Maspalomas: 2-Seater E-Scooter Dunes Tour with Camel

Maspalomas is best known for its immense golden dunes, but this outing gives you a broader look at the area: a road ride past local sights, a guide to put them in context, and a 30-minute camel ride among the dunes. The electric chopper stays on roads, so the camel is the part that takes you into the sands.

I like two things here: you can cover several sights without walking for miles, and the small group limit of eight leaves room to ask questions. The stop at the Charca is another plus, especially if you enjoy watching birds.

The main catch is practical: drivers need an original or digital AM or B licence and some scooter experience. The route is road-only, and the two-hour outing includes several different elements, so this is a guided sampler rather than a long, quiet stretch in nature.

• The dunes are explored on camelback: The 30-minute ride is included, with a 100 kg weight limit per person.
• The chopper is for roads, not sand: It gives you a breezy way to move around Maspalomas, while the camel ride provides the dune experience.
• The Charca is a birding stop: This lagoon is a resting or wintering place for nearly 40 bird species, and 23 species nest there.
• The group stays small: No more than eight participants join the local guide.
• Bring your licence and closed shoes: Drivers need an AM or B licence, and open-toed footwear is not allowed.

A two-wheeled look at Maspalomas

The outing begins at a bike rental shop inside Cita Shopping Center in Playa del Inglés. From there, you set off on a two-seat electric scooter chopper with a local guide. It is designed for road travel, not for riding over the dunes, so think of this as a guided circuit through the area rather than an off-road adventure.

The chopper offers an easy way to cover more ground than you could on foot in two hours. You can take in several landmarks and coastal views without turning the day into a long walk. If you are travelling with someone who would rather ride as a passenger, the rear seat makes this a useful option for couples or families with older children.

There is a learning curve if you have never ridden a scooter. The tour requires previous scooter-driving experience, and the driver must hold an original or digital AM or B licence. That is an important booking detail, not a minor formality. If you do not have a licence, you may be able to join as a passenger, subject to the age rules.

A guide leads the group and explains the sights as you go. Spanish, English and Italian are offered. Lorenzo is one guide named by people who took the tour, and he was described as friendly and helpful, but guide assignments can vary. A soft drink per person is included, a small touch that is welcome on an outdoor outing.

The old lighthouse and Meloneras monuments

Among the sights on the route are the old Maspalomas lighthouse and the monuments to Christopher Columbus at the gates of Meloneras. The Columbus monuments were built in 2002, while the lighthouse has been operating since 1980. These stops give the ride a little local history alongside the natural scenery.

The lighthouse is a useful point of orientation as you move around the southern coast. It also helps break up the ride with a familiar landmark in an area often associated mainly with resorts and sand. The Columbus monuments offer another point of interest, though the experience is a moving tour, not a lengthy visit to each site.

A panoramic view of Playa del Inglés is another part of the outing. You will get a sense of the scale of the beach and nearby resort area from above. The exact stopping points and time spent at each sight are not specified, so do not expect a long stop at every landmark. The value lies in seeing several places in one compact outing, with a guide to connect them.

Maspalomas dunes, seen from the camel

The dunes are the star attraction, and the tour handles them in two different ways. The chopper travels on roads only. The included camel ride lasts 30 minutes and is the portion that takes you into the dunes. That distinction matters if you imagined driving the scooter across the sand: you will not.

Maspalomas’ golden dunes have been a special nature reserve since 1987. Seeing them by camel is a slower, more traditional way to experience the area than zipping between sights on the scooter. It also gives the outing a change of pace. The camel ride is listed as included, not as an extra to pay for separately, and the stated ride time is half an hour.

There are limits to check before you book. Each camel passenger must weigh no more than 100 kg. The chopper itself has a combined driver-and-passenger limit of 160 kg, so couples should check their total weight as well. The activity is not suitable for people over 100 kg or over 70 years old, according to its stated restrictions.

The camel ride adds variety, but it is still a short visit rather than a long trek through the dunes. If your main goal is to spend hours walking the reserve or taking a slow solo stroll, this is not a replacement for that. It works better as one part of a fast-moving introduction to Maspalomas.

The Charca, the garden and local birdlife

The Charca is a small lagoon and one of the more nature-focused stops. It serves as a resting or wintering place for nearly 40 species of birds, with 23 species nesting there. If birdwatching is your interest, this is the stop to pay attention to. Bring your own binoculars if you want them, as none are listed as included.

The lagoon gives you a different view of Maspalomas from the dunes and resort sights. The contrast is part of the appeal: within one short outing, you can see sand, coast, built landmarks and a small wetland habitat. The guide can help you understand why the Charca matters to birds passing through or nesting in the area.

The botanical garden is also included among the sights. Specific plant collections and the amount of time spent there are not given, so treat it as a brief visit or viewing point within the guided ride rather than a dedicated garden tour. Together, the lagoon and garden add a more natural side to a route that could otherwise focus mostly on beaches and landmarks.

How the two-hour outing works

The total duration is two hours, with starting times dependent on availability. The ride combines the road tour, stops at local sights and the 30-minute camel ride. Exact stop lengths and the order of the landmarks are not specified, so it is sensible to think of the itinerary as a guided overview, not a tightly timed sequence with a set amount of time at each place.

The small group cap of eight is a practical advantage. It should be easier to hear the guide and ask a question than on a large coach tour, while still giving you the company of a few other participants. The guide leads the group rather than handing you a route to follow alone.

The tour starts and ends at the same place: a bike rental shop inside Cita Shopping Center, Avenida de Alemania, 22, in Playa del Inglés. The entrance is next to the reconstruction of the Tower of Pisa, opposite Bungalows Todoque. Free parking is available in front of Hotel Sanata Monica. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, so plan your own way to the meeting point.

Food is also not included. One soft drink is provided per person, but bring water or arrange a meal separately if you need more than that. Closed-toe shoes are required; sandals and other open-toed shoes are not allowed.

Licences, ages and riding as a passenger

The driver must have scooter experience and an original or digital AM or B driving licence. Bring an ID card or passport for every participant, including children. These requirements are worth sorting out before booking, since having a companion who can drive does not remove the identification rules for the rest of the group.

Children aged 15 or older can drive if they hold an original or digital AM licence and are accompanied by at least one paying parent. Children aged 7 to 17 may take part as passengers in the rear seat. Adults without a driving licence and adults over 60 may also participate as passengers. The activity is not suitable for children under 7 or people over 70.

The scooter’s two-person weight limit is 160 kg combined. That is separate from the camel’s 100 kg per-person limit, so check both if you plan to take part in each portion. A person who fits the scooter limit may still exceed the camel limit.

Is $101 a fair price?

At $101 per person, this is not a bare-bones scooter rental. The price covers a two-hour guided outing, the electric chopper, helmet, local guide, one soft drink and a 30-minute camel ride. If you were already interested in both the road tour and camel ride, bundling them makes the price easier to justify than paying for separate activities.

The value also comes from the range of sights packed into a short window. You get the dunes, Playa del Inglés views, the lighthouse, the Columbus monuments, the botanical garden and the Charca, all with a guide. For someone with limited time in Gran Canaria, that variety can be more useful than spending two hours on a single activity.

Still, the price may feel high if you only want to see the dunes, or if you prefer to explore at your own pace. The scooter cannot be ridden on the sand, and the camel portion lasts 30 minutes. You are paying for a guided sampler that combines several elements, not an extended camel trek or a full-day nature outing.

Who should book this tour?

I would consider this tour if you want to see several sides of Maspalomas without walking long distances, and you like the idea of switching between a modern electric chopper and a camel ride. It suits couples, small groups and families with children who meet the age rules. The local guide and small group format also make it a good choice if you want context rather than simply renting a scooter and finding your own way.

It is less suitable if you want to ride directly over the dunes, need hotel transport, or cannot meet the licence, age or weight restrictions. It is also not the best fit for anyone hoping to linger at each landmark or spend a long time watching birds. The outing moves through a number of sights in two hours.

The overall rating is 5 from 23 reviews. The most praised points are the fun of riding the scooters, the friendly welcome and guide, and the chance to see places participants might otherwise have missed. Those are exactly the strengths to weigh against the firm riding rules and short duration.

Book it if you meet the requirements and want a compact, guided overview with both road travel and a camel ride. If your priority is an unhurried visit to the reserve, choose a slower way to explore the dunes instead.

FAQ

How long is the tour?

The outing lasts two hours. The included camel ride lasts 30 minutes.

Is the camel ride included in the price?

Yes. The experience includes a 30-minute camel ride.

Do I need a driving licence?

Yes, if you are driving the e-scooter chopper. Drivers need an original or digital AM or B driving licence and experience driving a scooter.

Can I join without a driving licence?

Adults without a licence may take part as passengers in the rear seat. Children aged 7 to 17 may also join as passengers, subject to the tour’s age rules.

Where does the tour start and finish?

It starts and ends inside a bike rental shop at Cita Shopping Center, Avenida de Alemania, 22, in Playa del Inglés.

What should I bring?

Bring an ID card or passport for every participant and wear closed-toe shoes. Open-toed shoes are not allowed.