Last updated: September 2026
Taurito holidays offer one of the most attractive and peaceful resort experiences on Gran Canaria’s south-western coast. Situated in a sheltered valley and bay between Puerto Rico and Puerto de Mogán, Taurito is a small, self-contained resort with a beautiful beach, a well-regarded water park, and a tranquil atmosphere that makes it a popular choice for families and couples seeking a quieter Canarian escape.
The resort is compact and largely self-contained, which contributes significantly to its relaxed character. The valley setting means Taurito is naturally sheltered from the wind, and the beach — Playa de Taurito — enjoys calm, clear Atlantic water in a sheltered bay. The overall atmosphere is unhurried and friendly, and the resort maintains a loyal following among UK visitors who return year after year.
Playa de Taurito is an attractive sheltered beach with dark sand and crystal-clear, calm water, set in a natural bay surrounded by volcanic cliffs. The beach is small but well maintained, with sun lounger hire and beach facilities available throughout the season. The calm water conditions make it excellent for swimming and snorkelling, and the rocky edges of the bay are good for underwater exploration.
The resort itself is centred on a small commercial area with restaurants, bars, and a supermarket, and the major accommodation is clustered around the beach and the valley above it. Several good hotel and apartment complexes are in Taurito, including properties with pools and sea views that represent excellent value. The overall resort character is quiet and family-friendly rather than entertainment-focused.
The Taurito Water Park (Aqua Sur) is one of the resort’s main draws, particularly for families. It features a range of slides, rides, and pools suited to all ages, and is conveniently located within the resort itself. An all-day ticket gives families a full day of water-based entertainment in a well-run facility.
Taurito is ideally positioned for exploring the south-western coast of Gran Canaria. Puerto Rico is approximately 8 km east along the coastal road and offers a much wider range of water sports, boat trips, and restaurant choices. Puerto de Mogán — the famous “Little Venice” resort — is around 10–12 km to the west and makes for a beautiful half-day trip to explore the flower-draped canal village, browse the Friday market, and lunch in the harbour restaurants.
Boat trips along the coast from Puerto Rico pass through the waters off Taurito on their way to the secluded beaches and coves of the south-west — many of which are inaccessible by road and offer pristine snorkelling in completely unspoilt conditions. Whale and dolphin watching trips also run from Puerto Rico harbour and regularly spot bottlenose dolphins and pilot whales in these waters.
For inland exploration, the dramatic Mogán Valley stretches north from the coast near Taurito, offering some of the most spectacular ravine and canyon scenery on Gran Canaria. The mountain town of Mogán, almond orchards in spring blossom, and the high ridge roads with their extraordinary views make for an unforgettable day out by hire car.
Gran Canaria Airport (LPA) is approximately 45 km from Taurito. Transfers take around 45–55 minutes by taxi or coach. The resort is served by regular local buses connecting it to Puerto Rico and the south coast road.
| Airport | Gran Canaria Airport (LPA): approx. 45 km |
|---|---|
| Beach | Sheltered dark sand bay, calm clear water |
| Best for | Families, quiet breaks, couples |
| Highlight | Taurito Water Park and sheltered bay setting |
| Climate | Sub-tropical, 20–27°C year-round |
| Flight time from London | Approx. 4 hours |
| Currency | Euro (€) |
| Language | Spanish |
When booking your Taurito holidays, always check that your tour operator carries the right financial protection. Search4Sun lists holidays from a wide range of UK operators — standards vary, so we recommend doing your own due diligence before you pay.
Look for ABTA membership, ATOL protection or ABTOT cover — these schemes protect your money if an operator ceases trading before or during your holiday. For a plain-English guide to what each scheme covers, read our holiday protection guide.
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Taurito occupies a dramatic position on the southwest coast of Gran Canaria — a narrow valley opening to a small bay, backed by steep volcanic cliffs on three sides. The beach is a mix of coarse dark sand and imported lighter sand, sheltered by the rocky headlands on both sides of the bay. The water is typically calm and clear, particularly in the sheltered central section of the beach. The extraordinary visual setting — cliffs, valley, sea and sky — makes Taurito one of the most scenically distinctive locations on Gran Canaria’s coast.
The Aquapark Taurito water park, adjacent to the main hotel complex, is one of the better water parks on the island and provides a full day’s family entertainment from May to November. The park’s slides include a multi-person river ride, a high-speed tube slide and gentle children’s pools. Tickets can be purchased at the gate or pre-booked through hotel reception desks.
The mountains immediately behind Taurito provide some of the most challenging hiking in Gran Canaria’s southwest. The GR-132 long-distance trail passes through the area, connecting the coastal resort to the interior mountain villages. The descent from the Mogán valley to Taurito via the barranco (ravine) trail takes around three hours one-way — a rewarding half-day walk with spectacular views over the coast.
Scuba diving from Taurito benefits from the same marine reserve protections that apply to the entire Mogán coastline. The rocky reefs offshore support rich marine life including large parrotfish, grouper and occasional pelagic species. Two dive centres operate from the resort, offering both shore dives from the beach and boat dives to more distant sites around the Mogán headland.
Taurito is 65 kilometres from Gran Canaria Airport — the second-longest transfer among the main south coast resorts after Puerto de Mogán. Transfer time is around 50–60 minutes via the GC-1 and GC-500 roads. The local bus service from Puerto Rico (8 kilometres north) provides a regular connection without a hire car. Puerto Rico’s marina, with its water sports and fishing charter operations, is the most practical destination for day trips from Taurito without a vehicle.
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.
Taurito’s primary appeal is its isolation from the commercial strip of Gran Canaria’s main south resorts. The resort contains a single large hotel complex (Taurito Princess), the adjacent water park and a small commercial strip of restaurants and shops. Beyond these facilities, the dramatic cliffs and the rocky coast provide a completely natural setting that feels genuinely different from the purpose-built mega-resorts 20 kilometres east.
The coast road north from Taurito towards Puerto Rico passes through a series of small coves — Playa del Medio Almud, Playa de Tauro and Playa de los Frailes — that are accessible only on foot from the road or by boat from Puerto Rico marina. These remote beaches have clear water and minimal crowds, attracting snorkellers, anglers and visitors seeking an escape from the more populated beaches. The quality of the snorkelling in this marine-protected zone is exceptional.
The Taurito Princess hotel complex is the heart of the resort and operates mainly as an all-inclusive property. Non-hotel guests visiting the beach or water park can use the hotel’s facilities (including the beach bar) at day guest rates. The commercial strip adjacent to the hotel has a small supermarket, pharmacy and half a dozen restaurants serving the resort’s visitors. For a wider range of services and evening entertainment, Puerto Rico is the most accessible neighbouring resort — a 10-minute drive or infrequent local bus ride north.
Hire cars are strongly recommended for staying in Taurito. The resort’s isolation means that without a car, visitors are effectively limited to the immediate hotel complex and water park. With a car, the full range of Gran Canaria’s south is accessible in under an hour, including the Puerto de Mogán village (15 minutes south), the Maspalomas dunes (40 minutes east) and the mountain interior via the Mogán valley road.
The Aquapark Taurito is one of the most complete water parks in the Canary Islands and represents the primary family attraction at the resort. The park features a wave pool, a lazy river circuit, high-speed enclosed tube slides, open flume slides and a dedicated children’s splash zone with age-appropriate water play equipment. The park operates seasonally from approximately April to November, with peak-season hours extending to 6pm. Day tickets are available at the gate; combination tickets covering both the water park and the adjacent hotel beach facilities represent good value for families spending multiple days at the resort.
The combination of the water park, the sheltered beach and the compact resort layout makes Taurito a genuinely practical family destination despite its small scale. Children who exhaust the water park can snorkel from the beach, explore the rock pools at the headland or use the hotel pool — all within a small, easily navigable area. The absence of road traffic between the hotel complex and the beach, achieved through the resort’s pedestrianised core, is a practical safety advantage that larger and more spread-out resorts cannot always match.
Taurito is a small, self-contained, and very relaxed resort set in a sheltered valley and bay on Gran Canaria’s south-western coast. It has a beautiful beach with calm, clear water, an on-site water park, and a quiet atmosphere that suits families and couples who want to unwind without a hectic resort environment. The resort is noticeably less developed and commercialised than nearby Puerto Rico.
For guests who want more variety in dining and activities, Puerto Rico is just 8 km east and easily reached by bus, taxi, or car. The combination of Taurito’s peaceful base and Puerto Rico’s wider facilities makes the area an attractive overall destination for a quieter south Gran Canaria holiday.
Yes — Taurito is an excellent family resort. The beach has calm, sheltered water suitable for young children, the Aqua Sur water park is directly within the resort and provides a full day of water-based family entertainment, and the compact layout makes it easy for families to navigate on foot. The overall atmosphere is friendly and relaxed rather than nightlife-focused.
For families wanting a slightly wider range of activities and restaurants, Puerto Rico is a short bus or taxi ride away and provides access to the full range of south-western coast water sports, boat trips, and commercial facilities. The proximity of both resorts makes Taurito a practical family base with good options nearby.
Gran Canaria Airport (LPA) is approximately 45 km from Taurito. Transfers by taxi or pre-booked coach take around 45–55 minutes along the GC-1 motorway and the coastal road. Most UK tour operators include return airport transfers in their Taurito package holiday prices.
A car is useful in Taurito — not just for the airport but for exploring the Mogán Valley, Puerto de Mogán, and the quieter beaches of the south-west coast that are difficult to reach by public transport. Car hire from Gran Canaria Airport is widely available and competitively priced.
The Aqua Sur water park in Taurito is a well-established family water park with a range of slides, flumes, and pools suited to all ages. It includes lazy river rides, family slides, and more thrilling flumes for older children and adults. The facility is clean, well run, and a popular choice with families staying in Taurito and the surrounding south-western resorts.
An all-day ticket provides good value for a full day’s entertainment, and the park has catering facilities, sun lounger hire, and shade areas within the complex. Booking online in advance can provide a discount on gate prices, and the park is generally open daily during the main season from spring through to autumn.
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