The key addresses in Maspalomas — verified and regularly updated. Clicking takes you straight to the location page.
The Maspalomas Dunes nature reserve stretches for about six kilometers like a small desert to the coast. Sahara-like sand mountains, a lagoon and the famous nudist and gay beach section make it the island's landmark.
The historic lighthouse was put into operation in 1890 and, at 60 metres, is the tallest brick lighthouse in the Canary Islands. To this day, it shows the way and, together with the promenade and the dunes, forms the postcard motif of Maspalomas.
The extensive sandy beach borders directly on the dunes and is the tourist center of the south of the island. Steady winds make it a hotspot for windsurfers and kitesurfers, while the hinterland beckons with hotels, bars and nightlife.
The legendary shopping and entertainment centre in Playa del Inglés is a shopping mall by day and at night it turns into the beating heart of the largest gay nightlife scene in the Canary Islands, with countless bars, clubs and drag shows.
Gay attractions in Maspalomas are less about museums and more about places that represent the island's queer travel history. The most famous is the Yumbo Centrum in Playa del Inglés, which has become the centre of the LGBT scene in Gran Canaria since the 1980s. A normal shopping mall by day, the beating heart of gay nightlife by night, the Yumbo itself is a stop you should see.
The second central place is the Maspalomas Dunes. The extensive nature reserve of sand stretches down to the sea and is one of the most impressive landscapes in the Canary Islands. On the beach is the area around Kiosk 5, a well-rehearsed gay beach, which has been a meeting place for travelers from all over Europe for decades. Crossing the dunes, you will reach the southern lighthouse of Maspalomas, another landmark of the town. The highlight of the scene calendar are the big Pride events, which attract tens of thousands to Playa del Inglés in spring. The following locations will take you to the most important stations if you want to get to know Maspalomas from its queer side.