Gran Canaria Beaches

Maspalomas

Maspalomas and Playa del Ingles beaches are side-by-side and together stretch for some six kilometres or more. Between the two is a point where the shoreline heads north and which marks the start of Playa del Ingles beach. To the other end of the beach is Faro de Maspalomas, a lighthouse. What really makes this beach unique is that going back some three kilometres in parts and running all along both beaches are the Maspalomas sand dunes.

So miles and miles of golden sand as far as the eye can see. The beginning of the beach (where the lighthouse is) has been awarded the blue flag so expect every service you can imagine to make the beach accessible and comfortable including access for the disabled and a lifeguard station.

There’s currently a commercial area “CC Oasis” built on the edge of the beach so there’s a good choice of restaurants, bars, supermarkets and even a pharmacy. I say “currently” is it breaks Spanish law which states nothing can be built within 100 meters of the shoreline. Another structure breaking the law was the Hotel Oasis Maspalomas and it was almost torn down having being closed down but was then saved at the last minute by being declared a national monument as it was the very first building to go up in Maspalomas. Talks are under way to pull down the commercial area and dedicate land further away from the beach to rebuild though it is unlikely anything will happen in the foreseeable future.

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There’s no breakwater so pay attention to the flags raised informing every one of the water condition. Green is go of course, good conditions and very rare to see. Yellow is the more common and means take special care usually because of the tide or waves. Red means don’t go into the water, usually because of a strong tide including rip-tide. You can actually get a fine for going into the water when there’s a red flag.

As you walk along the beach you’ll pass a beach hut and arrive at the second lifeguard station (complete with power boat) which marks the beginning of the nudist beach. A little further along is beach bar number 4 which is the middle of this area of beach. There are more sunbeds and parasols here too. Carry further along for another 300 meters or so and there’s another beach bar “number 7” (5 and 6 became redundant). This marks the site of the gay beach with more sunbeds and parasols and is partly nude bathing. From here there are another couple of kilometres of unspoilt beach. No more bars or sunbeds, just beach and dunes all the way to the point is reached where Playa del Ingles beach starts.

Back over to the other end where the lighthouse is, if you walk past the Oasis center and onto the sea-front you're in Meloneras, a very nice and upmarket area of cafés and restaurants and the hotels here are 4 star luxury or 5 star. Our favourite café after a day onm the beach is the Café de Paris for cake, coffee and a nice view of the sunset.

Recap (first part of the beach only)