Maspalomas Gay Travel
If you haven’t been, Maspalomas may not be what you expect! Learn why in this Maspalomas gay travel guide. A completely gay resort town, there is no safer space than Gran Canaria.
The Gay Travel Experience: Maspalomas, Gran Canaria
Strangers run up to each other on the gay beach in Maspalomas making jokes and laughing under the island sun; people in Maspalomas embody every sense of the word carefree. There are actually two Maspalomas gay pride events each year. These fabulous festivals draw many thousands of people from all over the world.
I visited for Maspalomas Winter Pride 2018, which takes place in early November. My time spent on this majestic island was short, but it was a time I’ll never forget.
I made more gay friends during my visit to Gran Canaria than any other destination or gay pride that I’ve been to. Since then, these friends have turned into long-term buddies and travel partners! Whats more, Maspalomas pride is by far the friendliest gay event I’ve been to.
Gay vacationers in Maspalomas are talkative and quite outgoing! There are fewer groups of men who are closed off to making new friends. It was such a nice change from the usual type of gay pride! Maspalomas is a top gay vacation destination for Europeans, especially Germans, Spaniards and the French.
Gran Canaria is the largest of the Canary Islands. You will surely find rainbow flags and gay resorts everywhere. Take note that Maspalomas is a town completely occupied by tourists; there are not too many local Spaniards to be found. More on this below.
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Is Gran Canaria Spanish Speaking?
Many travel newbies assume that because Maspalomas is the largest Canary Island and because it is occupied by Spain, that there must be a ton of local Spanish life around. This is not exactly the case.
Spanish is the official language of the Spanish Canary Islands, but aside from that, there really is not much “Spanish culture” per se.
This is simply because the island mainly caters to tourists. Many more locals from the Canary Islands are found on other nearby islands, but not so much in Gran Canaria/Maspalomas. Nonetheless, the atmosphere is gorgeous and you have to see the dunes! Your fellow maspalomas gay travel buddies are bound to be on the friendly side, too.
Gay Maspalomas: Where to Stay
The three most important considerations for booking Airbnbs or hotels in Maspalomas are proximity to Yumbo Centre, proximity to beaches and availability of a private/community pool. Taxis are plentiful and cheap, but it’s much more convenient to be able to walk to some destinations like the town center.
Playa del Inglés is the main gay area of Maspalomas and many prefer to stay here. Life revolves around Yumbo Centre since all the bars and restaurants are nearby.
If you are visiting for a pride event, it is all the more desirable to be as close to this area as you can. If you’re not too concerned with the gay parties/bars, then there are plenty of large luxury hotels south of Playa del Inglés as well.
Accommodation types in Maspalomas are typically resort/bungalow style rentals and chic hotels. Airbnb’s also exist, but they don’t seem as popular given that hotels are already pretty inexpensive.
I stayed at Eó Maspalomas Resort. It’s a bare-bones accommodation that is only a three to four-euro cab ride away from Yumbo Centre. Having the swimming pool and personal patio made my stay very relaxing. It was also a great layout for sharing a space with a friend.
Maspalomas Gay Travel Experiences
I’ve already mentioned Yumbo Centre, the hub of all nightlife. But, let me tell you a few more things about it. Firstly, the center is sort of like a “New Orleans Bourbon Street meets Bangkok’s gay district.” It’s a ton of fun with people sitting outside at tables and walking around with drinks in their hands. Physically it is not pretty, it’s just a spot to get wild!
Also, the setup of Yumbo Centre is sort of “walled-in.” Everything faces inward, which I love, so you enter through various stairwells and passageways. Check out some photos on Google if you’re curious.
High-end restaurants are mostly within the nicer hotels and resorts. Food is decently cheap here in the Canaries, but the convenience stores are not. It’s a good bet to simply eat out. Not too far from Yumbo, there are a couple run-of-the-mill Chinese and Indian restaurants for a quick snack.
Maspalomas Gay Beaches & The Dunes
Now for Las Dunas de Maspalomas! I’m sure you’ve heard about and seen many photos of these dunes! Spectacularly scenic, do not leave the island without walking through them. Head toward the Maspalomas gay beach and take tons of photos. Watch out for a few areas that have cacti, as the little burrs can hurt and be hard to pull out!
There are two points from which you can approach the Maspalomas gay beach, called Kiosco Beach Number 7. If you prefer a route walking along the shore, grab a Taxi to Plaza del Faro and walk east. You will pass various pockets of areas with beach chairs.
If you prefer a little hike through the dunes (a little steeper but nothing crazy), go directly to the main entrance of the dunes which is due south of Playa del Inglés. The beach is downhill from this point, so it is definitely easier to walk from Playa del Inglés and stroll the shore back.
The beaches in Maspalomas are beautiful, and the water is warm enough to swim in most of the year. Most people don’t swim during the coldest couple months since drying off can be chilly.
At Kiosco Beach Number 7 gay beach, the lounge chairs are free, but most people just spread out on the sand. There is a small cash-only bar as well (Canary Islands are part of Spain so Euros it is!)
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There are so many gay bars and clubs in Maspalomas to choose from in Yumbo Centre. One of my favorites is Mykonos Bar, which has a terrace right outside. I love it for the best indoor-outdoor feel. Otherwise, most of the fun is just exploring the dozens of wide-open terraces and cabaret bars with thousands of gay men packed in!
If you are visiting for a gay pride, the crowd drastically changes around midnight. Earlier in the night there is less of a dance scene. This segment of the night is more so attended by an older European crowd.
Hang around a little later and things get wild with a primarily 25 to 35-year old crowd! If you’re interested in a little more “fun” after some dancing, Bunker is the main Maspalomas gay sauna and cruise bar with a darkroom basement. They charge a cover at the door of about ten Euro.
During Maspalomas pride events, there will be a couple of “official” parties put on by the committee itself. I had an absolute blast at the T-dance. This party was in an indoor-outdoor bar overlooking the ocean at Playa de las Meloneras.
The music was great and people were fun, so if an event like this is happening during your visit, check it out.
Gay Events in Maspalomas
Since Maspalomas is a huge gay holiday destination in Europe, the island holds many gay events every year. Aside from Maspalomas Pride, there are several themed gay holiday weekends on the largest canary island. First I’ll discuss Maspalomas Pride weeks, and then I’ll mention some other fun gay party weekends.
When is Maspalomas Pride?
Remember that Maspalomas has a regular gay pride and also a winter pride each year. The general pride is in May, conveniently scheduled way before pride season ramps up in the rest of Europe. Maspalomas Winter Pride is help every November.
For specific dates, check out the Maspalomas Pride Official Website. Here you can also learn about the general event schedule and prices for tickets. Maspalomas Pride 2020 tickets are already on sale!
Here’s some footage of the Meloneras Beach dance party from Maspalomas Winter Pride in 2018!
Be cautious when looking at the official Maspalomas Pride events because some of them are quite far from Playa del Inglés, which is the top place to stay during Maspalomas Pride. I purchased one ticket to a beach party but it was so far away we decided not to go!
Bear Carnival Maspalomas
Bear Carnival Week is another super popular gay festival in Maspalomas. In 2020, Bear Carnival will be March 20-29. There is an entire week of scheduled events, but the main party weekend is March 27th to 29th.
Check out the official Bear Carnival Maspalomas Website to learn more. Toga parties, spa sessions, speed dating and more!
Bear Carnival is branded as Europe’s biggest bear event. At the start of the event, there is a welcome barbecue and a neon-beard party at night. During the rest of the week, there are kiki dress events and sex parties at the maspalomas gay sauna. Here is more on the Program for Bear Carnival 2020.
Fetish Week Maspalomas
Although I’ve never been, I would love to go to Maspalomas Gay Fetish Week. The photos from past events look great. Many of the gay resorts will participate in the overall fetish week themes.
In 2020, Maspalomas Fetish Week will be from October 2-11. All the proceeds go to a local HIV/AIDS charity. Learn more about Maspalomas Fetish Week Official Website.
Gran Canaria Summer Fiesta Events
With events all throughout August, there’s no excuse to miss Maspalomas Summer Fiesta! The end-of-summer gay event program starts on August 1st and finishes up on August 31st. Summer Fiesta Maspalomas has literally everything from wine tastings and free scuba experiences to their famous “Please Disturb” cruising party.
Check out the Maspalomas Summer Fiesta Official Website to see the dozens of August 2020 Maspalomas events and gay parties.
Maspalomas Gay Travel Tips
Taxi cabs in Maspalomas are trustworthy. Of all the taxis I took, none of them tried to rip me off. They are extremely cheap as well. Most don’t speak much, if any English. It’s best to know the name of the road where you are going if your accommodation isn’t well known. These guys are honest, so tip them well!
Many travelers feel much more at ease booking travel to unfamiliar countries when they insure their trip. Let Travelex Insurance protect your trip investment starting at $20!
There is a public bus directly from the airport that lets out at Yumbo Centre. It is only three euros or so, a much better deal than a 50-euro cab ride. Playa del Inglés is not near the airport, so the bus is definitely worth it. You can grab a cab locally once it lets out at Yumbo.
I have a few friends who decided to take a day trip around the island by car to check out the beautiful landscapes. If you have the time, this may be of interest to you. I personally stayed in central Maspalomas the entire time. However, there truly is much more to see on the largest Canary Island.
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