Reserva Natural Especial de las Dunas de Maspalomas

The reserve protects a living dune system of around 400 hectares, that is, a sand field that the wind reshapes continuously into crests and hollows. It is neither a beach nor a viewpoint but a nature reserve with its own protection status, so the interest is ecological and geomorphological before it is recreational. At the western edge lies the lagoon of La Charca, a brackish body of water that completes the mosaic of habitats. That contrast of shifting sand next to standing water is what makes the site unusual in a European context.

The visit is made from the edges of the system and along the walkways and routes provided, without cutting across the interior of the dunes. The reason is straightforward: foot traffic compacts the sand and destroys the vegetation that holds the system in place, which is exactly what is being protected. Sun and wind are constant and there is no shade inside the dune field, so water, a hat and closed shoes make the difference. The first and last hours of daylight are also the best for reading the relief, because the contrast draws out the crests.