In the south of Gran Canaria, you’ll find a remarkable place: Dunas de Maspalomas. This area, covering more than 404 hectares, consists entirely of sand dunes. Since 1987, it has been a protected nature reserve. The dunes are reminiscent of the Sahara or even Sossusvlei in Namibia. If you visit this island, you really shouldn’t skip these Gran Canaria sand dunes.
Why are the sand dunes on Gran Canaria so special?
The sand dunes near Maspalomas were formed during the last Ice Age. The sand rose from the ocean floor as the water receded. Winds blew the sand toward the coast and over time, dunes were created. Even now, the dunes are constantly moving. Due to strong winds, the dunes “walk” from east to west, shifting between 2 and 5 meters each year.
La Charca, Maspalomas lagoon
In the southwest of the area, you’ll find La Charca (also known as Maspalomas Lagoon), a brackish water area. Many bird species stop here to rest during their migration, making it a popular spot for birdwatchers. You can take a lovely walk along the western shore of the lagoon. There are excellent viewpoints where you can peacefully enjoy the scenery. Don’t forget to bring binoculars; throughout the year you can spot dozens of different migratory birds.
The best time to visit the dunes of Maspalomas
No matter what time of day you visit the dunes of Maspalomas, it’s always impressive. Naturally, it’s quieter early in the day than later. Especially in the evening, people head to the dunes because the sand is no longer so hot. In the middle of the day, when the sun is high in the sky, it can be extremely hot; not the best time to explore this beautiful place! Mornings and evenings are generally the most pleasant in terms of temperature. If you’re trying to avoid crowds, morning is definitely the best choice.
Photographing sand dunes at sunrise or sunset?
If you’re planning to photograph the sand dunes in Gran Canaria, your first thought might be to go at sunset. Of course, it’s beautiful, the dunes in your photos with a pink glow in the sky. However, I’ve found that this is definitely NOT the best time of day. Besides the fact that there are lots of people on the dune tops, you’ll also see footprints everywhere. In the evening, it becomes really difficult to capture clean dune ridges without those footprints. Want to photograph pristine dunes in Maspalomas? Then go early in the morning. The wind erases all the footprints during the night, leaving you with beautiful ripples in the sand.
On top of that, there are hardly any people in the area early in the morning. The earlier you arrive after sunrise, the better you’ll be able to capture the contours and shadows. Even if it’s partly cloudy, like it was during my visit. I’ve noticed that the absence of footprints is more important for taking good photos than the presence of strong shadow lines from a low sun. Though of course, having both is ideal 🙂
Are you allowed to walk in the dunes of Maspalomas?
During my visit, I thought you were. I first arrived in the evening, when many people were walking on top of the dune ridges. It quickly became clear that it would be better for photography to come back the next morning. When I read more about the area after my trip, I found out that some things have changed since the island’s lockdowns. For two years, far fewer people visited the area because of the lockdowns. Researchers discovered that this had many benefits for the dunes—the area was in much better condition. As a result, it was decided that people are now only allowed to walk on a specially created trail through the dunes. The walking path starts near the lagoon, is 8 kilometers long and loops through the dune area.
Viewpoints dunas de Maspalomas
If I had known beforehand about the trail and the effort to restore the dunes, I wouldn’t have walked into the dune area just like that. There are plenty of viewpoints along the edge of the area where you can also take beautiful photos. One of these spots is Mirador de las Dunas de Maspalomas. From there, you can walk eastward toward Mirador Dunas Santa Mónica, with continuous beautiful views of the sand dunes.
Parking at the Maspalomas sand dunes
Since Maspalomas is one of the busiest resorts on Gran Canaria, parking is not always easy. I found a spot twice without any trouble on Av. de Alemania. From there, you can quickly walk to the sand dunes by going over P. Costa Canaria, a road between Hotel Riu Palace and a nearby apartment complex.
Exploring Gran Canaria by rental car
The best way to explore Gran Canaria is by rental car. I always recommend renting from a reputable car rental company that offers an all-inclusive formula, which means everything is insured. This way, you never have unexpected extra costs. Having good insurance is crucial when renting a car, as it protects you from potential damages or incidents that could lead to significant costs. An all-inclusive insurance package ensures you’re fully covered, giving you peace of mind and allowing you to focus on enjoying your trip. They also refund your excess if there’s damage. This gives you peace of mind when driving, for example, the GC-200 to visit beautiful spots like Charco de Las Palomas, Tobas de Colores del Barranco de las Vacas or attractions in the inland areas of Gran Canaria.
Staying in beautiful accommodations on Gran Canaria
You can stay in beautiful places on Gran Canaria. A real recommendation is Villa Nestor in Ingenio. A beautifully renovated building right in the center of Ingenio, where you’ll find many authentic original details. Villa Nestor has a lovely rooftop terrace where delicious breakfasts are served by the Dutch owners and guests can enjoy the sunrise. San Bartolomé de Tirajana is a charming, old village where you can stay at Rural Suite Santiago de Tunte. Looking for more space around you? Then Hotel Rural Hacienda del Buen Suceso in Arucas is the place to be. A former hacienda surrounded by banana plantations. A wonderful spot to truly relax.
