Maspalomas - another very international crowd of all ages, families, singles, couples.... all nationalities though Maspalomas is a choice if you're looking for more peace and quiet rather than being able to walk to all the hustle and bustle of the nightlife. Saying that, it's little more than 5 minutes cab ride in Playa del Ingles.
Maspalomas can be found a 20 minute drive/bus ride east from Puerto Rico, on the south east coast of Gran Canaria. Costs around 15 euros in a cab. Famous for it's sand dunes and the length of its beach (stretching a staggering 6km), the resort has much more to offer than a day by the sea, although if that's your plan, this is your place! If you're traveling by bus from Puerto Rico you'll catch the #1 or #32 service. If you want to arrive straight at the beach without walking across the dunes, change busses anywhere in Playa del Ingles for one going to "Faro". Alternatively, there's a limited service to faro direct, it's the number 70 service that goes to Palmitos Park, trouble is the last one leaves at 12:45! The other end of the beach is Playa del Ingles and the Anexo II shopping center so get a bus to Playa del Ingles then ask a cab to take you to the Annexo II.
THE DUNES
So, nothing but golden sands from Faro at it's south past Playa del Inglés & San Agustín to its north with a backdrop of sand dunes and a gentle surf to swim in, this is my favorite beach on the island. Faro (means lighthouse) by the way, is the southern most point of Europe! Thanks to the length of the beach here, it seems to have been split into five main sections for bathers. If I start with the first closest to the lighthouse in Faro and last/fifth at playa del Ingles, these are popular with families and good for the kids as the waters here are the most shallow. The second and fourth parts along aren't as suitable for kids as they are better known as semi-nudist beaches, although nude bathing is far from compulsory there. Between these and the third part along, lies the section most popular for the gay community and again fairly popular for nude sunbathing.
At each of the main areas you will find both a medical centre and a bar, everything you'd need really for a day out in the sun! There's also sunbeds and parasols for hire. Lifeguards patrol the beach here and much less frequently there are police patrols, passing perhaps once per hour but are there more as a deterrent against theft than anything else.
Imagine a desert where all around the only thing you can see are mountains made of sand, dunes so high they block your view of anything other than, well sand! The views around it's outskirts are breathtaking and crossing them is an experience though hundreds do daily to get to the beach from the many hotels and apartments from the other side. It really does look like something out of a film. They begin just a few yards from the sea and stretch back around 3 1/2 km, covering a length of 4 km. Between the dunes closest to the beach is another good and popular area for nude sunbathing. Further back & amongst the bushier areas to the south is an area very popular for gay nudists. The vast majority of the dunes remain almost deserted.
CAMPO GOLF (Campo Internacional)
Maspalomas has an area of apartments, bungalows and hotels around the main golf course located there. This area is known as "Campo Golf" and is the area of Maspalomas closest to the sand dunes too. On the far side of Campo Golf is Playa del Ingles so it kind of separates Maspalomas from Playa and there's a main commercial centre there, the "Faro 2".
HOLIDAY WORLD
The fun fare reopened towards the end of summer 2003 and although the attractions are fewer, they are still there (including the big wheel which is why the place is easy to find) plus a health center; there's a lot more on offer inside than ever before.
FARO
The main beachside resort by the dunes is Faro, easily found due to the "faro" (lighthouse) there. The streets of the shopping area are somewhat Arabic in style, I guess thanks to the sahara-like desert, and amongst the numerous restaurants here you'll find market-style shopping. Better shopping can be found in Faro's main commercial center "Kasbah", a 15 minute walk away. The dunes begin here, as does the 6km stretch of golden beach. Faro is also the point furthest south on Gran Canaria.
