John Farrell; Feb 2009
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I recently had the misfortune to book a holiday on line,to the Dunaflor apts.A/I. In all my life I have never had worse food.It was absolute garbage.We were told that it was the first year they had done A/I and that they normally catered for the Germans.Well all I can
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Maspalomas, Gran Canaria © canaryforum.com |
Overview: Maspalomas is a popular holiday resort on the southern tip of
Gran Canaria, adjacent to the island's largest and most hectic
package-tour resort, Playa del Ingles. Maspalomas though, is the
quieter and more upmarket option sporting the best four-mile (6km)
stretch of golden, sandy beach on the island. Maspalomas is
separated from Playa del Ingles by a spectacular undulating sea of
sand dunes, a protected area that provide a habitat for some rare
species of flora and fauna, and a favourite haunt for nudists.
Along the Maspalomas waterfront the promenade, stretching to Playa
del Ingles, bristles with bars, shops, restaurants and
entertainment venues between luxury hotels and villas. Maspalomas
also boasts an exhilarating water park and nearby are numerous
other attractions like amusement parks, nature parks, a golf
course, an aquarium and theme parks. The resort has become a
favourite holiday destination for the gay community, with a
designated gay zone on the beach and in the sand dunes. The
resort's week-long Gay Pride festivities each May have become
world-renowned.
Shopping: The main shopping centre in Maspalomas is the Faro 2 complex,
full of designer stores and boutiques. The surrounding area is
crammed with shopping complexes of similar ilk, about a dozen in
all, the biggest and best known being the Yumbo Centre in
neighbouring Playa del Ingles.
Restaurants: Maspalomas cuisine is best experienced at Pizzerria Piz Paz,
Escalerita, El Palmeral or Velero Casa Antonio. Maspalomas has
restaurants aplenty, most very reasonably priced, offering a
variety of international cuisines. Many of the restaurants provide
live entertainment in the evenings and double as bars. Visitors can
enjoy live music or DJs while trying out a range of different foods
from pizza and pasta to Chinese, seafood and Tex-Mex.
Nightlife: On holiday in Maspalomas, it is a good idea to make sure you
join the locals in a traditional afternoon siesta in order to take
advantage of the nightlife, which is lively but sophisticated. The
holiday resort offers a plethora of entertaining bars with karaoke,
jazz, salsa, and live bands to spice things up, or theme pubs with
happy hours, like Irish or Californian surf spots. A good selection
of bars can be found in the Maspalomas Plaza.
There are a variety of clubs and discos, two popular dance spots
being found in the Holiday World amusement park. Most Maspalomas
nightclubs only get going after midnight, and offer free entry,
although drinks can be expensive. Those out for a real time on the
town, however, will prefer to head for neighbouring Playa del
Ingles where the hottest spots are, including the well-known Joy
and Cream clubs.
Activities: Those who prefer to do more than just laze on the Maspalomas
beach have plenty of options when it comes to watersports, either
above or below the surface, from paragliding to scuba diving. Enjoy
the thrilling Aquapark, the Holiday World amusement park, a theme
park centred on the reconstruction of an ancient Canary village, an
aquarium, zoo and many other diversions. It is also possible to
take excursions to various sightseeing attractions, like museums
and monuments or scenic spots inland, or a boat trip to view whales
and dolphins. A must for a Maspalomas holiday is a camel ride
through the famous dunes.
Negatives: The Maspalomas Dunes are a haven for naturists, so be prepared
to see plenty of naked bodies on the sand. The beach, particularly
the sunbed area, becomes extremely crowded during the height of the
summer holiday season.
Activities
Golf: There are four world-class golf courses on Gran Canaria. El
Cortijo and was home to the Spanish Open in 2002 and is just
outside Las Palmas. The Real Club de Golf is nearby in Bandama and
is Spain's oldest golf club, founded in 1891; it is closed to
non-members at weekends. The Maspalomas Club de Golf is located
close to the sand dunes within a nature reserve, while the newest
club, Salobre, is just 10 minutes drive east of Puerto Rico.
Camel rides: One of the most popular activities in the south of the island is
a ride around the Maspalomas Dunes on the back of a camel. The trip
usually lasts for around half an hour – the camels generally
carry two passengers and walk behind one another as part of a
‘caravan’. Although camels can gallop at up to 35mph
(56kph) they usually go at a more sedate pace. Camel rides can also
be enjoyed at Fataga.
Jeep Safaris: The most spectacular scenery on the island can be found within
the mountainous interior around Mount Tejeda. Jeep safaris take
visitors around this area which has been almost completely
untouched by tourism and offers wonderful views over rocky peaks,
alpine forests and scenic reservoirs. Full-day tours can be
organised in the resorts and leave most days of the week. Be aware
of the changeable weather - in winter it can be snowing in the
mountains while people soak up the sun on the beaches, up to
6,562ft (2,000m) below. Jeep safaris cost around €35 per
adult and €25 per child.
Boat Trips: Boat trips of all sorts can be arranged from the resorts. The
choice of boats is quite extensive, ranging from an all-day booze
cruise aboard a 350ft (107m) liner, to smaller cruisers, yachts,
catamarans and glass bottomed boats where visitors can take in the
marine life below. In addition to cruising around the coast many
boats drop anchor and offer swimming, snorkelling and banana boat
rides. Jet skis and parasailing can also be arranged. The highlight
of any cruise is usually the sight of dolphins playing around the
boat.
Big Game Fishing: Gran Canaria is one of the best spots in the world for big game
fishing and there are a number of companies competing for business.
While blue marlin are the most highly prized trophy fish there are
plenty of other species including white marlin, wahoo, dorado,
yellowfin tuna, and mako and hammerhead sharks. Regular catches of
blue marlin range from 331 to 496 pounds (150 to 225kg) with last
year's record standing at 794 pounds (360kg). Trips cost around
€45 including all equipment, but excluding lunch.