Taurito Beach, Gran Canaria

Taurito is a beach that comes with its own machinery. Tucked into a steep, dry valley between Puerto Rico and Mogan, it is a small, sheltered bay of dark volcanic sand wrapped around by hotels and dominated by the Lago Taurito complex, a large open air spread of saltwater pools and sunbathing terraces. It was built as a self contained holiday pocket, the kind of place where families settle in for a week and rarely need to leave the valley, and on those terms it works.

The honest read is that Taurito is functional rather than beautiful. The valley is steep and largely concrete, the dark sand is workmanlike, and the pool complex, while popular with children, gives the whole place a packaged feel that has little to do with the wild Canaries. If you are looking for natural charm or a long open beach, this is not your stop, and Mogan or Puerto de Mogan a few minutes along the coast will reward you far more.

Where Taurito earns its keep is ease and water. The sea swim is calm and sheltered, the saltwater pools keep small children happy for hours, and everything from sunbeds to lunch sits within a short flat walk. There is little in the way of a town or independent dining, so the eating is mostly hotel restaurants in the valley. Treat it as a practical family base for swimming and pools rather than a beach to seek out for its looks, and it does the job.