Things To Do in Maspalomas

You’ll be eating with the locals at the al fresco eating places on the seafront by the lighthouse. If you fancy a change from cod and chips, you’ll find freshly-caught parrotfish and damself fish on the menus here. They’re usually salted, fried or baked – and dished up with Canarian salty potatoes and a liberal helping of spicy mojo sauce.

Come carnival time, they don’t do things by halves in Gran Canaria – and this week-long party certainly doesn’t mess about. It all goes on in Playa del Ingles, where Rio-style processions take to the streets. You’ll get comedy shows, drag queen competitions and some weird and wonderful costumes. You should pace yourself for the finale – a big all-nighter of music and dancing.

Tapas of the finest order is what you get at Banderas – and at some of the best prices in town. Order a selection of small dishes like spicy patatas bravas, a helping of chorizo, dates in blankets and Serrano ham. Most of the customers are Spanish, and they will all vouch for the quality here.

Along Boulevard El Faro, there’s a whole row of restaurants where you can eat al fresco with the lighthouse in view. You’ve got the choice of Chinese, Italian, Mexican, Asian, or Spanish food. If you do pick a local restaurant, expect tapas, seafood paella and great jugs of sangria. And don’t forget to order the Canarian papas arrugadas – wrinkly potatoes drizzled in Mojo sauce.

Maspalomas’s giant sand dunes make you think of the desert scenes from Lawrence of Arabia. So it’s fitting that a popular way of seeing them is on the back of a camel. You can book a camel ride from the western end of the beach. Afterwards, stop off at Maspalomas Lagoon, which borders the western edge of the dunes – it’s home to rare species of birdlife.

All the shops in Maspalomas are duty-free with some big names like Hugo Boss and Lacoste in the mix. There’s a cluster of boutiques along Boulevard El Faro, and if you head along the promenade from here you’ll get to the Varadero shopping centre where you can find reasonably-priced silver jewellery.

Maspalomas Gay Pride attracts a 50,000-strong contingent of rainbow flag-waving revellers. In both size and scope, this 10-day event gives Sydney Mardi Gras a run for its money. You’ve got tonnes of entertainment for people of all persuasions, including drag queen balls, a Eurovision song contest and a parade along the beach. Most of the action takes place at the Yumbo Centre in neighbouring Playa del Ingles.

At the western end of the beach, camels are saddled up ready for safaris along the dunes. It’s a bit of a Lawrence of Arabia moment as you ride through the desert landscape towards the lagoon and nature reserve here. A 20-minute trek costs around 9 euros, or you can pay 30 euros for a longer trip that gets you a visit to see baby camels, too.

You’ll need to get to Velero Casa Antonio early to bag one of the coveted sea-view tables. Menu-wise, fish takes pride of place. Try the sea bass or sea bream, served up with the famous Canarian mojo, a spicy sauce. Or go for the paella – it’s so big you won’t need a starter. To end your meal, a ron miel – honeyed rum – goes down rather nicely.

Over in Playa del Ingles, Alabama’s is a real hot spot for live music lovers. You’ll get some of the island’s best musicians turning up to play at this packed-out venue. And there’s a real mix of styles, so expect to hear jazz, soul, R’n’B, reggae and blues. You’ll find this popular spot tucked away in the central Plaza shopping centre.

The main shopping mall in Maspalomas is the 2-storey Faro 2, about a 20-minute walk up from the beach. It’s got a good stash of bijou boutiques and designer stores, plus plenty of places where you can stock up on duty-free goodies. Handily, there are kids’ playgrounds here so the little ones can run around while you run through your holiday fund. And you get Canarian dance shows to watch, too.

Right on the sand, and seconds away from the lighthouse, is this Irish bar where you can get a Guinness or a cocktail as the sun goes down. And if you’re keen to catch the big sporting events, they’re usually shown here on the big screen. At weekends, you get live music with plenty of opportunity to sing along.

Boomerang. Tornado. Kamikaze. No, not cocktails – they’re just 3 of the slides at this huge waterpark. With about 33 to get through, you’re looking at a day’s worth of fun here. Kids get their own area with slides and water games, and there are rubber rings for when you just want to lie back and relax. And you won’t go hungry – the park is studded with cafés and ice-cream kiosks.

In Maspalomas, the Holiday World complex takes on the night-time entertainment – it’s got its own pub, bar and disco. If you fancy striking out, though, a 25-minute walk gets you to neon-lit Playa del Ingles. You’ll get karaoke, theme pubs and live music – most of the action fires up at the Plaza de Maspalomas and the Kasbah shopping centre down near the beach.

There’s a great family atmosphere around Bar 1 and Bar 2, the sections nearest the lighthouse. The sand is immaculate and shelves gently into the sea, making it a safe swimming zone. Plus, there’s a roll call of watersports including wind-surfing and jet-skiing. For something a little more subdued, you can roll your towel out in the sand dunes, just behind the beach.