What now stands at the dunes viewpoint?
On 20 October 2026, Turismo de Maspalomas (the local tourism office) announced a photo totem at the Mirador de las Dunas de Maspalomas. The viewpoint lies in San Bartolomé de Tirajana on Gran Canaria and, the announcement says, is one of the island’s most photographed spots.
The totem is number 26 on the “Ruta Fotográfica de Canarias”. It is meant to make selfies with the dune landscape behind you easier.
You slot your phone into a holder. On an information board, a QR code leads to tourist and cultural content about the place.
The board is bilingual, in Spanish and English. It asks visitors to take a photo and share it with hashtags for the Maspalomas dunes, San Bartolomé de Tirajana, Gran Canaria and the Canary Islands.
What changes for holidaymakers in the south?
Anyone holidaying in Maspalomas has had a fixed photo station at the Mirador since 20 October. The Ayuntamiento (town council) aims it explicitly at residents, visitors and tourists.
The announcement mentions no fee. The council also names no opening hours, no launch ceremony and no cost for the totem.
Unofficial travel guides place the Mirador at the end of the Avenida de Tirajana, near the Hotel Riu Palace Maspalomas. Access there is described as free, but there is no official confirmation.
The totem brings no new rules, deadlines or applications for residents and expats. To use it, put your phone in the holder and scan the QR code if you are curious.
Who is behind the Ruta Fotográfica de Canarias?
The route comes from the Consejería de Turismo y Empleo (the Canary Islands government’s tourism ministry). It carries the project out through the public company Gesprotur, working in Maspalomas with the town council’s tourism office.
According to Turismo de Maspalomas, the totem belongs to the second phase of the project. RTVC reports that the first point opened on 7 August 2025 at the Plaza de la Constitución in Arucas.
A Gesprotur pilot project started there, and RTVC says 24 interactive stelae were planned across all the islands. RTVC also cites 20 further installations by the end of 2025 and funding of 204,000 euros from Gesprotur.
According to RTVC, the patented “TURS Take Your Selfie” system needs no mains power. In Arucas, the QR codes point to content in three languages.
RTVC says the route should encourage travel between towns and islands and supply visitor data for planning. It should also raise the profile of local shops.
Why is Maspalomas betting on photos on social media?
Alejandro Marichal, first deputy mayor of San Bartolomé de Tirajana, sees the totem as a promotional tool. His words: “A photo shared on social media can reach thousands of people in seconds.”
Yilenia Vega, councillor for tourism, festivals and events, wants more than a pretty picture. She says the QR code should bring visitors closer to the natural heritage of the dunes.
According to Turismo de Maspalomas, a digital system records usage statistics for the photo points. These include data on interaction and on where users come from, so the effect on tourism can be assessed.
Whether the council will publish this data is not known. The announcement also gives no figures on visitor numbers to the dunes.
What applies to photographers in the dunes themselves?
The Maspalomas dunes are a nature reserve of more than 400 hectares, RTVC reports. Its legal basis is the Ley 4/2017 on land and protected natural areas of the Canary Islands, according to RTVC.
The Cabildo de Gran Canaria (the island government) manages the reserve. The Guardia Civil (SEPRONA) and the Cabildo’s environmental officers patrol it.
According to RTVC on 26 August 2025, 150 to 300 people enter prohibited zones every day. Up to 500 people gather at sunset.
Fines start at 150 euros, RTVC says, with a 20% discount for immediate payment. The authorities ask visitors to stay on the signed paths, especially at sunset.
Environment councillor Raúl García Brink said on 7 July 2026, according to RTVC: “We cannot govern to the rhythm of Instagram.” According to the report, the authorities see social media as a trigger for crowding in protected zones.
What is still open and what comes next?
The council did not state the cost of the totem in its announcement. The current total number of points, the list of the other sites and dated announcements on the totem or the wider route are also unavailable.
According to RTVC, the Cabildo is relying on sensors, cameras, drones, new signage with QR codes and information screens. A solar-powered loudspeaker for real-time warnings is planned.
Behind this stands the project “Impulsa Maspalomas”. For it, the Cabildo secured 5.5 million euros from the EU “Next Generation” funds, according to an RTVC report from 2023.
For the June 2025 plenary session, the Coalición Canaria tabled a motion for an earmarked access fee with digital booking, with residents of Gran Canaria exempt. That was an opposition motion, and whether it passed is not known.