Charca de Maspalomas Nature Reserve
Sandwiched between the back of the dunes and the southern end of Playa del Inglés, the Charca de Maspalomas is a brackish lagoon and reed-bed that most holidaymakers walk straight past on their way to the beach — which means you can often have this extraordinary bird habitat almost entirely to yourself. In winter months, flamingos, herons and a rotating cast of migratory waders make it one of the
Wildlife and When to Visit
The lagoon is a designated Special Protection Area (ZEPA) and forms part of the wider Maspalomas dunes biosphere reserve. Winter (November–March) brings the greatest variety of birds as the lagoon becomes a stopover on the Africa–Europe migration route; grey herons, little egrets, common sandpipers and occasionally greater flamingos are all reliably spotted.
Summer is quieter for birds but the reed beds are alive with warblers and the lagoon itself — reflecting the dune crests and the lighthouse — is one of the most quietly beautiful scenes in the south of Gran Canaria.
How to Access It
A wooden boardwalk runs along the northern edge of the lagoon from the end of Avenida Touroperador Neckermann, connecting to the dune access path. The walk from the boardwalk entrance to the far end of the lagoon takes about 20 minutes at a slow birdwatching pace.
Bring binoculars and, if you have one, a zoom lens — birds keep a respectful distance from the path and the light is best in the morning when the sun is behind you and illuminating the far bank of the lagoon.
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