What to see in Maspalomas, a must-see in Gran Canaria

In this article we are going to tell you what to see in Maspalomas, One sun and beach tourist destinations, as well as golf, most important in the Canary Islands. In Maspalomas there is one of the best beaches on the island, Maspalomas beach. This, along with its dunes, is one of the essential places to visit in Gran Canaria. Next, we give you all the information what you may need for discover Maspalomas like a local.

Next, we detail the index of contents what you will find in this article:

What to see in Maspalomas

First of all, you should know that it is located at south of Gran Canaria, within the municipality of San Bartolomé de Tirajana. On the other hand, if you are going to visit Maspalomas, there are at least four places that you should not overlook: the Lighthouse, Playa, dunes and Pond or Oasis. Next, we will take a tour of these essential places what to see near Maspalomas. Don't miss the end, because We recommend places to eat and a video from our YouTube channel.

✔ Maspalomas Dunes, a must-see stop

The set of dunes was named Special Nature Reserve, that is, it is a space protected by the Government of the Canary Islands. It has approximately 400 hectares of surface, being one of the most spectacular natural spaces in the Canary Islands.

How to get to the Maspalomas Dunes?

As it is a protected space, we would like, above all, You will respect the prohibited access areas, since there are some trails to explore this natural space. Also, keep in mind that the sand can burn a lot as you enter the "desert." Having said this, we give you three recommendations for visiting the Maspalomas Dunes:

• Hotel RIU Palace Maspalomas: the most comfortable and fastest option is to cross on foot the RIU Palace hotel. At the end there is a viewpoint (initial photo of the post) and interpretation Center. From here you can access the trails. Keep in mind that the shore is quite far away.
• walk through the sand: Either from Playa del Inglés to the lighthouse or vice versa, this walk is essential. There will come a time when you only see mountains of sand and sea.
• Camel ride: one of the plans to do in the south of Gran Canaria is the typical Camel ride through the Dunes of Maspalomas. You Book this activity and learn about the experience of other travelers here. However, if you want to fight against animal exploitation, I would choose the first or second option.

✔ El Faro, one of the places to see in Maspalomas

El Maspalomas Lighthouse is one of symbols and emblems of Gran Canaria. This building of Meters 56 It was designed by the famous Canarian engineer Juan León y Castillo. It has been running since 1890 until today, being one of the oldest lighthouses in the Canary Islands that is still in operation (declared an Asset of General Interest). The lighthouse and its Canarian patio can be visited completely free of charge. Inside there is a FEDAC craft store, an information point or with a ethnographic museum. You can also go up to the second floor, from where you can Enjoy unique views of the sea and Maspalomas beach.

• Free access
• ⏰ Opening hours: from 10:30 to 17:00 every day, except December 25 and January 1.
• ️️ Guided tours: Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 10:30 a.m. to 14:30 p.m. For more information and/or to book a guided tour, contact the lighthouse at [email protected] or call +34 928772445.

From the Lighthouse comes the first stage of road to Santiago de Gran Canaria. A route that goes from here and reaches Tunte.

✔ La Charca, one of the essential things to see in Maspalomas

Like the Dunes, Maspalomas Pond is a Special Natural Reserve. This small oasis is located next to the Maspalomas Dunes and a few steps from the sea. In ancient times, as well as when the weather is very bad, it joins with the sea. This protected area of ​​Gran Canaria is home to various species of flora and fauna. We are talking about different species of birds, reptiles, fish, crustaceans, insects, etc... However, currently, its environment has been modified by the effects of tourism, which has caused the disappearance of some species.

✔ Playa de Maspalomas

Where is Maspalomas beach? Yes, this question is asked by many people. The beach begins next to the Lighthouse and reaches the tip of Maspalomas where it joins with Playa del Inglés. Both beaches total about 6 kilometers. You should know that the beach is really the same, but right at the tip it changes its name. One of the Essential things to do in Maspalomas is to give a walk that runs through both beaches. If you are not used to walking on the sand, the soles of your feet may hurt, so bring money in case the return trip is hard and you prefer to take a taxi. On the other hand, if you wanted you could walk there this spectacular Canary coast to San Agustín.

If for some reason it is impossible for you to do the route on foot through the sand, you should know that you also have the option of take the Costa Canaria promenade which also joins part of the two beaches.

• Beach bars. In both Maspalomas and El Inglés there are several beach bars along the promenade. Don't expect a great gastronomic offer, is limited to drinks, sandwiches and bagged chips. You should know that beach bar 7 is for gay audiences. If you are looking for a more familiar atmosphere you will always find it next to the Lighthouse.

• Maspalomas nudist area. If you come walking from the Lighthouse, After about 20 minutes you will meet one of the nudist beaches of Gran Canaria par excellence (nudist area). There is a sign that marks it and it extends to beach bar 3. Playa del Inglés. Its end is also marked.

• Rental of hammocks and umbrellas. At various points on the beach you can rent hammocks and umbrellas to protect yourself from the sun. It is true that their quality is not very good and we would love for them to renew them soon as they have already done with the beach bars.
• Spa. It has public toilets and lockers. If you want to go for a walk while sunbathing without carrying your things, you have the option of leaving everything in the locker. Remember to put cream on before you leave it behind!
• Surfing in Maspalomas. If you like surfing this is one of the beaches for surfing in Gran Canaria. Both at the tip and next to the lighthouse y en address Meloneras, it depends on the wind.

• Sunset: Another thing what to do in Maspalomas is to enjoy one of the most beautiful sunsets in Gran Canaria. Both from the sand and from the Meloneras promenade. Do not miss it!

As it is a natural space, There are no marinas in Maspalomas. For water activities we recommend other areas in the south of Gran Canaria such as Puerto Rico o Puerto de Mogán. On the other hand, if you want to know the weather before visiting the beach, if you are looking for Maspalomas webcam On Google, there are several websites where they show you the sky to see if it is clear.

Best restaurants in Maspalomas

If you have the option of taking the car, we suggest that you take a look at our article with the best options restaurants in Maspalomas and the south of Gran Canaria. If you are only looking for restaurants on the beach that you can walk to, we make several suggestions below:

• El Senator Restaurant. It is located practically inside Maspalomas beach. They have rice, wrinkled potatoes, seafood, salads, fish, pizzas, meats... everything! This place is also a "beach club" where you can spend the day, a little expensive due to its location.

• El Velero Casa Antonio Restaurant. It is also located on the beachfront in Maspalomas, but is cheaper than El Senator.
• Surf Burger Bar. If you simply fancy a sandwich or burger, this may be an option. The aioli is homemade and delicious. It is on the beachfront next to walking access.
• The steak: A very famous place for its grilled meats. The location of this site is idyllic, although keep in mind that the site is quite expensive.

• Samsara Restaurant. Their cuisine is spectacular, it mixes foods from different parts of the world. It is more of an option for dinner as it is a posher (and more expensive) restaurant. You must reserve well in advance.

Where to stay in Maspalomas

Keep in mind that Maspalomas is one of the best areas to stay in Gran Canaria: hotels with Spa, close to the golf course, all-inclusive, family resorts, etc. It is a tourist area located under the umbrella of promotion of Cheap flights from Maspalomas Costa Canaria, being one of the most important on the island of Gran Canaria. Here, if you can afford it, we recommend the Hotel Lighthouse and Lopesan Costa Meloneras on the Meloneras promenade. He too Santa Monica Suites or RIU Palace Maspalomas with views of the dunes. All just a few steps away enjoy the beach and make the most of your vacation.

How to get to Maspalomas

To get to Maspalomas from Gran Canaria airport There are buses every 30 minutes and the lines are 66 and 90. If you come from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria The direct bus is number 30 and leaves every 20 minutes (weekends and holidays every 30 minutes). You can expand information here. On the other hand, most comfortable option that many travelers choose is to hire a private transfer. You can see the prices and opinions of other customers here.

Video on YouTube: what to see in Maspaloams

If you want to see our video about sunrise and sunset in Maspalomas, we leave it to you below. To see all our videos, jump to our YouTube channel Local Guide Gran Canaria and subscribe 🙂

Gran Canaria Guides

Finally, we introduce you to our guides to the island of Gran Canaria and the best places to eat on the island. With more than 80 restaurants with local, international, Spanish food, breakfast places, etc. that we residents frequent. Do not miss it!

Ruth González

Hello! I am Ruth, Canarian with a traveling soul. With training and experience in the tourism and digital marketing sector. In this blog I tell you all the tips you need to get to know the most authentic side of Gran Canaria on your own. I also share my travel guides to all the places in the world that I am visiting so that you can discover the destinations like a local and save time planning. In addition to traveling, I love gastronomy and sports. I run and hike in the mountains with my “dog-children” (Silver and Plata). In all these adventures my partner accompanies me, Jorge, which you will also see a lot on this blog.