A Special Nature Reserve since the 1990s, the Maspalomas dunes cover around 400 hectares of shifting sand between Playa del Inglés and the Maspalomas lighthouse. You can't walk across them anywhere (it's a fragile ecosystem), but there are great ways to experience them.
Camel ride across the dunes
A Gran Canaria classic: riding along the edge of the dunes on camelback, with the sand mountains behind. It's calm, kid-friendly and one of the island's most typical photos.
Camel ride in the Maspalomas DunesCheck availability →Off-road buggy around the area
For more excitement, an off-road buggy covers the tracks and arid landscape around Maspalomas. You drive it, no experience needed, and feel the desert up close.
Buggy Adventure: The off-road tour of MaspalomasCheck availability →The oasis, the beach and the lighthouse
- La Charca: the oasis lagoon, a bird refuge beside the palms, with its viewpoint.
- Maspalomas beach: a huge stretch of sand at the foot of the dunes, up to the 1890 lighthouse.
- Sunset: the best time to see the dunes, when the sand turns golden.
Camel, buggy or simply sunset from the viewpoint, the Maspalomas dunes are the heart of southern Gran Canaria. Book activities ahead in high season and head to the lighthouse as the sun goes down.
