Maspalomas Review

When it comes to choosing a Gran Canaria holiday, the unique resort of Maspalomas with its world famous dunes and fantastic beach is my personal favourite every time.

Come with me as we take a look at what makes this place so very special:

Maspalomas Confusion

Beach Maspalomas Gran Canaria, courtesy of wikimedia user: Pepelopex

Before we start, it’s worth mentioning that quite a lot of people stay in Playa del Ingles, the busy, lively resort on the other side of the sand dunes to Maspalomas, but “think” they stayed in Maspalomas.  I have seen loads of holiday reviews under the heading of Maspalomas, where reviewers have even stated that they stayed in Maspalomas, when they were actually staying in one of the many hotels in Playa del Ingles. It’s not the same resort – in fact there are three kilometres of sand dunes between them.  Playa del Ingles is buzzing and lively, whereas Maspalomas – the subject of this article – is much more tranquil, scenic and relaxing..

Maspalomas Bungalows

Careful planning means that there are no high-rise buildings here, and you will notice that many of the accommodations are described as “bungalows” and really are little self-contained low-rise houses, usually about 50 or

Maspalomas Bungalows Campo Golf

so to a complex, and often arranged amongst gardens around a central swimming pool well away from the road.

The low-rise buildings mean that the dramatic backdrop of the mountains of central Gran Canaria is often visible, and this sets the tone for the whole resort – scenic, unspoilt, quiet.  There are shops and restaurants here, but they are mostly restricted to purpose-built commercial centres – hubs of entertainment that really come to life in the evenings, but where night-life is self-contained and kept well away from where you are sleeping.

Maspalomas Dunes and Beach

Sand Dunes Maspalomas Gran Canaria

The beach in Maspalomas is a stunner.  Miles of golden sand backed by those atmospheric dunes where you can lose yourself on a sunny wander amongst the trees and bushes with only the pretty little birds for company, or find a little hill to sit on and gaze across the “desert” with the folds of the craggy mountains on one side and the shimmering blue sea on the other.  In the central part of the long beach you will find the Maspalomas naturist beach; it’s a very relaxed place with adults and kids of all ages, so even if you’ve never had an all-over tan before it’s a great place to start.  Look – nobody knows you here, so go for it!

Maspalomas Golf Course (Campo Golf Maspalomas)

Campo Golf Maspalomas Gran Canaria, courtesy of Flickr.com user: jorgecorrea

Maspalomas is a perfect location for golf holidays to Gran Canaria, because the famous golf course, or Campo de Golf, is within easy walking distance of most bungalows and hotels.  This 18-hole, par 73 course is next to the famous dunes and set amongst palm trees with those stunning mountains for a backdrop.  A practice green, driving range, equipment hire, and somewhere to eat and drink afterwards – it’s all on offer here.

Aqualand Maspalomas

For kids aged one to 101, the Aqualand Maspalomas water park with its 30-odd slides is a great Maspalomas excursion.  Well, not really an excursion – it’s just a couple of miles north-west of the centre of Maspalomas and well-signposted.  A taxi to the water park from Maspalomas won’t break the bank, or you can take bus number 70 from the Faro de Maspalomas (the lighthouse).

Aqualand is such a good water park that you can easily spend the day here.  Why not race your friends down the parallel slides of the “Kamikaze”, or maybe bounce off the neck-wrenching turns of the “Adrenalina”.  My favourite is actually “Mamut” – the biggest slide of the lot, where you bounce along and over several heart-stopping drops in a four-man rubber raft.  After all the excitement you can take it easy for a while and have a gentle cruise along the “Congo River” and maybe catch a few waves on the man-made “surf beach”.  Take a look for yourself by clicking the link: Aqualand Maspalomas.

Meloneras, Gran Canaria

Meloneras is the name given to what is really a small area of Maspalomas, by the lighthouse at the far right of the beach as you face the sea.  In recent years it has developed into a sophisticated little village with stylish hotels, shops and restaurants.  Meloneras is the missing piece of the jigsaw for Maspalomas.  Now you can enjoy the relaxing atmosphere of unspoilt Maspalomas with its bungalow complexes, but take a walk or a very short taxi ride from your bungalow when you want some designer shops, a great choice of bars and restaurants, and a bit of life at night.  Not that there is 24/7 partying here – not at all.  For that, you need to go to the neighbouring resort of Playa del Ingles.  Meloneras is more classy and stylish, its whole ethos aimed towards providing a more up-market experience for the customers of the five star hotels that have recently sprung up here.  In fact, if you see web pages listing five star hotels in Maspalomas, they will almost always be hotels in Meloneras.  So, if you prefer five star hotels in Gran Canaria to self-catering bungalows, Meloneras is the place to look for accommodation.

Well, that’s the end of this Suntrap Holidays Guide to Maspalomas.  Thanks for reading, and if you would like to check availability and current offers on holidays and hotels in Maspalomas, you can use the quick search box on the top right..