Maspalomas Things to Do

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The Dunas of Maspalomas look like Sahara and are 25 km2, with a lot of sand hills, making it an interesting walk. The sand is mixed, some of it comes from Sahara, so this is authentic. A large part of the Dunas is a part of a nature reserve linked to the Charca in Maspalomas. Every day hoards of people take a walk in the Dunas, you can see the stroll of people from early in the morning and then coming home before dark. There is vegetation and palmtrees in the Nature reserve and one is only allowed to walk on 3 marked paths, marked with different colours and as in all nature reserves the nature is to remain untouched. This is sooo not the case there, bear cans and junk in so many places, one is not to sunbathe nude in the nature reserve - again so not the case and one can expect to encounter a nude person wherever one goes.

Now there are other rules for the big sandhills of the Dunas, they are not a nature reserve and there one can sunbathe wherever one likes, and there are people all over sunbathing, in the nude or in bathing suits. This is a great place to sunbathe, surrounded by hills of sand. However it is so difficult walking in the sand and one gets tired easily, it is like walking in snow. But all in all The Dunas are not to be missed. The Dunas stretch to Playa del Ingles so when walking home from the beach one has to cross the Dunas or walk alongside the coastline which in my case was a much longer walk.

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Varadero shopping center is a large shopping center in Meloneras, surrounded by shops and restaurants in this area. It stands by the promenade and is on two storeys and has got many shops, restaurants and cafés. Netto supermarket is there as well. It is a bit more expensive than the shops in Playa del Ingles, but Meloneras is a more expensive area.

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Maspalomas pond and dunes were declared special nature reserve from 1994. This protected area, Charca, provides a resting spot for birds migrating from Europe to Africa (it was lovely seeing a whimbrel there, which migrates to Iceland in the summer time). A large part of the dunas are protected as well. This area is unique in The Canary islands for its botanic and faunistic value. I add information on the dunas in another tips. The Charca is filled with fish, one has to stop and gaze when schools of fish look for food. This being a nature reserve it is strictly forbidden to feed the fish and it says so on a sign - but in Spanish only, so more than once I saw people throw bread to feed the fish. There are myriad of bird there as well and there is information about what birds and fish you might be able to spot there.

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There is a lovely park behind the lighthouse Faro de Maspalomas. If it is too windy on the beach one can seek shelter there and sunbathe between the low palms in the park which provide perfect shelter. There is a pond in this small park with a bridge and a scary looking fountain (see my picture). As the park is right behind the promenade of Meloneras it is quite lovely sunbathing there and watching the crowds go by.

El Boulevard de Faro is next to the park.

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Playa de Maspalomas is a very big beach and stretches from Faro de Maspalomas for kilometres by the large area of the Dunas de Maspalomas and by Punto de Maspalomas it turns into Playa del Inglés. All day long you can see crowds of people walking this walk from Playa del Inglés to Playa de Maspalomas and vica versa (see a picture under my Gran Canaria page). There are many sections here at the beach, one for people wearing bathings suits and that is the one closest to the Faro de Maspalomas. Walk on for 800 meters and you will reach the nudist beach/area and there are nude people all over the beach and the dunas, naturists, playing tennis, swimming in the ocean etc. so if you are sensitive to nude people you should not make this walk. There is also a gay beach in this area.

At the "bathing suit" beach you there is the Red cross and life-guards on guard from 10-17. There is a center there where you can take a shower for 1,2 euros and WC for 0,5 euro which is also open from 10-17.

No dogs, football, camping or music is allowed on the beach, but due to it being so windy so often people have put up tents or half a tents to shelter them from the wind. This can be quite a lovely beach when the wind is not blowing and the ocean there is lovely to swim in.

Playa de Maspalomas has got the Blue flag.

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Parque del Sur is a big park close to Holiday World with a pond for boats, outside chess, a big climbing pole, a childrens' play area, a restaurant, lots of beautiful palms and flowers.

The park can be seen from afar as it has a large white semi-circle roof by an outside theatre in the park.

Even thought this is a park with lots of activites note that there is no fishing nor swimming in the pond and no playing of football there, no skating nor dogs allowed.

The park is open Monday-Friday from 7-23.

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There is a car boot sale on Sundays from 11-14 o' clock (in a German magazine I saw different information, i.e. from 9-16) on the parking lot behind the Faro2 shopping center in Maspalomas, where people sell new and used stuff. There is also a used car sale there. This is a very lively market and not to be missed, you can find almost everything there, used International books, clothes, both new and vintage, shoes and bags, electronics both new and used, antiques, records, jewellery, toys, plates and mugs etc.

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There is so much diversity at The Botanical park of Maspalomas that I just must add a tip on the beautiful flowers in the park. There is an endless selections of flowers in the park, making vising the park a breathtaking experience, with butterflies and dragon-flies making it even more beautiful.

A must visit while in this area.