El Agujero Beach in Gáldar: a secret in northern Gran Canaria

The north of Gran Canaria has a beauty that few places have. It combines the wildest and most rugged side of its coasts, with its characteristic waves due to the prevailing winds. It also stands out for its natural spots of enormous scenic beauty that some beaches have, like El Agujero in Galdar.
 

Far from the media spotlight of other beaches in the area, such as Playa de Sardina, El Juncal or Agaete, El Agujero is set in an ideal environment, with few tourists. It’s considered one of the largest natural swimming pools in the north and one of the best beaches for bodyboarding.

Today we’ve come to highlight this beach, which may be unknown to the public. However, for many people who live on the island or in the municipalities surrounding Galdar, El Agujero is no secret.

The Beach of El Agujero in Galdar

This beach is located in the northern municipality of Galdar, just a few metres from the historic centre of the village and about 20 minutes by car from the capital, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
 

The beach is approximately 150 metres long and 10 metres wide. It has a very beautiful dark sand made up of pebbles, rock and sand that form a very characteristic mixture that can be found in very few areas of the island.

We must also bear in mind that El Agujero in Galdar is a beach located in the north of the island, which means that the winds are strong and gusty most of the year, so be specially careful while swimming there.
 

It has a small promenade that connects the beach with the natural pools. You should bear in mind that, despite being a semi-urban beach, it doesn't have many services such as showers, footbaths, hammocks or shades.

However, among its few services, just a few metres from the beach, there's a legendary bar in the area, Bar Tú Mismo, where you can buy drinks or snacks to enjoy your day at the beach.

What to do at the beach

Playa del Agujero is much more than just a beach to go to sunbathe and hang out. It's a beach where you can do various activities that we’ll present to you, so you can enjoy your day to the fullest.
 

Thanks to its winds, Agujero is an excellent place for activities such as kite flying. If you like this sport, you’re in the ideal place to launch your kites into the air.
 

However, the beach El Agujero in Galdar is known for hosting one of the most important championships in the world of bodyboarding, the Frontón King. The area known as the frontón, at one end of the beach, is considered to be the best left wave in the world.
 

Every year, the most famous bodyboarders in the world gather on the beach to compete in one of the World Cup events that put Galdar on the world surfing map.

Therefore, if you're a wave lover, El Agujero is undoubtedly the beach for you. At the same time, you must bear in mind that it's a dangerous area due to the strong currents and because it's a place full of rocks, so be especially careful not to hurt yourself and don’t go swimming by your own.

You should know that El Agujero isn't a beach suitable for scuba diving or snorkelling due to the strong currents and rough seas. For this type of practice, you have a beach that is ideal for it: Playa de Sardina. 

Similarly, you can’t practise nudism at El Agujero in Gáldar. 
 

In addition to all the things you can do on the beach, El Agujero has a little secret, just a few metres from the beach. The La Guancha archaeological site is one of the most important ones in the Canary Islands.

How to get to El Agujero

Getting to Agujero Beach isn’t very complicated, and it doesn't take more than half an hour.
 

From Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, you can take the GC-2 towards Galdar. Once you've reached the old town, take the GC-202, which is the nearest road to the beach.

Don't worry, you won't get lost at any time, as the accesses are well signposted.

It won't take you more than 5 minutes to get there. When you arrive, you'll discover that you can leave your vehicle without any problems, as there are large parking areas, and you can access the beach on foot.

If you want to get to the beach by bus, you're in luck, as from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, at San Telmo Station, you can take a bus (103 or 105 from the company Global) that’ll drop you off at the station in Galdar.

When you arrive at the station, you'll  have to take another intercity bus that'll take you to the Agujero in Galdar. The line you have to take is line 4 from the company Guaguas Gumidafe, and you can catch the bus at the same station. 

The beach Playa del Agujero: a treasure

The north of the island has some very famous and popular beaches, such as Playa de Sardina, El Puertillo or San Felipe. All of them have something that attracts not only people who live on the island, but also tourists due to their wild nature.
 

However, Playa del Agujero is a beach that has long been in the background. It's a real treasure, frequented mainly by people from the village or the surrounding area, as well as all those who love bodyboarding.
 

In short, we hope that you've been able to get to know a little more about El Agujero in Galdar, and that you can enjoy all the possibilities it offers in an incomparable setting in the north of Gran Canaria.