Historically, the Canary Islands offered a sense of freedom for gay men far before homosexuality was decriminalized in Spain. Thanks to their distance from the Catholic mainland and their evolving reputation, Gran Canaria quickly became and remains one of the world’s most beloved destinations for LGBTQ+ travelers, specifically gay men. This Gran Canaria Gay Cruising Guide offers our first-hand insights and practical tips on how to cruise safely and joyfully across the island. From Maspalomas Dunes to the infamous Yumbo Center and gay men-only hotels, with our Couple of Men guide, you can make the most of your clothing-optional gay vacation in Gran Canaria.
This freedom, on the most basic of levels, has always been intrinsically linked to the idea of sexual freedom, and of course, gay cruising. These ideas still permeate the island today, making Gran Canaria a great destination for cruising, sexual liberation, and its connection to nature. Rather than being confined to a small area, cruising in Gran Canaria can take many forms. Sandy beaches with towering dunes and its gay-focussed businesses, including bars, clubs, and gay men-only hotels in Gran Canaria, provide many opportunities for meeting and exploring.
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Find gay beaches with our Gran Canaria Gay Cruising Guide
Much like other gay beaches around the world, the Maspalomas gay beach isn’t right off the road: you’ve got to earn it. You can start your journey at various points, from the southwest through the Hotel Riu Palace Oasis, from the northwest by the parking lot of Aparcamiento Camellos Maspalomas, where you can enter the nature reserve of Playa de Maspalomas. From the east, you start your dune trek through the Hotel Riu Palace Maspalomas. Following the winding sand trails, you’ll quickly feel immersed in nature, surrounded by rolling dunes and sun-soaked hills. From either side, it’s not a very long journey; however, the final destination depends on your preferences.
Make sure you have enough sun protection and water with you, because the likelihood that you’ll stick around the dunes for a bit longer is relatively high. In between the dunes and the bushes throughout your trek, you’ll run into a good number of men shielding themselves from the scorching sun, hoping that a passerby will stop and take a rest with them.
Quick tips for the hike through the dunes:
- Bring water and plenty of sunscreen
- Wear fitting flip-flops or sandals that are easy to shake sand from
- Follow the foot traffic or use your phone’s GPS to stay oriented
You can see any number of things going on in the dunes, where alluring looks often turn into exciting encounters. Whether you decide to stick around for a while or not, the heat will make the call of the ocean sweeter as time goes by.
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Cruising in the dunes of Playa de Maspalomas
The Playa de Maspalomas dunes are famous not just for their beauty but for their liberating, sex-positive atmosphere. As you approach the dunes, you’ll notice small groups of men shielding themselves from the sun in the bushy crevices.
While the area is welcoming and relaxed, it’s important to remember:
- Not all men are cruising and ask for consent: read the vibe before approaching
- Always practice safe and respectful behavior (there are non-gay vacationers around)
- Keep valuables safe; bring only necessary items
- Avoid leaving trash behind: take with you what you brought to the dunes
- Respect local customs, laws, and environmental restrictions
The area is known for spontaneous, consensual encounters, often initiated through subtle eye contact or body language. This unique space celebrates freedom and connection, making it a truly special place in Europe’s queer landscape.
Before you go cruising: Our Cruising Essentials Checklist
- Water bottle: For drinking and cleaning yourself!
- Sunscreen: You are traveling in Spain, after all!
- Flip-flops or easy sandals: the sand can get hot!
- A small towel or sarong: To protect and clean yourself.
- Condoms and lubricant: Protect yourself and others.
- Discreet, sealable bag: For your most essential valuables
Read more: Gay cruising tips: A practical, safe & respectful guide for men who love men
Which gay beach in Gran Canaria meets your style?
Starting from the east, walk along the seafront. After a while, you will arrive at Gran Canaria’s Swingers Nudist Beach, located at the Playa de Maspalomas, where you can rent one of the iconic orange sunbeds and umbrellas (or not if that’s not your thing) at Kiosko 4. This beach is also known by its local nickname, FKK Bude 4, one of Europe’s most iconic gay nude beaches.
Kiosko Beach: Gay Beach between FKK Bude 6 to 7
But this is just the beginning… Continue your walk along the beach, and after a while, you will reach two kiosks, numbered 6 (formerly numbered 5) and 7. Here is where most of the gays meet, relax, sunbathe, and have fun. Take off your clothes, and bask in the freedom and liberty of being one with the elements with no textile barrier between you and the world. See and be seen by a diverse crowd of locals and visitors from across Europe and the world. You’ll hear an eclectic mix of languages with a high likelihood of Spanish, German, English, Dutch, and French.
At the kiosks, you’ll be able to buy refreshments and small snacks to get you through the day. You can rent a sunbed and umbrellas in front of either kiosk. They accept cash or card payment at the beach. Behind kiosk 7 are two toilets that guests can use at no charge. Or all you need for a beach day, including a blanket, beach towels, or a sun-protecting beach tent, and find a free spot in front of the sunbeds directly by the waterfront. The beach is a great place to meet other travelers, whether for romantic reasons or to form a group to go out with later.
What to expect at the gay beach in Maspalomas, Gran Canaria:
- A mix of locals and international LGBTQ+ travelers
- Conversations in Spanish, German, Dutch, English, and French
- Nudism is encouraged but not required
- A relaxed, friendly vibe all day long
The atmosphere is relaxed, fun, and friendly, and nudism is taken seriously. While there is no requirement to be nude, it is definitely an experience to have had. There is generally no sex going on at the beachfront itself, but it’s easy to leave your stuff behind on your sunbed and venture out to the dunes a couple of times. Keep in mind, however, that amidst this bastion of freedom and sexuality, not everyone is well-intentioned. Keep your most essential belongings with you, and ensure you don’t leave any trash behind in the dunes!
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Gay nightlife & cruising at Yumbo Center in Maspalomas
After a long day at the beach and some rest in your hotel, you probably feel anxious about going out again. After only seeing naked men for the whole day, throw on a cute outfit and head to one of the most fascinatingly bizarre gay places in Europe: Yumbo Center. By day, the Yumbo Center is little more than a semi-abandoned strip mall, with touristy shops selling inflatables and knockoff t-shirts. Who would ever go to a place like this – and why isn’t it in a gay guide? After the sun sets, the answer to this question will become clear, as vendors start taking their display racks inside and closing up their shops. Other businesses pull out their rainbow flags and turn on the red lights in their back rooms. At night, Yumbo Center becomes a bustling chaos of sights and sounds.
The best gay bars of Maspalomas
With a seemingly endless number of gay bars targeting every type of crowd, there is something for everyone. If you’re having a mild night, hang out at Buddies or Adonis. If you want to mingle with some gay bears, visit Tom’s Bar or Bärenhöhle. If you didn’t get enough action in the dunes throughout the day, however, you can go on to one of the many cruise clubs, appropriately named things like Bunker, The Box, or Strong Construction Men’s Cruising Bar (yes, really!). If you’re still unsatisfied at the end of the night, there’s a significant chance you’ll end up at The Factory, the largest men-only cruising bar at the Yumbo Center, which spans over 300 square meters on two floors.
Our favorite gay bars & cruising clubs in Yumbo Center:
- Toms Bar Maspalomas: Leather and bears
- Buddies & Adonis: Chill vibes and friendly drinks
- Bärenhöhle: Gay bears and their admirers
- The Box / The Bunker: Intimate cruising venues
- Strong Construction Men’s Bar: Leather and industrial vibes
- The Factory: The largest cruise bar at Yumbo
Because everything is so close to each other in Yumbo, bar hopping is easy (however, some bars will have a minimum spend policy). What bar is busy and with which type of men is very dependent on the season and time of night you’re visiting. Take a look around and see what catches your fancy. Whether you’re socializing or searching for after-dark fun, there’s always a crowd for every taste.
Gay Cruising Guides
Together with our dear friend and Gay Cruising Culture expert John, we are showing you the best cruising places of gay-friendly travel destinations worldwide. How to find gay cruising hot spots? How to do gay cruising? Is gay cruising legal ion my gaycation?
Gay Cruising Hotels Gran Canaria
Tiring days in the scorching sun and long nights at Yumbo can become overwhelming – it’s your vacation, after all. Luckily, gay tourism is so embedded into Gran Canaria that you won’t even have to leave your hotel to meet some nice guys (and find some action). Maspalomas has numerous gay-oriented and men-only hotels in which poolside relaxing can quickly lead to having some visitors over in your room.
Gay-focussed, but not gay-exclusive hotels, from known brands such as Axel Beach Maspalomas have a definite cruising vibe going on, especially with their “Do (Not) Disturb” door hangers, and their very intimate small steam room. As these hotels are not gay exclusive, however, confused straight tourists who buy non-refundable rooms through deal sites are often mixed in, possibly leading to awkward encounters.
Other accommodations, such as Club Torso, Rainbow Bungalows, and Seven Hotel & Wellness overcome these sorts of challenges by clearly establishing themselves as ‘gay men only’. Depending on the hotel, there will be formally designated cruising areas, either around the pool or the sauna, or regions in which cruising and sex are tolerated by staff. In any case, there is no shortage of accommodations regardless if you’re an experienced cruiser or would like to ogle some cocks at the poolside. Gay Cruising on Gran Canaria: Maspalomas has it all.
Beyond cruising: What else to do on Gran Canaria?
While cruising might be a significant draw, Gran Canaria offers so much more. The island’s natural beauty is breathtaking, featuring mountainous hiking trails, coastal viewpoints, and national parks. Don’t skip a visit to Las Palmas, the island’s capital, where history, shopping, and culinary delights come together. Soaking in the sunshine, diving into Spanish cuisine, or exploring the island’s LGBTQ+ heritage: Gran Canaria is worth every minute.
Guide for Gay Cruising in Maspalomas on Gran Canaria
But of course, a clothing-optional vacation on the Canary Island Gran Canaria is not “only” about sexual encounters and cruising. For many European travelers from the LGBTQ+ community, Gran Canaria is considered the most LGBTQ+ and gay-friendly destination in the world. Don’t forget to bookmark this Gran Canaria Gay Cruising Guide for your gay adventures! Moreover, we cannot wait to go back there… or maybe Sitges or Mallorca?
Would you like to learn more about our gay travels around the world? Stay tuned on Facebook, Threads, TikTok, YouTube, Pinterest, and Instagram. See you again in Spain, Gran Canaria, Maspalomas, or somewhere else around the world! Karl & Daan.
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Disclaimer: The contents of this website were written with due diligence and to the best of the author’s knowledge. Please be constantly aware of the local laws and behavioral guidelines regarding cruising in public and public sexual encounters, even on the beach, in the forest, or wherever it might happen. Our cruising guides and cruising stories are not intended to support unlawful behavior but aim to add an adventurous note to your trip.
Jerome444
Friday 2nd of July 2021
Maspalomas and Yumbo are just ... Crazy (in a positive way)... This is a high-value destination to escape, close to continental UE, for entertaining and "un"relaxing holidays! :-)