What to do · Maspalomas Dunes and the South of Gran Canaria
Maspalomas beach, from the Lighthouse to Playa del Inglés along the shore
Information
- Price
- Free
- Duration
- 1 h
- Season
- All year
- Who it's for
- Everyone
Maspalomas beach is the seaward edge of the dunes reserve: about 2.7 km of golden sand between the Lighthouse and the Punta de Maspalomas, where the same beach changes its name and continues as Playa del Inglés. Walking it along the shoreline is the easiest way to see the dunes without stepping on them, and it costs nothing.
From the Lighthouse to the Point, stage by stage
It starts at the Lighthouse square, with the Charca two hundred metres away, and turns east hugging the dune field. Along the sand there are numbered kiosks that serve drinks and something to eat, with public toilets, from 10:30 to 18:00; they also help you find your bearings. The naturist stretch is in the middle: according to Turismo de Gran Canaria, between kiosks 3 and 4 if you are going from the Lighthouse towards Playa del Inglés, and between 5 and 6 in the opposite direction. The water-sports areas are towards the centre, and on the bend that joins Maspalomas to Playa del Inglés the surfers gather.
Sun loungers, showers and shade
The east end, towards Playa del Inglés, is the best equipped: sun lounger and parasol hire, kiosks and showers, which are also at the entrance from the Lighthouse. No soap or shower gel is used in the showers. Outside those points there is no shade at all: there are no trees on the sand. The water is usually calm, but it is open sea: check the day's conditions.
An hour's walk along the shore
The suggestion is to walk: from the Lighthouse to Playa del Inglés along the shore is a relaxed hour, with the water on one side and the sand crests on the other. Wet sand is firm and easier to walk on than dry. You can return along the marked dune trail, which leaves from the viewpoint beside the Hotel Riu Palace, or go up to Playa del Inglés and take the bus there. Inside the reserve, walk only on the marked areas and paths.
With children
It is a long, open beach: keep an eye on little ones in the water, settle near a kiosk with toilets and bring your own shade. If they get tired of walking, the short stretch from the Lighthouse to the Charca has herons and egrets almost all year.
Getting to the Lighthouse
By car, take the GC-1 south, exit 46, and then the avenidas Touroperador Tui and Cristóbal Colón to the Lighthouse square, about 5 km. By bus, Global has several lines from Las Palmas that end at the Lighthouse or pass through Playa del Inglés.
Tips
- Use the kiosks as a map They are numbered: that way you know where each stretch is.
- Bring your own shade There are no trees on the sand. Bring a parasol or a cap if you will be there all day.
- No soap in the showers They are beach showers, for rinsing off the salt.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a naturist area in Maspalomas?
Yes, in the central stretch: between kiosks 3 and 4 from the Lighthouse, or between 5 and 6 from Playa del Inglés.
Are there facilities on the beach?
Several kiosks with drinks and toilets, from 10:30 to 18:00, and showers at the Lighthouse entrance and at the east end.
Can I walk from the Lighthouse to Playa del Inglés?
Yes, along the shore, in about an hour.
Can I hire sun loungers?
Yes, at the east end, towards Playa del Inglés.
Can I go with a dog?
The official sources we have consulted do not say: ask at the tourist office before going.
As a family
