Of Sun & Sea

Expat Living in Belize - A Guide to Real Life in Belize

  • Home
  • HOTELS & RESORTS
  • About Me
You are here: Home / GRAN CANARIA / Aguimes Part 2 – The Beautiful Coastal Area

June 4, 2022

Aguimes Part 2 – The Beautiful Coastal Area

Last week we visited the town of Aguimes. As with most places in Gran Canaria, Aguimes is not only a town, but also an area.

The municipality of Agüimes is divided into three perfectly defined areas: the grazing or mountain area beginning at an altitude of 300 metres above sea-level, the agricultural area situated at 275 metres above sea-level (where the Historic Quarter of Agüimes is situated) and the coastal area which heads for the fishing village of Arinaga. 

It was the coastal area that we visited this time, starting with the lighthouse.

The terrain in this area looks like it could be on another planet – windy and desolate-looking.

2022 06 01 12.55.07

But it was an easy drive on a well maintained dirt road up to the lighthouse.

2022 06 01 12.25.27
2022 06 01 12.29.16

The Punta de Arinaga Lighthouse is an active lighthouse. The first lighthouse was completed in 1897, as part of the first maritime lighting plan for the Canaries, built in a similar style to other Canarian 19th century lights. The light was shown from a lantern room at the top of a six-metre-high (20 ft) masonry tower, attached to the seaward side of the house, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. It remained in service until it was replaced in the 1960s by a new taller tower, which was connected to the side of the original station. This second tower was removed in the recent refurbishment and renovation of the original building.

The third lighthouse which was also built nearby, first entered service in 1984. This active light consists of a 14-metre-high (46 ft) cylinder-shaped tower, which supports twin galleries and the lantern. The lantern emits both red and white light, varying with direction, at a focal height of 47 m above sea level. The white light can be seen for 12 nautical miles and the red for nine.

The lighthouse is not connected to the electricity grid, but instead is powered by six solar panels charging a set of batteries.

To the right of the lighthouse is a restaurant, but it wasn’t open, although there was a flurry of activity inside, indicating that they open later in the day.

There’s no beach here, only craggy cliffs and treacherous-looking sea, although there was a man fishing down below, so maybe it wasn’t as treacherous as it looked. I wasn’t going to be the one to find out.

2022 06 01 12.26.32

Driving a little further down, we came to El Cabron beach. At first glance, it looked like a place where the general public wasn’t really welcome as it looked like there were a couple of apartment buildings and some houses, seemingly in the middle of nowhere.

2022 06 01 12.40.22

But I learned that, due to the crystal clear waters here, it’s a popular spot for scuba diving and we saw a few people offloading their equipment and doing just that.

2022 06 01 12.40.11

A little further north still is Playa Vargas, extremely popular for windsurfing and kite surfing.

To the right of the lighthouse is a jetty which is a jumping off point for divers and swimmers alike

jetty
2022 06 01 13.02.18

and then further down, a pebble beach with delightful little rock pools at low tide with tiny little fish swimming in them (I love rock pools).

2022 06 01 13.01.07
2022 06 01 12.57.25

When I said wind, I meant wind – constant and all day. The largest wind farm in the Canary Islands is there along with the largest single windmill (right opposite the beach). There’s even a wind turbine in the ocean!

wind turbines
turbine in sea

To the very south of the town (closest to that HUGE wind turbine) you’ll find the salt farm

arinaga salt

We walk along the promenade towards Arinaga Town

2022 06 01 12.54.54 2

where we come across this interesting-looking sculpture

2022 06 01 13.14.12

and then down the other side to the beach

2022 06 01 13.17.41

past pretty houses

2022 06 01 13.18.22

and a row of fish sculptures!

2022 06 01 13.19.02
2022 06 01 13.19.23
2022 06 01 13.19.43
2022 06 01 13.19.51
2022 06 01 13.18.48

Once a small fishing village, (how did I guess?) Arinaga town has two beaches along it’s seafront promenade. Both are a mix of pebbles and sand and are best visited at low tide, otherwise the sandy beaches are underwater. Even if you are in Arinaga at high tide and the beaches are underwater, you can always swim and sunbathe at the lido area and there are even wooden decks to sunbathe on.

2022 06 01 13.22.27

The seafront promenade stretches the length of the town and has several famous fish restaurants by the jetty

arinaga beach

and at the far northern tip by the lime kiln museum.

2022 06 01 13.24.03

Read more about our first trip to Aguimes.

Posted In: GRAN CANARIA

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

search

CATEGORIES

  • . (1)
  • BELIZE (29)
  • GRAN CANARIA (11)
  • JOURNAL (21)
booking.com-belize

JOIN THE LIST

GET THE LATEST BLOG POSTS DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX

Instagram feed

janebethpovall

Travel diary 🏝 Expats living in Belize
Moved to Placencia, Belize 💕 with my hubby & 2 cats 🐈‍⬛
Follow our journey 👇

Jane Smith
😂. Sits like this are all over Belize! . . #co 😂. Sits like this are all over Belize! 
.
.
#cococnut #belize #coconutwater #placencia #placenciabelize #mayanchocolate #chocolate #travelbelize #belizetravel
Stunning Sunday morning here in Maya Beach, Belize Stunning Sunday morning here in Maya Beach, Belize’s ☀️❤️
.
.
#mayabeach #mayabeachbelize #belize #caribbeansunrise #caribbean #caribbeanlife #placencia #placenciabelize #beachlife
Beautiful Blue Morpho butterflies at the Ya’Axki Beautiful Blue Morpho butterflies at the Ya’Axkin Butterfly Farm in beautiful Belize
.
#yaaxkinbutterflyfarm #belizetravel #belize #placencia #placenciabelize #hopkinsbelize #ofsunandsea
Rough sea this morning and the dreaded sargassum i Rough sea this morning and the dreaded sargassum is back! 😫
.
.
#placencia #placenciabelize #ofsunandsea #caribbean #sargassum #belizetravel #belize
Ever had Star Apple? 🍎⭐️ You can scoop the Ever had Star Apple? 🍎⭐️ You can scoop the fruit out with a teaspoon! Tastes really delicious too!
.
.
#starapple #fruitofbelize #belizefruit #tropicalfruit #belize #travelbelize #placenciabelize #placencia #ofsunandsea
New blog post- Bob Marley’s birthday celebration New blog post- Bob Marley’s birthday celebrations, Macaws and the Sidewalk Arts Festival. Link in my bio.
.
.
#artfestival #placenciasidewalk #macawsofinstagram #macawsbelize #belizemacaws #redbank #belizeart
It was the Placencia Art Festival over the weekend It was the Placencia Art Festival over the weekend. A lot of talent to be found here.
.
.
#placenciaartfestival #artfestival #placenciasidewalkartsfestival #placenciasidewalk #belizeart #ofsunandsea
Went to Redbank, Belize to see@the Macaws. Such an Went to Redbank, Belize to see@the Macaws. Such an amazing experience. Full blog post soon.
.
.
#redbank #macawsofinstagram #macaws #belizemacaws #belizetravel #belize #placenciabelize #ofsunandsea #rainforest
Load More Follow on Instagram
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer

CONNECT

Archives

Copyright © 2023 Of Sun & Sea · Theme by 17th Avenue