Puerto Rico Beach, Gran Canaria
The verdict
- Best for: Families and active travellers who want guaranteed sun, calm water and the best choice of boat trips and watersports on the island.
- Best spot: The sheltered main bay for easy swimming, with the marina alongside for boat trips, diving and deep sea fishing.
- Know this: This is a busy, purpose built resort beach beside a working marina rather than a natural one, and famously sunny.
Published 5 February 2026. Last reviewed 9 March 2026
Puerto Rico is the south west's busy, sunny all rounder. A sheltered bay of imported golden sand sits beside one of the island's biggest marinas, in a natural sun trap that claims some of the most reliable sunshine in Europe. The result is a bright, lively family resort beach where the water stays calm behind its breakwaters and the marina alongside hums with boat trips, diving, sailing and deep sea fishing. If you want to be active on and around the water, this is the island's hub.
The honest read is that Puerto Rico is a purpose built resort beach, compact and often busy, hemmed in by apartments climbing the steep valley behind. It is not a beach for those seeking natural beauty or space, and on a peak summer day the sand can feel full. What it offers instead is dependable sun, calm safe swimming, and an unrivalled choice of things to do on the water, which makes it a practical and genuinely fun base for an active family holiday.
It suits families and watersports lovers above all, with the calmer, prettier bay at Amadores a short walk away when you want a gentler day. Skip it if you want quiet or wild coastline. For sun you can rely on, easy swimming and the widest choice of boat trips and watersports on Gran Canaria, Puerto Rico earns its place, and the shoulder months take the edge off the crowds.
Clubs on this beach
Puerto Rico has a newer Chester beach club on the scene, with more polished venues a short walk or drive away. Compare them all in our Gran Canaria beach clubs directory.
Chester Beach Club Puerto Rico
A newer beach club from the well established Chester group has recently opened in Puerto Rico, with a pool, sunbeds and a sociable day scene. As a recent opening, check the days it runs and what a bed includes when you book.
Amadores and Anfi clubs nearby
A short walk or drive away, the Amadores Beach Club sits above its calm bay and the Maroa club overlooks the Anfi marina. Operators and minimum spend vary by season and are to be confirmed.
Puerto Rico sits on the south west coast of Gran Canaria, around 40 minutes by car from Las Palmas airport via the southern motorway, and is well served by buses and taxis from the other southern resorts. The marina and beach sit at the bottom of a steep valley, with the resort climbing the slopes on either side.
Parking is limited near the seafront and fills in peak season, so the bus or a taxi is often easier, and the resort is steep to walk. A coastal path links the beach to Amadores for an easy seaside stroll. Bring sun cover, and decide between a free patch of public sand, a hired sunbed, or a day out on the water from the marina.
Reserve a day at Puerto Rico
Tell us the date and party and we will match you to a club or spot on or near Puerto Rico and pass on your request. No charge to enquire.
Common questions
Is Puerto Rico beach in Gran Canaria man made?
Yes. Puerto Rico is a purpose built bay created with imported golden sand and sheltered by breakwaters and the marina, which keeps the water calm for swimming. That design, plus the sunny valley setting, is what makes it such a reliable family beach.
Why is Puerto Rico so sunny?
It sits in a sheltered south west facing valley that traps the sun and shrugs off much of the cloud that can gather elsewhere on the island. That microclimate gives Puerto Rico some of the most dependable sunshine in Gran Canaria, which is a large part of its appeal.
Is Puerto Rico good for watersports?
Yes, it is the island's watersports hub. The marina beside the beach offers the widest choice on Gran Canaria, from sailing, diving and jet skis to dolphin watching and deep sea fishing trips, with operators along the quayside. It is the best base on the island for time on the water.
Is Puerto Rico good for families?
Yes. The sheltered bay keeps the water calm and easy, there are seasonal lifeguards and sunbed hire, and the marina offers boat trips and activities to fill the days. It is compact and can be busy in peak season, so arrive early for a good spot on the sand.
How far is Amadores from Puerto Rico?
Amadores is just along the coast, around 20 minutes on foot via a coastal path, or a short taxi or bus ride. Many visitors stay in Puerto Rico for the marina and the sun and walk over to Amadores for the calmer, prettier swim.
