About this place
Dunas de Maspalomas is a nature reserve located on the island of Gran Canaria, in the Canary Islands, within the municipality of San Bartolomé de Tirajana. It sits at the very southern tip of the island, forming part of one of the most recognizable landscapes in the entire archipelago.
What kind of place is this?
The area holds the status of a partial nature reserve. This means the ecosystems found here are not placed under a total access ban but can instead be made available for specific purposes: scientific research, educational activities, recreation, and, in exceptional cases, traditional land use. This form of protection allows the preservation of unique natural features to coexist with the role the site plays for both residents and visitors.
Why was a reserve established here?
The location, on the southern cape of Gran Canaria, places the area within a zone of climatic and geographic conditions distinctive to this part of the island. It is precisely here, within the municipality of San Bartolomé de Tirajana, that authorities decided to place the land under protection, recognizing it as a space of particular natural value requiring management and oversight.
What is the nature of protection applied here?
Partial reserve status differs from a strict nature reserve — it does not mean the land is entirely excluded from human activity. Instead, it introduces a system of regulated access in which protecting the ecosystems remains the priority, while still allowing for their reasonable use. Science and education can draw on the area for observation and research, and visitors can use it for recreation, provided this takes place in line with the conservation rules that apply to the site.
Where exactly is this area located?
The geographic coordinates pointing to the area are approximately 27.74°N, 15.59°W, placing it in the south of Gran Canaria, within the administrative boundaries of the municipality of San Bartolomé de Tirajana — one of the island's local government units, to which this stretch of coastline and the adjoining land belongs.
Which authority administers this area?
Formally, the land falls under the municipality of San Bartolomé de Tirajana, meaning local government bodies take part in managing the space and enforcing the rules that come with its reserve status. This administrative affiliation has practical consequences — decisions about access, supporting infrastructure, and the coordination of scientific and educational activities carried out within the reserve are made at the municipal level.
Frequently asked questions
Can Dunas de Maspalomas be visited? Yes, the area is open to recreational use, since it holds partial rather than strict reserve status — access, however, is regulated by conservation rules.
How does a partial reserve differ from a strict nature reserve? A partial reserve allows the land to be used for scientific research, education, recreation, and, exceptionally, traditional use, while a strict reserve typically excludes such activity.
Where exactly is this area located? At the southern tip of Gran Canaria, within the municipality of San Bartolomé de Tirajana, in the Canary Islands.
Who administers this area? The area falls under the administrative authority of the municipality of San Bartolomé de Tirajana.
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