What to do in Maspalomas?

Maspalomas is a mostly urban coastal area, eminently touristic, located in the south of the island of Gran Canaria. Maspalomas is part of the municipality of San Bartolomé de Tirajana.

The distinction between Playa del Inglés and Maspalomas is not obvious. While Googlemap indicates that Playa del Inglés is part of Maspalomas, we commonly refer to Playa del Inglés when we talk about the urban and coastal area located north and east of the Punta de Maspalomas.

In this sense, Playa del Inglés includes the whole area enclosed by the avenue of Gran Canaria between the Plaza del Hierro to the "Mirador de las Dunas de Maspalomas", the Playa del Veril to the East, and the avenue of the European Union to the North.

We refer to Maspalomas when we talk about the area west of Playa del Inglés, up to Colón Avenue, where Meloneras begins.

 

Playa del Inglés was developed before Maspalomas. In Playa del Inglés not all hotels are new, although many have been renovated and offer quality accommodations. In addition, in this area, we will find many aparthotels, that is to say, accommodations with kitchen, small apartments that can be rented per night. It is a tourist offer that is usually cheap because, being able to cook, one does not depend systematically on restaurants or hotel services.

On the other hand, in Maspalomas you will find more recent accommodations, in a less urban area, lower buildings, and it will not always be easy to find an aparthotel.

Meloneras is a very different area from the two previous ones. It is an area of recent large tourist complexes, luxury hotels with several swimming pools and where the tourist is normally offered an "all inclusive" with stay and meals.

 

Things to do in Maspalomas

Maspalomas, Playa del Inglés, Sonneland and Meloneras have a wide range of activities aimed at entertaining visitors. As far as nature is concerned, the dunes of Maspalomas and the adjacent beach clearly stand out. But the area also has areas of daily and nightly leisure, as well as multiple possibilities to take an excursion to practice some activity in the rest of the island.

Activities from Maspalomas without using means of transport

Hiking and taking a walk

Maspalomas dunes (and beach)

It is a sandy area that, from the Maspalomas Lighthouse to the Paseo Costa Canaria in Playa del Inglés has a length of more than 5 kilometers of coastline with numerous dunes reminiscent of an arid landscape of the Sahara desert.

These dunes are ideal for a morning or sunset walk. Please note that at midday the sun can be very strong and the area lacks shadows. In summer, the temperature of the sand can make it impossible to walk barefoot and can even make it difficult to walk in sandals.

Be especially careful in winter or when a cool breeze is blowing. The sun's harmful rays can burn your skin while you're cold. The health centers of Maspalomas receive daily numerous tourists with serious burns. In winter, astroGC receives many cancellations of clients who have to go to the hospital emergency at nightfall.

That said, the dunes are an ideal place to walk alone or as a couple. Keep in mind that this is a unique landscape with its own ecosystem, which suffers a lot of anthropic pressure. Please respect the vegetation, even if it looks dead (just wait for the next rain). Do not approach the birds and of course, do not leave trash of any kind.

In the early hours of the day and at sunset, you will be able to take very good pictures with the low light. More information about photography in Gran Canaria.

Amurga Massif

Although little known to tourists, the Amurga massif is a beautiful area of ravines and cliffs located very close to Maspalomas. A good hiker will take about an hour to reach, for example, the ravine of El Toro, whose visit is highly recommended.

In a couple of hours, you can be in the area of the coronadero arch and the Hondo ravine.

Ravine of the Vicentillos

The ravine of the Vicentillos is another steep area where you can walk from Maspalomas. A good hiker can even reach the Ayagaures dams from this area.

More information about hiking in Gran Canaria.

 

Daytime leisure in Maspalomas

Maspalomas has a wide range of daytime leisure activities. Among which the aqualand water park, or the Holiday World Center amusement park stand out.

Aqualand water park in Maspalomas

Aqualand, is as of today (2023) the largest water park on the island of Gran Canaria, with about 130,000 square meters dedicated to 14 water attractions, most of them slides. It is a suitable place to have a day of great fun with the family.

More info about Aqualand Maspalomas.

Holiday World Center Maspalomas

The amusement park Holiday World Center, located in the heart of Maspalomas, offers a wide range of all kinds of vertigo attractions, with roller coasters, trains, pirate ship, etc. In total there are 30 equipment for a sudden adrenaline rush. It also has fast food, Karaoke, escape rooms, bowling, etc.

More info about Holiday World Maspalomas.

Maspalomas Park (Parque del Sur)

Maspalomas Park, also called Parque del Sur, is an urban park with free entrance, with an entertainment area for children, a climbing wall, an esplanade for events, restrooms, and a small lake with water and aquatic animals such as ducks and frogs. It has large trees and therefore there are many areas shaded by vegetation. Most of the park is natural grass, which is irrigated daily. A dirt track runs around the perimeter of the park for joggers.

See Maspalomas Park on googlemap

Hangar 37

Hangar 37 is a fun place suitable for adults and teenagers. Located north of San Agustin, and Bahia Feliz. You will like this place if you like challenge, paintball and similar activities.

More information about Hangar 37.

Nightlife in Maspalomas and Playa del Inglés

Undoubtedly, it is in Playa del Inglés where you will find more activity in the evening. The areas with the most restaurants, bars and nightclubs open at night are the areas of the Ecumenical Temple and of course, the famous El Yumbo center. The surrounding streets also have many places of fun and entertainment. Of particular note are Avenida de Tirajana, Avenida de Estados Unidos, Avenida de Bonn and Avenida de Tenerife.

 

Activities from Maspalomas using third party means of transportation

Astronomy tour from Maspalomas

Our company, astroGC, offers an astronomy workshop from Maspalomas. We have 2 authorized minibuses to pick you from anywhere in Maspalomas, Playa del Inglés, San Agustín, Meloneras and Sonneland.

We Will drive you to the South West mountains of Gran Canaria where we will mount powerful telescopes.

More info about astroGC excursion.

 

Activities from Maspalomas using public transport

There is a wide range of buses that go from Maspalomas, Playa del Inglés and San Agustín to Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, where you can change buses and go to the north of the island.

Specifically, lines 1, 4 and 5 make this route. Keep in mind that it is a very slow means of transport. In particular, line 1 has many stops and will take more than an hour and a half to go to Las Palmas.

Bus lines, routes and timetables in Gran Canaria..

You can also choose to take a cab from Maspalomas. It is a cheap option to access nearby areas. For example, the cab will be able to take you to the dunes of Maspalomas, or to the start of the "Barranco del Toro" ravine.

You can book a cab in Maspalomas calling +34 928 15 47 77

 

Activities from Maspalomas using your own rented car

There is no doubt that using your own car widens the range of activities you can enjoy in Gran Canaria from Maspalomas.

Using your own car, I recommend visiting Las Palmas, both the old city (Vegueta) and the beach of Las Canteras. I also recommend visiting Teror, hiking at the top of the island, or even scuba diving.

More information about activities in Gran Canaria.

More information about diving in Gran Canaria.