Touring South to West - Maspalomas

Let’s start our exploration tour from south to west with Maspalomas, also called the ‘Maspalomas Costa Canaria’, as it comprises the beach resorts of Águila, Las Burras, San Agustín and Playa del Inglés, all still belonging to the municipality of San Bartolomé de Tirajana. Here you find a land strip of 2000 hectares with a total of 17 km wonderful coastline with sand dunes, wide, sandy beaches, shallow waters and an excellent all year round climate – a paradise for beach lovers and family holidays.

The more upmarket Maspalomas resort, with smart hotels, luxury residences and the largest golf course on the island, is separated from Playa del Inglés by a spectacular stretch of 400 hectares of dunes, which have been declared natural protected area, allowing only the crossing on foot and on camels, making you believe you are in a different part of the world. These dunes provide a habitat for a number of rare plant species, some of which are only to be found in the Canaries, having managed to survive in this arid environment as well as lizards and rabbits.

This is also a favourite zone for nudists and gays – so be aware of this when strolling along.

At the western end of this nature park you will find El Oasis, an area with ultra-chic hotels, which is bordered by La Charca, the remains of a sea-water lagoon bordered with palm trees, hosting many species of migratory birds from Europe stopping here on their route to Africa.

A noteworthy sightseeing attraction close to the Oasis is the Faro de Maspalomas, a lighthouse built in 1886 that dominates the area with its 65 meters of height and that guides hundreds of ships with its powerful light.

Since the 1960’s the economy of the municipality of San Bartolomé de Tirajana is thriving with the tourism in this area, but with the new Palacio de Congressos de Maspalomas, a congress centre with a capacity for approx. 5000 people, Maspalomas is also aiming to become an internationally renowned congress venue.

But that’s not all yet! There is much more entertainment and fun to be found in the nearby surroundings or just a few kilometres north of Maspalomas with attractions such as the Aquasur, (biggest water park on the island), the Holiday World (extensive amusement park with a Ferris wheel), Palmitos Park (ornithological park with aquarium, butterfly house and orchids), Sioux City (Wild West theme park) and the fascinating Mundo Aborigen (Aboriginal world theme park).