Nudism is legal on all Gran Canaria beaches, but it's best to stick to the areas where it's considered acceptable. Don't worry as there are plenty, from the Maspalomas dunes to tiny, hidden bays miles from the nearest road. 

While topless sunbathing is the norm among both tourists and locals on all of Gran Canaria's beaches and resort swimming pools, the only resort beach that is officially nudist is the central section of Maspalomas and Playa del Inglés.

We've created this Google Map as a guide to the location of each of the nudist beaches mentioned in this blog post. Click on the linked beach names to see each beach.

Nudist beaches in south Gran Canaria

If you fancy letting it all hang out on Gran Canaria the easy option is to head to the main beach in front of the Maspalomas and Playa del Inglés tourist resorts. To find the nudist section, simply walk from either end towards the middle and stop when you reach the naked people in front of the sand dunes. The nude area has a specific gay zone centred on snack hut 7. You can't miss the big rainbow flag.

Nude sunbathing at Maspalomas is a bit surreal as a constant stream of fully clothed tourists (known as textiles) walk along the shore. To go for a swim you either have to put your bathers on or brave the stares.  Nonetheless, the nudist area is wildly popular and there are hundreds if not thousands of nudists there every day.

For more discreet naturist beaches in Gran Canaria take a bus from Maspalomas towards Arguineguin and get off at the Montaña de Arena stop. A short walk along an old track brings you to the island’s local nude beach, set in front of a huge sand dune. Don't go snap happy on Montaña de Arena beach as many of the locals don't want their dangly bits turning up on the Internet. Take supplies as there are no facilities other than an occasional ice cream and drink seller.

Sandy Pasito Bea beach, just 500 metres east of Montaña de Arena, is also clothing-optional. 

The smaller, mostly pebble beaches between Maspalomas and Arguineguin, such as Triana and Llano de los Militares,  are clothing optional. You need a car to get to them and you will have to hike down from the road. Most small or remote beaches on the island are nudist friendly. The simple rule to follow is to see what other people are doing and to tuck yourself away behind a rock if you are shy. Please be careful along this coast if the sea is rough and the tide comes in fast.

Another highly local option is Medio Almud beach just to the west of Playa del Cura. You can drive down to the beach, but it has no facilities. Arrive early to bag one of the stone circles.

Remote Tasarte and Tasartico both have natural pebble beaches ideal for nudism. Tasarte beach even has a beachfront restaurant and a road that finishes just 10 minutes walk from the sea.

Nudist beaches in west Gran Canaria

If you get to a west Gran Canaria beach, then feel free to strip off (except for the beach in La Aldea town). 

To really get away from it hike down from Tasartico hamlet to GüiGüi beach on the remote west coast of the island. The walk takes about an hour and a half and is signposted. During the week you'll probably have the beach all to yourself (apart from the resident hermit).  While camping is not allowed on Canarian beaches nobody checks GüiGüi because it's so remote: Take all the water you need as there are no facilities.  Another way of getting to GüiGüi is to hop on one of the boat trips out of Puerto Rico marina. 

While camping is not allowed on Canarian beaches, nobody checks GüiGüi because it's so remote: Take all the water you need as there are no facilities.  Another way of getting to GüiGüi is to hop on one of the boat trips out of Puerto Rico marina. On calm days you'll be able to swim ashore and at least get a taste of what the beach is like. 

For an even more remote west coast beach, head to black-sand Faneroque beach. It's so remote that it's almost always empty and is a tough walk down from the road and over the rocks.

Guayedra beach, about an hour's walk south of Puerto de las Nieves is another attractive naturist option. Guayedra is accessible from the road between Agaete and La Aldea de San Nicolas. It is a pretty, sand and pebble beach where nudism is pretty much obligatory

Nudist beaches in north Gran Canaria

As of October 2010, the capital city Las Palmas now has its own nudist beach. El Confital sits at the very northern tip of Las Palmas. Get there by following the boulevard which runs along Las Canteras beach as far as it goes, and then along the track and iron walkway. The nudist zone starts where the wooden boardwalk ends.

La Laja beach on the way to Las Palmas from the south is now also a de-facto nudist beach after the local government unsuccessfully sued a group of nudists there. The authorities have now said that they will not pester naked folk on La Laja beach. 

The salt pans just east of El Puertillo beach are nudist but be warned that the zone is also a cruising area for the city's gay men.

Nudist hotels in Gran Canaria

Gran Canaria's hotels have cottoned on to the fact that lots of people want an all-over tan without getting sand on their dangly bits. Most large hotels now have a nude sunbathing terrace and there are even nude complexes.

The Gloria Palace Thalasso San Agustin has a rooftop terrace for nudists. The Palm Beach Hotel in Maspalomas and the Sandy Beach Hotel in Playa del Ingles have nude terraces, the latter with a jacuzzi. Both are close to the main nudist beach at Maspalomas.

If you want a complete guide to Gran Canaria's nudist beaches, we have a Kindle book that's perfect. The Dare To Bare Nudist Beach Guide To Gran Canaria.