Maspalomas

Maspalomas beach is the world's busiest naked spot and the world's biggest nudist holiday destination. The nude area of the beach is at the east end where the biggest dunes meet the sea. Activity centres around the beach kiosks as many nudists prefer to rent sun loungers rather than sit on the sand. The gay nudist area is by the kiosk with the big rainbow flag.

Nudism on Maspalomas is far more social than your normal naked beach; people cluster in groups and chat. If you'd rather go bare with more space around you, then just steer clear of the kiosks. 

Playa del Inglés

The west end of Playa del Inglés beach, where it joins up with Maspalomas beach is nudist. It's often quieter than the Maspalomas nude area as most nudists go around the dogleg to the nudist snack kiosks. 

Both beaches get plenty of textile visitors walking between the resorts so popping into the water can be a little surreal. 

Montaña de Arena

Montaña de Arena beach is at the base of a giant sand dune just west of Pasito Blanco harbour. It's long been a local nudist spot but has become more popular with tourists who want nudism without the Maspalomas and PDI crowds. 

The beach is a short walk from the GC 500 road (it has a bus stop). Nowadays the track from Las Carpinteras beach has been eroded away so you need to walk to the east end of the dune to get down to the water. When you get to the top of the dune, look for the footprints that show you the easiest way to scramble down. 

Guayedra

Guayedra in the north-west of Gran Canaria is one of the island's most pristine spots. The mixed sand and pebble beach is at the mouth of a valley full of palms and mastic trees and is within the Biosphere Reserve. The sea at Guayedra can be rough with strong dumpy waves so please take care when swimming 

Access is via a decent track that starts five kilometres down the GC 200 road between Agaete and La Aldea. Park by the house and walk down the track to the sea. Turn right for the beach.

Lex says: If the locals aren't swimming at Guayedra beach, then you shouldn't be either.

GüiGüi

GüiGüi beach is Gran Canaria's mythical beach. Once home to a community of naked hippies, it now only has a resident hermit. Locals hike into GüiGüi from Tasartico (a couple of hours walk) and camp (although it's technically illegal to sleep over as there is no official campsite). 

 To visit GüiGüi the easy way, book a boat trip from Puerto Rico marina. You may not get to spend much time on the sand but at least you'll see it.

For a real GüiGüi experience, hike to the beach from Tasartico village (off the GC 200 road). The beautiful walk takes a couple of hours and you need to carry all the water and supplies you need. You can also do a four hour hike from La Aldea village to GüiGüi beach. 

Alex says: The water taxi from Puerto de las Nieves to GüiGüi doesn't run any more.

Medio Almud

Sheltered by two rock headlands, Medio Almud is a calm and sheltered nudist beach popular with local nudists in south-west Gran Canaria. It's a mix of sand and pebbles and rarely sees more than a dozen people on weekdays. 

Medio Almud is between Tauro and Taurito. The beach has a tarmac road right down to the sand (built by over-enthusiastic developers) but it's blocked off. Park or get off the bus by the bus stop and walk down to the beach. 

As with all local nudist beaches in Gran Canaria, keep camera use to a minimum.

Tiritaña 

If you want the GüiGüi experience without the long hike, then Tiritaña is your beach. It's a short hike down the barranco from the road and is almost always deserted. The beach is mostly pebbles but does get sandy patches at low tide. 

Bring water and supplies as the on-off hermit doesn't like sharing his beer. 

Aguadulce

The prettiest nudist spot in east Gran Canaria, golden Aguadulce beach is popular with locals but rarely gets and tourists.

Nudists cluster at the eastern end by the little cliff as it's the most sheltered spot (Aguadulce can be windy).  

Park at Tufia and walk north from the car park to get to this beach. It's just 100 metres down the hill and sand dune.

El Confital

Las Palmas' most pristine beach is to the north of the city and is the only one in north Gran Canaria that faces south. This gives it great views of the island and of Teide volcano as well as great sunsets.

With one of Europe's top surf waves just offshore and a nudist area at the west end of the boardwalk, El Confital is the city's chillout spot.

During the week El Confi, as it's know to the locals, is almost empty but it fills up at weekends, especially if the wave is firing.

Other nudist beaches

Other nudist beaches in Gran Canaria include Pasito Bea just west of Pasito Blanco marina, Llano de los Militares just east of Arguineguín, and the remote south west beaches at Veneguera, Tasarte and Tasartico.

As it is perfectly legal to be nude on any beach in Spain (really), you are fine going naked on any quiet bit of the coast if there's nobody else around. If there's a basic rule, then it is don't take your clothes of in view of houses or restaurants and take your cue from those around you. 

Lex Says: The nudist section of Puerto de Las Nieves beach is closed to the public due to rockfalls from the cliffs behind.