Playa Esmeralda
White sand beach with turquoise water on the Jandía coast in Pájara, over 400 metres long. Access is by dirt track, which keeps visitor numbers low, and nudism is practised as normal.
Playa Esmeralda is a white sand beach with turquoise water on the Jandía coast, in the municipality of Pájara. It runs for a little over 400 metres and is around 30 metres wide, a long and narrow proportion that leaves a clearly defined band of sand along the shoreline. The surf is generally gentle and the beach stays usable throughout the year, with no season in which it is effectively ruled out. Nudism is also practised here as a matter of course, something worth knowing before setting out.
The main practical factor is the approach: the beach is reached along a dirt track that is not suitable for every vehicle, so checking the state of the track and the ground clearance of the car is sensible before committing to it. That same restriction keeps visitor numbers lower than at neighbouring beaches and accounts for much of the quiet feel of the place. On arrival there is parking next to the beach, a lifeguard service, sunbed and parasol hire and beach bars. As across the whole south of the island, wind is a constant presence and can shape how comfortable a day on the sand is, so protection from wind and sun is worth planning for.
Reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first!
Related places
Playa de las Arenas
Playa de las Arenas
Playa de las Teresitas
Playa de las Teresitas
Playa de Santa Cruz de La Palma
An urban beach of volcanic sand beside the capital's Avenida Marítima, at the foot of its historic seafront.
Playa de Santa Cruz de La Palma
An urban beach of volcanic sand beside the capital's Avenida Marítima, at the foot of its historic seafront.
Poema del Mar
One of Europe's most spectacular aquariums, home to the world's largest curved viewing window onto the deep sea.
Poema del Mar
One of Europe's most spectacular aquariums, home to the world's largest curved viewing window onto the deep sea.
Pirámides de Güímar
Six stepped pyramids surrounded by gardens and the enigma that fascinated Thor Heyerdahl.
Pirámides de Güímar
Six stepped pyramids surrounded by gardens and the enigma that fascinated Thor Heyerdahl.
Bodegas Teneguía
Fuencaliente winery known for its volcanic Malvasía wines, with visits in southern La Palma.
Bodegas Teneguía
Fuencaliente winery known for its volcanic Malvasía wines, with visits in southern La Palma.
Related guides
The best beaches in Fuerteventura
Fuerteventura is the Canaries' beach island: the dunes of Corralejo, the Sotavento lagoon, wild Cofete and the black sand of Ajuy. Here are the best ones and how to choose yours.
Which Canary Island should you choose for your holiday?
It isn't one destination, it's eight islands and each one plays a different game. We compare Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro by traveller profile, so you pick the exact island for your trip.
Renting a car with no deposit and taking it on the ferry between islands: the honest Canary Islands guide
Which companies rent without a deposit, what happens to your insurance if you cross by ferry to another island, and how to save with the car swap at the port. Verified facts, updated July 2026.