What to do · Maspalomas Dunes and the South of Gran Canaria
Maspalomas Lighthouse and its ethnographic centre
Information
- Duration
- 1 h
- Season
- All year; check the opening hours before going
- Who it's for
- Everyone
The Maspalomas Lighthouse marks the south-western end of the dunes. It was first lit on 1 February 1890, is still working and is 56 metres tall. It was designed by the engineer Juan de León y Castillo, with grey-green basalt brought from the Fataga ravine, and its construction took five years, from 1884 to 1889.
What is inside
The lighthouse keeper's former quarters house an ethnographic centre supported by the Fundación para la Etnografía y el Desarrollo de la Artesanía Canaria (FEDAC). It holds over 5,000 objects of the island's traditional life: costumes, farm tools, musical instruments and household items. There are themed exhibitions on history, crafts, music and cooking, and workshops and guided visits in groups of up to 15 people.
Before you go
The opening hours change with the season and guided visits are best booked: confirm before counting on it. Even if you find it closed, the tower is worth the stop: the Lighthouse square is the end of the seafront promenade coming from Meloneras and the start of Maspalomas beach, with the Charca two hundred metres away. Until the hotels were built, the lighthouse was the only building between Playa del Inglés and the Oasis.
Getting there
By car, take the GC-1 south and exit 46, Avenida Touroperador Tui and Avenida Cristóbal Colón to the Lighthouse square. By bus, the Global lines that end at the Maspalomas Lighthouse stop a few steps away.
Tips
- Sunset on the promenade The promenade towards Meloneras faces west: late in the day it is the best place to see the tower against the light.
- Combine three things The Lighthouse, the Charca and the entrance to the dune beach are less than ten minutes' walk from each other.
Frequently asked questions
Can I climb the Maspalomas Lighthouse?
The tower is still in operation. What you visit is the ethnographic centre in the keeper's former quarters.
When was it built?
Work took place from 1884 to 1889 and it was inaugurated on 1 February 1890.
Do I need to book?
Guided visits, yes, in groups of up to 15 people. Confirm the opening hours before going.
