Last updated: September 2026
San Agustín holidays offer a quieter and more sophisticated alternative to the busy resort areas that border it on Gran Canaria’s south coast. Situated between the airport and Playa del Inglés, San Agustín is one of the oldest-established resorts in the south and retains a more refined, low-key character that makes it particularly popular with couples, older travellers, and those who want easy beach access without the noise and pace of the larger resort zones.
The resort has three dark sand beaches — Playa de San Agustín, Playa de las Burras, and Playa del Inglés at the far end — and a pleasant promenade that links them. The hotel and apartment stock tends to be of a higher standard than much of the south coast, and the commercial area has a good selection of quality restaurants and relaxed bars without the overwhelming entertainment-resort feel of Playa del Inglés to the west.
San Agustín’s beaches are characterised by dark volcanic sand, calm sheltered waters, and a pleasantly uncrowded atmosphere even during peak season. The main beach — Playa de San Agustín — is a compact but well-maintained strip with sun lounger hire, beach bars, and water sports operators. The water is clear and calm, suitable for swimming throughout the year.
The adjoining Playa de las Burras is slightly larger and similarly well maintained. Both beaches have a quieter atmosphere than the main Playa del Inglés beach a kilometre or so to the west, and the promenade connecting them is a pleasant place for an evening stroll with views across the Atlantic.
The coast around San Agustín has several rocky coves and snorkelling spots beyond the main beach areas, and the underwater life along the rocky reefs is generally good for those who want to explore below the surface.
San Agustín’s commercial area is centred on the San Agustín Shopping Centre (CC San Agustín), which has a supermarket, pharmacy, restaurants, and bars in a pleasant open-air setting. The overall standard of dining in San Agustín is generally higher than in the mass-market resort areas, with several long-established restaurants serving quality Spanish, Canarian, and international cuisine.
The resort is quiet after dark compared to Playa del Inglés, which makes it ideal for those who prefer to retire at a reasonable hour. The Yumbo Shopping Centre and the full entertainment offer of Playa del Inglés are only 1–2 km away, making it easy to access the wider resort scene when desired without being based in the thick of it.
The Casino Gran Canaria, located in the Meliá Tamarindos Hotel in San Agustín, is one of the few full-service casinos on the island and attracts visitors from across the southern resort strip. The hotel’s beach club and restaurants are also open to non-residents and of a particularly high standard.
San Agustín’s position between the airport and the main resort areas makes it a well-connected base for exploring the south coast. Maspalomas and the dune reserve are approximately 4 km to the west, and Playa del Inglés is effectively adjacent. The airport is around 20 km away — one of the shorter transfer distances of the southern resorts — making arrivals and departures straightforward.
Day trips to Puerto de Mogán, Las Palmas, and the mountain interior are all easily organised from San Agustín by bus, taxi, or hired car. The resort’s quieter residential character makes it a comfortable base from which to explore the wider island without the resort-zone intensity as a backdrop.
Gran Canaria Airport (LPA) is approximately 20–22 km from San Agustín. Transfers take around 20–25 minutes, making it one of the closest southern resorts to the airport.
| Airport | Gran Canaria Airport (LPA): approx. 22 km |
|---|---|
| Beach | Dark volcanic sand, calm sheltered waters |
| Best for | Couples, quiet breaks, quality dining, older travellers |
| Nearest major resort | Playa del Inglés (1–2 km) |
| Climate | Sub-tropical, 20–28°C year-round |
| Flight time from London | Approx. 4 hours |
| Currency | Euro (€) |
| Language | Spanish |
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San Agustín is the quietest and most genteel of the three main adjacent south Gran Canaria resorts. Where Playa del Inglés focuses on entertainment and Maspalomas on the dunes, San Agustín has positioned itself as a comfortable, well-maintained resort for adults and couples seeking a relaxed pace without the commercial hustle of its neighbours. The majority of its hotels are long-established 4-star properties set in pine and palm gardens that have matured over decades of careful management.
The Meliá Tamarindos, the IFA Interclub Metropol and the Eugenia Victoria are the flagship hotels of San Agustín, each offering standards of service and facility that rival 5-star properties elsewhere. The casino adjacent to the beach road provides evening entertainment beyond dining. The beach itself — Playa de las Burras — is smaller than the main Maspalomas beach but well-maintained and rarely crowded by the standards of the south.
The main beach at San Agustín (Playa de las Burras) is a compact arc of golden sand at the eastern end of the Maspalomas-Playa del Inglés-San Agustín coastal strip. The beach connects via the promenade to Playa del Inglés to the west. To the east, the coast becomes rockier around the Bahia Feliz headland. The protected rocky reef immediately east of San Agustín is one of the best snorkelling sites on this stretch of coast.
The Playa del Aguila, accessible via a short path north of the main resort area, is a smaller and more secluded beach that receives fewer visitors than the main strip. The beach is backed by low cliffs and the rock formations at its northern end are popular with anglers. The combination of the secluded character and the clear water makes it worth the short walk from San Agustín’s main hotel zone.
San Agustín’s position between the largest resorts of the south and the quiet stretch of Bahia Feliz and Maspalomas dunes gives it excellent access to both the main tourist infrastructure and the natural landscape. The Maspalomas dunes are accessible in 20 minutes on foot along the promenade. Las Palmas de Gran Canaria is 35 kilometres north — an excellent day trip by bus or hire car, with the Vegueta quarter, Las Canteras beach and the markets providing a full day’s sightseeing.
Yes — if you book a flight-inclusive package through a UK ATOL-licensed tour operator. Your money and repatriation are covered if the operator fails. Booking flights and accommodation separately removes that protection. See our holiday protection guide for a full explanation of ATOL, ABTA and Section 75 cover.
San Agustín’s restaurant scene is concentrated along the CC San Agustín commercial centre and the Hotel Meliá Tamarindos frontage. The restaurants here tend toward international cuisine with Canarian fish dishes well-represented. The adjacent Playa del Inglés, accessible in 20 minutes on foot along the promenade, provides access to the much larger Yumbo and Kasbah entertainment complexes for those seeking evening entertainment beyond the resort’s own programme.
The casino at the Hotel Gloria Palace San Agustín offers gaming tables, slot machines and a programme of evening entertainment. The hotel’s garden restaurant is open to non-residents and is one of the most pleasant outdoor dining options in the resort. The local supermarkets along the main coast road stock Canarian produce alongside European brands — the Canarian cheese, papas arrugadas spice mix and local honey are the most worthwhile purchases for self-caterers.
San Agustín’s immediate inland environment is more natural than its neighbours. The barranco (dry watercourse) of Barranco del Doctoral runs inland from behind the resort and provides a scenic walking route into the volcanic hills above the coast. The walk up the barranco takes about 90 minutes to reach the first plateau above the resort, with panoramic views back over San Agustín, Playa del Inglés and Maspalomas spread along the bay below.
The road north from San Agustín through Vecindario to Santa Lucía is one of the most scenic coastal approach routes to the interior of Gran Canaria, passing through banana plantation landscapes and the eastern lowland villages before the road climbs into the mountain landscape of Santa Lucía and the Barranco de Fataga.
San Agustín’s combination of calm beach conditions, mature hotel gardens and quieter evening atmosphere makes it particularly well-suited to couples seeking a genuinely restful holiday. The Meliá Tamarindos spa, the promenade evening walks and the quality of the resort’s seafood restaurants provide the ingredients for a comfortable adult-oriented break that the larger and more commercially intense Playa del Inglés cannot easily replicate. The proximity to Playa del Inglés — 20 minutes on foot — means that the entertainment of the larger resort is accessible when wanted without being unavoidable when it is not.
San Agustín and Playa del Inglés are effectively adjacent resorts on Gran Canaria’s south coast, but they have notably different characters. San Agustín is quieter, more refined, and generally higher quality in terms of accommodation and dining, with a more relaxed pace of life and a calmer beach atmosphere. Playa del Inglés is far larger, busier, and entertainment-focused, with a much wider range of restaurants, bars, and nightlife.
San Agustín suits those who want quality over quantity and a peaceful base, while still being able to access the full entertainment range of Playa del Inglés within a short taxi ride or walk. Many experienced Gran Canaria visitors specifically choose San Agustín for its quieter character while enjoying the proximity to the livelier resort next door.
San Agustín has two main beaches — Playa de San Agustín and Playa de las Burras — both characterised by dark volcanic sand and calm, sheltered water. The beaches are clean, well maintained, and considerably less crowded than the Playa del Inglés beach just to the west. Sun loungers, parasols, and beach bars are available, and the water is suitable for swimming throughout the year.
The dark sand is typical of the eastern stretch of Gran Canaria’s south coast and is a natural feature of the volcanic coastline. The promenade connecting the two beaches is pleasant for walks, and the rocky coastline beyond the main beach areas offers good snorkelling spots.
Gran Canaria Airport (LPA) is approximately 20–22 km from San Agustín, making it one of the closest southern resorts to the airport. Transfers take around 20–25 minutes along the fast GC-1 motorway, and taxis are available at the airport at all hours. Most UK tour operators include return airport transfers in their package prices.
The short transfer time is one of San Agustín’s practical advantages, particularly for travellers with early morning or late evening flights. Car hire is available at the airport for those planning to explore the island independently, and the resort’s position makes day trips to Las Palmas and the mountain interior very straightforward.
Yes — the Casino Gran Canaria is located in the Meliá Tamarindos Hotel in San Agustín and is one of the few full-service casinos on the island. It offers a range of table games and slot machines in an upscale setting, and smart casual dress is required for entry. The hotel’s restaurants and bar areas are also open to non-residents and maintain a high standard of quality.
Entry to the casino requires photo ID (a passport or national identity card), and the facility is open in the evenings throughout the year. It attracts visitors from across the southern resort strip and adds to San Agustín’s overall character as the most sophisticated of the south coast resort areas.
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