Playa de Las Canteras

The Playa de Las Canteras (Las Canteras beach; 'Beach of the Quarries') is the main urban beach of the city of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, on the island of Gran Canaria in the Canary Islands. It is considered one of the most prominent beaches in the archipelago.

The beach operates under an Environmental Management System certified in accordance with the UNE-EN ISO 14001 standard. It has also received certification for universal accessibility for bathing services for people with reduced mobility from the same certifying body.

In addition, Playa de Las Canteras has been awarded the “Q for Tourism Quality” flag, the European Union Blue Flag, the ISO Environmental Management Certificate, and the Universal Accessibility Certificate, distinctions that recognize environmental management, service quality, and accessibility standards.

In 2013, the beach was ranked tenth in Spain in the “Travellers’ Choice Playas” awards, based on a study evaluating 276 beaches across Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Central America, Europe, the Middle East, and the United States. In that ranking, Playa de Cofete placed sixth in Spain, while Playa de Las Catedrales ranked first nationally.

The name of the beach is historically associated with “La Barra,” a natural sandstone and calcareous reef that runs parallel to the shoreline. This formation shelters the beach from the north swell and contributes to its distinctive character. The beach was formerly known as “Playa del Arrecife” (“Reef Beach”), as La Barra emerged from the water like a reef. In the past, the reef was quarried (Spanish: cantera) for stone used in various construction projects in the city, including Cathedral of Santa Ana. Although quarrying has ceased, the name Playa de Las Canteras remains in reference to this historical activity.