in San Bartolomé de Tirajana). At weekends and on fiesta days many farmacias close but there is always one open, known as the farmacia de guardia, in each municipio.

    Search for the nearest one to you with this tool

    Lex Says: To keep costs down, see this article for the way to ask for generic medicine rather than expensive branded alternatives. 

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