📌Municipality and island
Maspalomas is the big tourist area in the south of Gran Canaria, in the municipality of San Bartolomé de Tirajana, province of Las Palmas (Canary Islands, Spain). It is not a city with a historic centre: it is a strip of resorts packed one next to another, marketed under the 'Maspalomas Costa Canaria' brand, running from Bahía Feliz to Pasito Blanco. It includes San Agustín, Playa del Inglés, Campo Internacional, the Lighthouse, Meloneras and San Fernando, the last of these more residential. The whole municipality had 54.291 inhabitants according to the INE (census as of 1 January 2025), but Wikipedia mentions more than 87.000 tourist beds in the coastal area alone. It is known for three things. First, the Dunas de Maspalomas, a Special Nature Reserve of about 404 hectares, with its lagoon and palm grove. Second, the beach: Maspalomas and Playa del Inglés together make up the longest beach on the island, about 5,6 km. Third, the Lighthouse from 1890. It is also a long-standing destination for European LGBT tourism, with the Yumbo Centrum and Pride in May. Its municipal capital, Tunte, sits in the mountains, 850 metres up.
📌Currency and language
You pay in euros. People speak Spanish with a Canarian accent: the bus is called a 'guagua' and potatoes are 'papas'. In the tourist area you will hear as much German, English and Scandinavian languages as Spanish, and many menus come in several languages. On Global buses you can pay in cash or by contactless bank card, from your phone or the card itself, according to the company's website.
📌Best time to go
It is a year-round destination: Wikipedia describes an arid, mild climate with less than 100 mm of rain a year. What changes is the price of accommodation. According to Kayak, September is the cheapest month to stay in Maspalomas (average €160 a night) and February the most expensive (€239), because of European winter tourism. If you visit the dunes in summer, walk early or at sunset: the sand gets scorching.
📌Visa and entry
Argentines, Uruguayans, Chileans, Mexicans, Colombians and Peruvians can enter without a visa as tourists for up to 90 days in any 180 within the Schengen area, and the Canary Islands are part of it. Since 10 April 2026 the EES has been running at all external borders: at your first Schengen check they take your fingerprints and photo instead of stamping your passport. If you arrive with a stopover in Madrid, you go through that check in Madrid. ETIAS (a €20 online permit) is not required yet: the EU postponed it and it is expected in 2027.
💱 EUR exchange rate
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🌤️ Weather in Maspalomas
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Maspalomas is the south of Gran Canaria at its purest: a very long beach of golden sand, a field of dunes that looks like a piece of the Sahara facing the Atlantic, and an 1890 lighthouse marking the end of the promenade. It is a place made for relaxing, with hotels at every price and almost guaranteed sunshine. But if you use it as a base, Global buses will take you to the mountains in the centre of the island, Roque Nublo, villages like Fataga and the capital, Las Palmas.
The best approach is to mix things up. One morning you cross the dunes on the marked trails down to the beach. In the afternoon you stroll from Meloneras to the Lighthouse and watch the sunset over the lagoon. Another day you go up to Roque Nublo on line 18, which stops in Fataga. Another, you take the boat from Puerto Rico to Puerto de Mogán, the village of canals they call 'little Venice'. And if you are travelling with kids, Palmitos Park and Aqualand are minutes away by bus.
You can do it without overspending. The beaches, the dunes, the lagoon and the seafront promenade are free. The Global bus from the airport to the Lighthouse costs 4,05 € a ticket. The ethnographic centre at the Lighthouse does not charge admission, according to the guides. What is worth planning ahead is anything with limited places, like Roque Nublo, which requires advance booking, and choosing the right area to stay: Playa del Inglés usually works out cheaper than Meloneras.
📖 History of Maspalomas
Before the Castilian conquest, the south of Gran Canaria was inhabited by the ancient Canarians. The remains of the Arteara necropolis, in the Fataga ravine, show settlement from at least the 4th or 5th century, and the area belonged to the guanartemato (kingdom) of Telde. On 24 August 1479 the Castilians suffered a defeat near the Caldera de Tirajana, and the conquest of the island ended on 16 March 1485 with the surrender of Ansite. In 1732 the County of Vega Grande de Guadalupe was created, which came to own more than a third of the municipality's land. In 1861 construction of the Faro de Maspalomas was approved, designed by the engineer Juan de León y Castillo; it was lit on 1 February 1890 to guide ships between Europe, America and Africa, and for decades it was the only building in the area. Tourism changed everything. The first charter flight reached Gran Canaria in December 1957, and Count Alejandro del Castillo launched the Concurso Internacional Maspalomas Costa Canaria, whose process began on 9 January 1962 and was won by the French firm SETAP. In 1969 the Maspalomas Space Station played a role in the Apollo 12 mission. The dunes were protected in 1987 and declared a Special Nature Reserve in 1994; their Master Plan was approved in 2004. In 2012 Maspalomas marked 50 years as a tourist destination, and today the challenge is to keep tourism from swallowing the natural space that made it famous.
🗺️ What to see
Tours you can book
Some places make no sense on your own; with someone explaining them, they change completely. We look ours up on Civitatis: guided in Spanish and booked online with no fuss. They have 15 activities in Maspalomas. Three are below so you get the idea: tap any of them and they all open.
If you book from here we earn a commission and you pay no more. Prices and availability come from Civitatis.
1
Dunas de Maspalomas (Special Nature Reserve)
More than 400 hectares of sand that the wind keeps shifting between Playa del Inglés and the Lighthouse. You may only walk them on marked trails.
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The Dunas de Maspalomas are the main reason for the trip. They cover 403,9 hectares according to Turismo de Gran Canaria and have been a Special Nature Reserve since 1994, managed by the Cabildo. Inside there are four environments: the field of moving dunes, the beach, the lagoon and the palm grove. It is also home to insects that exist only in this stretch of sand.
The rules are clear. You walk only on the signposted trails: the Cabildo has marked five routes inside the reserve, and its English website says you cannot walk anywhere else. No building shelters with stones or plants. In 2023 the Cabildo issued 120 fines between January and July for walking or camping in prohibited areas, most of them €150. In 2026 it added drones, cameras, sensors and a loudspeaker to warn anyone straying where they should not, on the spot, according to RTVC.
The classic photo is taken at sunset, which is exactly when most people leave the trails. There is no need: you can see everything from the permitted paths. In summer the sand burns at midday, so go early or late, with water and proper footwear. You enter on foot from the Playa del Inglés promenade or from the Lighthouse, through several pedestrian access points.
ℹ️ Distance: Between Playa del Inglés and the Faro de Maspalomas; pedestrian access from both sides · Best time to go: All year; early morning or at sunset · Admission: Free. Signposted trails only; straying off them can cost you a fine (the Cabildo reported €150 fines in 2023) · Duration: 1 to 2 hours
2
Playa de Maspalomas and Playa del Inglés
Together they add up to about 5,6 km of golden sand, with a nudist area since 1978, beach bars, surfing at the bend and the Yumbo a few blocks away.
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The beaches of Maspalomas and Playa del Inglés are really one, joined at the Punta de Maspalomas. According to Wikipedia they total about 5.600 metres, roughly 2.800 each, making up the longest beach in Gran Canaria. Playa de Maspalomas runs from the Lighthouse to the point and has held a Blue Flag since 1990.
Around the middle, separated from the rest by the dunes, there is a nudist area established in 1978. Surfers gather at the bend between the two beaches. Along the sand there are kiosks with drinks and public toilets open from 10:30 to 18 h, according to Turismo de Gran Canaria, plus sun lounger and umbrella hire, lifeguards and showers.
Playa del Inglés is the busiest area and the liveliest at night. That is where you will find the Yumbo Centrum shopping centre, a meeting point for the European LGBT community, which hosts Pride in May and Winter Pride in November. If you want peace and quiet, the Lighthouse end is calmer. Bring high-factor sunscreen: the southern sun is strong even in winter.
ℹ️ Distance: From the Faro de Maspalomas to San Agustín; Global bus between Playa del Inglés and the Lighthouse, 1,40 € (source: guaguasglobal.com, fare finder, verified October 2026) · Best time to go: All year · Admission: Free (public beach); sun loungers and umbrellas cost extra · Duration: Half a day or more
3
Faro de Maspalomas and Ethnographic Centre
The 1890 lighthouse, a Site of Cultural Interest, with a small museum in the keeper's house and a promenade of bars and shops around it.
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The Faro de Maspalomas is the symbol of the island's south. It was designed by the engineer Juan de León y Castillo; the works were approved in 1861 and the light was switched on on 1 February 1890. Wikipedia gives it 58 metres to the lamp, although other sources say 55 or 56. It has been a Site of Cultural Interest since a resolution of 6 August 1990, and for decades it was the only building along the 3 km between Playa del Inglés and the Oasis.
The former keeper's quarters house the Ethnographic Centre, with objects and panels on traditional life in the south of Gran Canaria and on how the lighthouse works. Turismo de Gran Canaria says it opens Monday to Sunday from 10:30 to 17 h. Climbing the tower does not appear as an open visit in the sources consulted.
Around it is a boulevard with shops, cafés and restaurants, and from there the promenade heads towards Meloneras. It is the best spot to watch the sunset and the western gateway to the dunes. The Faro de Maspalomas bus station connects with the airport and Las Palmas.
ℹ️ Distance: Plaza del Faro, at the western end of Playa de Maspalomas · Best time to go: All year; at sunset for photos · Admission: Ethnographic Centre free (source: Nomado, aggregator, verified October 2026); open Monday to Sunday from 10:30 to 17 h according to grancanaria.com · Duration: 45 minutes to 1,5 hours
4
Charca and palm grove of Maspalomas
A coastal lagoon between the dunes and the palm grove where hundreds of migratory birds rest, a few steps from the Lighthouse.
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The Charca de Maspalomas is a small lagoon where water from the ravine meets the sand and the sea. It is part of the Special Nature Reserve and, according to Turismo de Gran Canaria, a resting area for hundreds of migratory birds and a nesting site. The Gran Canaria giant lizard, found only on this island, lives in the surrounding vegetation, according to ¡HOLA! Viajes. Next to it is the palm grove, the reserve's fourth environment.
You walk it along a path that skirts the lagoon and links the Lighthouse with the beach. No equipment needed: with a bit of patience and an early start it is easier to spot birds. Respect the fences, do not feed the animals and do not go into the water.
Nearby is Parque Tony Gallardo, with shade, water and a botanical garden inside the reserve, a good break if you have been walking on the sand. Combine the lagoon with the dunes and the Lighthouse in a single morning.
ℹ️ Distance: Next to the Faro de Maspalomas and the Oasis area · Best time to go: Spring and autumn for migratory birds; early morning · Admission: Free · Duration: 30 to 60 minutes
5
Paseo de Meloneras and Punta Mujeres archaeological site
Seafront promenade from Meloneras to the Lighthouse, with restaurants, big hotels and an Aboriginal site halfway along.
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Meloneras is the newest and priciest part of Maspalomas, west of the Lighthouse. Its seafront promenade links Meloneras with the Lighthouse and is ideal for a walk as evening falls, with terraces, restaurants and shops. This is where you find big hotels such as the H10 Playa Meloneras or the Hotel Riu Palace Meloneras, according to Kayak.
Halfway along the promenade is the Punta Mujeres archaeological site, according to Turismo de Gran Canaria: an archaeological site at the water's edge, now surrounded by hotels. It is a reminder that the south had a history long before tourism, as the Arteara necropolis also shows.
The route is an easy seafront walk to do with kids. If you want to eat with a sea view, prices here are higher than in Playa del Inglés or San Fernando, so check the menu before you sit down.
ℹ️ Distance: From Playa de Meloneras to the Faro de Maspalomas · Best time to go: All year; at sunset · Admission: Free · Duration: 1 to 2 hours on foot, there and back
6
Roque Nublo
The volcanic monolith that symbolises Gran Canaria, at 1.813 m. From the south you get there on Global line 18, and it requires advance booking.
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Roque Nublo is a rock of volcanic origin that rises about 80 metres above its base and reaches 1.813 metres above sea level, in the municipality of Tejeda. It has been a natural monument since 1994 and since 2019 has been part of the Risco Caído and the Sacred Mountains of Gran Canaria Cultural Landscape. The ancient Canarians used it as a place of worship.
To go up between 9 and 17 h via the Degollada de La Goleta you need to book at reservasroquenublo.com: the limit is 60 people per hour for individuals and confirmation arrives by email, according to elDiario.es (July 2026). Outside those hours no booking is needed. The La Goleta car park has been removed; the nearest one is at Cruz de Los Llanos, an hour's walk away. Fines for breaking the rules range from €100 to €3.000.
From Maspalomas the most practical option is the bus: Global line 18 (Faro de Maspalomas - San Bartolomé - Tejeda) stops at the Roque Nublo stop. The trail to the base is about 2,5 km and takes around 40 minutes according to Wikipedia. Bring warm clothes: it is cold at the top and the wind blows hard.
ℹ️ Distance: Global line 18 from the Faro de Maspalomas: 6 € a ticket (source: guaguasglobal.com, fare finder, verified October 2026) · Best time to go: Spring and autumn; clear days · Admission: No rate published; booking required from 9 to 17 h at reservasroquenublo.com (source: elDiario.es, July 2026, verified October 2026) · Duration: Full day from Maspalomas
7
Puerto de Mogán
The fishing village of canals and bridges known as Gran Canaria's 'little Venice', with a market on Fridays.
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Puerto de Mogán is the second-largest settlement in the municipality of Mogán and one of the prettiest outings in the south. It is called Gran Canaria's 'little Venice' for its canals and bridges, set among fishermen's cottages painted in bright colours. It has a marina with 246 berths, according to Wikipedia, and tourism is its main activity.
On Fridays the market sets up, one of the most popular in the south, with crafts, clothes, flowers and Canarian products. It gets packed that day: if you prefer calm, go another day.
There are two ways to get there from Maspalomas. By bus, on Global lines 32 and 33 from Playa del Inglés or line 1 from Las Palmas. Or by combining it with the Líneas Salmón boat, which leaves from Puerto Rico and Arguineguín and follows the cliff-lined coast: a trip in itself. The company has linked these ports since 1969. Head back before sunset if you want to take the boat, because the last departure from Mogán is at 17:45.
ℹ️ Distance: Faro de Maspalomas → Puerto de Mogán by bus: 4,15 € a ticket (source: guaguasglobal.com, fare finder, verified October 2026) · Best time to go: All year; Fridays for the market · Admission: Free. Boat Puerto Rico - Puerto de Mogán: 8 € one way and 14 € return per adult; children aged 6 to 12 5 € and 8 € (source: lineassalmon.com, verified October 2026) · Duration: Half a day
8
Palmitos Park
Zoo and botanical garden in a ravine north of Maspalomas, with birds, a dolphinarium and a butterfly house. Open every day.
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Palmitos Park opened in 1978 in the Los Palmitos ravine, a natural valley north of Maspalomas. It covers about 20 hectares, with a botanical garden of around 15.000 plants, some 1.000 palm trees and about 150 bird species, according to Wikipedia. Since 1996 it has belonged to the Aspro-Ocio group. In July 2007 a forest fire reached the ravine; the park reopened in August 2008.
It has the only dolphinarium in Gran Canaria, a butterfly house and bird shows throughout the day. Note: if animal welfare matters to you, be aware that the park is not a member of the European zoo association (EAZA), although it does belong to the Iberian one (AIZA). Swimming with dolphins is not included in general admission.
It opens every day from 10 to 18 h, with last entry at 17 h. Online tickets vary in price by day and are valid for 90 days. If you are also going to Aqualand, the '2 Parks Ticket' saves you money. You get there on line 70 from the Lighthouse or line 45 from Playa del Inglés.
ℹ️ Distance: Faro de Maspalomas → Los Palmitos, line 70: 2,65 € (source: guaguasglobal.com, fare finder, verified October 2026) · Best time to go: All year; it is cooler first thing · Admission: Non-residents: adult (11+) 39 € at the ticket office or from 35 € online; child 5-10 years 29 € or 25 €; 3-4 years 15 €; 0-2 free (source: palmitospark.es, verified October 2026) · Duration: 4 to 5 hours
9
Aqualand Maspalomas
The water park of southern Gran Canaria, with slides like Hurakan and the new Skull Bay area. Open every day.
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Aqualand Maspalomas is the water park in the south of the island, on the road to Palmitos Park. Its website groups the rides by area and category. Among the best known are Hurakan, Tukakame and Misol-ha, and it advertises Skull Bay as its newest addition. It shares a combined ticket with Palmitos Park, the '2 Parks Ticket'.
It opens every day from 10 to 17 h, and until 18 h in July and August. The water rides close 30 minutes earlier. Some have height restrictions. Parking is paid separately.
The ticket category depends on age or height: adult from 11 years or over 1,40 m; child from 5 to 10 years or between 1,10 and 1,40 m; mini from 3 to 4 years; senior from 65. Buying online with a set date is cheaper than at the ticket office. If you plan to go twice, the two-day ticket costs little more than a single day. You get there on line 45 from Playa del Inglés and San Agustín or line 70 from the Lighthouse and Puerto de Mogán.
ℹ️ Distance: Carretera de Palmitos Park; Global lines 45 and 70 according to aqualand.es · Best time to go: All year; extended hours in July and August · Admission: Non-residents: adult 41 € at the ticket office or from 32 € online; child and senior 31 € or from 22 €; mini 17 €; 2-day adult 56 € (source: aqualand.es, verified October 2026) · Duration: Full day
10
Fataga and the Fataga ravine
A white village 600 m up in an ochre-walled ravine, with the Aboriginal necropolis of Arteara along the way.
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Fataga is a village in San Bartolomé de Tirajana tucked into the ravine of the same name, about 600 metres up, with narrow cobbled streets, traditional Canarian architecture and brown rock walls all around. The ravine is a protected landscape and a bird protection area. Nearby is the Fataga water mill, from the late 18th century.
On the way from Maspalomas, along the GC-60 road, is the Arteara necropolis, the largest pre-Hispanic cemetery on the island according to the guides, with hundreds of stone burial mounds. Guided group visits are booked in advance by calling the number published by Turismo de Gran Canaria.
You can see Fataga in a couple of hours: walk around the village, have a drink in the square and carry on towards Tunte, the municipal capital, or towards Roque Nublo, since Global line 18 passes through all three. It is the simplest way to see rural Gran Canaria without a car. The road is full of bends: if you are driving, take it easy.
ℹ️ Distance: Faro de Maspalomas → Fataga, Global line 18: 2,65 € (source: guaguasglobal.com, fare finder, verified October 2026) · Best time to go: All year; clear mornings · Admission: Village free. Arteara Necropolis: 4 € general, 2 € reduced, free for under-10s (source: Nomado, aggregator, verified October 2026) · Duration: 2 to 3 hours; half a day with Arteara
11
The island's capital, founded in 1478: the historic Vegueta quarter, the Catedral de Santa Ana with its tower, and the city beach of Las Canteras.
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Las Palmas de Gran Canaria was founded on 24 June 1478 by Juan Rejón, at the mouth of the Guiniguada ravine, and today has 381.868 inhabitants (INE 2025). It makes a good contrast with the touristy south: a real city with a life of its own.
Start in Vegueta, the founding quarter, a listed historic site since 1973. This is where you'll find the Catedral de Santa Ana, begun in 1497 and opened for worship in 1570; admission includes the south tower, with views over the rooftops of the quarter, and the Museo Diocesano de Arte Sacro. A few blocks away is the Casa de Colón, a museum about the Canary Islands and the Americas in a mansion where, according to tradition, Columbus stayed on his first voyage. Across the ravine is Triana, with its pedestrian calle Mayor and modernist buildings.
On the other side of the city is Las Canteras, a city beach of about 3,1 km according to Wikipedia. From Maspalomas you can get there on Global lines 30 or 50 to San Telmo or Santa Catalina.
ℹ️ Distance: Faro de Maspalomas → San Telmo (Las Palmas), lines 30 and 50: 6,15 € (source: guaguasglobal.com, fare finder, verified October 2026) · Best time: All year round; Monday to Saturday for the Cathedral · Admission: Cathedral, tower and museum: 8 € general, 6 € reduced, free for under-12s and residents of the province of Las Palmas (source: catedraldecanarias.es, verified October 2026) · Duration: Full day
12
Holiday World Maspalomas
Amusement park with more than 30 rides, a Ferris wheel, bowling, karaoke and food, open afternoons and evenings in Maspalomas.
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Holiday World is Maspalomas' amusement park, at Avenida Touroperador Tui 18. According to its website, it brings together more than 30 rides, a street food market, escape rooms, karaoke rooms, a bowling alley, a sports bar and an arcade. It works more as a leisure centre than as a big theme park.
What sets it apart is the opening hours: it opens in the afternoon. The official website says the amusement park runs Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday from 16 to 23 h, and Friday and Saturday from 16 to 23:30; rides close 15 minutes earlier. The bowling alley is open every day from 10 to 24 h. Check the hours before you go, because they change with the season.
Park admission (Wooland) is sold at tickets.holidayworldmaspalomas.com, with separate rates for Canary Islands residents and combos with bowling. It's a good plan for families after a day at the beach, once the sun has gone down. Before you go, confirm that day's hours on its website.
ℹ️ Distance: Avenida Touroperador Tui 18, Maspalomas · Best time: All year round; afternoons and evenings · Admission: Wooland admission from 13 € (source: Civitatis, reseller, verified October 2026); Atrápalo lists it from 17 € with prices that vary by date · Duration: 2 to 4 hours
💵 Prices
Tickets
| Type | Price |
|---|
| Dunas, playas de Maspalomas e Inglés, Charca y paseo de Meloneras | Free (public spaces). In the dunes, only on marked trails; in 2023 the Cabildo reported fines of 150 € for leaving the trails or camping |
| Centro Etnográfico del Faro de Maspalomas | Free (source: Nomado, aggregator, verified October 2026). Open Monday to Sunday from 10:30 to 17 h according to grancanaria.com |
| Palmitos Park (entrada de 1 día) | Non-residents: adult (11+) 39 € at the ticket office / 35 € online; child 5-10 years 29 € / 25 €; mini 3-4 years 15 €; 0-2 free. Canary Islands residents: 25 €, 19 € and 10 €. Online Family Pack (2 adults + 2 children) 118 € (source: palmitospark.es, verified October 2026). Online, the price varies by date. Buy at palmitospark.es or at the ticket office |
| Aqualand Maspalomas (entrada de 1 día) | Non-residents: adult 41 € at the ticket office / from 32 € online; child 5-10 and seniors 65+: 31 € / from 22 €; mini 3-4 years 17 €; 0-2 free. Residents: adult 24-25 €. 2-day ticket adult 56 € / 53 € online (source: aqualand.es, verified October 2026). Buy at tickets-maspalomas.aqualand.es |
| 2 Parks Ticket (Palmitos Park + Aqualand) | Non-residents: adult 62 €; child 45 €; mini 23 €. Residents: 34 €, 28 € and 15 € (source: palmitospark.es and aqualand.es, verified October 2026) |
| Holiday World Maspalomas (entrada Wooland) | From 13 € (source: Civitatis, reseller, verified October 2026); Atrápalo from 17 € depending on the date. Official sales at tickets.holidayworldmaspalomas.com, which does not show the price outside the booking process |
| Roque Nublo (acceso por la Degollada de La Goleta) | No rate published in the sources consulted; advance booking required from 9 to 17 h at reservasroquenublo.com; limit of 60 people per hour (source: elDiario.es, July 2026, verified October 2026) |
| Catedral de Santa Ana, torre y Museo de Arte Sacro (Las Palmas) | 8 € general; 6 € reduced (over-65s, students aged 13 to 23, large families, residents of the province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife); free for under-12s and residents of the province of Las Palmas (source: catedraldecanarias.es, verified October 2026). Monday to Friday 10-18 h, Saturday 10-16 h |
| Casa de Colón (Las Palmas) | 4 € general; 2 € reduced; free on Sundays (source: Tripadvisor and guides, aggregators, verified October 2026). The Cabildo's official website could not be checked |
| Necrópolis de Arteara (barranco de Fataga) | 4 € general; 2 € reduced (students, over-65s, groups of 10 or more); free for under-10s (source: Nomado, aggregator, verified October 2026) |
🔄 updated monthlyOfficial / reference values · double-check when buying
Activities and tours
Dolphin-watching boat trip along the south coast
Price35 € adult; 25 € child aged 6 to 12; babies free; with bus transfer 4 € extra (source: lineassalmon.com, verified October 2026). On Civitatis, a glass-bottom boat version from 40 € (verified October 2026)
OperatorLíneas Salmón (departures from Puerto Rico, Puerto de Mogán, Anfi del Mar and Arguineguín) and Civitatis operators
Trip to the Gran Canaria summits (Roque Nublo and the villages of the interior)
Full tour of Gran Canaria
Trip to Puerto de Mogán and its Friday market
Price22 € per person (source: Civitatis, verified October 2026). On your own, the bus costs 4,15 € from the Faro (source: guaguasglobal.com, fare finder, verified October 2026)
Tour of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and the Bandama crater
Catamaran cruise along the Puerto Rico coast
Buggy tour of the interior
🔄 updated monthlyOfficial / reference values · double-check when buying
🚌 How to get there and distances
Getting around
Global buses (intercity lines)
PricePlaya del Inglés → Faro de Maspalomas 1,40 €; Faro → Fataga 2,65 €; Faro → Puerto de Mogán 4,15 €; Faro → Tejeda 6,15 € (source: guaguasglobal.com, fare finder, verified October 2026)
NotesGlobal is Gran Canaria's intercity bus company. Fares are calculated as euros per kilometre, so the price changes depending on the line and the stretch. You can pay in cash, by contactless bank card or phone, or with transport cards. The main bus station in the south is Faro de Maspalomas. Check the exact price in the fare finder at guaguasglobal.com
TransGC card (top-up wallet)
PriceIssue fee 5 €; minimum top-up 10 € and maximum 100 €; bonus of 20 % of the amount (10 to 59 €), 30 % (60 to 99 €) or 40 % (100 €) (source: AUTGC FAQ, June 2026, verified October 2026)
NotesThis is the general-use card that anyone can get, tourists included. You apply for it at bonos.autgc.org or in the AUTGC app. It allows transfers: if the second stretch is under 12 km and within 30 minutes, it's free. Worth it if you'll be taking the bus a lot. The free flat-rate passes are only for Canary Islands residents
Global line 18 (Faro de Maspalomas - San Bartolomé - Tejeda)
PriceFaro → Fataga 2,65 €; Faro → Ayacata 4,70 €; Faro → Roque Nublo 6 €; Faro → Tejeda 6,15 € (source: guaguasglobal.com, fare finder, verified October 2026)
NotesThis is the bus that climbs to the centre of the island, stopping at Fataga, Tunte, Ayacata and the Roque Nublo stop. Check the timetable at guaguasglobal.com before planning the trip, and don't miss the last bus back
Líneas Salmón boat (scheduled coastal service)
PricePuerto Rico ↔ Puerto de Mogán or Arguineguín: 8 € one way, 14 € return; Puerto Rico ↔ Anfi del Mar 5 € and 8 €; Arguineguín ↔ Puerto de Mogán 15 € and 21 €. Children aged 6 to 12 from 3,50 €; under-6s free (source: lineassalmon.com, verified October 2026)
NotesIt doesn't leave from Maspalomas: you need to take the bus to Puerto Rico or Arguineguín. It has sailed between the southern ports since 1969 and is a lovely way to see the cliffs. Book online at lineassalmon.com
PriceAirport → Maspalomas: average 52 € and highest observed 66 € (source: monTransport, comparison site, July 2026, verified October 2026)
NotesTaxis run on the meter, with no fixed fare, and have surcharges at night (22 to 6 h), at weekends and on public holidays according to Aeropuertos del Mundo. Ask the driver to start the meter when you set off. To get around Maspalomas itself, the bus or walking along the promenade is usually enough
🔄 updated monthlyOfficial / reference values · double-check when buying
How to get there
Gran Canaria Airport (LPA) → Playa del Inglés / Faro de Maspalomas by bus
Airlines / operatorsGlobal: line 66 (Airport - Faro de Maspalomas, direct), line 90 (semi-direct) and line 36 (via Vecindario)
Avg. priceAirport → Playa del Inglés 3,50 €; airport → Faro de Maspalomas 4,05 € (source: guaguasglobal.com, fare finder, verified October 2026)
DurationAbout 25 minutes by car on the GC-1 according to Wikipedia; the bus adds stops at San Agustín and Playa del Inglés
Gran Canaria Airport (LPA) → Maspalomas by taxi or transfer
Avg. priceTaxi: average 52 € (source: monTransport, July 2026, verified October 2026). Private transfer from 79,30 € (source: Transfeero, July 2026, verified October 2026)
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria → Maspalomas by bus
Airlines / operatorsGlobal: line 50 (San Telmo - Faro, direct), line 30 (Santa Catalina - San Telmo - Faro, direct), line 5 (San Telmo - Vecindario - Faro) and line 1 towards Puerto de Mogán
Avg. priceSan Telmo → Faro de Maspalomas 6,15 €; Santa Catalina → Playa del Inglés 6,25 € (source: guaguasglobal.com, fare finder, verified October 2026)
DurationAbout 45 minutes by car on the GC-1 according to Wikipedia; the direct bus takes a bit longer with stops
Tenerife → Gran Canaria by ferry, then bus to the south
Airlines / operatorsFred. Olsen Express (Santa Cruz de Tenerife - Agaete) and Naviera Armas (Santa Cruz de Tenerife - Las Palmas); from Las Palmas, Global lines 30 or 50
Avg. priceFerry from 49,17 € with Fred. Olsen and from 68,57 € with Naviera Armas (source: Ferryhopper, aggregator, verified October 2026) + bus 6,15 € from San Telmo (source: guaguasglobal.com, fare finder, verified October 2026)
🔄 updated monthlyOfficial / reference values · double-check when buying
🏨 Where to stay
No exact prices: a scale from $ (budget) to $$$$$ (luxury), with 2-3 options per category.
Budget (hostels and simple rooms)
Recommended optionsHostal Poseidón from 52 € a night; Apartamentos Marinasol from 70 €; Doramas Private Rooms (shared bathroom) in Playa del Inglés from 72 €; Bungalows Rebecca Park from 89 € (source: Kayak, search for 17-18 October, verified October 2026). Playa del Inglés is the cheapest area: Kayak names March as its cheapest month (90 € on average) and December as the most expensive (181 €)
Mid-range in Playa del Inglés and San Agustín (apartments and three-star hotels)
Recommended optionsServatur Playa Bonita from 100 € a night; Abora Buenaventura by Lopesan 103 €; Hotel Europalace 106 €; Axelbeach Maspalomas (adults only) 113 € (source: Kayak, verified October 2026). Having a kitchen saves you a lot on meals. Kayak says Tuesday is the cheapest day and Saturday the most expensive
Four-star hotels between Playa del Inglés, Campo Internacional and the Faro
Recommended optionsKayak puts the average at about 146 € a night for a four-star hotel in Maspalomas. Examples: Relaxia Beverly Park from 156 €, Abora Continental by Lopesan 174 €, Hotel HL Rondo from 183 € (source: Kayak, verified October 2026). For gay men there are highly rated exclusive hotels, such as Atlantic Sun Beach from 199 €. February is the most expensive month in Maspalomas according to Kayak
Luxury in Meloneras and facing the dunes
Recommended optionsHotel Riu Palace Meloneras from 313 €; Hotel Faro, a Lopesan Collection Hotel (adults only) from 279 €; Lopesan Baobab Resort from 343 €; Paradisus Gran Canaria in San Agustín from 474 € a night (source: Kayak, verified October 2026). Kayak puts the average at 260 € for a five-star hotel in Maspalomas
🍴 Where to eat
Menú del día al mediodía (la opción más barata para comer sentado)
Options / signature dishAt lunchtime many restaurants in Maspalomas and Puerto de Mogán offer a menú del día (set lunch) for between 10 and 14 € depending on the place; in the evening prices go up, especially in Meloneras (source: Teneriffa News, restaurant guide, aggregator, verified October 2026). Lunch is eaten between 14 and 16 h. The same guides recommend heading up to San Bartolomé de Tirajana for cheaper, more Canarian food
Papas arrugadas con mojo (el plato canario básico)
Options / signature dishSmall potatoes boiled with plenty of salt, served with mojo picón (red, made with peppers) or green mojo (made with coriander). At Rincón Canario, in the Edificio del Águila in Maspalomas, they were listed at 5 € with an average price of 35 € per person (source: menu on TheFork, 2022 data, verified October 2026); at Alma Gaia, black potatoes with almond mojo at 10,50 € (source: RestaurantGuru, aggregator, verified October 2026). Also try grilled Canarian cheese with mojo, and gofio
Degustación de productos canarios (quesos, mojos, ron y vinos)
Options / signature dishIf you want to try several of the island's specialities in one day, the Gran Canaria food tour departing from Maspalomas costs 69 € per person and lasts 6 to 8 hours (source: Civitatis, verified October 2026). In the mountains, Casa Melo in Ayacata (on the line 18 route) is known for its goat meat according to
elDiario.es; La Nueva Casa Vieja, on the GC-60, serves grilled meats and Canarian ropa vieja at 'reasonable' prices according to Gastroranking
Alta cocina con estrella Michelin
Options / signature dishLos Guayres, in the Cordial Mogán Playa hotel in Puerto de Mogán, holds one Michelin star and serves modern Spanish cuisine in the guide's highest price band (€€€€); Gastroranking puts it at over 100 € per person, and a December 2025 review mentions 160 € for the Christmas Eve menu plus 90 € for wine pairing (source: Michelin Guide and Gastroranking, verified October 2026). Book well ahead
❓ Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa to go to Gran Canaria?+
No, if you hold a passport from Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, Mexico, Colombia or Peru and are travelling as a tourist for up to 90 days within any 180-day period in the Schengen area. The Canary Islands are part of Spain and belong to Schengen. Since 10 April 2026 the EES has been in operation at all external borders: at your first border check, your fingerprints and photo are recorded instead of a passport stamp. If you arrive with a stopover in Madrid or another Schengen city, you go through that check there and arrive in Gran Canaria on a domestic flight. ETIAS, the 20 € online authorisation, is not required yet: the EU postponed it and it is expected in 2027. Don't pay on websites that claim to process it for you. Carry your return ticket, booking and medical insurance.
How many days should I stay in Maspalomas?+
With five or six days you can see the main sights without rushing. One morning for the dunes, the lagoon and the Faro, and the afternoon on the Meloneras promenade. One day for Roque Nublo and Fataga on Global line 18. Half a day for Puerto de Mogán (best by boat from Puerto Rico) and another half to see dolphins. One day for Las Palmas: Vegueta, the Cathedral and Las Canteras. If you're travelling with kids, add a day for Palmitos Park or Aqualand. The rest, beach. With a week or more you can add a ferry trip to Tenerife.
Can I walk freely across the dunes?+
No. The Dunas de Maspalomas are a Special Nature Reserve, and you can only walk on the signposted trails. The Cabildo has marked out five routes and warns that walking anywhere else is not allowed. You also can't camp or build shelters out of stones or plants. In 2023 the Cabildo issued 120 fines in seven months, most of them for 150 €. In 2026 it added drones, cameras and a loudspeaker to warn people who enter restricted areas, especially at sunset. You can see everything just as well from the trails. Free guided visits for groups can be booked by phone with the Cabildo.
Should I rent a car or get around by bus (guagua)?+
You don't need a car for Maspalomas. The beaches and the Faro are linked by the promenade, and the Global bus between Playa del Inglés and the Faro costs 1,40 €. Buses also work for day trips: line 18 goes up to Fataga and the Roque Nublo, lines 30 and 50 go to Las Palmas, and lines 32, 33 and 1 go to Puerto de Mogán. You can pay in cash or by contactless card. A car helps if you want to explore the centre and west of the island at your own pace. Keep in mind that the La Goleta car park at the Roque Nublo has been closed, and the nearest one is an hour's walk away.
Is Maspalomas safe?+
It's a big tourist area full of families, European retirees and services everywhere. The main risks to keep in mind are natural ones. At the beach, follow the flags and swim where there are lifeguards. In the dunes, watch out for the heat: bring water, a cap and proper shoes, and stay on the trails. In the mountains, be ready for the cold and wind at the Roque Nublo. On the street, the usual applies: don't leave things unattended on the sand or visible in the car. In an emergency, call 112, the single European emergency number.
When is it cheapest to go?+
According to Kayak, September is the cheapest month to stay in Maspalomas, at an average of 160 € a night. February is the most expensive at 239 €, because the European winter fills the hotels. In Playa del Inglés the difference is even clearer: an average of 90 € in March against 181 € in December. Wednesday is the day with the lowest rates and Saturday the most expensive. To save money day to day, choose an apartment with a kitchen and have the menú del día at lunchtime. The beaches, the dunes, the charca and the Faro's ethnographic centre are all free.
Do I need to book to go up the Roque Nublo?+
Yes, if you enter between 9 and 17 h via the Degollada de La Goleta. You book at reservasroquenublo.com, choosing the day, time and number of people. The limit is 60 people per hour for individual visitors, and the confirmation arrives by email. Outside those hours you don't need to book. It's best to book days or weeks in advance. From Maspalomas, Global's line 18 stops at the Roque Nublo stop (6 € from the Faro). The trail to the base is about 2,5 km long and takes about 40 minutes. Fines for breaking the rules range from 100 to 3.000 €.
Sources consulted (50)
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