The Canary Islands has been known as a leading destination for the LGBTQ+ community for more than 50 years. Known for their beautiful beaches, year-round good weather, laid-back culture and open-minded spirit, the Canary Islands are home to numerous LGBTQ+ friendly spots.
From delightful bars and remarkable beaches to colourful festivals and welcoming accommodation – here are the top LGBTQ+ friendly spots to visit in the Canary Islands.
Playa de las Americas and Tenerife
The island of Tenerife is host to a number of events which celebrate the LGBTQ+ community, such as ARN Culture & Business Pride. This six-day event in Playa de Las Americas, is focused on the growth of the LGBTQ+ platform through culture, technology, business, science, art and leisure. Year-on-year this event grows in popularity and continues to be one of the best-loved LGBTQ+ events in Europe, with numerous celebrity guests, such as Caitlyn Jenner, in attendance.
Playa de las Americas, one of the largest tourist towns in the Canary Islands, is home to several gay-friendly beaches, such as Playa de la Tejita, Montaña Roja, Montaña Amarilla and Playa de Diego Hernandez. Looking for something different? Visit La Finca de Papá, Guía de Isora, and enjoy incredible pool parties on the last Saturday of every month.
Accommodation: Playaflor Chill-Out Resort bungalows and hotels, such as the H10 Conquistador or the Hotel Gala, in Playa de Las Americas, are very popular with LGBTQ+ travellers and are located close to the island’s popular gay areas.
Maspalomas and Gran Canaria
Maspalomas and Playa del Inglés in Gran Canaria have been the LGBTQ+ centre of Europe since the 1990’s. Playa de Maspalomas and Playa del Inglés are a paradise of white sands linked by the incredible Maspalomas Dunes, a protected natural reserve with a dedicated nudist zone.
In addition to the sun and beach, these areas are hugely popular for nightlife and are home to a variety of gay-friendly bars, boasting great music, renowned DJs and themed events for all tastes. Pay a visit to the Yumbo Shopping Center and plaza, the epicentre of the festivities, which can be enjoyed 365 days and nights of the year.
The Carnival of Maspalomas, the Carnival of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, and their Drag Queen Galas, are central part of Gran Canaria’s social calendar attracting thousands of people from the LGBTQ+ community every year.
Accommodation: Maspalomas is also home to numerous comfortable apartment complexes and bungalows oriented exclusively toward the gay community, including Club Torso, Birdcage Resort-Gay Lifestyles Hotel, Mow Seven Hotel & Wellness, Villas Blancas, Rainbow Golf Bungalows or Los Almendros Gays Exclusive Vacation Club.
Tazacorte and La Palma
Known as Isla Bonita, La Palma is one of the most gay-friendly of the Canary Islands. The island is host to the Isla Bonita Love Festival, an event of film, music, talks and gay-friendly fashion, highlighting the respect for the LGBTQ+ community in the Canary Islands.
Accommodation: Whether traveling alone or as a couple, you can find several gay-friendly accommodations in La Palma. Hotel La Hacienda de Abajo is an emblematic and picturesque hotel located in the municipality of Tazacorte, where there are also two nudist beaches, Los Tarajales and Los Guirres. La Palma Sun Nudist, in Los Llanos de Aridane, was the first nudist hotel on the island and is a popular choice for LGBTQ+ travellers.
Corralejo Dunes and Fuerteventura
While Fuerteventura may not be known specifically for its gay scene, the island is famous for its laid-back and liberal attitude and has been welcoming gay holidaymakers for decades.
Established in 2010, the Rainbow Festival is Fuerteventura’s number one gay event, supporting the local, national and international LGBTQ+ community across four loud and proud days in December.
Fuerteventura’s famous Corralejo Dunes, a protected natural area stretching 22km, attracts a ton of attention from gay and straight holidaymakers alike.
Accommodation: Enjoy the freedom of Fuerteventura in Monte Marina Naturist Resort, in the municipality of Pájara, with 47 apartments where you can practice nudism with pride.
Arrecife and Lanzarote
In addition, this island is an ideal place for the LGBTQ+ community and athletes in events such as the Ironman Lanzarote or the El Río Swimming Crossing, as well as in surfing, windsurfing or kite surfing championships. Among the new additions to the island’s sports calendar is the Disco Night Urban Race, which runs through the streets of Arrecife in a disco atmosphere with musical performances.
Charco del Palo is a naturist holiday village, found on the north-eastern coast of Lanzarote. The island is home to a plethora of sun-drenched beaches and Charco del Palo, Teguise, is one of the best-known for those who practice nudism. Its natural swimming pool opens into the Atlantic Ocean, guaranteeing privacy and tranquillity for all visitors. The wide range of apartments, bars and nightlife in the area create a special atmosphere that is highly valued by LGBTQ+ tourists.
Accommodation: If you’re looking for a hotel, Lanzarote has fantastic options for gay and straight holidaymakers alike, such as the H10 Timanfaya Palace, which, besides being exclusively for adults, has a large area reserved for nudists.
La Gomera, El Hierro and La Graciosa
La Gomera and El Hierro have been declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. If you’re looking for a destination that combines incredible hiking trails and idyllic swimming coves, and a relaxed atmosphere, then the beaches of El Inglés, in La Gomera, and El Verodal, in El Hierro, are the perfect choice for you.
La Playa de la Concha is the best-known beach of La Graciosa, an island where even the streets are comprised of white sand. Nudism is permitted at La Playa de la Concha, however La Graciosa is home to several beaches that can only be accessed on foot or by bicycle, so it is easy to find privacy in any corner!
The LGBTQ+ Calendar of the Canary Islands
- January: Fuerteventura LGBTQ+ Film Festival.
- February: Carnival.
- March: Drag Queen Gala in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and Drag Queen Gala in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
- March: Can[Be]Gay Film Festival of Tenerife.
- March: Bear Carnival Maspalomas (Gran Canaria).
- May: Maspalomas Gay Pride (Gran Canaria).
- May: Freedom Gay Festival Yumbo Shopping Center in Maspalomas (Gran Canaria).
- May: Disco Night Urban Race Lanzarote.
- June: ARN Culture Pride Arona (Tenerife).
- June: Las Palmas Pride. Santa Cruz de Tenerife Pride.
- July: Isla Bonita Love Festival of Tazacorte. La Palma Gay Pride.
- August: La finca de papá (Icod de Los Vinos. Tenerife).
- August: Mister & Miss Maspalomas (Gran Canaria).
- October: Freedom Gay Festival Maspalomas.
- October: Dunes Festival Gran Canaria.
- October: Freedom Gay Festival Maspalomas (Gran Canaria).
- October: Maspalomas Fetish Week (Gran Canaria).
- October: Girls & Friends Weekend Party (Gran Canaria).
- November: Winter Pride Maspalomas (Gran Canaria).
- November: German Carnival (Gran Canaria).
- December: Rainbow Fuerteventura
For more information on the Canary Islands please visit www.hellocanaryislands.com
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For more information on the Canary Islands please contact Niamh Waters niamh@travelmedia.ie