How many Blue Flag certified beaches are there in the Canaries?

Our verified inventory contains 52 Blue Flag certified beaches in the Canaries, ranked with Blue Flag certifications first, then organized beaches with full amenities, then alphabetically. The count reflects only beaches we've independently verified with confirmed coordinates, attributes, and a hand-written description.

Which Blue Flag certified beaches in the Canaries suit families with children?

Among the 52 Blue Flag certified beaches in this guide, Bajamar Natural Pools, Corralejo Viejo (Waikiki Beach), Jover Natural Pool, and others are explicitly rated family-friendly — meaning they combine calm water, gradual sand or pebble entry, organized facilities, and easy access.

When is the best time to visit Blue Flag certified beaches in the Canaries?

The Canaries are a year-round beach destination: the Atlantic stays swimmable in every month (roughly 19–23 °C, warmest from August through October), and from November to March the islands are among the warmest places in Europe — that winter-sun window is their distinctive draw. Sheltered south-coast beaches are reliable in any season, while the surf-exposed north sees its biggest swell in winter. Summer brings steady trade winds that keep the heat comfortable but can pick up sand on exposed stretches in the afternoons.

How are these beaches ranked in this guide?

Beaches are sorted with Blue Flag certified ones first (the strongest external quality signal), then organized beaches with on-site amenities, then alphabetically. This isn't a "best to worst" ranking — it's a "most reliable for the average visitor first" ordering. Less-developed beaches further down the list often have better scenery or fewer crowds but require more preparation to visit.

What does Blue Flag certification mean for a beach in the Canaries?

The Blue Flag is an annual international eco-certification from the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), awarded for water quality (regular testing), environmental management, safety (lifeguards, first aid, signage) and visitor information. Spain consistently leads the world by Blue Flag count, and the Canary Islands hold dozens. Certification is renewed yearly, so the list below reflects active certifications at time of writing.

Do Blue Flag beaches cost more to visit in the Canaries?

The certification itself doesn't change pricing — Blue Flag beaches in the Canaries are free to access. They do tend to have more organised infrastructure (sunbed rentals, beach bars, lifeguards), and those paid services run at local market rates, typically a few euros for a sunbed and parasol per day in the resort areas.

Best Blue Flag Beaches in the Canaries: 52 Spots (2026)

The Blue Flag is an international eco-certification awarded annually to beaches that pass strict criteria covering water quality, environmental management, safety and accessibility, and visitor education. Spain leads the world by Blue Flag count, and the Canary Islands hold dozens of them. Sites listed in the Canary Islands below carry an active certification at time of writing — Blue Flag status is reviewed yearly and can change between seasons.

Blue Flag beaches concentrate on the resort coasts of Gran Canaria (which carries the most in the archipelago), Tenerife, and Fuerteventura, with a handful more on Lanzarote. They cluster on the developed, lifeguarded southern shores rather than the wilder north. The list below covers every Blue Flag site in our verified inventory, sortable by island.

Showing #1 – #10 of 52 ranked beaches

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Bajamar Natural Pools

Tenerife

Best for: certified water quality and safety, full organized infrastructure, lifeguard on duty, family-friendly setup

Bajamar's coastal complex has two large natural seawater pools and a smaller children's pool protected from the open Atlantic. Accessible facilities, showers and seasonal lifeguard service make it one of La Laguna's best-equipped natural swimming locations.

Type: Other
Wave conditions: Calm
Parking: Small lot
Certification: Blue Flag

View full Bajamar Natural Pools guide See on Google Maps

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Butihondo Beach

Fuerteventura

Best for: certified water quality and safety, full organized infrastructure, lifeguard on duty

Butihondo is a long sandy resort beach on the Esquinzo-Butihondo coast of Jandía. It is distinct from the remote Playa de Esquinzo in northwestern Fuerteventura and offers sunbeds, showers, lifeguard service, food and water-sports facilities.

Type: Sandy
Wave conditions: Calm
Parking: Small lot
Certification: Blue Flag

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Corralejo Viejo (Waikiki Beach)

Fuerteventura

Best for: certified water quality and safety, full organized infrastructure, lifeguard on duty, family-friendly setup

Corralejo Viejo, commonly called Waikiki Beach, is a sheltered urban sandy cove beside Corralejo's seafront. Its calm, shallow water suits families, and the central location puts showers, lifeguard service, restaurants and water-sports facilities close at hand.

Type: Sandy
Wave conditions: Calm
Parking: Small lot
Certification: Blue Flag

View full Corralejo Viejo (Waikiki Beach) guide See on Google Maps

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El Arenisco Natural Pool

Tenerife

Best for: certified water quality and safety, full organized infrastructure, lifeguard on duty

El Arenisco is an accessible natural seawater pool on the Punta del Hidalgo waterfront. Its protected basin provides a calmer place to swim than the exposed coast, with showers, changing facilities and seasonal lifeguard coverage.

Type: Other
Wave conditions: Calm
Parking: Small lot
Certification: Blue Flag

View full El Arenisco Natural Pool guide See on Google Maps

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Jover Natural Pool

Tenerife

Best for: certified water quality and safety, full organized infrastructure, lifeguard on duty, family-friendly setup

Jover is a small natural seawater pool set into the volcanic shoreline near Tejina. The rock enclosure tempers the Atlantic swell, and the municipal bathing area provides accessible entry and seasonal lifeguard service.

Type: Other
Wave conditions: Calm
Parking: Roadside
Certification: Blue Flag

View full Jover Natural Pool guide See on Google Maps

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Los Charcones Natural Pools

Gran Canaria

Best for: certified water quality and safety, full organized infrastructure, lifeguard on duty, family-friendly setup

Los Charcones is a group of protected natural seawater pools at El Puertillo on Gran Canaria's north coast. The enclosed swimming areas offer calmer water than the open Atlantic, with a promenade, showers, seasonal lifeguard service and nearby places to eat.

Type: Other
Wave conditions: Calm
Parking: Small lot
Certification: Blue Flag

View full Los Charcones Natural Pools guide See on Google Maps

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Morro Jable Beach

Fuerteventura

Best for: certified water quality and safety, full organized infrastructure, lifeguard on duty, family-friendly setup

Morro Jable Beach is the sandy village-side bathing area on Jandía's south coast, separately recognised from El Matorral farther east. Calm swimming water, an accessible promenade, sunbeds, showers, lifeguard service and nearby restaurants make it a fully serviced urban beach.

Type: Sandy
Wave conditions: Calm
Parking: Small lot
Certification: Blue Flag

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Playa Blanca (Playa del Pueblo)

Lanzarote

Best for: certified water quality and safety, full organized infrastructure, family-friendly setup

Playa Blanca, locally known as Playa del Pueblo, is the small white-sand town beach on the southern coast of Lanzarote. Its sheltered, calm water and central promenade suit families, while nearby restaurants, showers and accessible facilities make it an easy urban swimming stop.

Type: Sandy
Wave conditions: Calm
Parking: Roadside
Certification: Blue Flag

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Playa de la Arena (Mesa del Mar)

Tenerife

Best for: certified water quality and safety, full organized infrastructure, family-friendly setup

Playa de la Arena is a 350-metre black-sand beach at Mesa del Mar in Tacoronte. Its sheltered setting usually keeps the water relatively calm, and nearby parking and toilets make it a convenient family swimming beach.

Type: Sandy
Wave conditions: Calm
Parking: Small lot
Certification: Blue Flag

View full Playa de la Arena (Mesa del Mar) guide See on Google Maps

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Playa de Torviscas

Tenerife

Best for: certified water quality and safety, full organized infrastructure, lifeguard on duty

Playa de Torviscas is a 290-metre sandy beach in Costa Adeje, immediately south of Fañabé. Breakwaters shelter its swimming area, while the accessible promenade connects sunbeds, showers, lifeguard service, restaurants and water-sports facilities.

Type: Sandy
Wave conditions: Calm
Parking: Small lot
Certification: Blue Flag

View full Playa de Torviscas guide See on Google Maps

Best Blue Flag Beaches in the Canaries

Bajamar Natural Pools

Butihondo Beach

Corralejo Viejo (Waikiki Beach)

El Arenisco Natural Pool

Jover Natural Pool

Los Charcones Natural Pools

Morro Jable Beach

Playa Blanca (Playa del Pueblo)

Playa de la Arena (Mesa del Mar)

Playa de Torviscas

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Best Blue Flag Beaches in the Canaries

Full list of Blue Flag certified beaches in the Canaries

Common questions about Blue Flag certified beaches in the Canaries

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Other curated guides for the Canaries

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