Playa El Veril

El Veril closes off the eastern end of the long Maspalomas seafront. The coast breaks here into small coves divided by volcanic rock spurs that run out into the sea, and that relief is what gives the place its character: it slows the wind that sweeps the open beaches and leaves quieter water over a bed of dark sand and loose stone. The result is a sheltered corner only a few steps from the crowds of Playa del Inglés, with the San Agustín hotel blocks on one side and the low coastline towards Maspalomas on the other.

Getting there is easy. The Costa Canaria pedestrian promenade runs directly above the coves and links San Agustín with Playa del Inglés, so you can walk in, drive or take the bus, with parking close by. Down on the sand there are showers, toilets, sunloungers and umbrellas, plus ramps and walkways built for reduced mobility. Bring water shoes, because pebbles cover a good part of the shoreline, and stay clear of the rocky edges when a swell is running. Late afternoon light is the kindest, both for swimming and for photographs.