Maspalomas Holidays Guide: Beaches, Lighthouse and Sun
Provincia de Las Palmas · Canary Islands · Spain · 36,065 residents · on the coast
Maspalomas is a coastal town of around 36,000 people on the southern edge of Gran Canaria, sitting barely 32 metres above the sea. For British travellers its appeal is easy to explain: Gran Canaria airport, with direct flights from the United Kingdom, is about 17 miles away, and winter days still reach 23°C when home is grey and cold. The Maspalomas Botanical Garden is practically on the doorstep, the lighthouse and the beaches around Meloneras lie within 2 miles, and Palmitos Park and the open-air museum of Mundo Aborigen are a short drive inland. It suits families and couples looking for reliable sunshine, gentle sightseeing and a fortnight that asks little of them.
Why go
- Gran Canaria airport has direct UK flights and is roughly a 24-minute drive away.
- Winter highs of 23°C in January and February, with very little rain.
- Maspalomas Lighthouse and the beaches of Meloneras sit within about 2 miles of town.
Top sights in Maspalomas
Lighthouse, beaches and family days out
The best-known landmark is Maspalomas Lighthouse, about 2 miles from the centre, a natural focal point for an evening walk along the coast. Palmitos Park, roughly 5.5 miles away, is a zoo and garden that works well for a family day, while the Maspalomas Botanical Garden is right on the doorstep for a quieter hour among the plants.
For beaches, Meloneras and Playa de Meloneras are both around 2 miles off, with Playa de las Mujeres and Playa del Hornillo at a similar distance and Playa de las Carpinteras a little further at about 4 miles. Children will likely lobby for Aqualand Maspalomas, a waterpark under 2 miles away, and for a dose of island history the open-air museum of Mundo Aborigen lies about 3.7 miles from town.
Tours and tickets for the area can be booked directly from this page, with 114 activities currently listed.
1lighthouse
2botanical garden
3beach
5museum
10botanical garden
Aqualand Maspalomas
theme park · 2 miles from the centre
Playa de las Mujeres
beach · 2 miles from the centre
Playa de las Carpinteras
beach · 4 miles from the centre
Playa del Hornillo
beach · 2 miles from the centre
Playa de Meloneras
beach · 2 miles from the centre
Tours & tickets in Maspalomas
Guided tours, day trips and tickets in and around Maspalomas can be booked in advance, priced in GBP.
See tours & tickets (opens GetYourGuide in a new tab)Where to stay in Maspalomas
Choosing your base in Maspalomas
Maspalomas is a coastal town rather than a historic one, so the main decision is how close you want to be to the sand. Staying towards Meloneras puts you near the lighthouse and several beaches, all within about 2 miles of the centre, which suits couples who like an evening stroll by the sea.
Families may prefer to be nearer the waterpark and the botanical garden, keeping the day trips to Palmitos Park and Mundo Aborigen short. The page shows live hotel prices, so you can compare locations and dates side by side.
Hire a car
The easiest way to reach Maspalomas and the villages around it is a hire car from Gran Canaria (LPA), about 24 min away.
Best time to visit Maspalomas
When to go to Maspalomas
- 23°CJan5 mm
- 23°CFeb17 mm
- 25°CMar33 mm
- 26°CApr7 mm
- 25°CMay9 mm
- 26°CJun15 mm
- 31°CJul0 mm
- 33°CAug0 mm
- 27°CSept6 mm
- 28°COct12 mm
- 27°CNov29 mm
- 23°CDec15 mm
Highlighted months are the sweet spot for warm, dry weather.
Almost the whole year works here: every month except August counts among the most pleasant, from January through July and again from September to December. Winter is the strongest argument for a British holiday, with highs of around 23°C from December to February and nights rarely dipping below 15°C.
The heat builds in summer, peaking in August at around 33°C, with July close behind at 31°C; both months are completely dry. The wettest spells are March, with about 33 mm of rain, and November, with around 29 mm over five rainy days, though even these are modest by British standards.
Full monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 23°C | 17°C | 5 mm | 10 h |
| Feb | 23°C | 15°C | 17 mm | 10 h |
| Mar | 25°C | 17°C | 33 mm | 11 h |
| Apr | 26°C | 18°C | 7 mm | 12 h |
| May | 25°C | 18°C | 9 mm | 13 h |
| Jun | 26°C | 20°C | 15 mm | 13 h |
| Jul | 31°C | 23°C | 0 mm | 13 h |
| Aug | 33°C | 24°C | 0 mm | 12 h |
| Sept | 27°C | 20°C | 6 mm | 12 h |
| Oct | 28°C | 22°C | 12 mm | 11 h |
| Nov | 27°C | 20°C | 29 mm | 10 h |
| Dec | 23°C | 17°C | 15 mm | 9 h |
Averages 2015–2024. Highlighted months are the sweet spot for warm, dry weather.
Getting there from the UK
Flights and ferries to Maspalomas
Gran Canaria airport (LPA) is the gateway, with direct flights from the United Kingdom. It lies about 17 miles from Maspalomas, an estimated 24-minute drive, so car hire or a transfer gets you to the beach quickly after landing.
There is no practical drive from Calais, but ferries do link the island with mainland Spain. The port of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, about 29 miles away, has sailings to Huelva and Cádiz, as well as to Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Morro Jable and Arrecife within the Canaries. From Tenerife, Santa Cruz and Los Cristianos connect onwards to La Gomera, La Palma and El Hierro, handy for island-hopping.
By air
- Gran Canaria (LPA)17 miles, about 24 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
By car and ferry
Nearest ferry ports: Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (29 miles), Santa Cruz de Tenerife (63 miles), Los Cristianos (72 miles).
Maspalomas is good for
Around Maspalomas
Day trips across Gran Canaria
The closest neighbours are Vecindario, Santa Lucía and San Bartolomé de Tirajana, each about 11 miles away, with Mogán at roughly 12 miles and Agüimes at around 13 miles.
For a change of scenery from the coast, head inland to Tejeda, a small place of about 2,300 people some 16 miles off, or to Valsequillo de Gran Canaria and Vega de San Mateo, both about 17 miles from Maspalomas.
Tips from Robin
Practical tips for your stay
August is the one month outside the most pleasant list, with highs of 33°C and no rain at all, so plan beach time for mornings and late afternoons, and keep water to hand at Aqualand or Palmitos Park.
Bring a light layer for winter evenings: lows sit around 15°C to 17°C from December to March. And with the airport only about 24 minutes away, a short break is realistic, not just a fortnight.
Questions people ask
How far is Maspalomas from Gran Canaria airport?
Gran Canaria airport (LPA) is about 17 miles from Maspalomas, an estimated 24-minute drive. The airport has direct flights from the United Kingdom, so the journey from landing to the beach is short by car hire or transfer.
Is Maspalomas warm in winter?
Yes. Highs reach around 23°C in December, January and February, with lows of 15°C to 17°C. January sees only about one rainy day, which makes Maspalomas a popular choice for British travellers escaping the winter.
What is the hottest month in Maspalomas?
August is the hottest, with highs of around 33°C and no recorded rain, followed by July at about 31°C. It is the only month not listed among the most pleasant, so families may prefer June or September.
Is Maspalomas good for a family holiday?
It suits families well. Aqualand Maspalomas waterpark is under 2 miles away, Palmitos Park zoo is about 5.5 miles away, and several beaches, including Playa de las Mujeres and Playa de Meloneras, lie around 2 miles from town.
Can I take a ferry from Gran Canaria to other islands?
Yes. The port of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, about 29 miles from Maspalomas, has sailings to Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Morro Jable and Arrecife, plus mainland routes to Huelva and Cádiz.
When does it rain most in Maspalomas?
March is the wettest month, with around 33 mm of rain, followed by November at about 29 mm over five rainy days. Even then, rainfall is light, and July and August are completely dry.