Maspalomas is a popular holiday resort on the southern tip of Gran Canaria, adjacent to the island's largest and most hectic package-tour resort, Playa del Ingles. Maspalomas though, is the quieter and more upmarket option sporting the best four-mile (6km) stretch of golden, sandy beach on the island.

Maspalomas is separated from Playa del Ingles by a spectacular undulating sea of sand dunes, a protected area that provide a habitat for some rare species of flora and fauna, and a favourite haunt for nudists. Along the waterfront the promenade, stretching to Playa del Ingles, bristles with bars, shops, restaurants and entertainment venues between luxury hotels and villas.

Maspalomas also boasts an exhilarating water park and nearby are numerous other man-made attractions like amusement parks, nature parks, a golf course, an aquarium and theme parks. The resort has become a favourite destination for the gay community, with a designated gay zone on the beach and in the sand dunes. The resort's week-long Gay Pride festivities held in May each year have become world-renowned.

Who Goes There?
This is a resort perfectly suited to beach lovers and families, there are a small number of Nudist beaches so if this is not a concept you are comfortable with then maybe the resort of Puerto Rico would suit you better.

Beaches
The Maspalomas beach is broken into sections, the first section perfect for families and children, the second and fourth often designated nudist beaches and the third for everyone.

Shopping
There are a number of shopping complexes in Maspalomas, the largest is in neighboring Playa Del Ingles, there are also smaller shops selling products aimed at tourists and supermarkets are not hard to find.

Nightlife
There are a variety of bars to choose from with everything from karaoke to salsa inside, the Maspalomas plaza is the best area to go for nightlife. If it is a club you are looking for then visit the Holiday world amusement park, where there are two night clubs, for an extremely lively night then nearby Playa Del Ingles is where to go.

Restaurants/Cuisine
As with any resort there are a range of cuisines on offer from a variety of bars, the majority of restaurants double as bars in the evening and will have entertainment on during and after your meal. So whether you’re looking for pizza or Fabulous Seafood then you will find it here and usually not at a great expense.

Activities
The sun worshippers and beach lovers can catch the rays on the beach, but if you’re looking for more then there is plenty to do, the beaches provide opportunities to do many water sports, with everything from paragliding to scuba diving, there is also an Aqua park and a number of boat trips to neighboring areas. An absolute must is a camel ride through the wonderful sand dunes of Maspalomas. A very popular attraction is the Holiday world amusement park which covers everything a traditional theme park would with rides, bowling alley, stalls play grounds and amusements, but there is more to this amusement park it also has a health and wellness centre, two nightclubs and a high-tech gym.

Weather
While Gran Canaria has a wonderful climate throughout the year, the south of the island enjoys its own microclimate with generally better weather than other parts of the island, although the sea breeze can be quite bracing. The average temperature is comfortable all year round, rarely dropping below 63°F (17°C) and more often above 82°F (28°C) during the day. Rainfall in the summer months is almost non-existent.

Transfer Time
Transfer times are approximately 40 minutes to an hour.