As you approach Las Palmas from the south, just as you arrive at the outskirts of the city you have the first of it's five beaches, Playa de la Laja. You can't miss the exit as there's a 9 meter high statue of Triton pointing towards the city. (There is no exit heading south out of the city, only as you enter from the south.)

The beach is of dark volcanic sand and is 1.2 kilometers long and around 30 meters wide. It has no protection as far as breakwater or reef so be careful of the tide and waves. On a good day there's hardly a wave in sight, beautiful calm waters but on other days they come here with their body bords and surf. During the summer and at week-ends the yachting club brings boats here to practice sailing from the southernmost part of the beach. 

At the northern part of the beach you'll find two natural swimming pools, extremely popùlar at week-ends when there are stronger waves on the main beach.

The beach is serviced daily. As well as the toilets and showers being cleaned so is the beach itself with the sand being filtered for rubbish. There's no lifeguard on duty throughout most of the year hence it no longer has a Blue Flag.

Currently there's just the beach itself as far as facilities go though plans are to develope this beach and add a small park lined with restaurants and bars.

Bus numbers 9 and 12 stop here from Las Palmas main bus station, takes around 30 minutes with all the stops. There's a promenade walk and cycle path that starts here and continues some 14 kilometers to the other side of the city. You could walk from La Laja to the historic quarter of the city and then the bus station in around an hour.