Located at the southern tip of Gran Canaria, Costa Meloneras is a small beach town clustered with Canarian Spanish Colonial Revival-style resorts. It centres around a popular stretch of sand that’s backed by a shopping mall and offers a convenient base for exploring the dunes and working lighthouse of Maspalomas.
Things to do in Costa Meloneras
Dominating the Costa Meloneras is Playa de Meloneras, a peaceful stretch of sand where you can rent sun loungers and umbrellas. It’s connected via a coastal promenade to the Faro de Maspalomas, a stone lighthouse that has been watching over the coast since the late 19th century. Occupying the lighthouse annex is an ethnographic museum focused on the history of Gran Canaria, with textiles, handicrafts and everyday objects on display.
Stretching from the Faro de Maspalomas to Playa del Ingles are the Maspalomas Dunes, which were protected as a nature reserve in 1987. Created millions of years ago by sand from a historic marine shelf, they offer a taste of the desert on the Canarian coast. Fringing the dunes is Playa de Maspalomas, which is one of Gran Canaria’s most popular beaches.
Keen golfers can enjoy a round at the Lopesan Meloneras Golf, an 18-hole championship course with picturesque views of Gran Canaria’s volcanic mountains. Designed by the renowned golf architect Ron Kirby, it features palm-lined fairways, a driving range and a well-stocked pro shop, while it’s also home to the Meloneras Golf Academy.
Getting around Costa Meloneras
Costa Meloneras is a five-minute drive from the centre of Maspalomas and 45 minutes from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Gran Canaria Airport is 25 minutes away and has flights to destinations across Europe. Buses connect to Costa Meloneras and the town is compact enough to explore on foot.