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The famous Dunes of Maspalomas are both a nature reserve and a luxurious sandy beach. We will go to a real mini desert, we will die of thirst overcoming the dunes, and at the end we will go to the cool ocean and enjoy the golden sandy beach.
Dunes of Maspalomas (photo: Vic-Designs)
One of the main natural attractions is the Maspalomas National Reserve. The sand dunes of Maspalomas (Dunas de Maspalomas) is a tourist Eden in the south of the island, a picturesque desert covered with clean sea sand.
The entire Maspalomas tourist complex covers 1,060 hectares. It includes coastal beaches, hotels, bungalows, restaurants and shops. Part of the resort of Maspalomas is the city of the same name. The territory of the dunes of Maspalomas occupies 403 hectares, their length is more than three kilometers.
A large dune in the south of Gran Canaria (photo: JUAN RAMON RODRIGUEZ SOSA)
The ecosystem of the national park is divided into two natural areas - the sand dunes and the La Charca lagoon. The climate here is special, unique. Maspalomas is protected by a mountain range and there is almost no rainfall. The weather is dry, sunny and moderately warm all year round.
The dunes of Maspalomas look almost alive. Their relief is unstable, the outlines of the dunes are constantly changing, sandy hills move under the influence of the wind. It seems that only this yellow sand changes under the deep blue of the sky, while the surrounding space and time stand still.
The dunes are especially beautiful at sunset, under the golden evening sun and light pink clouds. They cannot be called absolute deserts - among these sands there are representatives of the desert flora: thickets of gorse and tamarisk, ephemeral plants with a short development cycle, capable of moving after the movement of the dunes. Rare insects also live here. Some species are found only in Maspalomas, but in the deserts of Africa.
Closer to the La Charca lagoon, the sandy landscape gives way to the green area of El Oasis. Tall palm trees grow there, sea birds live. On the shore of the lagoon there are huge prickly balls of rush, similar to our tumbleweed. In such balls during the day, birds take refuge from the heat. In the oasis, you can also meet the "queen" of Gran Canaria - the giant Canarian lizard el lagarto canarión.
Maspalomas National Park (photo: Ted and Jen)
In the La Charca lagoon, nature itself has created unique conditions for fauna and plants. During the rainy season, the narrow spit that separates the lagoon from the Atlantic erodes, and the salt concentration rises along with it. With ocean waters fish come, mollusks, seaweeds appear.
Camels in the Dunas de Maspalomas sandy park (photo: mojogymkana)
It's good to roam the dunes on foot, but you can move through this small desert and, as it should be, riding a camel. You can rent a majestic "ship of the sands" and navigate the dunes towards the western end of the nature reserve.
Above the beaches of the El Oasis zone rises a darkened old lighthouse - Faro de Maspalomas. This lighthouse is active. Faro de Maspalomas was built in 1890 when these lands were completely deserted. To this day, Faro shows the way for ships. From the 60-meter height of the Faro de Maspalomas observation deck, you can see the dunes, the turquoise La Charca lagoon and the endless ocean.
The dunes of Maspalomas have been given the status of a national park since 1994.
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City of Maspalomas in Spain
Maspalomas is both a city and a resort, so let's immediately define the terms. The coast where Maspalomas is located is called Costa Canaria, it also includes San Agustin, Meloneras, Playa del Inglés and other small towns, but is often referred to by the general word "Maspalomas". Here we will mainly talk about a particular city, a popular tourist center.
About 33 thousand people live in the city, the main income, of course, is from tourism. Due to its favorable location - in the very south of the island - this resort welcomes people from all over the world all year round. And in winter you will see bathing in the ocean, sunbathing, satisfied tourists. And summer is not too hot. The Canary Islands are generally the only point where lovers of European holidays can enjoy a beach holiday all year round. Since the resort has been developing for a long time, the entire infrastructure works fine, the beaches are clean and beautiful, there is a sea of entertainment, and there are also opportunities to go on excursions.
Hotels in Maspalomas
First of all, you need to decide on accommodation. Of course, the Canary Islands are not a cheap place, so all the most economical and, oddly enough, the most expensive hotels are sold out long before entry. Sometimes - for half a year, for popular dates - even earlier.
If you want to stay in the best hotels in Maspalomas, then you also need to take care of booking in advance. Despite the price, they sell out pretty quickly. Pay attention to SeasidePalmBeach (about 200 euros for a double room per night, depending on the season, great location, great reviews), as well as SiestaSuites - from here, in general, perhaps no one left dissatisfied. Great reviews, great hotel in Maspalomas, about 250 euros per room per night. And another option is the Seaside Grand Hotel Residencia (Gran Lujo). By the way, if you got a good hotel in Maspalomas, please leave a review for future travelers.
Transport in Maspalomas
Maspalomas is not a very large city, so transportation (and in Gran Canaria these are buses) is usually used in situations where you need to get from Maspalomas to other cities or the airport.
You can take a bus from the airport to Maspalomas. The stop is located in the international terminal, one floor above the baggage claim and exit. Tickets are sold at vending machines or from the driver. Bus 66 runs to the city center and stops at Playa del Aguila, San Agustna, Playa del Inglés and Campo Internacional de Maspalomas. The final one is Faro de Maspalomas (this is already on the coast, where the lighthouse is). Usually bus 66 runs from early morning (7 am) to evening (approximately 8 pm).
Alternatively, you can take bus number 90 from Telde to Maspalomas. This bus also stops at the airport, Playa del Aguile, San Agustin, Bahia Feliz, Playa del Inglés. The final one is Faro de Maspalomas. Usually the journey takes about half an hour, sometimes - a little more. The island is quite small, you can easily live in the south and drive constantly to the north.
Maspalomas on the map of Gran Canaria
If you are wondering exactly where Maspalomas is located on the map of Gran Canaria, you can zoom in and out of objects directly on our website.
Sightseeing in Maspalomas: things to see
Of course, people come to Maspalomas not only for a beach holiday, but also for impressions. You can combine all types of recreation in one place. Firstly, of course, the dunes are among the attractions of Maspalomas. About them - even a separate article.
Secondly, for lovers of outdoor activities there is a karting track, very long and interesting. The helicopter club will allow you to see all the most beautiful places of the island from a height, you can also jump with a parachute.
Fans of excitement will appreciate the casino in Maspalomas (in San Agustin), but for the calmer there are many options for entertainment: clubs, discos, bars. In principle, Gran Canaria is a small island, so here you can not be tied to a specific city, but immediately go to the page of attractions.
There is also a wonderful water park near Maspalomas, the opportunity to ride camels and see “almost a real desert” - those same dunes, a piece of the Sahara. Nightlife is also thriving, with separate entertainment centers and small clubs, a golf course and an amusement park.
And, of course, one of the attractions of Maspalomas is the nature around the city.
The beaches of Maspalomas
Since it is very easy to move between the beaches of the resort, sachala - briefly about everyone, and then in more detail - about the beach in the city of Maspalomas.
San Agustin Beach is one of the quietest and most peaceful, quite long, popular among divers. In Maspalomas itself, there is a beach with gorgeous sand, in Playa del Inglés it is very beautiful, Las Burras is a bay about 400 meters long, Cochino is a small beach, but with a developed infrastructure.
The beaches of Maspalomas are free, but it is possible to rent a sun lounger and an umbrella (usually a few euros per day), and the main attraction and landmark is the old lighthouse (Faro de Maspalomas). From here begins the promenade, thousands of tourists walk along it every day, enjoying the views and the sun. Along the pedestrian zone - bars, cafes, shops. You can walk to the dunes of Maspalomas, which are part of the reserve, see the Palm Grove, the lake. At the other end of the promenade is Playa del Inglés (cities in the Canary Islands often pass one into another). Maspalomas beach has both popular spots and quite deserted areas. Surfers are usually located where the coastline bends, and there are companies renting various equipment along the entire length.
Maspalomas is the perfect place to stay in Gran Canaria! We welcome your questions and feedback. Have a nice vacation!
MASPALOMAS
Maspalomas is the main tourist area on the island of Gran Canaria, known to every self-respecting European. Maspalomas stretches along the coast for 17 km and unites five resorts: Baia Feliz, San Agustin, Playa del Inglés, Campo International and Meloneras.
The visiting card and pearl of Maspalomas is a beach with picturesque dunes (do not miss the section "Beaches of the island"!), surrounded on one side by Playa del Inglés, on the other, by the letter "P" - Campo International. Despite the fact that both resorts are located only a few kilometers from each other, they are very different.
West of Campo International is Meloneras, a new resort on the coast. At their confluence, the most luxurious hotels in Gran Canaria were built. San Agustin and Baia Feliz are small quiet resorts in the east, which, however, are also not deprived of the attention of tourists.
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Playa del Ingles is a place for those who are not tired of life. After all, she, life, boils here day and night. In summer, the resort, second in scope only to Benidorm, is especially popular with European youth aged 18–30. However, it would be completely wrong to position Playa del Ingles only as a “youth hangout”: tourists over thirty will find a lot of entertainment to their liking.
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| Young people are drawn to the pubs ... | ... pensioners also do not go to sleep | Playa del Inglés finally fell asleep | ||||
Playa del Inglés has several times more hotels and apartments than the rest of the coastal resorts combined. Most of them belong to a democratic price group and are located at some distance from the ocean, so free buses run between the beach and the hotel for tourists. However, the majority of vacationers prefer to make this way (on average - 1000 m) on foot. On the resort's three-kilometer beach of the same name, there is the Anexo II shopping center, where you can dine in one of the many restaurants and buy every little thing; next to it - water activities. In the west, the well-maintained beach of Playa del Inglés smoothly turns into dunes.
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| Anexo II, Playa del Ingles beach | Plaza Commercial Center | Photos from the annual gay parade | ||||
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| Warning on the door of one of the bars in Yumbo | |
Located next to each other, the commercial centers Metro, Kasbah and Plaza, called in one word "Kasbah", after midnight - the most popular place among young people.
You can spend an evening listening to live music in places like Hard Rock Cafe and Sunset Boulevard.
Many gays traditionally come to Gran Canaria to relax: in summer the island competes with the most famous gay resorts in the Mediterranean - Mykonos, Ibiza and Sitges, while in winter it unconditionally acquires the status of the main gay resort in the world. The gays have their own beach, and at night the Yumbo commercial center turns into one big gay hangout. Here, after ten o'clock, several dozen themed bars and clubs open.
Campo International is quiet, prestigious and low-rise. Instead of the jungle from the hotels - a huge golf course, instead of noisy discos - a freshwater lake with rare birds, camel rides on the dunes and bike paths. A few nearby commercial centers (the largest of which is Faro 2, four kilometers from the ocean) have pubs and a couple of discos, of course, but compared to Playa del Inglés, everything is terribly patriarchal. And in general, it is designed for a different audience.
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| Golf course, dunes | Lighthouse in Maspalomas | Lake and "oasis", year 1965 | ||||
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| View from Maspalomas Oasis Hotel | Commercial Center Faro 2 | |||||
"Oasis" with hotels is located at the very beginning (or at the end - depending on which side you look at) of Playa de Maspalomas beach, and after a couple of hundred meters, immediately behind the lake, the dunes begin.
But Meloneras already has a long pedestrian promenade, the commercial center of Varadero, another golf course and several newly built hotels with impressive "infields", among which the Gran Hotel Costa Meloneras stands out with its turrets. And with a more detailed acquaintance, it turns out that this is far from its only advantage ...
Maspalomas is a Spanish resort with a length of 17 km. along the coastline on the island of Gran Canaria (one of the Canary Islands). The total area is about 2000 hectares. Considered one of the most popular holiday destinations among Europeans, it is famous for its luxurious hotels and villas, rich flora and fauna, and breathtaking landscapes. The Maspalpomas tourist area unites several resorts: Baia Feliz, Playa del Aguila, Playa del Inglés, San Augustin, Meloneras and Campo International.
Maspalomas cannot boast of a long history, it was founded only in 1961, however, it has already managed to win the hearts of many lovers of beautiful nature and the highest class service. Its creators were employees of the French company SETAP, who set themselves an ambitious and exciting goal - to build not just a resort, but an entire tourist city.
Maspalomas Beach is considered the main local attraction, every year it receives a blue flag - a pan-European beach quality mark. The resort beaches of San Augustin and Playa del Inglés are marked with the same sign.
Being here, you must definitely see the dunes of Maspalomas - a true natural masterpiece, plunging into awe with its contrast with the outside world. If greenery and the sea are everywhere, then there are kilometers of sand, reminiscent of a sultry desert. Here you can forget about reality for a while, feel like a real nomad and ride camels. They are a protected area.
Del Aguila beach is not the most interesting place for swimmers, but surfers have chosen it, if someone is fond of this sport, welcome! On the beach of del Inglés, vacationers can enjoy a variety of water activities: parasailing, skiing, quad bikes and more.
The traditional form of entertainment in Maspalomas is golf. Behind the dunes is the famous golf course, the Campo de Golf de Maspalomas. Fresh wind from the sea, bike paths, palm groves will significantly improve the mood of those who come here in search of something interesting.
Romantics should definitely visit the old lighthouse covered with legends – it has been saving the lives of many sailors for more than a century. Nearby there are many restaurants and cafes, everything here is conducive to a leisurely walk, admiring the sights and enjoying life.
It seems that the resort is suitable for everyone: for kids there are entertainment centers with cheerful animators. Parque del Sur has a wonderful children's area with a variety of playgrounds. You can go and tickle the nerves of yourself and your children in the reptile park "Reptilandiya". Excursions are organized to the park located in the depths of the island of Palmitos. There is a water park near the resort. Sports lovers will find friends in the already mentioned golf and diving. Nightlife in Maspalomas is in full swing - numerous clubs, bars, open-air discos are open until dawn.
The island has many excellent restaurants and cafes. An excellent fish menu is offered in "LA PROA" or "BUCANERO" (near the lighthouse, at the end of the embankment). Lovers of the classic combination of meat dishes and red wine can be advised "LA CASA VIEJA". Very tasty meat and seafood can also be tasted in "GRILL FARO". In a huge number there are restaurants with Japanese, Chinese, international cuisine.
The resort will delight you with luxurious hotels for every taste and different financial possibilities. Seaside Palm Beach, built in retro style, is located next to the sand dunes. Not far from the beach of Maspalomas is the Gran Hotel Residencia with luxurious two-storey colonial-style villas. Both are popular and well-deserved love of the guests.
Maspalomas is an ideal option for couples with children, young people and lovers, this is a place where heaven and earth unite, and the breath of the Divine is felt very close.
Maspalomas tourist area (aka Costa Canaria) is the largest tourist area in all the Canary Islands. It is famous for its excellent beaches with golden sand and includes several resorts at once: Bahia Feliz, Playa del Aguila (Playa del Aguila), San Agustin, Playa del Ingles, Campo Internacional and Meloneras.
Maspalomas is known for its wide golden sandy beaches and sand dunes.
As a resort, Maspalomas began to develop relatively recently: in 1961, the state allocated money for the development of tourism in these parts, and the French company won the tender, which equipped the resort. Today it is considered one of the most developed and equipped in the entire Canary archipelago, the main audience is young people and couples from northern European countries. Maspalomas is also known as a gay-friendly resort, there are many discos, and themed open-airs are held in summer.
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How to get there
The nearest airport to the resort is located in the city of Gran Canaria. Bus number 66 runs directly from the airport once an hour. Travel time is about 40 minutes, the fare is 4.05 EUR per passenger. A taxi from the airport will cost about 40-50 EUR. Prices on the page are for December 2018.
Search for flights to Tenerife (nearest airport to Maspalomas)
Weather in Maspalomas
Maspalomas is located in the southern part of Gran Canaria and is the warmest place in the Canary Islands, so the beach season here lasts almost all year round. Summer in Maspalomas is dry and hot, the air warms up to +29…+32 °С, and the water is up to +23 °С. In winter, water cools down to +18 °С, and air - up to +19…+20 °С. Swimming is already cool, but in
Maspalomas Hotels
Maspalomas has a large selection of hotels of different price categories, but even the simplest hotels and apartments are more expensive than on the mainland.
Most of the hotels are in the middle price segment, 3*-4* and apartments. There will be no surprises: everything is predictable in a European way. As a rule, in a room you can count on air conditioning, TV, a bathroom and a safe, but mini-bars, hair dryers and breakfasts are not everywhere.
The most luxurious hotels are located near the beach. 4 * -5 * hotels and villas are concentrated there. A 4 * hotel on the first line will cost from 180-200 EUR, 5 * - from 250 EUR per day for a double room. A one-bedroom villa with a terrace, a small garden and a swimming pool will cost from 650 EUR per day, with two or three bedrooms - from 1000 EUR.
More budget tourist accommodation is located closer to the center of the resort. There you can rent a 2 * -3 * hotel for 80-100 EUR per day for a double room, about the same amount will cost apartments with one bedroom and a small kitchen.
The beaches and resorts of Maspalomas
The beaches of Maspalomas are considered the best in the Canary Islands.
Baia Feliz and Playa del Aguila are good for windsurfers, San Agustín is a quiet place with dark brown sandy beaches, and the well-equipped Playa del Inglés (“English Beach”) with golden sand is popular with young people and those who are not too tired of civilization and do not want to give up all its benefits even on vacation. The resorts of San Agustin and Playa del Ingles form one of the largest tourist centers in Spain with numerous hotels and apartments, shops, restaurants, bars and attractions. Playa del Ingles is the most party part of the coast, there are many inexpensive hotels, bars, discos and clubs.
Maps of Maspalomas
Campo International is the greenest and most respectable area of Maspalomas. The proximity of the Dunes, a freshwater pond with waterfowl, a natural palm oasis and silence are the characteristic features of this place. Meloneras is still a new, but very promising resort, where there are many shops, but there are no good beaches here yet.Shopping in Maspalomas
The Canary Islands is an offshore zone, and Maspalomas is a very popular resort, so shopping here is quite interesting, varied and profitable. For clothes, shoes and accessories, it is better to go to shopping centers.
The main shopping center of Maspalomas is Yumbo Center Maspalomas, there are about 200 shops (mostly Spanish brands), there are supermarkets where you can buy local delicacies, restaurants, discos, etc. Another modern shopping center is El Tablero, it accommodates 50 shops. not far from the airport there is a shopping center Centro Comercial Atlantico, the assortment is standard.
The Meloneras area is good for shopping, there is a huge number of different shops: luxury brands, little-known Spanish young designers and cheap Chinese consumer goods. At the height of the season, prices stay at the same level, but with the onset of autumn they fall sharply down.
For souvenirs, head to Fedac, a government-supported, non-profit craft store. It is located in the tourist area of Cabildo.
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Cuisine and restaurants
Maspalomas restaurants serve typical Spanish dishes: paella, tortilla, gazpacho, as well as Italian pasta, fried fish with different sauces and much more. Desserts are very popular here, so the resort has many pastry shops. The most popular local sweets are bienmesabe (candy made from almonds and honey), frangollo (dessert made from cornmeal, milk and honey), bizcochos lustrados (biscuits) and turron de melaza (nougat).
Most of all, the resort has restaurants of Spanish cuisine, there are also Italian pizzerias, Argentine parillas (grilled meat) and Chinese establishments. The best restaurants are concentrated on Faro Street and in the Meloneras area. The average check is about 50 EUR for a dinner for two, excluding drinks, and you can have a bite to eat at tapas bars and Chinese eateries for the cheapest price.
Entertainment and attractions of Maspalomas
There are few historical sights in Maspalomas. Here, the highest lighthouse in the Canary Islands, built in 1890, El Faro de Maspalomas, has been preserved, one of the symbols of the island, and that, perhaps, is all. The visiting card of the resort and the Canary Islands as a whole is the sand dunes of Dunas de Maspalomas. Today it is a nature reserve, which is essentially a real desert where you can ride camels, and there are beautiful sunsets here, and sometimes nudists sunbathe.
Palmitos Park is a botanical garden where you can see parrots, dolphins, toucans and other exotic birds, as well as walk through the garden of orchids, cacti and butterflies.
In the neighborhood of Baia Feliz and Playa del Aguila, there is the largest karting track in the Canaries with a length of 1650 m. There is also an aeroclub (Aeroclub de Gran Canaria), where you can order a ten-minute or half-hour helicopter ride over the most beautiful places on the island, and if you wish, known courage even to jump with a parachute.
Variety shows are open in San Agustin and the only casino in Maspalomas (Casino Gran Canaria) at the Melia Tamarindos hotel. There is also the largest thalassotherapy center in Europe (Talasoterapia Canarias).
2 things to do in Maspalomas
- Admire the sand dunes - a piece of the Sahara on the ocean, a real pearl of the entire island of Gran Canaria.
- Ride on camels there, completely forgetting that you are in Spain.
The resort of Playa del Ingles attracts young people with the Kasbah center, where all the popular Chic and Joy pubs and discos are gathered, as well as the Cita center with the Pasha disco.
In the Campo International area there is the Faro II entertainment center, a huge golf course, the Holiday World amusement park with roller coasters, a Ferris wheel and a bowling alley, and the Ocean Park water amusement park. In the neighborhood there is another water park called Aqualand.
Another major entertainment center with restaurants, bars, casinos and shops is Yumbo center Maspalomas, on the ground floor of which there are clubs where gay parties and theme shows are held.
