Güigüí Beach, Gran Canaria: how to get there

What makes Güigüí special

Güigüí is often described as the most remote beach on Gran Canaria, and for once the description is fair. It sits on the far west of the island, at the mouth of a deep ravine, beneath some of the tallest cliffs on the coast. There is no road to it. The coastal highway in this corner of the island turns inland long before, and beyond the point where the road gives up, beaches such as Veneguera, El Perchel and Güigüí are left to those willing to walk or sail.

That isolation is exactly the appeal. On a busy island with packed resort beaches, Güigüí feels like a different place: a long stretch of dark volcanic sand, the ravine opening behind it, and nothing built at all. On a clear day, the outline of Teide on Tenerife can appear across the water.

Getting there by sea

The simplest way to reach Güigüí is by boat. From the marinas of the south-west, boats follow the coastline west, past volcanic cliffs, caves and rock formations that you can only really appreciate from the water. The journey is part of the day rather than a chore to get through, and you arrive rested and ready for a swim.

Our shared Güigüí beach trip does exactly this, with stops along the way to swim and snorkel, and snorkel gear on board. If you prefer to have the boat to yourselves, a private charter of sufficient length can head the same way; ask when you book whether the time you have chosen allows it.

Whether a boat can approach the beach, and for how long, depends on the sea on the day. Güigüí faces the open Atlantic, and when there is swell the skipper may keep the boat at anchor further out or choose a more sheltered stop instead.

Getting there on foot

The other way in is on foot, down through the ravine from the nearest road-end. It is a proper hike over rough, steep terrain, not a stroll, and it involves climbing back out again at the end of the day when you are tired and the sun is high. We are not going to give you a distance or a walking time, because conditions, route choice and fitness vary too much; check an up-to-date hiking source and the local authorities before you set off.

If you do walk, treat it as a mountain outing. Start early, tell someone where you are going, and do not rely on phone signal.

No facilities: what to take

Güigüí has no facilities of any kind — no shop, no bar, no toilets, no lifeguard, no shade except what the cliffs throw at certain times of day. Whatever you need, you have to bring, and whatever you bring, you have to take away again.

If you go by boat, some of this is taken care of — check the tour page for what is included on board — but the beach itself offers nothing, so bring what you want to have with you on the sand.

• Plenty of water — far more than you think, especially if you walk.
• Food or snacks for the day.
• High-factor sun cream, a hat and sunglasses.
• Sturdy footwear for the hike; water shoes are handy for the rocks at the water’s edge.
• A bag to carry all your rubbish back out.

Why most people choose the boat

Walking to Güigüí is a genuine achievement and a wonderful day for experienced hikers. For most holidaymakers, though, the boat makes more sense. You avoid the climb in the heat, you see the coastline from its best angle, and you can bring children or relatives who would never manage the ravine.

Whichever way you choose, be careful in the water. The beach is exposed to the open ocean, there is no lifeguard, and swell can make the shoreline dangerous. If the sea looks rough, admire it from the sand.

And please leave it as you found it. Güigüí is special precisely because nobody has built anything there, and it stays that way only if every visitor takes their rubbish home.

Frequently asked questions