Walk through the Maspalomas Dunes on the marked trail

You cross the Maspalomas dune field on foot, more than 400 hectares of sand that the wind moves every day, between Playa del Inglés and the Lighthouse. It is a special nature reserve: you walk only on the marked trail and its branches, without leaving the stakes.

Where to enter

There are two convenient entrances. The upper one is the dunes viewpoint, beside the Hotel Riu Palace, at the end of the Costa Canaria promenade in Playa del Inglés: from there you see the whole dune field and go down onto the sand. The lower one is Maspalomas beach itself, from the Lighthouse or from the Charca, and you climb towards the interior. The trail crosses the different types of dune and has several branches; number three goes down to Maspalomas beach. Between Playa del Inglés and the Maspalomas Oasis it is about three kilometres.

How long it takes

Allow an hour and a half to three hours, depending on how much you stop and whether you return along the shoreline. Walking on soft sand is twice as tiring as on tarmac: with children, do only the descent from the viewpoint to the beach and return along the shore towards the Lighthouse.

When to go

All year. The best time is early, when the sand is not yet burning and the wind has not wiped out the night's tracks, or late in the day, with low light and long shadows over the crests. In summer avoid midday: there is not a scrap of shade.

Reserve rules

The Canary Islands Government asks you to stay on the marked trails and obey the signs, because leaving them damages the vegetation and can be dangerous. Do not feed the animals, pick plants, move stones or build stone towers, take all your rubbish with you, cigarette butts included, and do not light fires. No loud music or shouting either. In strong wind the sand flies at face height: sunglasses and something to cover your mouth.