Looking like the Sahara washed up in the middle of the Atlantic, the breathtaking, towering golden dunes of this beach are a major attraction in themselves, in addition to the excellent sandy beaches that line their outskirts. The beach is on the

(+) More

Looking like the Sahara washed up in the middle of the Atlantic, the breathtaking, towering golden dunes of this beach are a major attraction in themselves, in addition to the excellent sandy beaches that line their outskirts. The beach is on the southern fringe of Gran Canaria Island, and tourists from all over Europe make the daily pilgrimage along the sandy trails to find little snack kiosks and chaise longues on the beach itself, or simply stop halfway through the dunes to plunk down and sunbathe au natural. The rolling dunes are dotted with arid foliage, and the beaches are numbered (Beach #7 is the gay beach, for instance). It's a popular beach area but is rarely overly crowded, and the main tourist town of Maspalomas is a hop, a skip, and a jump away.

(-) Close