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Where to park
Where to leave the car
Free car park at Playa del Inglés (Anexo II) and paid at the Faro de Maspalomas.
Beach · San Bartolomé de Tirajana · Canary Islands
Playa de Maspalomas — the Dunes
A protected Sahara dune-field opening onto the ocean
404 hectares of shifting dunes declared a Special Natural Reserve, ending in six uninterrupted kilometres of beach. Walk the crest of the dunes from the Riu Palace to the Faro de Maspalomas lighthouse — one of Spain's great natural landscapes.
- Type
- Sandy beach
- Length
- 6 km
- Sand
- Sahara-blown golden dunes
- Water
- Atlantic · 20–23 °C · gentle
GPS · 27.7376° N, 15.5866° W
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When to arrive
Best time to visit
Two hours before sunset for shadow-carved dune crests.
Tours & excursions · Best-sellers on Viator
The eight best-reviewed excursions across the Canary Islands
Hand-picked from Viator's top-rated experiences on Canary Islands, sorted by review volume and average rating. Free cancellation up to 24 h before, reserve now and pay later.
- ◆ Free cancellation 24 h
- ◆ Reserve now, pay later
- ◆ Instant confirmation
- ◆ Best-price guarantee
Nature4 hMount Teide cable car with skip-the-line ticket, Tenerife
4.8(6,200 reviews)
Reserved cable-car slot to the upper station of Mount Teide (3,555 m). Guided nature walk on the Roques de García loop before or after the ride, with optional transfer from the south and north resorts.
From
£42per person
- Guaranteed cable-car slot (sells out daily)
- Optional hotel pick-up in Costa Adeje / Puerto de la Cruz
- Roques de García guided walk
Boat & beach3 hWhale & dolphin watching from Los Cristianos, Tenerife
4.8(5,400 reviews)
Small-group catamaran trip along the south-west coast of Tenerife with a marine biologist on board. Swim stop at Masca cliffs, drinks and a paella lunch included on the longer option.
From
£38per person
- Marine-biologist guide
- Swim stop and snorkel gear
- Whale-sighting guaranteed or re-book free
Nature7 hTimanfaya National Park full-day tour, Lanzarote
4.9(3,100 reviews)
Full-day guided tour of Lanzarote's south: Timanfaya's Route of the Volcanoes, the geothermal demonstrations at Islote de Hilario, El Golfo's green crater lagoon and the salt flats at Janubio.
From
£55per person
- Timanfaya route entry secured
- A/C coach with English-speaking guide
- Pick-up from Playa Blanca, Puerto del Carmen and Costa Teguise
Adventure1 hMaspalomas dunes camel-ride at sunset, Gran Canaria
4.6(2,400 reviews)
Sunset camel ride from La Baraka Camel Park across the Maspalomas dunes. Family-friendly, two riders per camel, with a certificate for the kids at the end.
From
£22per person
- Guaranteed sunset departure
- Two riders per camel — great for families
- Certificate for children
Nature10 hLa Gomera day trip from Los Cristianos with ferry
4.8(1,900 reviews)
Full-day tour to La Gomera: Fred. Olsen ferry from Los Cristianos, guided coach across the Garajonay laurel forest, silbo gomero demonstration and lunch in a mountain village.
From
£75per person
- Round-trip ferry included
- Silbo gomero (whistled language) demo
- Traditional lunch in a village restaurant
Adventure6 hCorralejo dunes 4x4 & Isla de Lobos, Fuerteventura
4.7(1,600 reviews)
Half-day 4x4 tour across the Corralejo dune-field followed by a boat crossing to the Isla de Lobos natural park. Swim in the lagoons, walk to the lighthouse and eat fresh fish in the tiny fishermen's shack.
From
£68per person
- 4x4 across the protected dunes
- Boat return to Isla de Lobos
- Snorkel gear and swim time at Lobos
Nature4 hStar-gazing on Mount Teide with astronomer, Tenerife
4.9(2,200 reviews)
Evening tour of the Teide caldera at sunset, followed by a private star-gazing session with a professional astronomer and telescope pointing. Includes tapas dinner at 2,000 m.
From
£85per person
- Sunset in the Teide caldera
- Professional astronomer with telescopes
- Warm jackets and tapas dinner provided
Nature6 hAnaga rural park guided hike, Tenerife
4.8(980 reviews)
Guided hike into the Anaga UNESCO Biosphere Reserve — 6 km through the laurisilva laurel forest of Cruz del Carmen, ending on a hidden black-sand cove for a swim. Hotel transfer from the south.
From
£58per person
- Certified nature guide
- Optional hotel pick-up from the south
- Swim stop on a black-sand cove
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How you get there
Getting there
GC-500 exit signposted 'Dunas'. Camel-ride starting point at the Anexo II car park.
What you'll find
Services
- Lifeguard year-round
- Chiringuitos at either end (none on the dunes themselves)
- Naturist section marked by flags
- Camel rides at the northern edge
Local tips
What we wish we'd been told
- 01Do not walk off the marked trails — protected reserve
- 02Bring water: no shade or bars once you enter the dunes
- 03Sunset from the Charca lagoon boardwalk
Around this beach
Towns within 15 km of Playa de Maspalomas — the Dunes
Nearest villages on Canary Islands — sorted by distance. Ideal bases for staying close to the beach.
Guide to the linked village
See town guide →Keep exploring