MASPALOMAS
Area: Gran Canaria
Country: Spain


Location:
On the S coast of this almost circular island, 1» miles W of Playa del Ingles, 37 miles SW of Las Palmas. 20 miles SW of the airport.

Telephone code from UK:
34

Position:
Occupies a broad, mainly flat area between the motorway and the sand dunes stretching to the shore. Hilly backdrop.

Description:
Maspalomas is a very widespread, raw area made up of extensive self-catering residential estates and private villas. W from the fringes of Playa del Ingles towards the small beachside settlement of Oasis Maspalomas lies a golf course and some modern shopping centres, around which most of the accommodation clusters. There are so many architectural facsimiles it's possible, during the first few days, to lose your bearings only a few yards outside your own complex.

Suitability:
Quieter and far less sophisticated than Playa del Ingles, but busy all the same and frequented by Germans, Scandinavians and a fair number of British.

Accommodation:
Mainly mid-range apartments and villa complexes. Only one or two hotels, although these are of a fair size and standard.

Shopping:
Several "commercial centres" offer a good choice of duty-free shopping. A regular market at the back of the resort.

Beach:
Splendid sandy beach runs virtually unbroken eastwards towards Playa del Ingles, all backed by a magnificent expanse of Sahara-like dunes (popular with nudists) extending over a mile inland. The strip closest to the water's edge is often packed with ranks of sunbeds and parasols during the peak season.

Entertainments:
Daytime: golf, horse riding, tennis, mountain bike tours, "Holiday World" amusement park, water parks, roller-skating, camel rides, windsurfing and imitating Beau Geste among the dunes. Waves provide surfing potential at the W end of the beach. Nightlife: best make the short trip to Playa del Ingles for a host of diversions.

Eating:
Wide range of unsophisticated eateries in and around the "commercial centres". More choice and keener prices along the promenade in Playa del Ingles.

Public-transport:
Regular buses serve the estates situated between Oasis Maspalomas and Playa del Ingles, as well as various points along the coast including Las Palmas. Metered taxis are more plentiful and convenient at night.

Local-excursions:
See Playa del Ingles.