Don't Go To Horrible Patalavaca Beach (We're Joking: It's Great)

Patalavaca beach in south Gran Canaria Patalavaca beach in south Gran Canaria

Patalavaca beach must be horrible. That's why nobody has ever heard of it and nobody goes to it. Except that it isn't. It's one of south Gran Canaria's best beaches.

Ok, sorry, who are we kidding?

Patalavaca is a gorgeous sandy beach between Arguineguín and Anfi. It gets all the sunshine of south Gran Canaria but is rarely crowded. With calm water, a few sun loungers and several restaurants overlooking the sand it's right at the top of our underrated south Gran Canaria beach list. You can even park just behind the beach.

Somehow the Scandinavians have kept Patalavaca to themselves since the area was first developed back in the 1970s. They bought all the property and book the hotels before anyone else gets a look in. This Scandy dominance means that food prices are slightly higher than in nearby Puerto Rico but then so are standards.

Patalavaca is actually two separate little sandy beaches divided by a patch of smooth rock. There's nothing to choose between them so just pick a spot. Children love the arch and tiny little beach right in the middle of the rocks (you can see it from the walkway along the back of he beach).

As well as bars and restaurants there's a massage place, a dive shop and a supermarket just behind the beach. The only odd thing about Patalavaca is that the water taps on the beach switch off at 17.00. We have no idea why.

For a quiet day on the beach, there's nowhere else in south Gran Canaria like Patalavaca. Just don't tell too many people about it.

Additional Info

  • Lifeguard: Yes
  • Calm water: Yes
  • You're sitting on: Sand
  • Sand colour: Sahara yellow
  • Looks best at: Sunset
  • Nudist: No
  • Hippy rating: 5
  • Lat/Long: 27.7699473,-15.6888267
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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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