Gando Bay beach is the longest golden beach in east Gran Canaria and with a promenade, beachfront bars and sheltered water it could be a highlight of the area. However, it's within the base that hosts NATO fighter jets and the military is the only organisation is Spain that can deny people walking access to the coast.

So no Gando Bay beach for us civilians then? 

You can't just walk to Gando Bay beach, but there are a couple of ways to see it.

You can make friends with a member of the Spanish military and get a private invite to the base. This is a hassle because all guests have to be vetted in advance.

Or, you can sign up for the May Day fun run within the base, or the Gando Triathlon in late May. Runners and their families get a free pass for the day and can sit on Gando Bay beach, walk the promenade and even visit the jets.