La Puntilla Square
A great view, fine fish restaurants, surfers and a gorgeous view of the front court of the Atlantic.
This is THE social venue at the north-eastern end of Canteras beach. One has an amazing view of Canteras beach from this slightly elevated, big square. At low tide the limestone shelf La Barra emerges, which stretches parallel to beach at a range of 1,5 km.
Looking into the heart of the country from here, one sees the silhouette of the jagged, almost 2000 meter high mountain landscape of Gran Canaria. Beneath the square there is a recommendable fish restaurant directly at the ocean, as well as the "Real Club Nautico", the royal aquatics sports club. For about 100 Euro you can take a 15-day sailing course. Black jagged volcanic rocks characterises the coast from the Puntilla to Confital. Docents of fishermen with their sun-tanned faces are sitting on them and enjoying the day.
Directly from the cosy benches and stone stairs one can watch the surfers and bodyboarders dance on the waves, because here is one of the 4 surf-spots of Canteras. Surfing safely is only possible during tide, because otherwise the sharp edges of the lava shelves could do a lot of damage to your body. Centre and eye-catch of the square is a colourful, about 10 meter high monument, which revolves around itself nearly imperceptibly in the balmy breeze. Almost every evening one can enjoy the outline of Teneriffe here. Looking at the horizon, the silhouette of the highest mountain of Spain, the Teide, becomes more and more distinct the closer sunset gets.
Looking in a north-eastern direction one gets the impression of looking at a huge brown primeval skeleton lying like a memory of pre-Spanish times almost untouched in the middle of town. We are talking about the wave-encircled headland of Isleta here and its gorgeous beach El Confital. At the dark-yellow sand and lava-shelf beach, surfers are dashing through the tubes of waves, which are the best among Europe.
The empty areas of the Puntilla square are used by the „chavals“ (=boys) riding on their bikes, skateboards, or playing soccer. The various seats with an amazing view of the horizon are all occupied by the elder generation.
You can also treat yourself to some fine food at the Puntilla. For the very hungry we recommend the restaurant Las Marineras, which is situated right beneath the Puntilla, as well as the restaurant Amigo Camillo, which is also only a few hundred meters from there. Who is looking for something sweet and cooling might enjoy the ice cream parlour “Heladeria Vanilla Canteras”.
