El Cabrón is named after Andaluz pirate Pedro Hernandez Cabrón, who is said to have lost his teeth during a skirmish with the island's original Canarii inhabitants close to the beach. 

The beach is 300 metres of golden sand sheltered by two rock headlands. It has clear, calm water that is superb for snorkeling. Like most east coast beaches, El Cabron can be windy, especially during the summer. However, it's sunny perfectly sit-able on most days. 

Access to El Cabron beach is down a good quality graded track that starts in Arinaga town. The turnoff is here. Any car with reasonable clearance can get to the beach. Drive past the lighthouse and the school, and park when you get to the cluster of houses by the sand. 

There are no facilities at El Cabrón or anywhere nearby and no lifeguard. During the week, the beach gets few visitors except for divers (the zone just past the beach is the best dive site in Gran Canaria) but it can fill up with locals at weekends. 

 Alex Says: Take a snorkel top El Cabrón: It really is a great place to see fish.