10 Incredible Nude Beaches in the Canary Islands for a Clothes Free Holiday

Some destinations feel as if we have to negotiate every bare centimetre of skin. The Canary Islands are the opposite of that. From our very first visit, the archipelago felt like a place where the landscape, the light and the local rhythm all quietly agreed that being nude on the beach is completely normal.

Seven main islands rise out of the Atlantic off the coast of Africa, yet they are part of Spain. They all come with their own vibe and scenery. Within a single trip, we can step from golden dunes that look borrowed from the Sahara into black sand coves under dramatic cliffs, and from pale Caribbean-style beaches into lava platforms where stairs lead straight into deep blue water.

Because the islands are well connected by ferries and short flights, it becomes very simple to build a whole itinerary around nude beach days. We can wake up on a big social beach with beach bars nearby, then find ourselves two days later on a wild stretch of coast where services disappear, and the sky suddenly feels much bigger.

In this overview, we bring together ten nude beaches that have become important stops on our own Canary Islands travels. They show exactly how many different versions of a nude beach vacation fit into this compact archipelago.

For many travellers, Gran Canaria is the first taste of a nude beach holiday in the Canaries. The long stretch of sand between Maspalomas and Playa del Inglés in the south of the island feels like it was built precisely for leaving your clothes behind.

The setting itself gives the beaches their special atmosphere. The huge dunes behind Maspalomas look as if they have been blown in from the Sahara (Well, actually they might have, Google “Calima” for more info). This is not the kind of scenery one would expect on a Spanish island, but the natural setting is just breathtaking.

Part of the charm here is the mix of people. Solo travellers, couples, long-term regulars and complete beginners all end up sharing the same sand. Some spend the day sunbathing, some swim and splash in the waves, and others drift from chiringuito to chiringuito, chatting and drinking along the way. The official nude zone is signposted, and the chiringuitos inside this zone are clothing optional as well, which means that your nude beach day does not have to end when you get thirsty.

We do want to note that the dunes are known for naked activities that go far beyond sunbathing and skinny dipping. If you prefer not to see this, it’s best not to drift too far away from the beach.

From the yellow dunes of Gran Canaria, we head straight towards the white ones on Fuerteventura. The island is famous for its white sand and strong winds, and those two elements shape many of its best nude beaches.

The Corralejo dunes in the north are an easy place to understand why so many naturists feel at home on Fuerteventura. Once you leave the large hotels behind, the natural park stretches out as a wide open space where dropping your clothes feels like the most logical thing to do.

Some people stay closer to town in more social areas, others walk further to find their own quiet corner. The sea often looks almost flat, and the whole setting creates a scenery that feels more Caribbean than Atlantic.

On the other side of Fuerteventura, near Costa Calma, Playa Esmeralda has become one of those beaches that many naked travellers adopt as their base. The sand is soft under your feet, the water is clear and usually shallow for quite a distance, and low dunes behind the beach provide just enough shelter from the ever-present wind.

There is an easy balance here between feeling looked after and feeling far away. We can still see some of the resorts in the distance, but once we spread out our towels, it feels as if the rest of the island has faded into the background. It is very common to see more people nude than clothed on Esmeralda beach. All spending their time reading, dozing off, or walking to the water and chatting with their friends.

Playa Esmeralda is also a great starting point for further exploration. From here, you can wander along the shoreline, slipping into neighbouring coves whenever a curve of sand or rock formation catches your eye. A simple swim easily turns into a small clothes-free walk, and before you know it, you arrive on the next beach where nudity is more or less the norm.

At some point, comfort starts to feel almost too easy, and we crave a bit of adventure. On Fuerteventura, that usually translates to a trip to Playa de Cofete on the west coast.

Getting there already feels like a small journey. The road crosses high hills and slowly opens up towards the ocean. When we finally see the fourteen kilometres of sand stretched out under high cliffs, it tends to take our breath away. Every time again.

Cofete is not your typical nude beach, it’s rather one of those places that are so wide, spacious, natural, and empty that it just feels right to enjoy this in the nude. There are no services here, usually strong waves and only a handful of people scattered along the shore.

For us, Cofete is less about swimming and more about walking nude along the waterline. Every time we turn around and look back at our own footprints, the beach almost swallows them. Visiting Cofete is an effort, but that is exactly what makes it one of the most memorable beaches in the Canary Islands.

From Fuerteventura, it is an easy hop to Lanzarote. If you’re taking the ferry, you’ll be dropped off really close to the Papagayo beaches near Playa Blanca, which happen to be the most famous nude beaches on the island. Unlike what many people believe, the Papagayo area isn’t just about one beach, but about a whole stretch of beaches, each with its own personality.

The main Papagayo beach has become mostly textile over the years, and tends to get very crowded. So it’s much better to continue along the coast towards beaches like Playa Mujeres, Playa del Pozo and Caleta del Congrio. All three have a strong nude beach tradition, and it is completely normal to find many people without bathing suits here.

We really like the way the coves allow us to pick a spot that fits our mood, whether that is a slightly busier corner or a quieter curve of sand tucked between the cliffs.

In the northeast of Lanzarote, Charco del Palo shifts the focus from individual beaches to an entire village. This small settlement was built around clothes-free living, and nudity is accepted not only on the rocks and platforms by the sea but throughout the whole place, including the streets and restaurants.

If you’re just visiting for the day, just pick a flat spot on the lava or one of the more sandy parts, and climb down one of the stairs into the Atlantic for a swim. If the swell would feel too strong, it’s better to head towards the natural pools where a skinny dip is much more relaxing.

And when you’ve had enough of the beach, just head over to Lili’s bar for a drink and some tapas without needing to put your clothes on. That’s what Charco del Palo gives you, the pleasant sensation that everyday life and naked life can easily blend into one.

Playa del Inglés on La Gomera island brings in the bohemian side of the archipelago. Surrounded by high cliffs and made up of dark sand and pebbles, the beach has a long history with backpackers and free spirits, and nudity is naturally part of the scene. The atmosphere feels calm and a little dreamy, as if time has decided to slow down specifically for this island.

It’s easy to spend long, lazy afternoons here with nothing more than a towel, some snacks and the sound of the waves. People drift in and out, some finding a spot closer to the water, others choosing the back of the beach near the rocks, and everyone seems to fall into their own rhythm quite quickly.

After hours of watching the crashing waves, it’s an easy stroll into the village for a drink. The walk back along the seafront is short, but it always feels like crossing an invisible line between a small bohemian bubble and everyday island life.

The nude section at Tazacorte feels almost like the opposite of the wildness at La Gomera. This is a black sand town beach with a part clearly marked for nudity, which makes it one of the few official nude beaches in the Canary Islands. Knowing that the clothes-free area is signposted takes away much of the uncertainty: you simply walk to the right spot, spread out your towel and relax without worrying if you might have ended up in the “wrong” place.

For us, it is a perfect place to invite friends who are curious about a first clothes-free experience. They can see straight away that the textile and nude areas coexist easily, and that everyone is treated the same, whether they wear a swimsuit or not. The setting feels very straightforward, almost practical, which can be exactly what someone needs on a first day without clothes.

Parking in town is easy, the walk to the beach only takes a few minutes, and bars, restaurants and toilets sit just behind the sand for whenever you feel like a break. We very much like the simplicity of it all.

Playa de la Tejita, near El Médano and the red cone of Montaña Roja on Tenerife, is the most famous clothes-free stretch of sand on the island. The beach is wide, the sand is soft, and nudity is especially common on the side closest to the red mountain. Our routine here is simple. We walk along the beach until we find a spot that feels good, drop our towel, and settle in for a relaxed day without clothes.

What we enjoy most is the feeling of space. Even on busier days, there always seems to be room to spread out, and the open view towards Montaña Roja gives the whole place a backdrop that we never quite get used to. We tend to wander back and forth between our towels and the shoreline, letting the waves wash over our legs, and watching other people do exactly the same.

Just like on Maspalomas Beach on Gran Canaria, we noticed that the dunes in the back have other purposes, especially around sunset. What bothered us was that late in the afternoon, single men started to hang out around our shelter, hoping that we would soon start “a show”. We didn’t have this problem when we stayed closer to the shoreline. So pick your spot carefully.

Playa Diego Hernández, between La Caleta and El Puertito, speaks more to the side of us that enjoys earning a beach. Reaching the large cove means following coastal paths for about twenty minutes, slowly descending, and in some parts even using a rope for extra grip. The reward is a golden bay with clear, calm water and an amazing vibe.

While Playa del Inglés on La Gomera has a long history as a hippy beach, we found the most alternative scene at Diego Hernández. Many young people in many states of dress and undress, often making music or selling handmade jewellery. This all adds to the very relaxed vibe.

At high tide, the sand can feel a bit narrow, so try to time your visit. When you get it right, the whole cove turns into one of the most easy-going places we know for a nude swim in the Canary Islands.