Anfi del Mar Beach, Gran Canaria
The verdict
- Best for: Families and couples who want the prettiest, calmest swim in the south, with a fishing town lunch a short walk away.
- Best spot: The sheltered centre of the bay for the soft white sand, then a long fish lunch in Arguineguin afterwards.
- Know this: The white sand and the bay are man made, trucked in and sheltered behind breakwaters rather than natural.
Published 17 April 2026. Last reviewed 12 May 2026
Anfi del Mar is the south coast at its most postcard pretty, and it knows it. A crescent of pale imported sand wraps around calm turquoise water, palms lean over the promenade, and a small islet shaped like a heart sits offshore beyond the marina. It was built to look tropical and it does, which makes it one of the easiest and prettiest family swims on the island. The water is sheltered, shallow and gentle, the sand is soft underfoot, and the whole bay is groomed to within an inch of its life.
The honest read is that none of this is natural. The white sand was shipped in, the bay is held calm behind breakwaters, and a wall of timeshare apartments climbs the slope behind. If you came to the Canaries for wild volcanic coast, Anfi is not your beach and Guayedra in the north west is. What Anfi does brilliantly is calm, safe, good looking swimming, so it earns its place for young families and anyone who simply wants a beautiful, fuss free day by clear water.
What lifts a day here is the town next door. A flat walk along the coast brings you to Arguineguin, a working fishing town where the boats still land their catch and the harbour restaurants grill it simply. Time your visit for the big Tuesday market, when the streets fill with stalls and the cafes spill onto the front, then carry a plate of fresh fish and a glass of something cold back toward the bright water. Beach in the morning, long Canarian lunch after, is the way to do Anfi.
Clubs on this beach
Anfi del Mar has a relaxed terrace club beside the marina rather than a poolside party scene. Compare it with the rest in our Gran Canaria beach clubs directory.
Maroa Club del Mar
A large terrace club beside the Anfi marina with sea views, dining and a chill out area on the Maroa islet, and easy access to the white sand nearby. The grown up choice here for a long lunch by the water rather than a pool day. Days and any minimum spend are to be confirmed when you book.
Harbour restaurants in Arguineguin
A short coastal walk away, the fishing town of Arguineguin lands its own catch and grills it plainly at a string of harbour restaurants. Not a club, but the honest local alternative to a daybed, and unbeatable after a morning on the sand. Opening times vary, so check on the day.
Anfi del Mar sits on the south west coast near Arguineguin, around 35 minutes by car from Las Palmas airport on the southern motorway, and an easy taxi or bus ride from the southern resorts. A flat seafront path links it to Arguineguin in about 20 minutes, which is the nicest way to arrive for lunch.
Parking sits above the bay and fills in peak season, so arrive early or come by bus. The walk down to the sand is gentle, which suits buggies and small children. Bring sun cover, and decide between a free patch of public sand, a hired sunbed, or a table at the terrace club by the marina.
Reserve a day at Anfi del Mar
Tell us the date and party and we will match you to a club or spot on or near Anfi del Mar and pass on your request. No charge to enquire.
Common questions
Is Anfi del Mar a natural beach?
No. Anfi del Mar is a man made bay built with imported pale sand and held calm behind breakwaters and a marina. That design is exactly why the water is so gentle and the sand so bright, even though it lacks the natural character of the volcanic coast in the north and west of the island.
Is Anfi del Mar good for families?
Very. The sheltered bay keeps the water calm, shallow and clear, the sand is soft, and there are sunbeds, showers and cafes along the promenade. The gentle walk down to the sand also suits buggies, which makes it one of the easiest family beaches in the south.
What is the heart shaped island at Anfi del Mar?
It is a small islet beyond the marina, known as the Maroa islet, with a shape that reads as a heart from above. It is the image that appears on most postcards of Anfi and gives the bay its romantic reputation, and the Maroa terrace club sits alongside it.
Where should I eat near Anfi del Mar?
Walk the flat coastal path to the fishing town of Arguineguin, where harbour restaurants grill the local catch simply. Time it for the big Tuesday market, when stalls fill the streets and the front comes alive, then settle in for a long Canarian fish lunch by the water.
When is the best time to visit Anfi del Mar?
April, May and October bring warm, settled weather and lighter crowds than the busy summer. The sheltered bay stays calm for swimming most of the year, and mornings are the quietest before the sunbeds fill, which leaves the afternoon free for a slow lunch nearby.
