Dunas de Maspalomas (Gran Canaria): how to get there, best time and tips

The Dunas de Maspalomas are a living dune system, shaped by the wind and set between Maspalomas beach, La Charca and the palm grove. In just a short walk, you can see three different environments in southern Gran Canaria: sand, coastal wetland and Atlantic shoreline. The whole area is protected for its natural value, so it should be treated as something fragile, not just as a stretch of sand to cross. The scene changes with the light of day and the direction of the wind.

Access is from the tourist area of Maspalomas, in the municipality of San Bartolomé de Tirajana. The usual approach is through the area around the Faro de Maspalomas, La Charca or the promenades that connect with the beach. By car, you arrive via the main roads in southern Gran Canaria and then continue on foot from the permitted access points. It can also be worked into a visit to Meloneras or Maspalomas beach without needing to plan a complicated route.

This is a protected space: walk only on the paths and permitted areas, respect the signs and do not enter restricted zones, especially those linked to nesting or environmental recovery. Bring water, a hat and sun protection, because the dunes offer no shade and the heat can be intense even outside summer. Avoid climbing up and down any sandy slope as a shortcut; as well as being more tiring, it damages ground that moves and regenerates slowly.

For a clear first view, the most convenient point is the dune viewpoint on the promenade beside Hotel Riu Palace Maspalomas: it is an exterior, public access point, you do not need to be staying there, and it helps you understand the scale of the dune field without stepping into sensitive areas. If you want to walk, always go down via the signposted access points towards the beach and avoid cutting across open ground. The best times are sunrise and late afternoon, when the sand is not as hot and the light picks out the ripples. At midday, the visit can be hard because of heat, glare and lack of shade. For photography, sunset works especially well around the Faro and La Charca de Maspalomas: the sun falls from the front or side, silhouettes stand out and the transition between dune, wetland and sea is easier to read. With children, it is better to look from the viewpoint and go down only to comfortable beach areas.