South of the island of Gran Canaria is the resort of Maspalomas, an extremely touristic place but with several interesting aspects.
In particular, the three things that make it famous all over the world are the dunes, Playa del Ingles and Meloneras.
Geographically it represents a bit the border area between the windy island and the most protected one whose absolute reference is Puerto de Morgan.
The history of Maspalomas is linked to the development of the tourist destination on the island of Gran Canaria, which began in the twentieth century.
Prior to tourism development, Maspalomas was a small settlement of fishermen and farmers. Over time, however, the island of Gran Canaria has become a popular tourist destination, thanks to its beautiful beaches and warm and sunny weather. In this context, Maspalomas began to develop as a tourist resort, with the construction of accommodation facilities such as hotels and apartments.
Today, Maspalomas is one of the most popular tourist destinations on the island of Gran Canaria, with a wide range of accommodation facilities and tourist attractions, such as the famous sandy dunes of Maspalomas and the beach of Playa del Inglés.
How to get to Maspalomas from the airport?
There are several options to get to Maspalomas from Gran Canaria airport:
- Bus: You can take bus number 60 of the Globalsu bus company that connects the airport with Maspalomas. Buses leave every 30 minutes or so and the journey takes about 1 hour and a half.
- Taxi: You can take a taxi from the airport to get to Maspalomas. The trip will take about 45 minutes and the cost will be about 40-50 euros.
- Car rental: If you prefer car rental, there are several car rental companies available at the airport. Once you have rented the car, just follow the signs for Maspalomas to get to the destination.
- Private transfer: There are several companies that offer private transfers from the airport to Maspalomas. You can book this service in advance and the driver will wait for you at the airport to accompany you directly to Maspalomas.
What to see in Maspalomas?
The dunes
The sand of Western Sahara reaches as far as Gran Canaria and the dunes in the homonymous area of Maspalomas testify to it.
The dunes in Maspalomas are the result of the erosive action of the wind and sea currents. The sand of the beaches of Maspalomas is transported by the wind inland, where it accumulates forming the dunes. These dunes are an important element of the Maspalomas ecosystem, as they provide a habitat for different animal and plant species and protect the mainland from the action of the sea. They are also a popular tourist attraction, as they offer a unique landscape and offer the possibility of hiking, in quads and even on the back of dromedaries.
The area, between Playa del Ingles and the lighthouse, is protected as a Nature Reserve and is very suggestive from a landscape point of view.
One of the characteristics of the area is the strong windiness. Be careful to choose the garment well. It is inadvisable to walk to the dunes in a swimsuit unless you want to do a nice complete grinding of your skin.
Playa del Ingles
To the north of Maspalomas, it borders the dunes nature reserve and is known for its very long beach, the area reserved for nudism and a famous meeting place known to Gays. The beach is perhaps one of the most famous in Gran Canaria and certainly the longest with its almost three kilometers of extension.
Parallel to the beach runs the equally famous Paseo Maritimo a true Shopping Center, full of shops and outdoor restaurants, with tents to protect patrons from both wind and sun. An experience to do at least once for those who visit Maspalomas.
Meloneras
The southernmost area of Maspalomas, known for luxury resorts, the very nice residential area and the pleasant long sea promenade that leads to the lighthouse.
The promenade allows you to see up to Arguineguin and at the beginning we also find a large beach with a lot of services such as restaurants and shops.
This area of Maspalomas is also known for being particularly protected from the winds that insistently blow on the eastmost coast.
Prices in Meloneras are a little higher than elsewhere but just see the care of the area and the location of some places to justify that extra quid for a drink.
What to do in Maspalomas in the night?
The fourth thing that makes Maspalomas known in the world: transgression.
I invite pudics, homophobes and Nazis to leave out this paragraph. The site too.
My first time in Maspalomas I arrived unprepared and it surprised me but I was not scandalized at all. I already knew that the Canary Islands were very tolerant but I didn’t imagine how much this could affect Maspalomas tourism.
I found myself at the well-known Jumbo Centrum, a very large commercial aggregate, arranged on four floors and with a large square in the center, which is located in the east of the city, very close to the golf courses.
The peculiarity of this place is that dozens and dozens of shops are open during the day that sell everything from clothing to gadgets and that at a certain time the shutters close. At that point, usually after 8 p.m., they open other shutters that remained closed during the day. All Gay-themed venues, one more beautiful than the other.
You can have a drink or attend exiling cabarets rather than shows with the Drag Queen.
Fun is guaranteed and prices are lower than elsewhere.
Since then, every time I come back I do my best to spend at least one evening with my wife in Maspalomas.
LGBTQ+ tourism
Maspalomas attracts many gay tourists from all over the world because it offers a welcoming and tolerant environment for the LGBTQ+ community. The city has a lively nightlife and a variety of gay-friendly venues, bars and nightclubs, which are an important source of fun for many tourists. In addition, Maspalomas also hosts gay-friendly events and festivities such as the Maspalomas Pride and the Gran Canaria Bear Carnival, which attract a large number of LGBTQ+ tourists from around the world. These events help create a welcoming and celebratory atmosphere for the LGBTQ+ community and are one of the reasons why Maspalomas has become a popular destination for this group.
The Carnival of Maspalomas
The Maspalomas Carnival is an annual festival and is known for being one of the largest and most colorful carnivals in the world, attracting tourists from all over the world for its fashion shows, music and dances. It usually takes place in February and lasts several weeks, during which the city comes alive with a series of events, such as concerts, parties and parades of floats. The carnival is an opportunity for locals and visitors to have fun and celebrate together.
Nudism in Maspalomas
Practicing naturism in Maspalomas is not difficult. Particularly in the dunes area, away from the Meloneras walks, it is well tolerated.
It is important to remember that, in Spain, nudism is only accepted in certain areas and that it is necessary to comply with local rules and laws on nudism. In addition, it is advisable to inquire with local authorities or nudist associations to know about the authorized nudist beaches and related rules.
“Oltre al Blues ho un sacco di altre passioni ma nessuna di queste supera la quasi perversa attrazione che nutro per l’Andalusia, per il Flamenco e per le zingare dagli occhi neri”
