Gay Gran Canaria - Gay Playa del Ingles

Maspalomas Sand dunes

The Maspalomas Sand dunes are world famous in gay circles. The dunes are a popular cruising and nude sun bathing area check out the bushes, tree areas and the tops of larger dunes.

 

The dunes are patrolled by the police, some on quad bikes or jeeps. The police are there to ensure the safety of the tourists, gay or straight, and are very broad minded. 

Routes through the dunes

Routes through the dunes are marked by wooden poles with coloured bands near the top of the pole to indicate the route you are on. Many of the poles have black bin liners for your rubbish.

• Red route
• Blue route
• Yellow route

Gay and nudist beaches

Bar Kiosk 7 Gay

 

The Gay Beach is Roughly mid way between the south east headland point of Maspalomas Dunes and the Maspalomas lighthouse, where the cafe bar kiosk number 7 is located.

 

The nudist beach is at Number 6 kiosk and the gay beach is at number 7 kiosk. 

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Nearer towards Playa del Ingles, beyond the headland point is the Nude beach

 

he kiosks sell refreshments and both alcholic and non alcholic drinks.

Sun beds and parasols are available to hire.

 

How to get there

You can join the mass of tourist who walk along the sea edge  from either Playa del Ingles or Maspalomas until you reach the required kiosk.

 

Most gays will have obtained accommodation near to either the Yumbo centre or the Cita centre, there fore walk down the main drag Avda. de Tirajana that runs past both centres to the Hotel Riu Palace Maspalomas and go through the large arched entrance, along to the end of a short lane. From this highish vantage point note the direction of the sea, the Maspalomas lighthouse, the Riu Palace now behind you the hills on your right. You can use these to help you in finding your direction through the dunes. The main track, the blue route, heading toward the dunes also leads towards the gay beach located at bar 7.  If its your first trip  you might like to head more to the left to the sea then turn right to you reach the bar / cafe number 7. 

 

See also our Maspalomas Sand Dunes page

 

On your way back from the dunes

Some very popular places to stop for some refreshment

• Riu Palace Terrace
  Nice spot to watch the the sunset
• the Cita Centre and the Cafe Wien (In winter) on the upper level
  
  

Gay bars, gay pubs and gay nightclubs

The gay nightlife in gay Playa del Ingles starts out much later than in the UK and goes throughout the night to around 5 weekdays and 6am weekends. 

 

Most gay tourists will either eat in there hotel if on half board, or in one of the gay or straight restaurants if on a self catering holiday from 8pm onwards. 

 

The very early drinkers will head to the gay bars and pubs at around 8pm, but most people start around 10.  You will find that each bar, pub or disco has a time slot when that establishment is popular and busy.  Often this evolves around the "show" time.

 

The gay bars, gay pubs and gay nightclubs are mainly located in 2 large Commercial Centres and on the main road, Avenida de Tirajana between the 2 shopping centres

• Yumbo centre
• Cita centre.

These 2 centres of gay excellence are approximately 10 minute walk apart. Both located to the right side of the main dual carriageway Avda. de Tirajana as you walk uphill. You will also find a few gay bars on the left as you walk from Cita to Yumbo

 

The Yumbo is the more famous of the 2 and has far more gay establishments, but there appeard to be a slow migration of bars etc to the Cita. Rumours say that this could be due to the rents charged in the Yumbo, and or, that the Yumbo is due for redevelopment, which will mean the closing of sections of it while this takes place.  This trend now apears to have stopped, probably due to the fact that the Cita centre did not attract the crowds, except for the late afternoon session at the Wien Cafe

 

It appears that out of the main winter season the gay scene in the CC Cita is fairly dead.

 

Click for Gay Yumbo nightlife   and Gay Cita nightlife

 

These 2 centres are only 10 minute walk apart, but if you need an inbetween watering hole then try the:

 

• Detox Retox is a beautiful gay bar, modern yet comfortable, where the “in” crowd come to meet friends, nicely situated between the Yumbo and Cita centres in the Tenesor apartment block on the main Avenida de Tirajana

Gay friendly hotels and apartments

Playa del Ingles

 

Barbados apartments I & II

Iguazu apartments

Hotel Neptuno

Hotel Eugenia Victoria

Hotel Buenaventura

Hotel Catarina

 

Maspalomas

 

 

  Hotel Gran Costa Meloneras    Gran Hotel Villa Del Conde    

 

The following are available from respect holidays

Respect Los Almendros  

Las Walkirias apartments

Tenesor apartments

Villas Blancas  Campo de Golf 

Gay Saunas

 

Heros Sauna

A gay sauna in the heart of the gay scene in the infamous Yumbo shopping centre

• Air Conditioning
• Bar and Cafe
• Broadndband Internet
• Chill Out Lounge
• Huge Whirlpool
• LCD Screens
• Masseur
• Private Cabins - Free in Heros
• Sauna
• Shower Wall - Cruisy or Private Showers
• Turkish Steam Bath

Level 4 Yumbo Centre

Construction Gay Steam Sauna

Sauna, whirlpool, videos, darkroom, drinks, snacks. 4pm - 4am??

Cita Centre Underground level

Sauna Nilo

Largest sauna in Gran Canaria, popular with the locals. Note that Private rest rooms are at an extra charge  8on the .00pm - 2.00am ?  The Nilo centre is located at the back of the resort on the opposite side of the Autopista main road to the gay friendly Hotel Eugenia Victoria

Nilo Centre

Gay Magazine

GAYumbo a free monthly colour magazine in English and German. Mainly has information about the Yumbo centre but also covers the Gran Canaria gay scene.  Obtainable in many of the gay venues.

Gay Restaurants

See also:  Yumbo centre   and  Cita centre

Amigos, Respect Almendros apartments, Opposite Cita Centre

Cabo Mayor

El Senador

Rimini