Guide to Maspalomas

In southern Gran Canaria, the Maspalomas Dunes form a vast landscape of golden sand between the Atlantic Ocean and the seaside resorts. This protected nature reserve can be explored on foot along designated routes, some leading to the beaches. The scenery is particularly beautiful in the late afternoon, when the changing light transforms the dunes.

Located on the west coast of Gran Canaria, Playa de Güigüi is a wild volcanic-sand beach surrounded by towering cliffs. From Tasartico, a challenging 10–11 km round-trip hike leads to the beach, taking around 5–6 hours of walking with approximately 900–1,100 m of cumulative elevation gain. A spectacular trail through the island's rugged volcanic mountains.

Rainbow Golf is a small men-only gay resort in a quiet part of Maspalomas, Gran Canaria. Its bungalows have terraces and kitchenettes and surround an outdoor pool. The resort is clothing optional, so nudity is welcome but not required. There is also a hot tub, a bar and a paid laundry service. Yumbo Centrum is roughly a 10–15-minute walk away, while Faro 2 is about five minutes away for groceries. Bikes, scooters and cars are options for getting around Maspalomas.

Located on Maspalomas Beach in Gran Canaria, the area around Kiosco Beach N°5 is the island's most iconic gay beach. Popular mainly with gay visitors, it's also clothing optional, so everyone can choose whether to wear swimwear or go nude. There's a beach bar, toilets, and sun loungers with umbrellas available to rent.

Located on the northwestern coast of Gran Canaria, the natural pools of Punta de Gáldar offer a lovely setting for a swim in the Atlantic Ocean among volcanic rocks. They're a pleasant stop to cool off and enjoy the coastline, especially during a road trip through this part of the island.

Located near Veneguera in western Gran Canaria, Charcos Azules are natural pools nestled in a volcanic landscape. The hike takes you through a valley surrounded by impressive cliffs and rock formations in different shades. After rainfall, pools and small waterfalls may appear, but the amount of water varies considerably with the season and recent precipitation.

The Gay Naked Boat is a men-only gay catamaran excursion off the coast of Gran Canaria. Spend a few hours enjoying the sun, the sea and a relaxed atmosphere. It's clothing optional, so keeping your swimwear on or taking it off is entirely up to you. Different packages are available, including drinks and a light buffet depending on the operator.

Located in the upper part of the Yumbo shopping centre, Minigolf Yumbo offers an outdoor course in a relaxed atmosphere. You can even sip a cocktail while you play!

In the heart of the Yumbo shopping centre, Tom's Cruising Bar is a men-only gay bar combining music, a lively atmosphere and a cruising area. The bar also hosts themed nights depending on its schedule, adding some variety to the evening!

During the day, Yumbo Centre is a fairly ordinary open-air shopping centre spread over several floors, with shops, restaurants and terraces. After dark, it becomes a major hub of gay nightlife in Maspalomas. It's not exclusively gay, but many of its bars cater to LGBTQ+ visitors, alongside clubs, drag shows and cruising venues.

At almost 1,950 metres above sea level, Pico de las Nieves offers sweeping views over Gran Canaria’s mountains, including Roque Nublo. On clear days, you can even spot Mount Teide on Tenerife. You can drive almost all the way to the viewpoint, but several hiking trails also lead through the surrounding mountains.

Tufia is a tiny coastal village just a few kilometres from Gran Canaria Airport, in the municipality of Telde. Its white houses with blue details, narrow lanes and small volcanic-sand beach where you can swim give this former fishing village a picturesque feel, far from the island’s larger tourist resorts.