Playa del  Ingles & Maspalomas

The resorts of Playa del Ingles and Maspalomas share the same 6km stretch of beach which is nicely split off into sections. The gay section is more on the Maspalomas side and easy to find.

Chances are your accommodation will be in the Campo International or in Playa del Ingles. If you're staying in Maspalomas (Campo International area) head to the lighthouse ("Faro") which is one end of the beach then start walking towards the other end. You'll pass the family section, then the couples section, then the nudist section and then you're there at the gay beach by "bar number 7". Each section has a beach bar serving drinks and snacks and bar number 7 is the gay beach bar. Clothing you will see is optional.

If you're in Playa del Ingles then the quickest way (and most fun) is right through the dunes themselves. Go to the end of the biggest street in town (Avenida de Tirajana) and down the side of the Riu Maspalomas hotel and there they are, the dunes and the men heading through them to the beach.

If water isn't essential but sun is, a fun option could be to stop in the dunes themselves for the day. Half way from the hotel to the beach you'll arrive at the edge off the bushes. Instead of going straight (forgive the expression) go to the right and find a spot somewhere amidst the bushes to set up camp for the day as hundreds of people do each day. Be sure to take a lot of liquids for the day and find some shade for breaks from the heat. In the winter expect the temperature in the dunes to be around 25C and in the summer around 35C and above.    You'll find plenty of popular sunbathing areas in the dunes with plenty of people around but keep walking and you'll find some more deserted areas and fewer people. Whilst the whole area is pretty cruisy anyone walking around the quieter parts won't be looking for shade, they'll be looking for fun! Down on the beach there's plenty of sun beds and umbrellas (2.50 euros each for the day) and if you don't fancy lugging litres of water down there with you, there's the beach bar serving drinks, snacks and music all afternoon. Everyone tends to head back around 5pm when the guys come round to collect up the sun beds and plenty of guys detour through the bushes on the walk back ;)  

Elsewhere Of course Granaria is an island so we have more than just once beach, Another option that might interest you especially if you have a hire car is to visit one of the more deserted and smaller beaches along the south coast of the island. Setting off from Maspalomas along the C812, this is the coastal road that goes from Maspalomas to Puerto Rico. There are several coves and beaches en-route, some small and quiet others larger and busier. All of them are busy with locals at the week-ends. These aren't necesarily gay beaches but in general they are all "clothing optional" and fairly mixed beaches. I've always seen the guys checking out other guys and one or two have been quite cruisy some visits. If you want a cruisy beach, stick with Maspalomas but if you want something different, cruising a bonus then have a look at any of the following, on a map they all come under "Bahia Santa Agueda":

Playa LLanillo
  As with most of the beaches in this bay, once you see a beach you like it's a case of finding level land next to the road where you can pull off and park. Just past this beach to the left is a place you could park or just before to the right there's space for a couple of cars. 5-10 minutes of pretty easy walking down there from your parked car. The beach is around 300 meters long, mainly sand though gravel further back from the water.

Los Bigotes
   

 Another of the more appealing beaches you come to and this one has a bus stop close by and is also very easy to spot from the road as you drive just a few meters away from it. There's space for about 10 cars to park just past it on the right or space on the left for a lot more right opposite. The beach itself is only about 100 meters long with little sand, mainly gravel. At the end of the beach though there's another 100 meters of flat, more comfortable rocks.

Playa Triana

 This is literally at the north end of Los Bigotes. You wouldn't really notice one stopping and another starting but just in case anyone tries to pull me up on it .....

 Montaña de Arena
   

This beach and the next, Las Carpinteras are my favorites. Not as easy to walk to nor visible from the road makes these beaches more popular with naturalists. Each of them is very sandy and easy to get in and out of the water so popular with families too.

As you drive past Los Bigotes, you can see part of the bay next to the road, carry on for another 5 minutes but look out for a large, flat area of land to your right about 100 meters back from the road. You'll see it well in advance as it's usually got a fair few cars already parked there. You'll see a track leading from the road to the parking area, there's space there for over a hundred cars. Once parked, head down towards the sea and to the left and you'll find a path that runs along the cliff top going left. Follow this path for 10 minutes of careful walking and you're at the beach. Very sandy beach and the hill behind is all sand too (hence the name, "Mountain of Sand").

 Las Carpinteras 

Much easier to reach than Montaña de Arena but still a hefty walk. The easiest way is to pass the parking for Montaña de Arena and watch out for the next flat area of land to your right, again there'll probably be cars already parked on it. There's a couple of tracks off the road to get to the parking, take either and drive as far away from the road as you dare. The further you go, the worse the track; you'll see what I mean when you get there. Once parked, walk along the path that takes you over the hill and down to the left. At the top of the hill you'll see the beach and the path down to it. If you drove past this parking area for another 1km or so round the next corner, you'll see another dirt track off the road. You won't see the parking area though this track does lead you to it and from there, it's an easy 2 minute walk to the beach. Chances are though you'll miss the turning!

Anfi Beach

 Heading west from Maspalomas and Playa del Ingles and just before arriving at the popular family resort of Puerto Rico if driving on the C812 or going by bus/taxi is the resort of Patalavaca and down on the beach there is the huge timeshare resort of Anfi. You only see the Anfi complex from the street and bus stop but look for the entrance to Anfi Beach complex and there's probably a security guard nearby at the entrance to a path heading down to the sea. Walk behind the secutrity guard and down the path (remember, all beaches here are free/public no matter who puts the sand on it) and there's Anfi beach.

Soft, fine Carribean sand, fantastic watersports and beachside facilities, a trendy shopping arcade and generally/arguably the best beach on the island. It gets packed solid at weekends and during the July and August holidays but well worth the visit whilst you're here.

Puerto Rico & Amadores

Passing Anfi for another 5 minutes and you´re in the resort of Puerto Rico. Most of the boat and fisahing trips leave from here, there´s a great choice of aquatic activities (trying to avoid the phrase ater sports) and a popular family beach.

Amadores

At the far side of Puerto Rico is the recently developed Amadores area which has another beach, very popular for the choice of bars and restaurants and activities down there.