Maspalomas, Golden sand beach in San Bartolomé de Tirajana, Spain.

Maspalomas stretches for 2710 meters along the southern coast of Gran Canaria with wide stretches of golden sand and clear blue water. The beach holds a Blue Flag certification and has parking, restaurants, showers, sunbeds, and accessible facilities for visitors with mobility needs.

The Maspalomas lighthouse was built starting in 1861 and marked the beginning of navigation support for trade routes between Europe, Africa, and America in this region. This construction was a turning point for coastal safety and navigation along this busy shipping lane.

Nudism has been part of Maspalomas since the 1970s, when the first visitors settled among the dunes; the practice is tolerated rather than officially regulated. Today the naturist stretch lies east of the lighthouse, around the beach bars known as kiosks 4 to 7, where signs mark the boundary. Outside that strip, swimwear is expected.

The beach is located on the southern coast and easy to reach with ample parking nearby. Visitors should arrive early to get the best choice of sunbed and umbrella spots, especially during peak travel seasons.

The reserve's 404 hectares were declared a protected natural area in 1994. The Charca lagoon, separated from the sea by a sandbar, is a stopover for migratory birds such as grey herons and egrets. The palm grove of about 300 Canary Island date palms stands at the oasis of Maspalomas, fed by water from the ravine.