Maspalomas is situated on the southern coast of the island of Gran Canaria. The resort is separated from the beach by spectacular sand dunes which cover an area of around 400 hectares. Reminiscent of the Sahara desert, these dunes provide a vivid reminder of just how close Gran Canaria is to the coast of Africa. This vast expanse of undulating sand has been declared a protected natural area due to the rare plants and animals, including rabbits and lizards, which manage to survive in this arid environment. Many visitors to Maspalomas opt for a memorable camel ride across the dunes.
Maspalamos is quite an up market resort with several luxurious homes and some high-quality hotels. It is generally more family-friendly than nearby Playa del Ingles. Bordering the western edge of the dunes is the lagoon of La Charca, which provides a valuable stopping off point for migratory birds. Next to La Charca is the aptly-named district of El Oasis which has several trendy hotels. The 65-metre high Faro de Maspalamos lighthouse, which was built in the late 19th century, is situated here. Maspalomas boasts an 18-hole golf course, designed by Mackenzie Ross, which is flat and with long and wide fairways. Practice facilities such as a putting green, driving range and pitching green are also available.
There is a commercial centre in the resort, Faro 2, which has several boutique-style designer shops. Maspalamos also has several bars, discos and nightclubs, plus a variety of places to eat including fast-food outlets, pizzerias and traditional fish restaurants.
Maspalomas boasts a lovely beach of fine sand backed by the huge dunes. It stretches for about 4 miles (6km) in total so there are plenty of secluded spots along its length. The quieter parts of the Maspalomas beach are often frequented by naturists and members of the gay community, while the section near the Faro lighthouse is popular with families. To the east is the busy resort of Playa del Ingles which boasts some excellent facilities.
Just outside Maspalamos is Palmitos Park, one of the most popular family attractions on Gran Canaria. This tropical oasis is home to a diversity of animals, including crocodiles, gibbons, butterflies and around 200 species of bird. There are many highlights, including the birds of prey displays featuring peregrine falcons, eagles and owls. Another crowd-pleaser is the parrot shows during which you get to see these colourful birds performing a range of tricks. Palmitos Park also boasts the largest butterfly house in Europe, plus an aquarium housing an impressive array of salt and fresh water fish. Other attractions within the park include the Orchid House, Cactus Garden and Gibbon Island. Behind all of this is a serious conservation program which helps to protect several endangered species.
The largest water park on Gran Canaria is also situated close to Maspalamos. Aquasur boasts dozens of rides and attractions, with names such as Congo River, Rapids, Kamikaze, Twister, Surf Beach, Aquamania, Adrenalina, Mamut and Crazy River. There is also mini-golf course, Polinesia Park, swimming pools for adults and children, restaurants, cafes and a large garden area. Aquasur is open all year round.
Mijas is the Costa del Sol's largest municipality consisting of three main parts; Mijas Pueblo, Mijas Costa and Las Lagunas. Mijas Pueblo is situated around 4 miles (6km) inland and about 430 metres above sea level. Popular with day trippers and coach parties, this attractive whitewashed village offers some fantastic views of the coast. Donkey taxis are available if you fancy a leisurely tour of this traditional pueblo.
Mijas Pueblo has a number of attractions, including the unusual Carramoto de Max. This museum houses a diverse collection of extremely small objects, such as a picture of Abraham Lincoln on a pinhead, or the Lord's Prayer written on the side of a playing card. Close by is the grotto of the Virgen de la Pena carved out of the rock by monks in the 17th century. If you want a better understanding of the traditional way of life in Mijas, the municipal museum (Casa Museo) by the Plaza de la Libertad is well worth visiting. It tells the story of the post-war 'years of hunger' when the local community was close to starvation and often had to survive on soup made from grass. The museum also has a collection of farming implements and machinery used in the production of olive oil. Mijas Pueblo has an attractive bullring (Plaza de Toros) which is home to a small museum of bullfighting memorabilia.
Mijas Costa is the name given to the municipality's long stretch of coastline (about 7 miles or 12km in total) between Marbella and Fuengirola. About halfway along is the little village of La Cala de Mijas which has an attractive sheltered beach plus several good bars and restaurants. La Cala is the venue for the popular street market which is held on Wednesdays and Saturdays. There are several large urbanisations dotted along the N340 coast road through Mijas Costa, including Miraflores, Riviera del Sol and Calahonda.
The commercial district of Las Lagunas is more or less an extension of the neighbouring resort of Fuengirola. There is not much of note here, with the exception of the Parque Aqua Mijas. Situated alongside the Fuengirola bypass, this water park is an ideal family attraction complete with water slides, paddling pools, jacuzzis and the Adventure River ride. There is also mini-golf and a rock climbing area for children. Parque Aqua Mijas is open from the end of April to the end of September. From mid-June onwards there are daily aerobics sessions and music shows.
There are plenty of golf courses in the area, most notably the La Cala Golf Resort, founded in 1991, which boasts three 18-hole courses plus a David Leadbetter Academy. Other venues include Mijas Golf, with two 18-hole courses, and the recently opened Calanova Golf. Mijas also boasts a horse racing circuit known as El Hipodromo Costa del Sol. There are regular evening race meetings held at the circuit throughout the summer months, and it has also been used as a venue for pop concerts.
The Portillo Company operates bus services from Mijas Pueblo to Fuengirola, Benalmadena and Torremolinos, as well as inland to Alhuarin and Coin. Portillo also runs the coastal service between Marbella and Fuengirola which stops throughout Mijas Costa.
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