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The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 4-6 October 2024

Hello October! A tremendous start to the last quarter of the year with a packed weekend ahead. There are Patron saints' fiestas with pilgrimage offerings, religious processions and fireworks, an apple festival, a dance festival, multiple fairs and monthly markets, music festivals and much more to enjoy and explore on Gran Canaria. Our weekend list includes multiple different events in the capital, and on the coast of Arucas they are celebrating the Cangrejo Festival. Patron Saints' festivities...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 27-29 September 2024

Welcome to The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 27-29 September - It is going to be a busy last weekend of September on Gran Canaria, with many different kinds of festivities and celebrations to choose from. There are patron saints' festivities, a Pet Fair, markets, rally racing and of course, the last of the “End of Summer” festivities just to name a few worth highlighting.  There's a townhall sponsored music festival on offer by Anexo II in Playa del Inglés, with TouriFest Maspalomas to celebrate...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 20-22 September 2024

A full swing of traditional patron saints’ fiestas is on offer this weekend around Gran Canaria with pilgrimage offerings and popular events galore. It is such a special time to visit towns and villages whilst they are celebrating their festivities and are all decked out and decorated. There is a double fair to enjoy in Agüimes with Km.0 Fair Gran Canaria and Feria del Sol. Main days of patron saint festivities to live in San Mateo, Tejeda, Valsequillo and Schamann district in the capital...

The Growing Importance of British Post-Brexit Tourism

British tourism has long been a vital part of the Canary Islands’ economy, but in the years following the UK’s exit from the European Union, the significance of British visitors has reached new heights.   British tourists now account for a massive 41% of the total revenue generated by the islands' tourism sector, highlighting their growing dominance in this key industry. This trend is particularly evident in popular destinations...

German Tourist Dies Following Shark Attack More Than 500 km South Of Canary Islands

A tragic shark attack has claimed the life of a 30-year-old German woman, who was swimming off a catamaran more than 500 kilometers from the Canary Islands. The incident occurred on Monday, September 16, 2024, in the Atlantic Ocean, approximately 180 kilometers east of Dakhla, Western Sahara. Despite efforts to rescue her, the woman died before reaching a hospital in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria.   The victim had been aboard the...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 13-15 September 2024

A busy September weekend ahead! Some traditional patron saints’ fiestas are just getting started while others are finishing up. Guía are celebrating their very traditional Las Marías festivities, there is a religious procession in the mountain town of Tejeda, a Wine and Tapas Night to enjoy in Playa de Mogán. There are a multitude of festivities to enjoy in so many different corners on Gran Canaria this weekend, here are just our top picks!   ...

Gran Canaria Mass Emergency Warning Test: ES-Alert on September 26

The Canary Islands Government will conduct a test of the ES-Alert emergency warning system across Gran Canaria on Thursday, September 26. This system is part of Spain’s National Alert Network and is designed to send immediate SMS alerts to mobile phones in areas affected by imminent or ongoing emergencies. These alerts will provide crucial information on the safety measures that people should follow, allowing for accurate information and a quicker response to serious situations. [fb_plugin...

Gran Canaria Hit by A 3.8-Magnitude Tremor, One of The Largest in 60 Years

On Tuesday, September 10, 2024, a 3.8-magnitude earthquake shook Gran Canaria, marking one the strongest seismic events felt on the island in six decades. The quake, with its epicentre off the northern coastal municipality of Santa María de Guía, was felt across 14 of Gran Canaria's 21 municipalities, according to the National Geographic Institute (IGN).   Residents across the island described the event in various ways: “The walls...

#GranCanariaWeather: Warm Temperatures, Strong Winds, and Cloudy Skies from the North This Week

  Gran Canaria is set for a week of mixed weather, as ever with noticeable differences between the north and south of the island. The northern areas will see cloudy skies, particularly in the mornings and evenings, with a chance of light rain midweek. In contrast, the southern and inland regions will enjoy clearer, sunnier skies with rising temperatures.   While temperatures forecasted range from lows of 19ºC at night to highs of...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 6-9 September 2024 & El Charco

It's that time of the year again, when the two most popular traditional annual celebrations on Gran Canaria take place back to back. Teror, the pretty little merchant town is celebrating the main harvest Romería pilgrimage for the island, an offering in honour of the patron saint of Gran Canaria, Our Lady of the Pine with carts carrying summer produce, representing all the municipalities on the island and the main Cabildo de Gran Canaria. Exceptionally, this edition of weekend tips continues...

Tourist Safari Excursion Rolls Into Ravine Injuring Two

A tourist safari excursion vehicle, containing five occupants, overturned falling down a fifteen-metre slope, on the road between Pinar de Pilancones and the Chira dam.     The Canary Islands Emergency Service (SUC) deployed a medicalised helicopter and two ambulances, one medical and one with basic life support. One of the passengers suffered moderate chest trauma and was rescued by the SUC medical helicopter and taken by...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 30 August – 1 September 2024

Oh Hello! September is here and what a crazy weekend it will be. There are "End of Summer" festivals galore, concerts, spectacles on the streets, patron saint festivities, romería-pilgrimages, fireworks and even a mango and summer avocado fair. So many things to choose from but definitely, there is something for everyone. Our highlights for the #weekendtips include the southern mangos and summer avocados in Playa de Mogán, music festivals and concerts to bid farewell to summer in Gáldar,...

ALDI Supermarket Opens New Store in Sonnenland-Maspalomas

The municipality of San Bartolomé de Tirajana has celebrated the inauguration of ALDI’s first supermarket in southern Gran Canaria, located in the Sonnenland-Maspalomas area. The new store, situated on Calle Camino de Quito, marks a further step in ALDI’s ongoing expansion across the Canary Islands. The establishment features an 1,100 square meter sales floor and has created 19 new jobs, 13 of which have been filled by local residents.   [adrotate...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 2-4 August 2024

  Hello August! What an awesome, and also hot, summer weekend ahead on Gran Canaria! It's going to be a busy one, filled with things to go, do and see, with some of the more iconic, popular summer fiestas now in full flow, including the Fiestas de Las Nieves in Agaete with their main day of festivities the "Fiesta de La Rama" this Sunday. There are also some more localised Patron Saints' Festivities taking place around the island, like in San Lorenzo, just outside the capital, and the...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 26-28 July 2024

  The last weekend of July will be celebrated with more sweltering hot weather, though a touch less, perhaps, than previous days. There is an abundance of summer fiestas and Patron Saints' festivities happening all around Gran Canaria. Here are our top picks of the bigger festivities, and they are many more to discover as many neighbourhoods are also celebrating their own summer fiestas. The fiestas del Carmen are on in Playa de Mogán and La Isleta,...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 19-21 July 2024

An absolutely fabulous July weekend ahead, with epic events and hot, hot weather! Maspalomas Soul Festival, Virgen del Carmen celebrations, including the famous maritime procession, and much more. The popular biweekly San Fernando Farmers' Market also moves to a new venue; to the covered patio of the Marcial Franco School, just next to the Municipal Stadium from this Sunday Patron Saints’ festivities are taking place in Gáldar, Tunte and multiple other places. There are some different types of...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 12-14 July 2024

What a July Weekend ahead! Lets start with the Big Game on Sunday: Spain vs England. Many municipalities are already setting up big screens to broadcast the final on their town squares and bars are going to be busy, so get there early. Virgen del Carmen festivities are in full swing and there will be pilgrimage offering in Arguineguín, Mogán and her Feast Day is on next Tuesday.  There is a concert also to enjoy every night by the Faro de Maspalomas Lighthouse this weekend. The weather is...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 5-7 July 2024

Hello July and full on Summer! This year's main festivities for the Virgen del Carmen start this weekend, celebrating the patron saint of sailors and fisher folk, which will see fiestas around much of Gran Canaria, and in Spain; all themed around water. La Isleta, in the capital, and Arguineguín are two of the biggest and best established to attend. The feast day of the Virgen del Carmen is 16 July. This weekend offers plenty of excellent events to explore and enjoy, particularly in the...

The Disappearance of Jay Slater, and Reports of a Stolen Rolex, confounds Tenerife Authorities

The sudden and unexplained disappearance of 19-year-old trainee bricklayer Jay Slater from Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire (UK), has captured widespread attention, prompting an extensive search effort and raising significant public concern.     Jay vanished on June 17, 2024, after attending NRG, a three-day music festival in Tenerife. His family and the community have rallied to find him, as have many British expats across the...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 28-30 June 2024

A wonderful last weekend of June on Gran Canaria. It is the main Fataga Apricot festival weekend, in a picturesque village a short mountain drive inland from the beaches of Maspalomas; or you could experience the re-enactment of the historic Battle of El Batán, in Santa Brigida. Coming up as well are the last days of the Foundational festivities of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria as well as patron saints' festivities including romerías and religious processions in different corners of Gran Canaria....

The Canary Guide San Juan #WeekendTips 21-24 June 2024

It’s San Juan weekend, one of the biggest celebrations on Gran Canaria, and throughout Spain, with various festivities for the "Night of San Juan" combining a mixture of traditional fiestas, midnight dips in the sea,  music and various rituals, bonfires and fireworks. Here are just our top picks! This Sunday there are to be large public bonfires across Spain, and particularly in Las Palmas, where some town halls will add firework spectacles into the mix. Besides the San Juan parties this...

#GranCanariaWeather: Bright Blue Skies & Sunshine

Gran Canaria is set to experience a mix of weather conditions this week, with temperatures averaging a pleasant 27ºC to 30ºC in the shade. The forecast includes variations in cloud cover, wind intensity, and slight fluctuations in temperatures. Here is a detailed and factual outlook for the week ahead.     Monday  will start with cloudy skies predominantly in the northern areas below 1100 to 1200 meters. By midday, these clouds are...

Recent Shark Sightings on Gran Canaria

Recent shark sightings near the beaches of Melenara and (possibly) San Agustín, from the coasts of Gran Canaria, have reportedly caused some concern among tourists and locals. Or “Panic” if any of the international press are to be believed.     The swift response by authorities to close the beaches and conduct searches for the animal has highlighted the focus on safety, but also raises questions about how we report and react...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 14-16 June 2024

What a lovely weekend ahead with things getting busier as we head into mid-summer. There are a plethora of festivities and events taking place and our top picks include, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria 546th Foundational festivities and the big outlet fair, Fisaldo at INFECAR. Gáldar Pride parade, parties and infamous high heel race and also numerous patron saint festivities. Music Meets Tourism Festival in Playa del Inglés at Yumbo free to enjoy. The first edition of Potato and Corn Fair of...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 7-9 June 2024

A busy June weekend ahead full of some awesome events and possibility of a little wet weather being the only thing that might hold us back from enjoying it to the fullest. FIMAR, the international Sea Fair and Big Bang Vintage market are in the capital. There is also a Harvest Fair in El Tablero on the south and multitude of Patron Saints’ festivities are being celebrated all around Gran Canaria. Patron Saints’ festivities are taking place in Mogán casco, Santa Brígida, Moya and Arucas. There...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 31 May – 2 June 2024

Summer is already upon us as we celebrate the first weekend of June. Festivities for John the Baptist and San Antonio de Padua are just getting starting. Patron Saint festivities in San Fernando de Maspalomas are coming to an end this weekend and the religious observances of Corpus Christi will see handmade "carpets" of salt in the streets celebrated this Sunday, worth a road trip to go to see. There will be the start-of-month regular markets to enjoy this weekend as well as a Crafts and...

The Canary Guide to ‘Día de Canarias’ 2024 – Canary Islands’ Day celebrations

#DíadeCanarias - The Canary Islands' Day Canary Islands Day, 30 MAY is an annual bank holiday throughout the archipelago. It's good to remember that government offices, banks, and many local shops etc. will be closed. On the 30th of May 1983 The Canary Islands officially became an Autonomous National Region of Spain when The Government of The Canary Islands Parliament sat for the first time.  The day has been marked ever since by all municipal town halls, on all 8 islands, in each of the two...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 24-26 May 2024

Operation Kilo: We want you to donate non-perishable food items for families in need at supermarkets this weekend The last weekend of May and it is going to be a busy one as Día de Canarias, Canary Islands' Day (30 May 🇮🇨) approaches and will celebrated next Thursday. A festive atmosphere has already begun and will be seen all over the archipelago over coming days; in the town centres, church squares, schools, shopping malls and across all the islands. The biggest Livestock fair on this island...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 17-19 May 2024

A busy mid May weekend ahead on Gran Canaria. Full sunshine has been taking a little break for few days but hopefully will not disturb too many of the lovely events taking place. There are patron saints' festivities, a Tomato Fair, traditions, a demonstration in support of Palestine, Museum day, concerts , markets and sports on offer.     Upcoming events: 20-26 May • Fiestas Maria Auxiliadora - Motor Grande,...

A Pride In Name Only: From Community Celebration to Commercial Spectacle

Maspalomas Pride, once a grassroots celebration created by the local LGBTQ+ community, has increasingly shifted towards commercialisation, losing touch with its original spirit and the businesses that once thrived on its success. Members of GLAY (Gays y Lesbianas Asociados del Yumbo), who played such a crucial role in establishing Pride with the Ayuntamiento de San Bartolomé de Tirajana town hall, and others, have long warned that since the so-called "Freedom" association took over their...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 10-12 May 2024

A splendid May weekend ahead with an array of events happening on Gran Canaria. From several Patron Saints' festivities to the Maspalomas PRIDE Parade. Flowers on offer in three different locations. April fairs, an authentic and traditional market experience in Vega de San Mateo and even a historical reénactment on Las Canteras. A crazy, wonderful weekend starts here! In the south, the closing weekend of the Maspalomas PRIDE celebrations and on the other side of GC-1, El Tablero are...

Mogán’s Controversial Proposal to Tax Tourists: Local vs. Regional Authority

In a controversial move that has sparked widespread debate, Mogán's still serving Mayor, La Alcaldesa O Bueno, is chasing proposal to introduce a tourist tax on overnight stays that looks set to bring millions of extra euros into the municipal coffers. This tax, unique in Spain, would mark Mogán as the first municipality to implement such a levy, ostensibly to support public services benefiting from tourism activities. However, the plan is surrounded by contention, not only within the Canary...

Minor Earthquake Detected in Teror, Gran Canaria

An earthquake struck Gran Canaria in the early hours of Tuesday, May 7, as reported by the National Geographic Institute (IGN). The tremor, with a magnitude of 2.3, occurred at a depth of approximately 4 kilometers.     The seismic event was specifically recorded in the municipality of Teror at 01:01:23 local time. Earthquakes on the Canary Islands, including Gran Canaria, are generally of low magnitude and occur relatively...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 3-5 May 2024

What a gorgeous, and busy, May weekend here on Gran Canaria, with Mothers Day also celebrated this Sunday across Spain.  The Rally Islas Canarias will be closing some mountain roads on Friday and Saturday, and there are many special markets to choose from this first weekend of the month. Flower arrangements in Gáldar, Guía cheese fair this Sunday in Montaña Alta, and Maspalomas Gay Pride just getting started.   ...

Restoring Connections: The New Mogán Tunnel Project on Gran Canaria’s GC-500

The long-awaited Mogán Tunnel project, officially approved by the Canary Islands Government's Department of Public Works, Housing, and Mobility, marks a significant milestone in restoring safe and efficient transportation between Taurito and Playa de Mogán, two key tourist areas on Gran Canaria. This project, spearheaded by Rosana Melián, the Director-General of Road Infrastructure, is set to transform local and visitor experiences by replacing a hazardous stretch of the GC-500 road that has...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 26-28 April 2024

It's going to be a suberb last weekend of April. There are events galore on offer to celebrate Springtime on Gran Canaria, from strawberries to cheese,  from patron saint festivities to celebrations of nature, from books to jazz, and then some. Let's hope the weather is not going to be an issue, with some rain forecasted. There is the Strawberry fair to discover in Valsequillo, and Cheese to enjoy in Guía. Agrotasarte, Tasarte. The Feria de Abril, book fair, a butterfly release, classic cars...

Canary Islands Setting Record Tourism Numbers Amidst Major Protests Calling for Sustainable Development

Today, on April 20, 2024, the Canary Islands are witnessing a widespread protest aimed at challenging the current development model heavily reliant on tourism. This significant event is set to occur simultaneously across all eight islands of the archipelago, as well as in various cities internationally including Málaga, Granada, Madrid, Barcelona, Amsterdam, London, and Berlin. The protests are unified under the slogan "The Canary Islands have a limit."   [adrotate...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 19-21 April 2024

It's the third weekend of April and what a warm month it has been. The big 'Gran Canaria Me Gusta' fair is on to enjoy during the weekend at INFECAR. Challenge Mogan Canaria, the triathlon event will take place this Saturday and the GC-500 will be closed in the morning from Anfi to Taurito. And these are the last nights to enjoy the popular little Jazz Festival in Puerto de Mogán. Gran Canaria's 2024 Strawberry season has already started and the main regional fair dedicated to this tasty fruit...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 12-14 April 2024

A warm, calima-infused weekend ahead on Gran Canaria. There is a wonderful number of events on offer including the cheese fair in Gáldar, carnival celebrations in Carrizal, The Rural Woman Fair in Fataga and patron saint festivities in the little coastal neighbourhood of El Pajar to name just a few. Calima evenings are quite extraordinary and what better way to enjoy them than down at the annual Jazz Festival in Puerto de Mogán? Jump to...

Spain’s “Golden Visa” Surge Sparks Madrid Government To Announce Policy Changes

Recent developments may well impact those British property purchasers with more than half a million euros to spend, who were hoping to bypass many of the post-Brexit hurdles to coming to live in Spain, as the Spanish government has signaled its intention to phase out the "golden visa" program following a significant spike in the number of visas granted over the past two years. Data released by the Ministry of Housing on Tuesday highlights an  increase, with 3,273 authorisations processed in...

Gran Canaria Expects Brief But Sizzling Spring Heatwave Hitting 35°C in the Shade

Gran Canaria is on the cusp of experiencing an exceptionally warm weather episode due to a warm and dry air mass of African origin that could reach 35°C in the shade. Anticipated to commence in the late hours of Tuesday the warm weather will persist for approximately a week, and temperatures forecasted to soar to unusually high levels for this time of the year, reaching up to 35°C at their peak, always measured in the shade, according to predictions from the State Meteorological Agency...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 5-7 April 2024

It's the first weekend of April and there are the monthly markets in Tejeda and La Aldea to enjoy in the spirit of eternal spring. Eleven municipalities come together this weekend in Gáldar where the ENORTE 2024 fair takes place this year. A variety of different celebrations are on offer, including two postponed from few weeks ago. A brilliant mix of warm weather and plenty to go and see and do! Sports, concerts, patron saint festivities and much more... Worthwhile knowledge: The 11th Fair of...

The Canary Guide Easter #WeekendTips 29-31 March 2024

The long easter "Puente" (bridge) weekend with Thursday and Friday both bank holidays throughout Spain. It is also the end of the christian Holy Week “Semana Santa”. There have been many traditional religious acts and processions throughout the week, with men in pointy hats, men on donkeys, and grieving mothers in their shawls, and still continuing around the island, especially in the capital until Sunday. This is going to be a tranquil weekend overall when it comes to other types of events...

Drugs, Weapons, and Illegal Pharmaceuticals on Gran Canaria

In recent weeks, the Guardia Civil of Gran Canaria, in collaboration with local police forces, have conducted several operations targeting drug trafficking on the island. Two of the operations, carried out in the municipalities of Mogán and Arucas, have brought to light a small part of the ongoing efforts to combat drug-related crimes and ensure community safety.  There are regular arrests and confiscations, and while all agencies do what they can, the wholesale consumption of drugs and a...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 22-24 March 2024

As Spring time finally arrives, a parting shot from Winter this weekend looks to bring some interesting weather to the island. Following a warm dry winter season, rain and strong winds are in the forecast for Gran Canaria. There are many lovely events scheduled for this weekend but adverse weather conditions can cause any outdoor event to be postponed or cancelled. Easter week, Holy week, Semana Santa officially starts this Sunday with the first of the traditional religious processions. The...

Autopsy records accidental death as Northern Irish man named

The Civil Guard on Gran Canaria has confirmed this evening autopsy results recording the death of a 32-year-old Northern Irish national, named by the Belfast Telegraph as Dean Dobbin, as an accident. The discovery of Dobbin's body in a popular tourist complex, on the south of the island, has been met with a wave of condolences and reflections on the fragility of life. The Guardia Civil will no doubt continue with their investigation into the final hours leading up to the incident, where the...

#GranCanariaWeather: Spring Showers And Strong Winds as DANA (High-Level Depression) Brings Cooler Temperatures This Weekend

As Gran Canaria and the Canary Islands prepare for a Springtime shift in weather conditions, the Spanish State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) has provided a comprehensive forecast for the coming days, indicating a departure from the warm and dry winter experienced so far this year. The latest updates warn of the trajectory of an Isolated High-Level Depression (DANA) that's moving towards the archipelago, promising varied weather conditions across Gran Canaria.  Yellow warnings are in place for...

Accidental Death Suspected in Tragic Case of Tourist Found Dead in Gran Canaria Apartment

The preliminary investigation, according to local sources, appears to confirm the hypothesis of an accidental death, in the case of the tourist found dead this Monday in a Puerto Rico de Gran Canaria apartment, in the southwestern municipality of Mogán.     The autopsy is scheduled for this Wednesday, and initial indications appear to suggest that the deceased man may have died of natural causes with a fall causing him to...

Puerto Rico Community Saddened By Unusual Violent Death in a Tourist Apartment

A holiday in the south of Gran Canaria has ended in tragedy for two friends after a 32-year-old man was found dead with a severe head wound in an apartment complex in Puerto Rico, Mogán. The Guardia Civil is handling the case, and there have been conflicting press reports about the victim's nationality, with some sources identifying him as British and others as Irish.  International press have also picked up on the story.   The...

Investigation launched after man found dead in budget hotel room

A man has died under suspicious circumstances in an apartment complex in Puerto Rico de Gran Canaria, Mogán, prompting an investigation by the Guardia Civil. The individual is believed to be a foreign national, possibly visiting the popular resort town on holiday.  The incident, marked by signs of violence, allegedly involves a head injury that could suggest criminal involvement. The investigation is currently under a confidentiality order to facilitate the gathering of evidence and clarity on...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 15-17 March 2024

It's a busy, busy, busy Paddy's Day weekend and Maspalomas is celebrating their big Carnival parade, with the annual Spring time Artisans' Fair starting this Friday in the surroundings of Faro de Maspalomas too. There is also, among other attractions, the Big Bang Vintage Festival to enjoy at the shopping centre Las Arenas in the capital. Warm weather is on the cards with some light calima for the whole island and of course the wearing of the green for St. Patricks Day is celebrated throughout...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 8-10 March 2024

The weekend ahead on Gran Canaria will feature Carnival celebrations as well the European Cheese Fair celebrated in Guía. Following both the warmest January and February since records began on the Canary Islands, the month of March has been marked by much needed rain so far this year, at least in large parts of the island, particularly the north, with some more gentle rain likely over the next few days. Carnival celebrations in Maspalomas have just started. There are carnival parades to enjoy...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 1-3 March 2024

Hello March! Hello rain! Spring is sprunging! With the sudden arrival of wet weather across the island (much needed after such a dry winter) all outdoor events mentioned here in this weekend tips may be subject to postponement or relocation if the forecast for wet weather this weekend becomes a reality, which is looking quite likely. At the moment, the southern parts, especially the coast line from Mogán to La Aldea is looking, as ever, to have the best weather on the island. Some carnival...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 23-25 February 2024

It's the last weekend of February and there are carnival festivities to enjoy across Gran Canaria, in Mogán, Gáldar, Arucas, Guía, La Aldea, Artenara, Firgas and Sardine del Sur. Also the biggest ultra trail competition on the island, billed as one of the most difficult mountain races in the world, the Transgrancanaria, is taking place this weekend so it is going to be busy. A drop of rain is in the forecast, though not much, and hopefully will not spoil any of the events planned in the land...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 16-18 February 2024

Mid February already and this weekend is all about Carnaval. It is the final weekend for the biggest carnival of all, in the capital, and others around the island are just getting started, with more still to come in coming weeks. There are carnival parades, daytime & family carnival events galore on offer all around Gran Canaria. In the city, the main parade is this Saturday, followed by the Burial of the Sardine, the traditional endpoint of trangression, fiesta and feasting, this Sunday....

Gran Canaria’s Famous Canterbury School Maspalomas raise thousands for Pequeño Valiente kids with cancer

The Canterbury School of Gran Canaria have a very proud tradition of teaching their students community-values and social awareness.  This year, ahead of World Child Cancer Awareness Day, February 15, the pupils of this prestigious British educational institution have been raising funds for the Canary Islands charity Pequeño Valiente, the Brave Little One.     Now an extraordinarily effervescent nonagenarian, a lifelong...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 9-11 February 2024

The second weekend of February is all about Carnival, Love & Friendship on Gran Canaria. The first carnival parade this year is celebrated on Saturday in Gáldar. There are also San Valentin festivities to enjoy in El Tablero in the south, and in Telde. Many cyclists will be on the road this Saturday and Sunday with the 7th edition of EPIC Gran Canaria. The weather is looking great, with a small exception for Saturday morning at the moment. Next Tuesday 13 February is Martes de Carnaval,...

The Canary Guide #WeeekendTips 2-4 February 2024

It's the first weekend of February and what awesome warm "calima" weather it has been so far. Carnival festivities continue in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Both Gáldar and Agüimes are starting theirs this Saturday. Tejeda is celebrating traditions, culture and nature with their beautiful Almond Blossom Festival this weekend.  Well worth a trip to the heart of the island There is also magic to be found in the Las Palmas old town, Vegueta, this weekend and La Aldea is celebrating the month of...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 26-28 January 2024

It's the last weekend of January and it is going to be a warm one with a touch of calima in the air. The 2024 Carnival season on Gran Canaria has officially started in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. During the next few months, the festivities are celebrated in different municipalities. The two main Almond blossom festivities are celebrated over the two upcoming weekends, first in Valsequillo this weekend and then in Tejeda. This weekend offers carnival events in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria as well...

#GranCanariaWeather: Calima dust from the Sahara, intense at times, expected over the coming 2-3 days

Gran Canaria is experiencing a day marked by wind, calima (dust haze), and a slight drop in temperature. The Canary Islands Government's Emergency Directorate has declared a wind alert in El Hierro and a pre-alert across the archipelago from 6:00 AM Tuesday. Simultaneously, a pre-alert for calima has also commenced. Southeast winds on the westernmost island of El Hierro, particularly affecting the northeast, El Golfo valley, and higher areas, are expected with gusts reaching 60-90 km/h. The...

Las Palmas Demonstration This Saturday in Protest Against Genocide in Palestine

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria looks set to witness a significant demonstration against genocide in Palestine this Saturday. Organized, among various other groups, by the Canarias por Palestina platform, the protest is part of a nationwide call for action on January 20th, demanding the cessation of arms trade and diplomatic relations with Israel. This event is one of many across the Canary Islands, reflecting a widespread outcry against the ongoing violence in Palestine.  ...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 19-21 January 2024

  After the conclusion of Yule and New Year holidays and the celebration of Reyes Magos, the Three Kings Epiphany festivities, the first of e major weekend events have started once again, marking the beginning of yet another year filled with lively celebrations and festivities here on our sub-tropical island of Gran Canaria. Here is the first The Canary Guide #WeekendTips of 2024. The first of this year's patron saints' festivities, in honour of San Sebastián, are taking place in the old towns...

Gran Canaria Public Holidays 2024 – The Canary Guide

The Regional Government in the Canary Islands establishes, within an annual limit of fourteen such dates, a list of official bank holidays for the year 2024, following the publication of the Laboral Calendar in the Official State Gazette (BOE). The local municipality holidays are then published at the end of the year. The island of Gran Canaria and the Canary Islands share official holidays with the rest of Spain. In addition to these, each of the Canary Islands has its official holiday and...

Expanding Voting Rights for Brits in Spain

British Ambassador to Spain, His Excellency Hugh Elliott, has announced some "good news" for British immigrants living and working in Spain and The Canary Islands.  The 15-year time limit on British citizens being allowed to vote overseas has been lifted, allowing them to register and vote in UK general elections. The law, part of the UK Government's Election Act passed in 2022, according to the British Embassy in Madrid, demonstrates a commitment to inclusivity in the democratic process,...

#GranCanariaWeather: Yellow advisory warnings for Strong Winds and Calima, some rain likely

Following a week marked by the effects of storm Hipólito, which brought snow and sub-zero temperatures to mainland Spain, the Canary Islands have once again avoided the worst of this weather system. However, the disturbance over the continent has led to the formation of a high-pressure system, resulting in the arrival of calima (a dust-laden wind) to the islands.   The Spanish State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) has issued a...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 29 December 2023 – 5 January 2024

A lovely long week ahead as the leisurely holiday season continues here on Gran Canaria. Monday, 1 January is officially a national bank holiday and then the Twelfth night, the Epiphany, preceded by the Noche del Reyes Magos, Night of The Kings, the spectacular finale to the season. There are many parties, festivities, concerts, markets, and awesome parades to enjoy. Go find something special NEW YEAR, NOCHE VIEJA As we usher in the New Year's Eve weekend, contemplate some of the sub-tropical...

Free bus travel for Canary Islands’ residents continued in 2024

For public transportation and social welfare, the Government of Spain has extended a 100% subsidy for regular passenger transport in the Canary Islands, which began as a measure to subsidise the economy in the face of climbing fuel prices, including buses (guaguas) and trams, for another year, into 2024. This decision, ratified by the Council of Ministers, is aimed at underscoring the government's commitment to sustainable mobility and economic support for its citizens.  ...

The Canary Guide Merry Christmas #WeekendTips 22-24 December 2023

  It's a Christmas "Puente" , a long festive weekend ahead with Monday being a bank holiday in Spain. Many wonderful seasonal markets, concerts and Santas to visit and enjoy before everything calms down a little for the holiday season. If you are looking for that special Yule Time feeling with decoration and lights, Gáldar is probably a top choice. It's good to remember that any adverse weather condition might cause outdoor events to be changed, cancelled/postponed, but all in all the brief...

Construction of Salto de Chira Continues Despite Legal Challenges Aiming to Protect Cultural Heritage

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, December 18, 2023 – Jesús Quesada @ Canarias7 – A series of legal rulings appear to have have reinforced the trajectory of the Salto de Chira hydroelectric project on Gran Canaria, courts have consistently denied requests for any suspension to the construction. The decision comes amidst concerns raised by environmental and cultural preservation groups, highlighting the complexities of balancing development with heritage conservation.  ...

Gran Canaria Cabildo Strengthens Community Ties at II Encuentro Vecinal

Today, the Cabildo de Gran Canaria, through its Citizen Participation Directorate, hosted the "II Encuentro Vecinal de Gran Canaria" at the Patio del Cabildo. This event is a significant annual gathering for neighborhood associations in Gran Canaria, attracting over fifty individuals connected to local community associations. The meeting serves as a platform for these associations to share experiences, voice demands, and celebrate the community and neighborhood movement on the island....

Organised Theft Ring Uncovered at Tenerife South Airport: 14 Employees Detained, 20 Investigated for Stealing Over €1.9 Million from Passenger Luggage

In a crackdown at Tenerife South Airport, the Spanish Civil Guard has apprehended 14 airport workers and is investigating 20 more for their involvement in a large-scale theft ring. This operation, named "Oretel," exposed the workers' alleged participation in a criminal group, theft, property damage, and money laundering.     The operation commenced following an uptick in complaints and reports from travelers about thefts and...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 15-17 December 2023

Time to be Merry! A beautiful "winteresque" December weekend is ahead with an abundance of seasonal events to enjoy all around Gran Canaria. Christmas markets, concerts and other events like the Orange Fair in Telde, an early New Year party in Holidayworld Maspalomas. All of our featured events are free to attend and enjoy. Plenty of options to experience the tingling Xmas feeling with the family and friends and find the true spirit of Christmas, love! A very busy time indeed when it comes to...

Six Tourists Injured After Their Boat Overturns Off Mogán Coast

Six tourists were injured when their boat overturned of the coast of Mogán on Tuesday. Around 1:30 p.m., several calls alerted the 112 Canarias Emergency and Security Coordination Center (CECOES) to an accident at sea in coastal waters. An inflatable boat capsized after being hit by a wave. Onboard were six foreign tourists, confirm sources from 112 Canarias.   Image: Jose A. Puerto De Mogán, CC BY 2.0 Fortunately, the tourists...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 8-10 December 2023

  Just two weeks to go to start the long Yule Time Weekend and for some reason =) our #WeekendTips is heavily oriented towards holiday season events and festivities happening around Gran Canaria.  Santa Lucía is celebrating their Patron Saint's festivities and Agaete the festivities of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception this December. There are also two sporting events on the south of the island this weekend, as well as the Gran Canaria Bike Week. More "Lights-On" events to enjoy this...

Scooter Safety and Regulations in Spain and the Canary Islands: A Vital Guide

In the bustling streets of the Canary Islands tourist resorts, and across Spain, scooters have become an increasingly popular mode of personal mobility. However, with this rise in popularity comes a greater responsibility for safety and adherence to the law. The Local Traffic Police Unit of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and Sagulpa personnel have compiled a crucial set of guidelines to ensure the responsible use of scooters.   ...

15 year old Olivia Missing on Gran Canaria for more than 14 days

The authorities have activated an official missing persons search for one Olivia Karen Richardson, a 15-year-old, who was last seen on November 23 in the Agüimes area. The youth is 1.60 meters tall and has short, straight, brown hair. The Spanish SOS Desaparecidos Association has provided the following telephone numbers for anyone who can provide information about Olivia's whereabouts: 649952957 or 617126909.  

#GranCanariaWeather: A Little Overcast with Mild Temperatures, Warming Towards The Weekend

It's the Constitution Day Bridge Weekend, with bank holidays on Wednesday and Friday, meaning that many will have also taken off Thursday to make a five day break to start the seasonal shopping season.  Temperatures into the weekend looking to remain at between 18º and 24ºC in the shade. With the sun rising around 07:40 and setting again just after 6pm.  The waning crescent moon transitions to a new moon on December 12 so plenty of stars visible on clear nights as the gradually less visible...

GLAY+ Maspalomas World AIDS Day Commemoration at La Plaza De La Diversidad a Resounding Success

Yumbo, Playa del Inglés, Gran Canaria, December 1, 2023 - On Friday evening, December 1, La Plaza De La Diversidad GLAY+ Maspalomas, on the south of Gran Canaria, lit up with solidarity and community spirit as the GLAY+ Maspalomas association (Gays and Lesbians Associated of Yumbo, Maspalomas) led an emotional commemoration of World AIDS Day. The event, which began at 7:00 PM, with the participation of Amigos Contra El SIDA, Aula Darío Jaén, and Checkpoint Canarias, drew significant...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 1-3 December 2023

  The first weekend of December, the first rains of winter, and the count down to Christmas has begun in earnest. Friday is World AIDS Day, a day of remembrance and the celebration of life down at the Yumbo in Playa del Inglés.  There are more lights on events taking place around the island as well as Christmas Markets to enjoy. There is also the Mogán Avodacado Fair to explore in Arguineguín and a beach clean by the original Gran Canaria beach cleaners of Surf Canarias to join just to name a...

#GranCanariaWeather: PreAlerts for Thunderstorms, Wind and Heavy Rain in Places

A powerful storm looks set to sweep across the Canary Islands from west to east on Thursday and Friday, bringing rainfall that could be occasionally heavy and accompanied by thunderstorms, according to forecasts by the Spanish State Meteorological Agency (AEMET).   The Government of the Canary Islands, through the General Directorate of Emergencies, on Wednesday, declared the pre-alert for storms in the Canary Islands, starting...

New Meloneras Hotel For The South of Gran Canaria Begins Ambitious Urban Development Plan

The touristed south of Gran Canaria is set for some urban transformation with the licensing of a new five star hotel in the popular resort area of Meloneras, marking a major developmental milestone for the destination. The Urban Planning Council of San Bartolomé de Tirajana City Council plans to grant six Major Works licenses following their approval in the Government Board meeting to be held this Thursday November 30, granting Lopesan Touristik a license for a new 533-room hotel, representing...

Judicial Ruling Halts Major Maspalomas Commercial Park and Housing Plan in El Hornillo

Gran Canaria - The Canary Islands' High Court of Justice (TSJC) has upheld the annulment of the urban planning for El Hornillo, a contentious development project in Gran Canaria's tourism heartlands of San Bartolomé de Tirajana. The judgment reaffirmed a previous ruling by the Administrative Court Number 4 of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, which in May 2021 nullified the municipal town hall's already approved plans for a commercial park and over 300 homes.     [adrotate...

Court Revokes License for Luxury Hotel Project in Pasito Blanco

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria - In a recent legal ruling, the Administrative Court Number 2 of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria has annulled the license granted to Centro Helioterápico de Canarias for the construction of a luxury hotel by the Seaside Group at Pasito Blanco, located in the southern Gran Canaria municipality of San Bartolomé de Tirajana. The decision, issued on November 15, represents a major setback for what was an ambitious tourism project, highlighting ongoing challenges in balancing...

Canary Islands Aim to Regulate Vacation Homes Amidst Growing Concerns Over Housing

Canary Islands - The Canary Islands Regional Government is taking a proactive stance to regulate the burgeoning vacation home sector, with a new law expected to be introduced in the summer of 2024. The legislation will aim to curtail the rapid growth of vacation rentals, a trend that has consumed 35% of the lodgings market in the region. The law will ultimately grant local municipalities discretion to make the final decisions regarding the regulation of these properties. ...

Canary Islands’ Tourism Industry Already Hitting Record Highs This Winter Season

Canary Islands - The Canary Islands have launched their 2023-2024 winter tourism season, setting new records in the hotel industry and reinforcing their status as a premier European and global destination, and Europe's only sub-tropical winter sunshine destination. The main winter period, stretching from October 1 to March 31, typically marks the most lucrative phase of the year for the archipelago's tourism sector, known for its appealing climate and beautiful landscapes. ...

Canarian Gay Concentration Camp At Tefía To Be Recognised As A Place Of Democratic Memory

Underscoring Spain's commitment to confronting its Francoist past, Ángel Víctor Torres, the former President of the Canary Islands and now the newly announced national Spanish Government's Minister of Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory, in his first act of his new office, has announced the recognition of the Tefía LGBT+ concentration camp in Fuerteventura and the Sima de Jinámar, scene of fascistic murders on Gran Canaria, as places of democratic memory. This declaration will mark a...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 24-26 November 2023

What warm month it has been, and now it’s time to enjoy the last weekend of November with more typical seasonal weather. We have one busy weekend coming up, and that most American celebration of consumerism, the so-called Black Friday, can be clearly seen on Gran Canaria as well. Events to celebrate the switching on of Christmas lights continues and there is even a chance to enjoy the first Christmas markets. The works for the Belén de Arena- the Sand Art Nativity 2023-24  are already taking...

Playa del Inglés Annexo II Shopping Centre Demolition Proposal Revealed At XI Tourism Forum

This Thursday it was revealed that the Environmental Department of the Cabildo de Gran Canaria, island government, has returned an unfavorable assessment of the latest proposed renovations project for the Annexo II shopping centre in Playa del Inglés, in the tourism heartlands of the south of Gran Canaria. They have argued that the project is simply incompatible with the conservation of the Dunes Special Natural Reserve, suggesting that the building be completely demolished and reconstructed...

2.1 Magnitude Earthquake Shakes Santa Lucía in Gran Canaria

Santa Lucía de Tirajana, Gran Canaria - An earthquake with a magnitude of 2.1 rattled the interior of the Gran Canaria municipality of Santa Lucía de Tirajana this Thursday evening. According to data from the Instituto Geográfico Nacional (IGN), Spain's national geological institute, the tremor occurred at precisely 20:07 local time and was registered at a depth of approximately 25 kilometers. Thankfully, this seismic event went pretty much unnoticed by the local population. ...

Missing Swedish Tourist Anna-Karin Bengtsson Found Deceased on Gran Canaria

Anna-Karin Bengtsson, a 52-year-old Swedish tourist, mysteriously disappeared on Gran Canaria around April 9. She was last seen in person on that day, having checked out of the Abora Buenaventura hotel in Playa del Inglés, where she had gone, it seems, to continue working on her doctoral thesis on special education and textbook writing.   She had gone there the day before and after settling her bill, and spending some time in the...

38th Atlantic Rally for Cruisers sets sail from Gran Canaria

A light southerly breeze and bright sunshine accompanied the 156 yachts participating in the 38th Atlantic Rally for Cruisers as they departed Gran Canaria bound for Saint Lucia, 2700 nautical miles away.   Leading the ARC 2023 fleets were Pierre de Saint-Vincent’s Piment Rouge (FRA) an Outremer 51 in the Multihull Division, followed by Marjolijn van Oordt’s Swan 52-3 Gaia (NLD) in the Racing Division. The 91-strong Cruising...

Resurfacing work Starting Sunday November 19 on the GC-500 Will Cause Nighttime Closures and Detours

The Cabildo de Gran Canaria, through its Department of Public Works and Infrastructure led by Vice President Augusto Hidalgo, has announced the start of road resurfacing works on the GC-500 road between Arguineguín and Tauro in Mogán. The scheduled work beginning on Sunday, November 19th, is part of a larger project to renovate road surfaces across the southern sector of the island's road network, with an estimated cost of €450,000 earmarked for this specific segment.  ...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 17-19 November 2023

  Well, just six weekends till the Yuletime winter celebrations get going in earnest and the fine warm weather continues over this sunny weekend on Gran Canaria. Agüimes are to be the first municipality to officially switch-on their Christmas lights this Saturday. In Arguineguín,  the Tuna and Sea Fair seeks to hearken back to when this little town was populated only with fisher folk and Santa Brígida is hosting the Km.0 Gran Canaria Fair for the first time. There are also three big sporting...

Hillside fire in Puerto Rico de Gran Canaria

A fire this Wednesday afternoon, apparently on the hillside behind an apartment complex in the tourist resort town of Puerto Rico de Gran Canaria, in the municipality of Mogán, has forced the evacuation of the fifth floor of the building due to flames being in close proximity, according to the 112 Canarias main emergency coordination centre.   According to the Canary Islands' Emergency and Security Coordinating Centre, firefighters...

Spanish Democracy In Action: Proposed Amnesty Law Promotes Dialogue Over Conflict

There appears to be some vocal division throughout Spain right now, in particular following the July 23 General Election, which left no one party with enough of a majority to form a government without coalition and consensus. The conservative Partido Popular (PP) were invited, as the most voted-for party, to try to form a government but were unable to muster sufficient votes in the Congress of Deputies (Spain's lower house of representatives), despite backing from the controversial Spanish...

Conservative and Far Right Protests Against Pedro Sanchez Madrid PSOE Amnesty Policy

Protests on Sunday in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria expressed discontent with the agreement signed last week, which aims to initiate a framework for negotiated solutions over the coming months between the Government of Spain and Catalan independence parties, this is to include the promotion of an amnesty policy to avoid criminalising politicians with a legitimate mandate and instead seek political dialogue and recognition that Madrid and Barcelona are not in agreement.  ...

NC-BC Councillors Demand Extended Audits Amid Allegations of Contract Fragmentation by Mogán Mayor

Nueva Canarias-Bloque Canarista (NC-BC) councillors, Javier Romero and Juan Manuel Gabella, have formally requested additional audits on minor contracts dating back to July 2015 in the southern town hall administration of Mogán. The move follows recent initiation of yet another judicial proceeding investigating potential contract fragmentation, specifically aimed at circumventing public contract regulations, allegedly to favour individual companies and undermine fair competition. The...

#GranCanariaWeather: 30ºC+ and Clear Skies for the Week Ahead

This week on Gran Canaria a return of warmer temperatures and clear skies, according to the latest forecast from the Spanish State Meteorological Agency, AEMET. This third week of November will bring a notable rise in temperatures, particularly for the southern regions and in the capital, Las Palmas.   The week starts with clear skies, occasional high clouds, and a slight presence of calima, notably in the east. Temperatures are...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 10-12 November 2023

  We're already at the second weekend of November already (Just 6 more Fridays till Yule Time!) and it is going to be a beautiful one with some pretty awesome events happening all around Gran Canaria. The festive season officially starts this weekend with the first, of many, "Christmas lights-on" events this Saturday at Mogan Mall in Puerto Rico de Gran Canaria. The weekend highlights includes WOMAD, World Music And Dance festival, in the capital. The big 'Feria del Sureste' (ideal for those...

“Checkpoint Canarias” offer FREE Sexual Health screening on Gran Canaria

Checkpoint Canarias was established in 2022 having emerged from a group of LGBT business men who wanted to build on the work of British resident and activist, Jim Philips, of the Facebook group "Gay Gran Canaria", in providing guidance and information, particularly on drugs like PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis), a medicine that reduces your chances of getting HIV from sex or injection drug use.   When taken as prescribed, PrEP is...

Maspalomas PRIDE Founders GLAY+ Support New LGBTQIA+ Rainbow Helpline 028 Arcoíris

The Founders of Maspalomas PRIDE Gran Canaria, GLAY+ Maspalomas,  have long advocated for the creation of guidance services dealing specifically with public issues around LGBTQIA+ identity.  Homophobia is the second most common cause of hate crime in Spain. This year GLAY+ is very proud to be able to support the Spanish Ministry of Equality who have for the first time launched a 24-hour Helpline Service, named "028 Arcoíris", which provides multilingual information and comprehensive care...

Gran Canaria chosen by British travel agents as the best LGBTQ+ destination of the year

Gran Canaria has been distinguished as the premier LGBTQ+ travel destination for 2023 by British travel agents, with the Travel Bulletin Star Award for LGBTQ+ Destination of the year. The island was honoured, at the end of October, among the top destinations of the year. The print and online publication, according to the Gran Canaria tourism board, is highly regarded within the UK tourism industry, and the only UK magazine exclusively for travel agents. The event, which saw over 500 sector...

Tragic Turn on GC-1: 83 year old Driver Dies; Two Women Injured Near Playa del Inglés

In a tragic incident on Gran Canaria's GC-1 motorway, an 83-year-old driver lost his life on Saturday after suffering a fainting spell, leading to his vehicle veering off the road near the Playa del Inglés junction. The accident, which occurred at 5:33 PM in the municipality of San Bartolomé de Tirajana, also resulted in minor injuries to two female passengers aged 70 and 73.   Emergency services were promptly alerted, and upon...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 3-5 November 2023

  Hello November and mid-autumn events. This weekend is full of all sorts. There is Canarian Wine, Cheese and Honey fair on offer in the old mountain market town of San Mateo, clowns have taken over nearby Valsequillo, Fashion & Friends, a Manga Festival and the first ARC sailboat departures to enjoy in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and many weekend markets all around the island. Here are our top picks for the first weekend of November on Gran Canaria![button link="#WeekendTips"...

Marijuana Cultivation for Therapeutic Personal Use Protected in Canary Islands Landmark Ruling, As Provincial Court Sets Precedent

In a landmark decision that could reshape the legal landscape of cannabis use in Spain, the Provincial Court of Santa Cruz de Tenerife has acquitted three German nationals charged with cultivating nearly ten kilos of marijuana. The court's ruling acknowledged the lack of evidence beyond the quantity of cannabis to suggest any intent to distribute, marking a significant shift in the interpretation of Spain's drug laws.   The...

Major Drug Ring Dismantled in Maspalomas’ Kasbah Shopping Centre, 9 arrests

The Kasbah in Playa del Inglés was the very first shopping and leisure centre to have been built in the south of Gran Canaria, and its seen its fair share of the night time economy over the years. Anyone who has visited late at night will possible have also witnessed large numbers of PRs, along with suspected drug dealers and prostitutes, and the occasional clip joint all able to exist quite openly around the entrances to the late night venues and bars.  However it seems someone has finally...

Explosions Damage Houses in Smara, Western Sahara, Prompting Swift UN Investigation

In the early hours of Sunday, October 29, a series of at least four explosions reverberated through the city of Smara in the occupied territory of Western Sahara, resulting in one death and leaving three injured, with two in critical condition. This sobering event, in the country closest to The Canary Islands, has prompted swift action from local authorities. They've confirmed details to the Moroccan official news agency MAP, while the independence fighters of the Front Polisario, engaged in a...

Canary Islands Tourism Minister Talks Aim At Vacations Rentals Regulations

The new Tourism Minister of the Government of the Canary Islands, Jessica de León, has tried to set a clear objective for her first term: to regulate holiday homes and address the distortions they are causing in the archipelago. These issues bear similarities to those occurring in other cities in Spain and around the world, prompting the need for measures to be taken. For instance, in New York, there's a requirement that the property cannot be entirely rented to guests, and the owners must...

Policía Local Traffic Controls Fine Unauthorised Bus Service in Playa del Inglés

Local Police in Gran Canaria's southern municipality of San Bartolomé de Tirajana, which includes the tourism resort areas of Playa del Inglés and Maspalomas, conducted static traffic controls in various areas over the weekend, resulting in various fines for drivers of non-compliant heavy vehicles.   The Policía Local carried out static traffic controls in several tourist hotspots in an initiative aimed at ensuring compliance with...

NOCHE DE FINAOS vs. HALLOWEEN 2023 – GRAN CANARIA

  Wednesday, 1st of November 2023 is a National bank holiday throughout Spain. Government buildings, offices and banks will be closed, including some of the Shopping centres and stores, so it's a good idea to double check opening hours before planning a shopping trip, particularly outside the tourist zones.   The 31st of October has long been celebrated here in The Canary Islands. A most traditional celebration where families...

Midday aerial display over Las Canteras in the capital this Sunday

If you are in the capital today, look up! At midday this Sunday, a commemoration event for the 110th anniversary of Aviation in the Canary Islands will take place at Las Canteras beach. The event, organised by the Aerial Command of the Canary Islands, features the remarkable Patrulla Águila and the Acrobatic Parachuting patrols of the Air and Space Army putting on a show for all below.   The activities kicked off on October 27th...

Nighttime Road Closures on GC-1 around Gran Canaria Airport

Nighttime Road Closures on the main GC-1 highway will affect traffic around Gran Canaria Airport, due to planned asphalting on sections between Ingenio and Telde.  From Sunday October 29 until the end of the work every night until at least Thursday from 10:30 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.   Starting from this Sunday through to Thursday, with the exception of Tuesday ahead of the national bank holiday on Wednesday, the Cabildo de Gran Canaria...

Maspalomas Policía Nacional Inspector Implicated in Major Corruption Case

This week, a member of the Policía Nacional, specifically associated with the Junta de Auxiliares de Servicios Auxiliares (J.A.S.A.), has been implicated in a case involving a range of serious charges. These charges include threats, coercion, crimes against property, disclosure of secrets, and money laundering. The individual in question is one of four individuals detained in a recent operation, which also involved searches of their residences. This inspector is currently stationed at the...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 27-29 October 2023

  It's the last weekend of October and the traditional Noche de Finaos aka, more recently on these islands, as Halloween or All Hallows Eve, the night before Día de Difuntos, All Saints’ Day, is coming up on next Wednesday, 1 November which is also a public holiday throughout Spain. The Maspalomas Rally is celebrating it's 50 anniversary this weekend and the clocks 'fall' back this Sunday night as 2 am becomes 1 am. Winter is on it's way! There are some gorgeous traditional festivities...

Warplanes over Gran Canaria: Ocean Sky ’23

Anyone passing through Gran Canaria airport this week may have noticed large numbers of fighter jets and other military aircraft taking off and landing at the Gando airbase next door, as part of the annual NATO DACT exercises which bring together a selection of top of the range fighters to test, train and evaluate pilots from across the NATO alliance. Ocean Sky-23, conducted by the Spanish Air and Space Force, invites international participation from some of the best of the best and has been...

Low-level Puerto Rico drug dealer arrested after trying to avoid the police

A suspected small-time drug dealer has been arrested in the popular tourist town of Puerto Rico de Gran Canaria after having been found in possession of fifteen packets of cocaine and two pieces of what is thought to be hashish, all divided into individual doses and ready for sale.   The incident occurred near the nightlife and leisure area of the Puerto Rico Shopping Center, where businesses owners and tourists have reported time...

#GranCanariaWeather: Storm Bernard Rains Impact Gran Canaria With An Unsettled Week Ahead

Parts of Gran Canaria experienced significant rainfall this weekend due to the passing of Storm Bernard, leading to disruptions primarily on the island's roadways. The mountain town of Teror received the highest rainfall, accumulating 41 litres per square meter, followed by Valleseco and the capital Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, all on the north of the island.   Traffic Disruptions Heavy rain in Las Palmas led to multiple road...

Meloneras Nightclub Businesses Again Closed by Southern Town Hall

Meloneras, Gran Canaria – Tensions escalated this week between the San Bartolomé de Tirajana local council and businesses at the Meloneras commercial centre, as the authorities ordered the closure of four outdoor terraces, including the popular Aqua nightclub, a club that has been reportedly operating without all the appropriate permissions for some years.   The Policia Local executed a municipal order last Thursday, acting on a...

Suspect in Gáldar Axe Attack Appears at Hearing, Held Without Bail

Gáldar, Gran Canaria - A 35-year-old man identified by the initials J.A.G.T. has been remanded in custody without bail, following his arrest for the fatal axe attack on one man and the serious injuring of another. The attacks occurred in the early hours of last Friday in a residence on Calle Delgado in Gáldar, Gran Canaria. The suspect was ordered to be held in preventive custody by the Court of First Instance and Preliminary Investigation No. 3 in Santa María de Guía. Image: Gáldar CC A-SA...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 20-22 October 2023

  Autumn has finally arrived on Gran Canaria, a little later than expected, and the first really rainy days of the season are here. There are many different kinds of festivities and events to enjoy this weekend, including a romería pilgrimage offering, an electric vehicle (EV) show, high energy performances as part of Masdanza and a Bio Market to enjoy in the capital Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Remember that weather conditions might cause any outdoor event to be postponed or changed....

“Maspaterror” a halloween event: Maspalomas succumbs to the terror of climate change

The Department of Youth of San Bartolomé de Tirajana town hall is hosting a participatory show "Maspaterror" in the Parque Sur Maspalomas to raise awareness among the population about the many conditions of the climate and its repercussions for life on the Planet​. [A Spanish Language Event]   The Parque Urbano del Sur will host the first Maspaterror show-tent this weekend, a recreational activity organized by the Youth Department...

#GranCanariaWeather: Canary Islands to Experience Significant Changes, Says AEMET

Gran Canaria, Canary Islands — After an unprecedented heatwave since the beginning of October, the Canary Islands are now poised for a dramatic shift in weather conditions. According to the Spanish State Meteorological Agency (AEMET), with a rain front set to move across the archipelago, accompanied by a substantial drop in temperatures.   AEMET spokesperson, Rubén del Campo, has said that a cooler and more humid Atlantic air mass...

San Bartolomé de Tirajana Begins Mass Cat Sterilisation Program in Compliance with New Animal Welfare Law

It's been more than ten years since the animal respect charity TARA first advocated for and ran a mass sterilisation program or feral cats, in their private enterprise supported by Danish vets they managed to sterilise more than 300 cats in less than one week.  Now the southern municipality of San Bartolomé de Tirajana has initiated their own large-scale sterilisation campaign targeting urban feline colonies, the very first municipality in The Canary Islands to do so. This move is in line with...

House Prices in the Canary Islands Increase by Nearly 9%, According to Tinsa

In September, the price of housing, both new and used, saw a significant uptick of almost 9% in the Canary Islands compared to the same month of the previous year, as reported by the appraiser Tinsa, the leading independent provider of real estate valuation and appraisal services in Spain. The company specialises in assessing the value of residential and commercial properties, providing important insights into the real estate market. Tinsa's services are widely used by individuals, businesses,...

Electricity Prices in the Canary Islands Surge by 42% Amidst Global Energy Market Impact

The ongoing conflict in the middle-east, between Hamas and Israel, is reverberating across global energy markets, and the Canary Islands are no exception. Gas prices have surged by 44.6% since the start of the Gaza conflict on October 7th, reaching €55.30 per megawatt-hour (MWh) in the European reference market, the Dutch TTF. In parallel, Brent crude oil has increased by 7.7% over the past week, reaching $91 per barrel.   The...

Ryanair launches its largest winter schedule for 23/24 to Gran Canaria Airport

Ryanair is one of the most popular airlines for holidays in Spain and the one that schedules the most flights to Gran Canaria Airport with its 23/24 winter schedule. The airline will have 34 routes, including increased frequencies on 15 routes to cities such as Berlin, Bristol, Budapest, Krakow and Milan. In addition, Ryanair welcomes 15 million passengers at Gran Canaria Airport since the start of its operations in 2009.    ...

Fight against the naturalisation of the exotic Yemen chameleon invader on Gran Canaria

• 137 specimens have been captured on Gran Canaria since 2017 to prevent this species from becoming consolidated on the island. The Department of Environment, Climate, Energy and Knowledge of the Cabildo of Gran Canaria, through the company Territorial and Environmental Management and Planning (Gesplan), and in coordination with the Canary Islands Early Warning Network of Invasive Exotic Species (RedEXOS), have removed from the environment, between captures and specimens collected after...

Missing 15-year-old, Olivia, Found Safe & Well And Back With Her Mother

Olivia has now been reunited with her mother and is safe and well. 15 year old Olivia was last seen at around 3pm on Friday 13th of October, when she left her home in Cruce de Arinaga, on the south east of Gran Canaria near to Vecindario, to take some rubbish out but never came back. According to her mother Linda she’s got no phone or money on her or her bus pass. She was wearing black jeans with black and white converse trainers.   [adrotate...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 13-15 October 2023

  It is an October bridge weekend (puente) for most on Gran Canaria. Thursday was a public holiday in Spain, celebrating Spanishness, and schools were closed from Wednesday to Friday due heatwave in the Canary Islands. There are some intriguing events and festivities to explore and to enjoy. The best of the best will gather on the Gáldar coast once again to compete in the Bodyboard world championship at Frontón King 2023.Patron Saint festivities of Archangel San Rafael are starting in...

#GranCanariaWeather: Heatwave to End This Weekend as Rain and Cooler Temperatures Approach

After experiencing an unusually warm start to October, the Canary Islands are set to witness a significant change in weather conditions starting next week.   Last Days of Heat Gran Canaria, along with Tenerife, Lanzarote, and Fuerteventura, is currently under a yellow weather warning for high temperatures, which will continue through Saturday, October 14. Temperatures in specific areas, including the south and east-west basins of...

Mogán Mayor Rejects Temporarily Accommodating Elderly Care Patients in Hotels

Disapproval Voiced In Regional Parliament of the CC/PP Government's Handling of Mayor O Bueno's Opposition to Using an Apartment Complex as a Transitional Residence for Patients Discharged from Hospitals. "With Wealthy Nordics, There Would Be No Problem" PSOE Accuse.   Mogán, Canary Islands - The controversy over the use of a hotel in Mogán as a temporary residence for elderly patients with nowhere else to go and no-one to support them, has deepened...

Tenerife Forest Fire Reactivation Intensifies, Leading to Evacuations Amid Unprecedented Conditions

The ongoing forest fire on Tenerife, initially started back in August, has worsened, necessitating an elevation, once more, to a Level 2 emergency status as of this Monday. This escalation led to the precautionary evacuation of 110 residents from Las Calderetas, Campo de Tiro, and Carril del Polvo, along with 500 dogs and 25 horses, which have been relocated to the Casa del Ganadero in La Laguna.   Manuel Miranda, the Canary...

Air Europa Advises Customers to Cancel Cards Following Cyberattack on Payment Systems

Gran Canaria, Canary Islands – Airline operator Air Europa has fallen victim to a cyberattack, specifically targeting the payment environment of their website. The airline has been in contact with affected customers, urging them to cancel their payment cards as a precautionary measure, despite no confirmed cases of fraud.         The airline discovered a cybersecurity issue that impacted the payment system used for...

All School Classes Suspended in Canary Islands Due to High Temperatures

The Government of the Canary Islands, through the Ministry of Education, Vocational Training, Physical Activity and Sports, has urgently decreed the suspension of teaching and extracurricular activities this Wednesday, October 11 and Friday, October 13 in non-university educational centres, due to the pre-alert situation for high temperatures. The measure affects students and all staff at public, subsidised and private centres on Wednesday and Friday of this week because of the sustained...

Migrant Returns Planned on Flights to Senegal as Canary Islands’ Tensions Rise With Madrid

Spain's Interior Ministry, led by Fernando Grande-Marlaska, is preparing a series of return flights to send migrants who have arrived on the islands this year back to Senegal. The first flight is expected to take off before the end of this month. The move comes as the Canary Islands grapple with an unprecedented surge in migrant arrivals, not seen since 2006.         The Spanish Interior Ministry confirmed that they...

#GranCanariaWeather: Islands Sizzle In Record-Breaking October Heatwave As Temperatures Soar Above 40°C In The Shade

Gran Canaria has been exceptionally hot over recent days. For the past week, the Canary Islands have consistently ranked among the highest temperatures recorded by Spain's State Meteorological Agency, AEMET, with temperatures exceeding 40ºC in the shade.  The summer of 2022 was recently declared to have been the hottest throughout Spain in 700 years, with many predicting 2023 to be the hottest year ever recorded globally, we are certainly feeling the effects of warmer weather here on The...

David visited Puerto Rico de Gran Canaria for his first ever solo holiday, and loved it.

Meet "Dange89" aka, scotsman, David A. Taylor. This is the simple story of a friendly young man visiting Puerto Rico de Gran Canaria for the first time on his own, who finds a real sense of community in the online social media groups set up to help holidaymakers connect with accurate advice from real people.  It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice.           Puerto Rico de Gran Canaria,...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 6-8 October 2023

  October is the new summer this year, at least when it comes to weather. The high temperatures continue with a hot weekend ahead. It's going to be busy in the capital, with a multitude of events and festivities taking place from Big Bang Vintage Festival to the more traditional festivities of El Naval in La Isleta and many more. There is also the coastal festival 'Cangrejo Fest' to enjoy in Arucas and the Masdanza festival's free performances to enjoy at the viewpoint over the Dunas, as well...

19.8% Rise In Migrant Arrivals on The Canary Islands Leads To Calls for State Assistance

The Canary Islands have seen a near 20% increase in migrant arrivals by boat during the first nine months of 2023 compared to the same period in 2022, according to the latest data from the Ministry of the Interior. Despite this rise in migrants, the number of boats arriving has actually decreased by 3.2%, from 279 last year to 270 so far this year.           A Surge in Cayucos The increased number of migrants...

Latest on Tenerife Forest Fire Reactivation: Severity Level 2, Over 3,000 Residents Evacuated

Wednesday's reactivation of the forest fire in Tenerife, thought to be well under control, has escalated due to changing wind conditions and high temperatures. Its severity has now been raised to Level 2, leading the Canary Islands Government to assume control of the firefighting operations.           Key Statistics - 30 hectares affected - Over 3,200 residents evacuated - 130 people spent the night in...

October Scorcher: Historic Orange Alert for Canary Islands Sweating Under Near-Record Temperatures

The Spanish State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) has escalated its heat warnings in the Canary Islands, moving Gran Canaria from a yellow to an orange advisory, indicating significant danger. Remarkably, AEMET has stressed that this is the first time ever that it has had to activate a warning of this level (significant danger) during the month of October anywhere in Spain.         The orange warning came into effect...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 29 September – 1 October 2023

  A gorgeous and exciting last weekend of September ahead as we also say Hello to October! There are many interesting events and festival are taking place this weekend like the free music festival "Tourifest" in Playa del Ingles, the North Coast Festival in Moya. There are patron saints' festivities to enjoy in Valsequillo, Agüimes and in Valleseco as well as a double fair in Ingenio with Km.0 Fair Gran Canaria and Feria del Sol. The EPIC coast-to-coast charity walk "The Long Walk Gran...

Fishing Boat “Attacked by Marlin” Near Lanzarote; Nearly Sinks with Five Crew Onboard

In a rare incident, a tuna fishing boat was reportedly "attacked" by a marlin yesterday, leading to an emergency situation some 30 miles off the coast of Lanzarote. The 90-ton vessel was in peril, endangering the lives of its five crew members.         Responding to the crisis, non-profit emergency service NGO, Emergencias de Lanzarote (Emerlan), managed to reach the struggling vessel. The crew had already installed...

Potatoes from UK to Canary Islands to Resume Following Imports Scare

Right now the Colorado beetle plague, which forced the commercial flow of this product from the United Kingdom to be interrupted, has been controlled, but it is not eradicated. Following Monday's Government Council meeting, Minister of Agriculture, Narvay Quintero stressed that when the risk is over, the Ministry of Agriculture, which has jurisdiction, will lift the phytosanitary restrictions. The Canary Islands are set to see the return of potato imports from the United Kingdom after...

Spain’s Central Government Rejects Mogán Mayor’s Stance on Migrant Burials; PSOE Calls Her Actions Racist

Spain's central government has clarified that the responsibility for covering the burial costs of migrants who die at sea rests firmly with local municipalities. This clarification comes in response to La Alcaldesa, O. Bueno, the current mayoress of Mogán on Gran Canaria, having recently declared that her municipality will no longer fund these burials.         The government cited a 1974 public health regulation that...

Upcoming Annular Solar Eclipse Should be Partially Visible on Gran Canaria just before sunset

The onset of autumn brings with it a slew of astronomical events, including a partial solar eclipse scheduled for this October 14, 2023. The eclipse will be annular, primarily visible in the Americas. However, it will also be partially visible in the Canary Islands, including on Gran Canaria, albeit with very low magnitudes. From the five westernmost Canary Islands (El Hierro, La Palma, La Gomera, Tenerife and Gran Canaria), the eclipse will be barely noticeable since the sunset will occur...

Increased Scrutiny Over Plans for World’s First Commercial Octopus Farm in Las Palmas

The Spanish multinational fishing company, Nueva Pescanova, has been planning to launch the world's first commercial octopus farm in Gran Canaria's port of Las Palmas. Expected to produce about 3,000 tonnes of octopus meat annually, the proposed facility is attracting widespread attention and criticism.  Much of the scientific community, as well as animal activists, have expressed opposition to the controversial plans.         [adrotate...

#GranCanariaWeather: A Mild Start to Autumn with Variable Skies and Daytime Temperatures in the high 20s

As Gran Canaria ushers in the first week of Autumn, a bit of a mixed bag in terms of weather, generally warm across the island in the mid to upper 20s, and characterised by some varying levels of cloudiness and steady temperatures.         This Week's Temperature Outlook Daytime temperatures are expected to hover around 28º to 29ºC in the shade on the south, although it will be considerably hotter when exposed to...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 22-24 September 2023

  Autumn is here, and it is the start of the apple harvest, as the fall equinox arrives this weekend. The weather predictions are promising some cloud cover and possibly even a little rain, mostly in the evenings/nightime at the summits and to the north, but best just to wait and see as Gran Canaria weather is usually fantastic particularly on the south of the island. There is so much going on this weekend, there is little bit of something for everyone.There is a wide range of events this...

Booyaka CLA gets asked “How Much?” live in Puerto Rico Shopping Centre

A rather infamous and, you might even say, outspoken Tiktoker landed in Puerto Rico de Gran Canaria for a holiday last week.  With her outlandish catchphrase "Roots darling, roots!" and a bombastic attitude on full display, Chelsea Lee Arts is not, shall we say, everybody's cup of tea; though she can boast more than 4m likes on the video sharing platform.  She is certainly a larger than life personality in many ways who, according to some reports, struggles with bipolar issues, and say some,...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 15-17 September 2023

  A busy September weekend ahead! There are traditional patron saints' festivities just getting started and some just finishing up. Guía are celebrating their very traditional Las Marías festivities, there is a Romería pilgrimage offering in the mountain town of Tejeda, a Wine and Tapas Night to enjoy in Playa de Mogán, as well as various 'End of Summer' celebrations in few different locations. Autumn is just round the corner. For sports fans there is the Maspalomas Open Water swimming...

#GranCanariaWeather: Some wet weather on the way this Sunday, particularly to the north

Over the next few days Gran Canaria weather is expected to be influenced by a front associated with a low-pressure system formed in northern Portugal. According to the State Meteorological Agency (AEMET), this will bring rain to the islands over the weekend. The northern areas of Gran Canaria, Tenerife, La Palma, Fuerteventura, and Lanzarote are expected to be most affected.         On Friday, the northern parts of...

Microalgae can be good for the environment, say scientists who have developed early warning systems

This summer some Gran Canaria's beaches, particularly Las Canteras in the capital and the coast of Mogán on the southwest of the island, have been affected by significant algal blooms. A team of experts from the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, the Institute of Mathematical Sciences (Icmat), CSIC, and Digital Earth Solutions (DES) report that they have determined these blooms are likely to become more common over the years to come, due to the warming of the Atlantic Ocean in the...

Mogán Town Hall ask people not to try to remove or eat the potentially deadly pufferfish washing up on the beaches

The Mogán Town Council has finally made a statement regarding the masses of dead fish, first reported by The Canary News,  that have been washing up on the southwestern shores of Gran Canaria over recent days and weeks, saying that "Since the situation was detected, the Council has maintained direct and constant contact with the General Directorate of Public Health of the Government of the Canary Islands."         [adrotate...

#GranCanariaWeather: Dead puffer fish, rains from the north & warm seas to the south

The weather outlook for the coming days on Gran Canaria suggests a predominance of cloud cover to the north, with light showers likely in the capital Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.  The touristed beaches of south of the island will likely escape any wet weather, though there is always a chance at this time of year. The coastal waters around The Canary Islands have been unusually warm this year, which seems to have led to a few surprises for swimmers...     [adrotate...

Cardiac arrest victim in tauro evacuated by helicopter from Taurito

This Saturday at approximately 16:52, an emergency near a hotel pool in the Tauro area of Mogán, Gran Canaria was reported involving a male individual who was experiencing a cardiac and respiratory arrest.         Upon receiving the alert, the main Canary Islands 112 Coordinating Centre for Emergencies and Security (CECOES) immediately activated the necessary emergency resources. An off-duty emergency health...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 8-10 September 2023

  There is always a grand set of events across the island at this time of the year, with two of the most popular traditional annual celebrations on Gran Canaria happening back to back this weekend. The festive days began on Thursday in pretty little merchant town of Teror with the main harvest Romería pilgramage for the island, an offering in honour of the patron saint of Gran Canaria, Our Lady of the Pine with 22 carts carrying summer produce, representing all the municipalities on the island...

Mogán auditor investigates the legalities of town hall contracts from 2019-2022

The financial controller or "Interventor" of Gran Canaria's south western municipality of Mogán, an auditor who is responsible for overseeing and ensuring the legality and proper financial management of public funds in a governmental or municipal context, is now closely examining all minor contracts entered into by the town hall during the last mandate, between 2019 and 2022. The municipal official has initiated a supervisory action to investigate, among other things, the volume of direct...

Older drivers: Renewing Your License in Spain and the Canary Islands

Concerns about renewing your driving license are common among older individuals, writes Spanish language daily La Provincia. Many believe that once they reach a certain age, they can no longer drive a motor vehicle. However, the Spanish General Directorate of Traffic (DGT) has provided clear information regarding the conditions for renewing a driving license if you are among the older population, aiming to eliminate any confusion.      ...

Is there a potato shortage in The Canary Islands? Gran Canaria president says certainly no!

Gran Canaria Island President, Antonio Morales, has made clear this Tuesday that there is no potato shortage on the island. He believes that the rising prices, in some places up 60% in just the last week, are simply due to what he has called a "made-up controversy" and an unnecessary panic. He has insisted that there is no real problem with the potato supply.         In response to the Canarian Association of...

Tenerife Declared ‘Catastrophic Zone’ by Spanish Government After Wildfires and Floods

The Spanish government Council of Ministers, this Tuesday, has officially declared Tenerife, along with other areas affected by wildfires and floods up until August, as a "catastrophic zone." This decision comes after devastating wildfires have raged across the island, causing extensive damage estimated at €80.4 million, according to the Tenerife Island Council, the Cabildo de Tenerife.         Spain's President,...

The Canary archipelago’s warmest and most humid August since 1961

August 2023 has been the warmest and most humid in the Canary Islands since 1961, with an average temperature of 25.4ºC, which is to say 2.3º higher than the usual average temperatures expected for this time of year. There was an average of 2.6 mm of rainfall, which is more than double (124% higher) than would normally be expected. These data over this past month show the region to have been extremely warm and very humid, according to the climatological report by the Canary Islands branch of...

The Canary Guide Weekend Tips 1-3 September 2023

  Hello September! What a summer it has been, and as we roll towards the autumn there is a full weekend of activities ahead, with various events and fairs to go and see. Some of our favourite highlights include southern mangos and summer avocados in Playa de Mogán, various music festivals and concerts to bid farewell to summer and multiple Patron Saints' festivities around the island. The best thing being, all of the cultural events and traditional fiestas listed here are free to attend and...

Eight injured in shocking Fuerteventura car crash, driver tests negative for drink or drugs

Eight people, including two minors, were injured in an accident on Thursday when a vehicle crashed into a bar terrace on the popular Avenida Nuestra Señora del Carmen, in the tourist town of Corralejo, on  Fuerteventura.         The driver who collided with two terraces tested negative for alcohol or drugs, as confirmed by police sources. The man, a British national, was among the eight people evacuated by...

Gran Canaria Weather: Autumn Calling as Rains Start to Reach the Mainland and Northern Shores

According to Spanish Language Daily, La Provincia, a DANA (isolated high-level cold front) is expected to reach peninsular Spain this Friday, September 1st, bringing rain and a noticeable drop in temperatures over the weekend. Maximum day time temperatures in many northern and inland regions of the country will not exceed 25ºC due to atmospheric instability. The arrival of this DANA marks the beginning of meteorological autumn, say meteorologists.     [adrotate...

New Spanish law obliges all dog owners to take out annual insurance from September

Starting from September, when new animal regulations come into force, dog owners in Spain will need to go through a new process to comply with the changes to the law. Everyone of them will be required to obtain liability insurance for their pets, in accordance with the recently enacted Law 7/2023 for the protection of animal rights and welfare.         This new regulations, published last March, consolidate rules...

Flight Chaos for Gran Canaria and Canary Islands caused by UK Air Traffic System Glitch

Numerous flight cancellations and delays have disrupted travel plans at several airports in the Canary Islands, including Gran Canaria, Tenerife Sur, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura. The disruptions this Monday stemmed from technical issues with UK air traffic control system. Over 100 flights to and from various British cities have been affected due to a failure in the automatic flight processing system. This forced the need to manually input flight data, slowing down the overall process. The...

Eleven Days From Blaze to Stability on Tenerife: The Canary Islands Battle Against Unpredictable Fires

During this past Saturday night, rains recorded on the northern part of Tenerife Island have successfully cooled the area where a wild fire has burned for nearly two weeks, and increased humidity, which has facilitated operational work over recent hours, and significant reactivations have not occurred.  Scientists and climate researchers warn that we can expect more of these kinds of unpredictable fires.         The...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 25-27 August 2023

  It's the last weekend of the traditional holiday month of August, which will mean a slow down to some of the summer-season tourism traffic, in the southern enclaves, as local preparations get underway for a new school year to start. Others in the south are starting to build towards the main winter season, with many older Nordic travellers about to head south for the winter. The summer weather, as ever, continues on Gran Canaria, with warm, sometimes too warm, daytime temperatures predicted...

Spanish King Felipe invites PP to try to form a government

Following the meetings of the main party leaders with King Felipe, who followed convention by inviting the candidate with the most number of votes to try to form a government, there is now a set date for the first investiture debate of the Spanish government. The President of the Congress, Francina Armengol, announced this Wednesday morning that the sessions will take place on September 26 and 27.         During...

Tenerife Latest: Wildfire was started intentionally, now being stabilised. Helicopter disabled by man in his 80s

The massive forest fire on Tenerife is currently in a stabilisation phase, with some reactivations occurring overnight in both the higher altitude areas of the south and the north. However, these reactivations have been successfully contained by the firefighting teams. The situation is expected to see further reactivations throughout much of the perimeter today due to the high temperatures, according to the 112 Canary Islands' Emergency and Rescue Coordination Centre, as shared on their social...

Serious Public Environmental Concerns Voiced On The Beaches of Mogán

Deputy Mayor Mencey Navarro, has revealed, this Monday, that the red flag was raised on Playa del Cura following a decision by the lifeguard there upon learning that there had been a sewerage overflow in a beach culvert.  However, he stressed, the problem was resolved "quickly", as the issue identified was "specific and negligible" allowing the green flag to be raised again after just a couple of hours.         No...

Misa Rodríguez: Arguineguín produces yet another world cup winning footballing legend

24 year old Misa Rodríguez, from Telde on Gran Canaria, is now a famous Spanish footballer and goalkeeper following Spain's world cup win on Sunday, and she has made significant contributions to women's football in Spain having played a pivotal role in both club and international competitions.         Early Career and Rise to Prominence in Arguineguín:Misa began at a local level. She initially played as a forward at...

FEHT President Assesses Gran Canaria’s Lack of Tourism Recovery

José María Mañaricua, the president of FEHT, the Federation of Hotel and Tourism Entrepreneurs of Las Palmas, in this Sunday's La Provincia, discusses the ongoing disagreement between government officials and business leaders regarding the extent of the tourism recovery on Gran Canaria after the pandemic. He presents his assessment of the situation on the island, highlighting the differing interpretations of the same data. According to Mañaricua, the vision of the business federation he leads...

Police Investigate Bone Remains, Possibly Human, Found in El Pajar Coastal Inlet

A kayaker made a discovery on a Saturday afternoon, finding a series of bags that contained bone remains, in a small inlet along the coast of El Pajar, which is located on the southwest of Gran Canaria, in the municipality of San Bartolomé de Tirajana. The location was not accessible by land. The incident prompted officers from the National Police, headquartered at Maspalomas, and the local police of the southern municipality to respond.     ...

Wildfires Ravage Tenerife: After A Night More Favourable Than Expected Devastation and Unprecedented Challenges

Uncontrolled wildfires continue to wreak havoc through the protected natural pine forests on the picturesque island of Tenerife. However first reports this morning suggest that the night was calmer, with more favourable weather conditions than were expected. The situation is currently being evaluated at the Plan #INFOCA coordination meeting and at the end of it official information on the fire will be updated.         [adrotate...

Tenerife Wildfires Latest: 26,000 Affected As Conditions Remain Challenging, Rain Showers Arrive on Neighbouring Gran Canaria

As of this Saturday August 19, 2023, the wildfire on Tenerife remains "challenging" and the situation has escalated significantly. The fire, which has been raging since Tuesday night and the early hours of Wednesday morning, has now led to the potential evacuation of approximately 26,000 people, a stark increase from the 5,000 initially reported. The meteorological conditions have been described as "severe," particularly during the early hours of Saturday. These adverse conditions, including...

Summer Temperatures Soar in Southwest Gran Canaria Resort Towns like Puerto Rico & Arguineguín

The recent heatwave has had residents and tourists seeking relief on the southwest of Gran Canaria and another warm episode is expected from this weekend. In the resort town of Puerto Rico de Gran Canaria, as with much of the rest of the south, temperatures have surged beyond 30ºC for prolonged periods this month, after one of the hottest Julys on record, prompting both locals and visitors to adopt various strategies to cope with the heat.     ...

Thousands Evacuated as Uncontrolled Wildfires Ravage Multiple Communities on Tenerife

The massive wildfire that began in the early hours of Wednesday has continued to rage uncontrollably across the municipalities of Arafo and Candelaria, expanding its reach to affect eight municipalities on Tenerife. Evacuations are ongoing from various areas, primarily as a precautionary measure. The latest update reveals that a total of 3,889 individuals have been directly impacted, while another 3,069 people have been evacuated from their homes and 3,820 individuals are under confinement,...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 18-20 August 2023

  The most summery month of August is on its 3rd action packed weekend already.  There are several fiestas, celebrating various patron saints, around the island and many different markets to explore including the picturesque village of Fontanales, hosting another edition of the popular Km.0 Fair, offering the best local produce from around Gran Canaria. The artisan craft market in Maspalomas celebrates its final end for this edition. Such a gorgeous weekend ahead and here are just some of our...

#GranCanariaWeather: A few days of respite after 7 days of heatwave, though temperatures expected to climb again

Cloudy intervals in low lying areas to the north, this Wednesday, mainly during the first half of the day and again as evening approaches. High altitude Calima haze, generally light, according to Spanish state meteorological agency, AEMET.           Some relief from a week of heatwave. Temperatures decreasing slightly, more pronounced on the southern coast. It may exceed 34 ºC in the shade, inland, on the south...

Southern municipal urbanism councillor, Davinia Ramírez, negotiates summer pause to solar development in Juan Grande

According to the town hall of San Bartolomé de Tirajana, the Urbanism Department, led by Davinia Ramírez (CC), has this week reached an agreement with the company "Energy Solutions by Scandinavians" to temporarily halt earthmoving work around the neighbourhood of Juan Grande, being undertaken for the installation of a photovoltaic solar panel park. Under this agreement, the company has committed to resume these works starting in September. This decision is based on the fact that during the...

A surge of commercial e-scooters left abandoned throughout Maspalomas and Playa del Inglés without permission

A surge of commercial e-scooters left on the streets of Maspalomas and Playa del Inglés has prompted local government to take action due to a lack of licenses and permits for this activity, resulting in the confiscation of the e-scooters and fines for the rental company involved.         According to the information provided in Spanish language news portal for the south of Gran canaria, El Sur Digital GC, the...

More than 4m Passenger Journeys in July through Canary Islands’ Airports

Spanish airport authority AENA has reported that the airports they operate in the Canary Islands served a total of 4,088,016 passenger journeys on commercial flights during the month of July. This represents a 5.1% increase compared to the same period in 2022.         Of these passengers, 2,167,557 journeys were on international flights, marking a 4.8% increase from July 2022. Additionally, 1,894,409 travelled on...

Fatality at Tauro Beach: Rescue Efforts Unsuccessful

This Monday afternoon a tragic incident unfolded at Tauro Beach, situated on the south-western coast of Gran Canaria in the municipality of Mogán. An individual lost his life while swimming near the beach, over which the local town hall of Mogán has full responsibility. The incident was reported by local passers-by and confirmed by the main 1-1-2 Canary Islands' Emergency and Security Coordination Centre (CECOES).         [adrotate...

#GranCanariaWeather: Temperatures to remain in the mid to high 30s, offering a little respite from the intense heatwave of recent days

This Monday starts mostly clear with a little cloud along the northern coasts of Gran Canaria, where some medium and high-level clouds may remain until midday, returning again towards the later hours. This is now the fifth day of intense heatwave, though starting to ease a little.         Calima continues to bring dust in from the Sahara, out to the east of us, primarily affecting higher-altitude areas. However, the...

Hiker dies after falling down a ravine on Gran Canaria

A hiker died this Sunday after falling into a barranco ravine, in the Gran Canaria municipality of Valleseco, according to reports from the main emergency coordination team at 1-1-2 Canarias. The event took place on the GC-307 road, Zumacal highway, kilometre 2, at around 7:20 a.m. this morning.         A passerby alerted the emergency services that they had found some hiking poles and a backpack on the edge of a...

Car bursts into flames northbound on the GC1 during fourth day of intense heatwave

Among the various incidents being reported during this fourth day of intense heatwave, a car has apparently burst into flames this Sunday afternoon, while travelling northbound towards the capital, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, causing a visible column of black smoke to rise into the air.         The fire took place not far from the Shell service station, at the heights of Juan Grande. Passersby took photographs and...

36 year-old man found dead in the street, in Fataga, of suspected heatstroke

A 36-year-old man, identified by the initials MMA, died this Friday afternoon after being discovered lying in the sun in an alley with temperature at above 40ºC in the shade. Despite attempts by paramedics, they could not recover his vital signs. The first indications suggest that the victim could have suffered from heat stroke shortly after leaving his own home, in Fataga, which together with other pathologies likely caused his death.      ...

25-year old declared dead after serious beating at Puerto Rico night spot and commercial centre

A 25-year-old died man on July 29 at the main Hospital Insular de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, after a fight at a shopping centre, at the top of the west hill overlooking Puerto Rico de Gran Canaria in the municipality of Mogán, having spent 13 days in an induced coma before being pronounced dead. The Guardia Civil has opened an investigation to try to identify the perpetrator or perpetrators of the fatal attack. Locals say the dead man was well known as a violent trouble maker and drug dealer,...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 11-13 August 2023

  It's going to be a one hot August weekend with heatwave weather warnings together with a forest fire risk alert. Stay safe and stay hydrated. It'll be a very busy weekend when it comes to events and festivities but adverse weather might cause some of the planned celebrations to be postponed or cancelled, especially when it comes to firework displays. We will try our best to update the weekendtips as any new information comes in. Next Thursday is a public holiday in Spain - The Feast of the...

Budget tour operator Jet2Holidays cancels contract with award-winning hotel in Puerto Rico de Gran Canaria, mid-season

As initially reported by tourism portal TravelGossip Well-renowned travel provider, Jet2holidays, has taken a decisive step, withdrawing from a popular hotel located in Puerto Rico de Gran Canaria during peak summer season. Tourists who had previously made reservations at the three-star establishment are being presented with alternate lodging options.         Expressing concern for customer satisfaction, Jet2holidays...

Mogán and Las Palmas recommend beach users avoid bathing in microalgae concentrations appearing along the coast

Mogán Town Council have, this  week, placed small A4 sheets of paper on some of the beach signs at Puerto Rico de Gran Canaria, and possibly other tourist beaches too, urging caution due to concentrations of microalgae.  There has been no official information offered, nor any explanation to the public on their website.           Water quality has been a concern for some time throughout the popular tourism...

Salvamento Marítimo Should Remain Based in Arguineguín: Spanish State Responds to La Alcaldesa Bueno’s Demands

Mogán Mayor Bueno's recent demands to relocate the Salvamento Marítimo's base from Arguineguín port on the south of Gran Canaria has prompted a thoughtful response from Madrid, taking time to explain to her the rationale behind maintaining the current base location and addressing the concerns raised by Mayor Bueno.         The Central Government's response underscores how decisions regarding the Salvamento Marítimo's...

Missing Woman Found Safe in Arucas After Being Recognised by Concerned Residents

Inga Nuke, a 51-year-old woman who went missing on July 29th in the capital, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, has been located in the town of Arucas. She is reported to be in good health and is currently in the custody of the Civil Guard of Arucas.         Inga Nuke's disappearance had been a cause of concern for her family and her local community, with her case having been reported and shared widely by SOS Desaparecidos...

Gran Canaria experienced one of the warmest months of July recorded in the past sixty years

Gran Canaria has experienced one of the warmest months of July in the past sixty years with the average temperature, in the shade, across the Canary Islands during the month standing at 23.5ºC, which marked an anomaly of +1.2ºC above the reference average. This indicates a warmer than usual month ranking it as the sixth warmest July since 1961.         Throughout July, prolonged periods of high temperatures were...

Gran Canaria Weather: Sustained high temperatures to hit 42ºC in the shade

Forecast (August 9 - August 13, 2023) Gran Canaria is expecting an intense heatwave starting from Wednesday, August 9th, and predicted to last until at least Monday, August 13th. The episode of hot weather will not be the first heatwave of the year, but may be the first this summer to meet all the necessary criteria to be officially classified as such by Spanish State meteorological Agency, AEMET, as it will last for more several days with sustained high temperatures.   ...

Mogán Mayor Demands Removal Of Spanish Maritime Rescue Operations From Arguineguin Port

Mogán's Mayor Bueno has sparked controversy, once again, having taken a stance against the use of the public port of Arguineguín as a base for Spanish maritime rescue operations. In an apparent effort to reclaim the port for commercial and tourism purposes, Bueno has unexpectedly proposed relocating the two Salvamento Marítimo (maritime rescue) vessels currently stationed there. This led to a heated debate in the July town council plenary session held on Friday, with the Mayor emphasising the...

Mogán mayoress says its “not fair” that the health department did not seek her permission on plan to accommodate elderly and social care patients in amadores

Mogán's Mayoress, La Alcaldesa O. Bueno, opposes a plan proposed by the Consejería de Sanidad del Gobierno de Canarias (health ministry) to convert a tourist complex in Amadores into a social care facility, aimed at providing temporary accommodation for patients who are medically fit for discharge from hospitals but await redirection to socio-sanitary complexes. The mayor expressed her discontent, at this Friday's town council plenary, with the lack of prior consultation and raised concerns...

Gang dedicated to irregular migration of unaccompanied youths stand accused on the south of Gran Canaria

In a recent operation, agents from the Guardia Civil successfully dismantled a criminal organisation, based on the south of Gran Canaria, involved in facilitating irregular immigration, encouraging the abandonment of shelters provided to minors, and engaging in small-scale drug trafficking.         During the investigation, the Guardia Civil agents were able to verify that the criminal group had a close-knit...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 4-6 August 2023

  After a hot July, the long hot Gran Canaria August is here. It's going to be a busy summer weekend with some amazing and popular Patronal festivities, including the Fiestas de Las Nieves in Agaete with their main day of festivities the "Fiesta de La Rama" this Friday. There are also Patron Saints' Festivities taking place around the island, like in San Lorenzo in Las Palmas de G.C. and Santa Brigída just to name a few.Summer days are absolutely gorgeous on Gran Canaria, the evenings are warm...

Tourist bus blaze closes the GC1 highway, fortunately no casualties reported

A tourist coach carrying passengers on the GC-1 caught fire this Thursday afternoon, while travelling along the southern highway. In the vehicle, besides the driver, there were 53 other people, according to reports from the Guardia Civil.         53 passengers were evacuated from the MAN Elite Touring vehicle, and firefighters from San Bartolomé de Tirajana and the Emergency Consortium managed to extinguish the...

GranCanariaWeather: A warm week ahead, some Calima, cooling a little towards the weekend

Good Morning Gran Canaria! This Monday, Calima is expected to bring some high altitude dust from the Sahara, and maximum daytime temperatures are expected reach 37ºC in the shade across the south of Gran Canaria and at the summits, according to Spanish State Meteorological Agency (AEMET).         At sea, northeast winds of 3 to 6 knots. Rough seas, strong rough seas and background sea swell from the north or...

Moving elderly to modified tourist apartments temporarily suspended pending resolution of complaint from Mogán Town Council mayoress

We reported earlier this week on the need for care accommodations for the elderly being provided for by an old holiday apartment complex on the south of Gran Canaria.  On Friday it came to light that the Canarian Health Service (SCS) has now temporarily halted the transfers of individuals still occupying beds in public hospitals despite having been medically discharged, to the innovative new transit facility on Gran Canaria meant "to temporarily solve the social problem they are facing." The...

Gran Canaria Weather: Temperatures rising with warnings for Sunday, and Monday and into next week

The General Directorate of Public Health of the Canary Government has issued a red warning for Gran Canaria this weekend due to the risk of high temperatures exceeding 34ºC. Santa Cruz de Tenerife will also likely experience a heatwave, although it will remain under the level for yellow alert. Additionally, Fuerteventura will face a new episode of heat, with maximum temperatures expected to reach up to 36ºC in the shade. An alert for the heightened risk of forest fires has also been declared...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 28-30 July 2023

  It's going to be a jam packed last weekend of July on Gran Canaria. John Malkovich is in Las Palmas for one night only! A few of the biggest and most popular summer events and fiestas are happening, or just starting up, across the island. The weather forecast looks great and there are so many events and festivities to see and explore. Here are just our top picks! The last of the main events for the Virgen del Carmen festivities will take place this weekend. The island's biggest celebrations...

Ageing with Dignity: The Need to Create Sustainable Solutions for Elderly Care in the Canary Islands Sunshine

The need for care homes and suitable sheltered accommodation for the elderly, particularly foreign elderly residents on the island, is a pressing concern throughout the Canary Islands region. Many elderly individuals, including foreign retirees who have chosen the island as their retirement destination, require socio-sanitary care and assistance as they age. However, the shortage of available spaces in care facilities and the lack of proper sheltered accommodations have become significant...

The Puerto Rico “Pack” convicted of gang rape in a park

The Provincial Court of Las Palmas has sentenced four men to between 36 and 42 years for the gang rape of a woman in a Puerto Rico park, in the municipality of Mogán on the southwest of Gran Canaria , on the night of February 26 2021.         The leader of the group was sentenced to 12 years for each of the two crimes of rape charged against him, and six years for each of the three penetrative sexual assaults as an...

LATEST ON THE FIRE AT THE SUMMIT OF GRAN CANARIA 🔥

390 hectares affected.  The perimeter is 13.5km long about 66% of which has been stabilised.         The fire is divided into sectors from head to tail, with their respective heads of sector and assigned units in: 👉 Left flank: 70% controlled 👉 Right flank: 80% controlled 👉 Head 🔥 On the left flank with a head, the work last night has been concentrated, stopping the progression towards Valsequillo. 🔥 Containment work has been carried...

Guardia Civil investigate forestry workers as possible source of Gran Canaria Fire

The Guardia Civil's SEPRONA unit, from the Las Palmas Command, in collaboration with the Fire Investigation Brigade (BIIF) of the Cabildo de Gran Canaria, are investigating a 29-year-old man as the alleged originator of the fire forest that started yesterday in the area called Cortijo de Las Huertas in the municipality of Tejeda, in the mountainous summit area of Gran Canaria.         The fire began early on Monday...

Gran Canaria Fires: A night of worry followed by a morning of optimism, LPA airport unaffected and operating normally

It's an undesirable club to be in, but yesterday afternoon the Summit of Gran Canaria joined Mallorca, Greece, Algeria and Italy in tackling summer wildfires in what is turning out to be an unusually dry and hot year.  The president of the Cabildo de Gran Canaria, Antonio Morales, and the coordinator of the firefighting teams, Carlos Velázquez, explained last night that the fire was barely advancing, adding that a large part of its perimeter, along the right flank, is under control, and that...

Gran Canaria Fire spreads as trade winds send hot ash and embers flying

The fire that broke out on the summits of Gran Canaria, just after 1pm this Tuesday afternoon, has already affected approximately 200 hectares (primarily pine forest and shrub lands). Despite the fact that large parts of these areas have been previously subject to precautionary "prescribed burns" and some preventive grazing, which has helped to slow down the fire, the fire fighting teams have not managed to control the blaze as quickly as they had hoped, and it has spread beyond the point of...

Forest Fire on the summits of Gran Canaria

Early in the afternoon of this Tuesday, a fire outbreak was declared on the summits of Gran Canaria, in the municipality of Tejeda.         Specialist firefighters managed to get to the scene quickly, while other land and air resources are already operating in the area, but as it is an area with abundant vegetation and as there is wind and low humidity, the flames are reportedly spreading rapidly throughout the area,...

Spanish democracy wins, the need for consensus and broad coalitions prevents a rise in extreme populism

On Sunday Spain went to the polls for the 15th time since the modern Congress of Deputies, in the Cortes, was formed in 1977. Dubbed #J23, 37,466,432 Spaniards registered to vote, and 70% of the population turned out, to have their say on who should govern the Kingdom of Spain for the next four years. The snap general election was called by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez. Following the local and regional elections back in May, many forecast a swing to the right despite a seemingly good...

Truck blaze on the summits of Gran Canaria sparks forest fire fears

A truck blaze, this Friday afternoon, reported on the summits of Gran Canaria, sparked fears that a forest fire could have occurred in an area with a lot of trees in tinder-dry conditions. The 112 emergency services received an alert of the incident at 12:40 this afternoon, shortly after the fire started at the back of the vehicle.         The incident took place on GC-135, in the area known as Pico de la Gorra, in...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 21-23 July 2023

  A rather vivacious summer weekend ahead on Gran Canaria with some awesome events and celebrations to go and see. There are Virgen del Carmen festivities in Playa de Mogán and La Isleta, in the Capital. Patron Saints' festivities in the ancient Royal Capital, Gáldar and in the picturesque mountain town of Tunte (San Bartolomé de Tirajana). For both, the weekend tips will continue to Tuesday, which is a Feast Day and a bank holiday in both municipalities.There are festive events in...

Gran Canaria Tourism Spending Soars 40%: Surpassing 2019 Records and Leading the Comeback by Focusing on Quality

Gran Canaria's tourism soars as the industry is experiencing a remarkable recovery, surpassing records set in 2019 and achieving its third-best year in history, even after the global pandemic. The island is leading the way in terms of tourist arrivals, revenue, and income, with an impressive 40% growth since 2019.         Carlos Álamo, Tourism Councillor for the Cabildo de Gran Canaria island government, has shared...

20-year-old man arrested on suspicion of robbery with violence against a pregnant woman in Puerto Rico

• Initial action was decisive in identifying the alleged perpetrator of a robbery who was arrested with most of the stolen money in their possession.• Citizen and police collaboration led to the arrest being carried out less than an hour, before the suspect changed location again in a taxi.         The Guardia Civil on Gran Canaria arrested a 20-year-old man, with no prior police record, last July 13, 2023, for the...

Worker injured after falling 15m from roof of a tourism complex in Puerto Rico de Gran Canaria

On Tuesday morning a worker was injured, and an accident reported, to the 112 Canary Islands Coordination Centre for Emergencies and Security (CECOES), at a work site on the south of the island, after a man fell from a height of about 15 meters at a tourism complex in Puerto Rico de Gran Canaria, in the municipality of Mogán.  According to sources within the Civil Guard, consulted by journalists, the victim was working on antenna facilities on the rooftop of the building when the accident...

Amazon Prime’s ‘Zorro’, Shot On Location at Sioux City and Gran Canaria, Release Announced for 2024

The Prime Video series 'Zorro,' filmed on Gran Canaria, now has a release date. Zorro, the new series starring Miguel Bernardeau (Élite, 1899) and Renata Notni (El Dragón, La Venganza de las Juanas), spent eight months filming at various locations around Gran Canaria, and will premiere during the first half of 2024 in Latin America, the United States, Spain, Andorra, and Portugal, according to the Amazon streaming platform this Tuesday. The announcement was made alongside the release of the...

La Palma Wildfire Update: Government Authorises Residents to Return Home, Fire Fighters Attempt To Control The Blaze

It's been a tense weekend, on The Canary Islands, following a week of intense heat, Saharan dust and very strong winds, blazes broke out on at least 3 islands, the worst of which was a forest fire on La Palma, which may have originated on Friday from the burning of a container at a recreational area. At least that is one of the hypotheses being considered by the Guardia Civil who are now investigating. Images courtesy of Equipos de Intervención y Refuerzo en Incendios Forestales del Gobierno...

Gran Canaria Weather: Temperatures return to summertime norms, a touch of cloud and a drop of rain to the north, sea breezes and blue skies to the south

Cloudy skies will prevail in the northern mountains on Monday, with a low probability of scattered and occasional light rain in the midlands during the morning, according to AEMET (Spanish State Meteorological Agency). Elsewhere, the weather should be mostly clear, with some intervals of cloud to the north and west. Temperatures will remain stable or drop slightly in the midland areas of the south and west.         [adrotate...

Maspalomas Costa Canaria Soul Concert Postponed Due To High Temperatures and Saharan Desert Winds. Now Saturday and Sunday Only

Maspalomas, Friday, July 14, 2023.- The organisers of the Maspalomas Costa Canaria Soul Festival have decided, this sweltering Friday afternoon, to postpone the concert program scheduled for this evening, due to severe adverse weather conditions, caused by high temperatures, touching 40ºC in the shade, and predictions of strong gusts of wind across the South of Gran Canaria, that could exceed 50km/h.         To...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 14-16 July 2023

  What a "scorchio" July! After meltingly hot days, some easement is in the horizon with lower temperatures from Saturday.  When it comes to festivities and celebrations, this weekend is mainly about the Virgen del Carmen, with Her feast Day observed this Sunday and the sultry beach music of the Maspalomas Costa Canaria Soul Festival in San Agustín; and it's all free to enjoy. The theatre, dance and music Festival, TEMUDAS continues in the capital. There are also the main festivities, Fiestas...

Gran Canaria records the highest temperatures in Spain at almost 45ºC in the shade

By 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, Tasarte, on the west of Gran Canaria, became the hottest place in the country, having reached up to 44.8ºC in the shade, while to the east of Gran Canaria, Pájara, on the island of Fuerteventura recorded gusts of hot desert wind that reached 161 kilometres per hour, the strongest in the entire national territory.         The intense heat this week showed no mercy across the Canary Islands,...

Legendary FREE Maspalomas Costa Canaria Soul Festival Full Lineup Headlined by Grammy Multi-Award Winner Bobby Rush

· ***FRIDAY NIGHT POSTPONED DUE TO EXCESSIVE HEAT AND ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS*** The line-up includes the musical genius of Charlie Wood, John Németh, Robin McKelle or The Blues Paddlers · This year the festival features a new headline band, The Bo-Keys, based out of Memphis and led by Scott Bomar. · The FREE concerts will be held on July 14, 15 and 16 on the sands of San Agustín Beach, part of the Maspalomas Costa Canaria        ...

Two young men arrive at the Port of Las Palmas after a six-day journey perched on the rudder of a cargo ship.

The two men, aged 18 and 22, had been clinging to the rudder of the container ship 'MSC Marta' since July 4th.         The two Nigerian men, aged 18 and 22, were located on Monday night perched on the helm of a ship upon their arrival at the Port of Las Palmas, following a voyage that began in Togo last week. They were taken to the Doctor Negrín Hospital in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria for observation, and they were...

Canary Islands Health Department issues a Red Advisory Warning for high temperatures and the risks associated with health

High temperaturesActivation of a red alert, indicating high risk, for several municipalities of the islands of Gran Canaria, Tenerife, and Fuerteventura. The Ministry of Health of the Government of the Canary Islands, through the General Directorate of Public Health, the Monday issued warnings from the Preventive Actions Plan for the Health Effects of Excessive Temperatures on different islands to reduce the negative health effects associated with excessive temperatures and coordinate...

Alert for forest fire risk declared on the western Canary Islands and Gran Canaria

The Canary Islands' Government, through the General Directorate of Security and Emergencies, has this Monday declared a state of alert for forest fire risk on El Hierro, La Palma, La Gomera, Tenerife, and Gran Canaria from 08:00 hours on Tuesday July 11th.         The decision was made taking into account the available information and in accordance with the Special Plan for Civil Protection and Emergency Response to...

Gran Canaria Weather: 42ºC in the shade expected midweek, dropping back to normal by the weekend

A hot, dry Saharan air mass is currently producing a major heatwave across southern and central Spain, with red advisory warnings due to temperatures topping 44ºC, and is expected to also affect the archipelago starting from Monday, gradually raising temperatures here up towards 42ºC in the shade in some places. High temperatures will continue throughout the week, with Wednesday and Thursday as the probable peak days when a significant calima intrusion is also expected, especially in inland...

Binter fly direct route between Ibiza and Gran Canaria for the summer

Binter Airline's new direct weekly flight connection between Gran Canaria and Ibiza looks set to provide a boost to the tourism industry in both destinations. The introduction of this convenient air route, which started in celebratory style last Thursday, will likely offer numerous benefits and opportunities for travellers and businesses alike.         With the launch of direct flights, tourists, visitors and...

Baby sharks spotted just off shore, enjoying the southwest of Gran Canaria, town hall announces red flags at Patalavaca Beach

Unexpectedly, Mogan town council, this Sunday, have decided to close Patalavaca Beach to swimmers due to two small hammerhead sharks having been spotted on Thursday and Friday near to the coast. Described as "two small offspring" the young hammerheads were spotted swimming close to shore, though they are thought to pose no real danger, the town hall has decided to only allow paddling in the shallows "until the water reaches knee height" just on this beach alone.    ...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 7-9 July 2023

  The main festivities for the Virgen del Carmen start this weekend, celebrating the patron saint of sailors and fisher' folk, which will see fiestas in many areas of Gran Canaria, and in Spain. La Isleta in the capital and Arguineguín are some of the nicest to attend. The feast day of Virgen del Carmen is 16 July. This weekend offers plenty of excellent events to explore and enjoy, including 'Canarias Jazz y Mas' with concerts by the Faro de Maspalomas, theatre, dance and music Festival in...

Final Grace: Outgoing Regional President Torres will not allow the hunting of feral dogs and cats in The Canary Islands, ahead of change in the law

In the Canary Islands, as throughout Spain, there are various hunting seasons every year. It has often been the case that if, while out in rural areas and away from houses, a licensed hunter happened upon any sort of animal living in the wild they were allowed to hunt them, so long as they are not on a list of endangered or protected species. Too often this has also included any dogs or cats that the hunter judged to be feral. Much of the culture around hunters has also been strongly...

Gran Canaria Train Environmental Impact Report Will Allow Work to Begin Once The Initiative is Formerly Declared, on the islands largest ever public infrastructure project

The Gran Canaria Cabildo (island government) has requested that the Environmental Authority of Gran Canaria (Órgano Ambiental de Gran Canaria - OAGC) initiate the ordinary environmental impact assessment of the railway infrastructure project planned to connect the north and the south of the island, travelling along the east coast, between Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and Maspalomas, including associated elements, in order to formulate the official declaration necessary to launch the initiative....

Covid Health Crisis Declared Over And Mask Mandate Lifted: Spanish Medical Settings No Longer Require Masks At All Times

1208 Days Later: Masks will no longer be mandatory in healthcare centres, socio-healthcare facilities, and pharmacies, according to the latest agreement approved on Tuesday, July 4, by Spain's Council of Ministers, which declares the official end of the health crisis caused by COVID-19.         The agreement, which will come into effect once published in the Official State Gazette (BOE), emphasises "the special...

Gran Canaria Weather: Level 2 Orange Advisory for High Temperatures on South of Gran Canaria This Week

The Ministry of Health of the Canary Islands Government has issued an orange alert as part of the Preventive Action Plan for the Effects of Excess Temperatures on Health. This alert is in effect for Tuesday and Wednesday in the areas of San Bartolomé de Tirajana and Santa Lucía de Tirajana.        The Ministry aims to minimise the health impacts associated with extreme temperatures and coordinate the relevant...

Verdict awaited in trial of four irregular migrants accused of rape in a Mogán residential park

A woman who accused a group of homeless migrants of raping her, in a Puerto Rico park, in Mogán, has testified this week that she had felt intimidated by the four young men she had been speaking to, who, she says, acting in concert, violated her, on a Friday night, in her own neighbourhood, at the end of February 2021, after an evening out with friends to celebrate a birthday. She stated that all four defendants penetrated her after she spoke with them in a public park, in an assault that...

Gran Canaria Weather: Temperatures diminish as Saharan Calima dust mingles with remnant Canadian wildfire smoke

Clear skies are expected across the Canary Islands this Friday, although there will be some cloud in low-lying areas of the eastern islands, along with a decrease in temperatures, following a week of heat wave where thermometers touched 40ºC in the shade, we will see particularly maximum daytime temperatures start to return to seasonal norms, according to the forecasts from the Spanish State Meteorological Agency (AEMET). Temperatures of around 31º-34ºC in the shade are expected on the south...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 30 June – 2 July 2023

  July is here and what a gorgeous first weekend it's going to be. There is the main Fataga Apricot festival weekend, in a picturesque village a short mountain drive inland from the beaches of Maspalomas; or you could experience a traditional Farmers' Feast in San Mateo. There are two concerts to enjoy by the Maspalomas Lighthouse; the historic re-enactment of the Battle of El Batán, in Santa Brigida, will bring its own crowds, as well as the last days of the Foundational festivities of Las...

#J28 Christopher Street Day PRIDE: Gay & Lesbian Associates of Yumbo Gather Local Activists, Businesses & Politicians to the Plaza de La Diversidad Darío Jaén

In Playa del Inglés, on the Maspalomas Costa Canaria, on Wednesday, Yumbo workers and local residents gathered at the Centro Comercial Yumbo's main Plaza de la Diversidad Darío Jaén, under the rainbow flag, to take a moment to remember 3 days of drag queens, "cross dressers", queer men and women fighting the police on the streets of Greenwich Village, New York, New York, following the Stonewall raid on Christopher street, June 28 1969.      ...

Red Alert for Maximum Temperatures & Forest Fire Risk on Gran Canaria, and the western islands from Tuesday

◾ The Government of the Canary Islands' General Directorate of Security and Emergencies has declared an alert due to the risk of forest fires on several islands in the archipelago including Gran Canaria, Tenerife, El Hierro, La Palma and La Gomera from 07:00 a.m. on Tuesday June 27th. This decision to issue an alert was made taking into account the most recent information available and by applying the INFOCA Canary Islands' Special Plan for Civil Protection and Emergency Attention to Forest...

Gran Canaria Weather: First Heatwave of Summer with an Orange Advisory Warning for 37°C In The Shade Forecast

The Spanish State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) has issued an orange alert for temperatures of up to 37ºC, in the shade, in the inland areas of the east, south, and west of Gran Canaria for this Tuesday,  minimum night time temperatures are not expected to drop below 25ºC. The north of the island and the summits will maintain a yellow alert, which also extends to four other islands.         This Monday, June 26th,...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips San Juan 23-26 June 2023

It’s San Juan, one of the biggest celebration weekends on Gran Canaria, and throughout Spain, with various festivities for midsummers night combining a mixture of traditional fiestas, midnight dips in the sea, lots of music and various rituals, bonfires and fireworks. Every municipality and neighbourhood is likely to have a public bonfire and some will also allow citizens to have their own, and some will add firework spectacles into the mix. This Saturday is also a local Bank holiday in the...

Hotter Than Ever: Canary Islands Hottest Spring Since 1961 Leads To Drought Concern As Scorching Summer Begins

Spring 2023, which officially ends today, has been dry and extremely warm throughout The Canary Islands, off the coast of West Africa, hotter than ever with the highest temperatures on record according to various sources. On March 30th, the hottest March day since 1961 was recorded on the Canary Islands, with temperatures exceeding 30º Celsius, in the shade, according to the Meteorological Centre for the Spanish State Meteorological Agency (AEMET).     [adrotate...

Full List of All Blue Flags 2023 Flying For Highest Standards At Canary Islands Beaches And Ports

This week, municipalities whose beaches and ports have met the Blue Flags 2023 standards have been receiving their Blue Flags.  The Association for Environmental Education and Consumer Affairs (ADEAC - ASOCIACIÓN DE EDUCACIÓN AMBIENTAL Y DEL CONSUMIDOR) presented Blue Flags for beaches and marinas in the Canary Islands having, last month, announced the list for this summer, in recognition of their quality standards.         [adrotate...

Illegal dumping of debris from a Mogán hotel renovation leads to police investigation and charges

A hotel chain faces a fine of up to 100,000 euros for large-scale waste dumping on protected land. An investigation began in March after it was discovered that someone had abandoned a total of 14 fibreglass bathtubs in the San Lorenzo ravine near the capital of Gran Canaria, an area of protected land due to its agricultural value. Officers from the General Policia Canaria Force and the Policia Local of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria have...

Siam Park Gran Canaria: Loro Parque group claim €122m in lost earnings and time wasted they say caused by Maspalomas town hall

The Loro Parque group have filed a claim for €122.3 million from the Southern Town Council of San Bartolomé de Tirajana, for compensation and financial damages caused by the delay in granting the urban planning license for the construction of their long anticipated Siam Park Gran Canaria attraction in El Veril, at the entry point to Playa del Inglés. Of this amount, €30.3 million corresponds to actual damages, €89.9 million to lost profits, and €1.9 million has been claimed for other "missed...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 16-18 June 2023

  What an awesome June weekend ahead and things are just going to get busier. There are many festivities and events taking place and our top picks include, FIMAR the international Sea Fair in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, along with the city's 545th year Foundational festivities. It's also the closing weekend for the 2nd Gáldar Pride and there is a parade this Saturday. Festivities in honour of San Juan Bautista (St John the Baptist) and San Antonio de Padua are continuing in many villages,...

Canary Islands Tourism Board Expresses It’s PRIDE In LGBTQIA+ Travellers Who Spend Time Here

The Canary Islands' Ministry for Tourism, Industry, and Commerce, through the public company Turismo de Islas Canarias, has expressed its commitment to LGBTQIA+ visitors, an influential segment for the archipelago, not only because of their higher quality spending at destination but, say the tourist board, also because they travel more widely and have a higher than average affinity with, and respect for, the natural environment, as well as preferring local produce. [adrotate...

Uber Arrives on the Canary Islands, On Tenerife With Gran Canaria Soon To Follow

Canary Islands, Spain - The ride-hailing company Uber officially launched its services in the Canary Islands this Thursday. The vehicle rental service with drivers, which is already present in five other regions of Spain, has started operating in the archipelago. However, for now, the service will only be available in the municipalities of Granadilla de Abona, Arona, Adeje, and Guía de Isora on Tenerife. The company plans to expand its operations to the rest of the island and eventually arrive...

Siam Park Gran Canaria awaits new strategic plan to begin new transformation for tourism

The Kiessling family, who have promoted the idea of a major water park development on Gran Canaria for nearly 20 years, and for more than a decade have faced myriad administrative obstacles to breaking ground on their plan to site it in the El Veril basin, next to Playa del Inglés, on Wednesday presented their continuing efforts and project plans in a packed auditorium of the Gabinete Literario in Las Palmas, attended by a wide range of influential people, journalists and institutional...

Nearly 8kg of Cocaine, Thousands of Euros Seized With Two Arrests in Playa del Inglés

Police officers from the National Police have arrested a 38-year-old man with a history of similar offences, and a 28-year-old woman, on suspicion of drug trafficking in San Bartolomé de Tirajana. The suspects were allegedly involved in the sale of cocaine, carrying out their operations in high-end vehicles at various locations throughout the municipality. During the raids conducted by the officers, 7.7 kilograms of cocaine and €5,550 in cash were seized. [adrotate...

Canary Islands Airports Served Nearly 20 Million Flight Passengers in the First Half of 2023

Gran Canaria, June 12, 2023 - The Canary Islands continue to soar in popularity as their airports record a staggering 19,838,342 passengers so far this year, marking a remarkable 20.4% increase compared to the first half of 2022, according to the latest data from the Spanish Air Navigation Agency (AENA). Among these figures, international flights accounted for 11,967,352 passengers, representing a notable 20.7% surge compared to the previous year's...

Menas Case: Foundation Siglo XXI directors allegedly filed false invoices, unrealistic expenses and repeatedly drew funds from ATMs, meant for the care of migrant children, even charging botox facial treatments and posh restaurant bills to foundation debit cards

A comprehensive analysis conducted by Group I of the Economic and Fiscal Crime Unit (UDEF) of the National Police yielded scandalous results, writes Spanish language daily Canarias7, regarding the alleged irregular use of the public funds intended for the care of unaccompanied minors, by the suspected to have been perpetrated by centres managed by the Foundation Social Response Siglo XXI on Gran Canaria and Lanzarote. In this case, driven by the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office,...

Centre-Right Pact Between Regionalists (CC) And Resident Conservatives (PPAV) Returns Marco Aurelio Perez As Southern Mayor

The conservative Partido Popular-Agrupación de Vecinos (PP-AV) and the regionalist right Coalición Canaria (CC) have signed a government pact that will shape the future of San Bartolomé de Tirajana. This alliance, referred to as the Pact for Stability and Socioeconomic Progress of San Bartolomé Tirajana, represents 60% of the votes in the municipality's recent elections, as emphasised by the future mayor, Marco Aurelio Pérez (PP-AV). According to the...

Local Government Coalition Agreement for Maspalomas and the South of Gran Canaria

 A governing coalition pact has been finalised in San Bartolomé de Tirajana. The Popular Party–Agrupación de Vecinos will join forces with Coalición Canaria to govern the main tourist municipality of Gran Canaria for the next four years. Marco Aurelio Pérez will serve as the mayor for the entire term, with the Popular Party taking charge of areas such as Employment, Sports, Roads and Infrastructure, and Human Resources. Meanwhile, the nationalists led by Alejandro Marichal will oversee Urban...

Storm Óscar: Government of the Canary Islands Declares Rain Alert for Western Islands and Gran Canaria

The Government of the Canary Islands, through the Directorate General of Security and Emergencies, has declared a rain alert for La Palma, El Hierro, La Gomera, Tenerife, and Gran Canaria starting from 8:00 a.m. tomorrow, Wednesday, June 7th. This decision has been made taking into account the available information and in accordance with the Specific Emergency Plan of the Canary Islands for Adverse Meteorological Phenomena (PEFMA). Tomorrow, Wednesday,...

MENAS Case: Investigation into the Social Response Foundation Siglo XXI and four of its directors

The 7th Investigation Court of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria has opened a preliminary investigation into the Social Response Foundation 21st Century and four of its directors. The Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office in Las Palmas filed a complaint against them, alleging crimes such as forgery of commercial documents, mismanagement, and embezzlement of public funds. The investigation aims to determine whether the nonprofit organization and its officials misused public funds intended for the care...

Six weeks since the unexplained disappearance of Anna-Karin on Gran Canaria

The authorities on Gran Canaria have been engaged in a rigorous search for Swedish tourist Anna-Karin Bengtsson, who went missing in the south of Gran Canaria around April 9. Her unexplained disappearance has caused her family much distress, with no clues to her whereabouts having emerged in the six weeks since they first realised her phone was no longer functioning. 52-year-old Anna-Karin Bengtsson, a mother of two, was last seen in person on April 9....

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 19-21 May 2023

  An exciting May weekend ahead with abundant events and festivities taking place all around Gran Canaria. There are Patron Saints' festivities for Motor Grande, in Puerto Rico de Gran Canaria, and in El Tablero in the municipality of San Bartolomé de Tirajana and up in the mountains of Artenara. There is also a two day lively exhibition event in Meloneras boulevard and the Rally Gran Canaria is held this Friday and Saturday. Flower exhibitions can still be enjoyed in Gáldar, the delightful...

Dead man, of German origin, found floating in the sea near Puerto Rico de Gran Canaria

The body of a 58-year-old German man was found this Friday floating just off the coast of Mogán, on the south-west of Gran Canaria. At 10:42 a.m. the main 112 Emergency and Security Coordination Centre (CECOES) received an alert stating that the body of a person was floating face down in the sea, about five meters from the shore , in an area of ​​cliffs difficult to access by land, between the beaches of Amadores and Puerto Rico de Gran Canaria. The...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 12-14 May 2023

We have a gloriously busy May weekend ahead, with events and festivities to explore and enjoy on Gran Canaria. In the south, there is the Patron Saint's festivities for El Tablero, a wedding fair in Meloneras, it's Maspalomas PRIDE march weekend and the Puerto de Mogán Jazz festival gets underway. In the Las Palmas capital area, the Motown LPA fair, with Motorcycles and other smaller modes transport at INFECAR, beach tennis, and the European Night of Museums. On the northern coastline of...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 5-7 May 2023

  It is going to be an extraordinary first weekend of May with so many celebrations and events taking place. There is the Wine, Cheese and Honey Fair in San Fernando de Maspalomas, the annual flower exhibition in the streets of Gáldar, a Cheese fair in Montaña Alta de Guía, Maspalomas PRIDE, Hot Beach fashion in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, a Sevillian "April Fair" in HolidayWorld, Maspalomas, and the 47th Rally Islas Canarias, just to name few.♥ Mother's Day is celebrated in Spain this Sunday....

Massive rockfall in Amadores leads to concern at 4 star hotel

Tourists and workers had a shock in the usually tranquil Gran Canaria beach resort of Amadores today this Saturday when two massive rocks fell from a slope about 30 meters high onto the private road at the back of the luxurious Gloria Palace Royal Hotel, in the southwestern municipality of Mogán. The rockfall only caused limited material damage and no one was injured, according to sources from the company that runs and owns the establishment.  The incident occurred...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 28-30 April & 1 May 2023

  It's the last weekend of April and also a long "puente" weekend ahead with Monday being a bank holiday in Spain to celebrate Fiesta del Trabajo, MayDay. Governmental buildings and offices will be closed. There are some wonderful events and festivities to explore and to enjoy, like the famous Cheese Fair in Guía and Agrotasarte fair taking place in ... well in Tasarte =). There is also beach volley ball tournament played on a new El Perchel beach in Arguineguín and rally, primarily on gravel,...

A Double Life: From Yumbo Nightlife Entrepreneur With A Playboy Lifestyle To Canarian Tech Investor

Edgar Aldaz was arrested on Wednesday morning at his home, among the private bungalow complexes of the privileged, leafy avenues of Campo de Internacional, in sunny Maspalomas on the touristed south of Gran Canaria.  After spending a night in the cells, he gave evidence on Thursday morning and was released on charges of suspected drugs smuggling, distribution and money laundering. By all accounts a fun guy, he is...

Two arrested on suspicion of stealing doors from a parked car in Patalavaca, Mogán

On April 17, 2023, the Guardia Civil on Gran Canaria identified two individuals, aged 27 and 41, as the alleged perpetrators of a crime of theft using force, having stolen two doors from a vehicle parked on a public road in Patalavaca (Mogán), in addition to causing other damage. The Guardia Civil of Puerto Rico became aware of the events when the owner of the vehicle reported damage to their car, at a police station...

Maspalomas Town Hall to approve new viewpoint over Playa del Inglés

The hillside overlooking Playa del Inglés, where the abandoned old "toboplaya" waterslide sits, on the touristed south coast of San Bartolomé de Tirajana, is to be approved for the construction of a new viewpoint, as part of the major renovations and clean up of the area that was undertaken by Conchi Narváez's town hall administration, with the creation of green areas decorated by up to 24 different mostly native plant species, and a "dragonal" which will be set up to show off one of the most...

Spanish Air & Space Force Super Puma Strikes Rocks At Night on Gran Canaria

The Spanish airforce may have renamed themselves the "Air & Space Force" last year, but it seems they still sometimes fly beyond the limits of their highly trained pilots' abilities.  But then, isn't that exactly what training missions are for, to push the envelope and ready their personnel for active duty.  Last Tuesday, April 18, it has been revelaed, a Super Puma (H215) helicopter from 802 quadron, based at Gando, had an accident on the south of Gran Canaria, while undertaking such...

Meanwhile in Las Palmas: A driver loses control and ends up parked on some steps

A driver reportedly lost control of their vehicle this Sunday morning leading them to end up trapped on some stairs in the island's capital, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. The incident occurred on the stairs that lead to soccer fields, located in the La Ballena ravine area, better known for its shopping area. No injuries were reported and police are making enquiries as to how exactly the incident occurred.

Siam Park Gran Canaria will not happen if Marco Aurelio Pérez returns as mayor, says legal advisor

The construction of the Siam Park water park in San Bartolomé de Tirajana is facing a new crossroads, writes Gaumet Florido in Spanish language daily Canarias7. Jaime Rodríguez Cíe, legal representative for Loro Parque, has issued a stark warning. "If Marco Aurelio Pérez becomes mayor again, we will abandon Siam Park, the project will decline." Cíe contacted the newspaper following statements made by the leader of the...

#TheCanaryGuide: Valsequillo Strawberry Fair on Sunday 23 April

Valsequillo warms up for one of the most delicious gastronomic events of the year and one of the most crowded fruit fairs on the island of Gran Canaria. After three years without being held due, to the pandemic, the Valsequillo Strawberry Fair returns this Sunday, April 23 for its eighth edition. This is a fair that has managed to consolidate itself in the calendar of popular events on Gran Canaria and has also achieved its flagship product, the Valsequillo strawberry, being recognised and...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 21-23 April 2023

  Another wonderful April weekend ahead with multiple fairs to attend, a few tasty ones too, like Valsequillo Strawberry fair and Gran Canaria Me Gusta. It is also going to busy with multiple sporting events happening, which also means some road closures and traffic restrictions, especially for the Mogán Challenge Gran Canaria triathlon, closing the GC-500 coastal road from Anfi to Taurito on Saturday and a rally in Tejeda. The weather forecast looks a bit unstable, especially on Saturday, but...

Three parked cars smashed into at high speed in Sonnenland

A serious traffic accident occurred in the Sonneland area, near El Tablero, within the municipality of San Bartolomé de Tirajana this Wednesday morning. At around 9:30 a.m. this Wednesday, April 19, where Calle César Manrique meets Calle Einstein, a car, apparently traveling at very high speed, collided with three parked vehicles. The scene was attended by several members of the Policia Local according to La...

Pasito Blanco camping community evacuated as firefighters battle raging inferno, one dog reported dead.

A fire at the Pasito Blanco "campsite" on Tuesday left an unfortunate dog dead, though, thankfully, no one else was reported injured. The fire, which broke out at noon, destroyed 50% of two of the homes. The area was evacuated, and firefighters from San Bartolomé de Tirajana used 12,000 litres of water to extinguish the flames. Firefighters from San Bartolomé de Tirajana intervened on Tuesday to extinguish the fire...

Centro Comercial El Plaza, in Playa del Inglés, Seeks Permission to Partially Reopen

The Plaza shopping centre in Playa del Inglés (San Bartolomé de Tirajana), have come to an agreement with the local town hall, formally requesting a partial reopening of its facilities, which would allow up to 87 of its commercial spaces to to start up again, although initially only around 30 will do so. However, the car park, which has 300 spaces, intended for private individuals and companies, many of whom are not...

The Challenge Mogán Gran Canaria triathlon and road closures on Saturday 22 April on GC-500 Mogán

The Mogán town council, on the sunny southwest of Gran Canaria, has issued several maps to indicate restricted access to various locations, as well as road closures during a major annual event planned for next weekend. The restrictions take place between 06:00 and 14:00 on Saturday, April 22 for the Anfi Challenge Mogán Gran Canaria triathlon event. The GC-500 highway will be closed to vehicle traffic between the little square of La Verga ravine – Anfi del Mar area, kilometre 30.7 – and the...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 14-16 April 2023

  The spring months of April and May bring some of the most wonderful fairs and festivals to Gran Canaria. This is going to be one busy weekend, with a multitude of different events taking place around the island. Discover local island produce in Telde, direct from the farmers, with the regular Km.0 Fair Gran Canaria this Saturday and Sunday. There is a Sevillian Fair in Vecindario, a Tomato Fair in La Aldea 🍅 as well as a Cheese Fair in Gáldar.   The coastal population of El Pajar are...

Gran Canaria Weather: Calima and Yellow advisory continues for strong winds on Friday morning

Temperatures rose above 37ºC in the shade on Monday, with the arrival of calima, though have now dropped a little to 30ºC measured in Tasarte this Thursday, in the municipality of La Aldea de San Nicolás, and just over 28ºC on the south of the island. Yellow advisory warnings were issued for coastal phenomena and strong winds of almost 90 km per hour in the early afternoon, which remain in effect for the early hours of Friday. [adrotate...

Blaze among the palm trees of Fataga being tackled by fire fighters

An extensive emergency response was set in motion this Wednesday afternoon in the southern mountain village of Fataga, in the municipality of San Bartolomé de Tirajana, where a fire broke affecting palm trees located near several homes in the village. The 112 Emergency and Security Coordination Centre (CECOES),  received notification around 16:20, dispatching two helicopters to the area, one from the Cabildo de Gran...

Tourism law conflict continues on Gran Canaria between property owners and exploitation industry

The Canary Islands attract millions of visitors each year, and a long running battle over the tourism law governing private property has once again spilled out on to the headlines following recent fines issued and disputed. Since the early 1960s, tourism has grown to become the primary economic contributor to the archipelago, particularly in places like Maspalomas and Puerto Rico de Gran Canaria over the last three generations, generating jobs and income for the the local population and...

Canaries airports busy, serving nearly 13,000 flights over Easter, including emergency landings

It's been a busy week at Gran Canaria airport (LPA), which started last Saturday with the FlightRadar24.com website publishing a picture on twitter of "Europe going on vacation to The Canary Islands" showing multiple inbound flights headed for our subtropical archipelago. Europe going on vacation - to the Canary Islands... pic.twitter.com/935u9Zpe60 — Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) April 1, 2023 In fact 12,977 flights...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 7-9 April 2023

  It's the Easter holiday and a long bridge weekend with two Spanish bank holidays to end the week. There are many religious processions taking place throughout the weekend around the island with an influx of visitors as well as locals all headed to the seaside to enjoy a sub-tropical spring weekend. There is even a fair to enjoy, "all things from Agüimes" in the less touristy enclave of Playa de Arinaga. It's good to remember, that some shops are likely to be closed on Friday but then there...

#GranCanariaWeather: Warm April Showers and strong winds forecast for Easter Week. Could there be snow?

After the hottest temperature in Spain, ever in the month of March, was recorded on the west of Gran Canaria last Thursday, the Canary Islands are experiencing a sudden flip in the weather, with temperatures dropping and cloudy skies to the north of the most mountainous islands. Northwesterly winds are expected, with strong intervals on southeast and northwest slopes. Very strong gusts are likely, particularly in the aforementioned areas and on the easternmost islands. ...

A summary of some of the main Easter processions worth visiting on Gran Canaria (2023)

What a summery start to this year's Easter week on Gran Canaria! A very popular time to have a holiday, so the tourist areas will receive an influx of travellers, including locals taking a few days off to enjoy themselves. Two Spanish bank holidays will also mean a chance to have a proper long "puente" bridge weekend. Spring is here, with all its wonders and glory! Spain is still very much a catholic country, and there are few more interesting spectacles than the faithful following in...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 31 March – 2 April 2023

   A glorious first weekend of April ahead and the beginning of the christian Holy Week "Semana Santa", diligently observed in Spain. There will be many religious acts and processions throughout the week around the island, especially in the capital.  Don't forget it's also April fools' on Saturday even though it isn't a tradition in Spain, there will be those who will take the whimsical opportunity for some hilarity. The Mercado Inglés is on at The British Club of Las Palmas and there is also...

Gran Canaria Weather: Yellow Warnings – Up to 36ºC, in the shade, expected on the south, high temperatures with strong winds and calima expected to affect all The Canary Islands this week

The Spanish State Meterological Agency, AEMET, has issued yellow warnings for heat, calima haze and strong winds this week on the Canary Islands forecasting high temperatures of up to 34ºC expected on several islands. An alert has been issued due to a risk of forest fires on Gran Canaria as the mix of dry weather, strong winds and high temperatures has led to concerns over coming days. On Wednesday winds will affect...

Wild fires Alert on Gran Canaria this Wednesday, with temperatures set to exceed 34ºC in the shade

Springtime has only just begun and already the temperatures, in the shade, on Gran Canaria have been repeatedly hitting the low to mid-thirties, which brings with it also a rising risk of Forest Fires and Wildfires.  Here in the Canary Islands forest fire crews are well versed in tackling an occasional mountain blaze, with alert levels often following the basic informal rule of thumb, the so-called 30/30/30 rule, putting the authorities on alert whenever the temperature is set to rise above...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 24-26 March 2023

  It's the last weekend of March already and Spring is here; winter is behind us and the summer weather is already hotting up on Gran Canaria. The hillsides are in full bloom, particularly up in the mountain summits; it's Carnival Weekend in Arguineguín and the last of the carnival festivities for this year are happening around the island. With summer just around the corner, clocks Spring forward this Saturday and Sunday night when 1am becomes 2am 🕐. On the north of the island, one of the...

Gran Canaria Weather: Temperatures of 31ºC in the shade and slight calima as we head towards a warm spring weekend

Its a perfect Gran Canaria springtime weekend ahead with light calima sands blowing in from the Sahara, temperatures in the shade of 31ºC, light breezes and blue skies.  Remember too the clocks spring forward by an hour this weekend. The Spanish State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) this Wednesday forecast partly cloudy skies with Calima, temperatures ascending slight, and northeast winds with intervals of strong and...

Illegal Trafficking: President of Gran Canaria “Animal Welfare” Association Investigated for Falsifying Export Certificates and Suspected Mistreatment of Animals

A rogue individual, living on Gran Canaria and operating an unlicensed and unregistered facility supposedly dedicated to animal welfare, has been referred by the Guardia Civil to the Canarian justice system for illegal trafficking and documentary falsification of certificates required for the safe transport of animals into the UK. The operation, she has run for nearly a decade, is suspected of collecting around a quarter of a million euros for this activity in just one 18 month period, keeping...

Leaked documents raise further concerns about welfare in proposed Las Palmas octopus farm that would be first of its kind in the world

The proposal by Spanish multinational Nueva Pescanova to create the world's first commercial octopus farm on Gran Canaria has generated a great deal of controversy. The company aims to produce one million octopuses a year for consumption worldwide, three times the number currently caught in the wild by Spanish fisheries. However, the project has been condemned by many scientists who regard the proposed method of killing the octopuses as "cruel". Confidential documents obtained by the BBC...

Three Men Detained, without bail, for An Alleged Gang Rape, in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Hotel

Three men were arrested and charged with sexual assault after having allegedly gang-raped a young woman in a hotel, in the Santa Catalina area of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria on Thursday, March 16, 2023. The woman, who is 21 years old, reported the incident at the hotel's reception, claiming that she had been raped by the men and could not remember anything after accepting a drink from them. Police began an investigation...

The Canary Islands: Influx of Foreign Property Buyers Risks Pushing Locals Out

Many have been discussing the possibility of restricting property sales in the Canary Islands to foreign buyers, as property prices and a lack of new builds has become a major issue, and particularly in the political debate ahead of the regional elections this May. Podemos, one of the parties that currently governs the region, has expressed its intention to limit real estate transactions involving non-residents, going...

Gáldar pioneering in animal welfare with a new centre

The project to build the Centre for Temporary Stay of Animals (CETA) El Sobradillo broke ground this week with the laying of the first stone in an act which included the citizens of Gáldar with dozens of animals of all kinds of conditions and breeds. This pioneering project will allow Gáldar, on the north coast of Gran Canaria, to dedicate a space that will guarantee the protection of domestic and farm animals, and which will make it the only municipality in Gran Canaria to have facilities...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 17-19 March 2023

What a big weekend ahead! It's St. Patricks Day on Friday and Spain celebrates Fathers' day this Sunday, the feast day of Saint Joseph. Maspalomas will also be celebrating their Big Carnival weekend with a "tourist day" on Friday, the big carnival parade on Saturday, and the cremation of the sardine procession on Sunday.  Two major sporting events are taking place on Saturday so some road closures are sure to occur. You may also enjoy some of the more local carnival festivities in Agaete, La...

Gran Canaria Weather: Summer-like weather to continue, 30ºC+ in the shade this weekend

The Canary Islands are experiencing their first previews of summer this weekend with temperatures at the summits of Gran Canaria yesterday having exceeded 31ºC, in the shade, as noted at the Spanish State Meteorological Agency AEMET, via data from their weather station in the picturesque mountain town of Tejeda, which yielded the fourth highest reading in the country. A little further south in the highlands of San...

Movie and television production on the Canary Islands has more than doubled

The shooting of movies and television series in the Canary Islands have doubled over the course of 2022 and now far exceeds the figures recorded for 2021, which were the highest to date. More national and international productions, more investment and more direct hiring of technical and artistic professionals are the three most notable milestones reached over this period. All is touted as a direct result of a successful strategy that has managed to increase the already favourable tax...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 10-12 March 2023

  A gorgeous, sunny March weekend ahead on Gran Canaria as the Carnival celebrations reach Maspalomas and the weather forecast is simply perfect. There are carnival parades to enjoy in Telde, Santa Lucía and La Aldea. The Southeast Fair is happening in Carrizal, Ingenio this weekend and Artenara celebrate their monthly market.  There is still time to enjoy the Spring Artisans’ fair by the Faro de Maspalomas lighthouse. Whatever your plans may be, it is a glorious weekend for any activity on...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 3-5 March 2023

  It's already the first weekend of March and the pre-Springtime carnival festivities continue around the island. Las Palmas de Gran Canaria will have their big finale weekend, including the biggest Carnival parade on Gran Canaria this Saturday. Some carnival festivities have already come to an end, other municipalities are just getting started and there are still plenty to come. Spring is just around the corner. The European Cheese fair this weekend arrives in Tejeda and the springtime...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 24-26 February 2023

The last weekend of February and the weather forecast continues to look a little unsettled and does not look very promising, unless you are a gardener in hope of a pre-spring boost to your patch. It could be a little rainy across Gran Canaria, so bear in mind that any outdoor events may get postponed or cancelled if weather conditions get too bad. The weekend offers Carnival celebrations in the capital Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Gáldar, Agüimes and Moya, Sardina del Sur and a few other towns....

Record tourist arrivals to The Canary Islands, though Gran Canaria lags behind in the recovery

2023 has started positively in terms of foreign tourism numbers. In January, the archipelago welcomed 1.22 million foreign visitors, a 3.2% increase from 2019 (1.18 million). The figure even surpasses the numbers from 2018 (1.21 million) and 2017 (1.20 million) to set a new historical record for foreign tourists during the month of January. Compared to 2022, the growth is significant, at 60%, almost half a million more...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 17-19 February 2023

It's all about carnival celebrations this February weekend, 17-19 February, on Gran Canaria. Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Gáldar, and Agüimes continue their celebrations and joining them this Friday, La Aldea and Ingenio start their festivities too. A chance to also enjoy the year's first full carnival parade taking place this Saturday in Gáldar.  There are always plenty of markets to visit and explore around the island. This weekend, with a little chill in the air, our top tip is the wonderful...

#GranCanariaWeather: Sleet, hail, lightening and up to 2cm of snow possible around the summits of Gran Canaria

Well if you thought its been a little chilly or wet over recent days and weeks on Gran Canaria, you're in for a further blast from the north, as it looks like a polar vortex is, this Wednesday night and Thursday morning, pulling in some decidedly wintery wet weather, with a potential for very strong winds, rough seas and even a good chance of some snow possible on Gran Canaria and on neighbouring Teide. The Spanish...

#UKMostWanted2023: Six arrested, seven to go – NCA appeal to trace UK’s Most Wanted fugitives

The National Crime Agency and partners have renewed an appeal to help trace some of the United Kingdom’s Most Wanted fugitives. Twelve months ago the NCA launched its most recent appeal to find 13 men who had gone on the run – all believed to be hiding in Spain or with strong links to the country. In that time, six wanted men have been traced, arrested and are at various stages of the extradition and judicial process. Today, the appeal - run in conjunction with independent charity...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 10-12 February 2023

The most exciting of annual celebrations on Gran Canaria is about the start.  The capital, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, and Gáldar kick off Carnival season 2023 this Friday, 10th of February, followed by Agüimes on Saturday. The Las Palmas de Gran Canaria carnival starting this week is the biggest of all on the island, lasting almost a month, until the 5th of March. Carnival festivities will be celebrated in almost every corner of the island so there will be plenty to go and see, and experience...

PRIDE by any other name, controversy in Maspalomas

The San Bartolomé de Tirajana (SBT) Town Hall, responsible for popular tourist resorts such as Maspalomas and Playa del Inglés, on the sunny south of Gran Canaria, have found themselves in conflict over the use of the word 'Maspalomas', due to a commercial entity trying, once again, to assert ownership over a world famous community event founded 21 years ago, in partnership with the local government, by the Gay & Lesbian Associates of Yumbo, GLAY. Is it time to reclaim PRIDE in Maspalomas?...

Gran Canaria Weather: Calima and some chilly nights ahead, rain and maybe snow up on the mountain!

A high-altitude weather system known as a "DANA" located northwest of the Canary Islands, is expected to affect the islands over the coming days, leading to increased instability in the weather. Snow, rain, and Saharan dust, a phenomenon known as "calima", are expected all through the weekend in the archipelago. Having started before the weekend and expected to last until at least Monday, rain and cold weather are expected throughout the islands, with snow even expected at higher elevations....

High Courts again rule that Mogán town hall’s “arbitrary” salary increases were simply a “form of reward” for certain employees, seen as loyal to the governing group

The TSJC Canary Islands' High Court of Justice has ruled that increase in salaries granted by the municipality of Mogán, to eight of its employees in 2022, were illegal. The Contencioso-Administrative Court has, once again, criticised the “arbitrary” nature of the town council led by La Alcaldesa Onalia Bueno, mayor of Mogán, who plans this year to run for re-election under the name of her new party, Juntos por Mogán, directly aligned with the right of centre regionalists, Coalición Canaria...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 3-5 February 2023

Always around this first weekend of February, on Gran Canaria, one of the most beautiful villages in Spain, Tejeda, celebrates their traditional and very popular Almond Blossom festivities. The weather around this time of the year can also be a bit hard to predict, and as we have experienced over recent days, the nights can be a touch nippy, particularly up in the mountains. Just one week to go before the spring Carnival season starts, on Friday 10 February. The first to costume up for the...

Face masks will no longer be compulsory on public transport from 7 February

Masks will no longer be required on public transport, though they will remain necessary in healthcare establishments and services, and for workers and visitors attending healthcare and social care facilities.   Minister for Health, Carolina Darias, announced this week that, on 7 February, she will submit "the proposal to remove the obligation to wear masks on public transport", to the Council of Ministers taking...

Mogán town council assumes direct management of services on Playa de Mogán

The Mogán Local Council on Friday installed new sun beds and umbrellas on Playa de Mogán, beginning direct management of seasonal services of this popular beach, along with the other six beaches for which it now holds corresponding authorisations: Las Marañuelas, Costa Alegre, Taurito, El Cura, Aquamarina and Patalavaca. Since last summer they have also been in control of direct exploitation of  Puerto Rico and El Perchel beaches.  The majority of these coastal tourism enclaves were managed by...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 27-29 January 2023

It's the last weekend of January and exactly two weeks to go until the 2023 Carnival season starts on Gran Canaria. This weekend will most probably be enjoyed with a drop of wet weather, Sunday being forecast as the rainiest. The southern tourist enclaves look to also see a bit of cloud cover and even a small chance of seeing a few drops of rain. However you look at it, it may be handy to have umbrellas and raincoats around during the days to come. There is even the possibility of some snow on...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 20-22 January 2023

Following the winter holidays and Reyes Magos, the Three Kings Epiphany festivities, the first major weekend events have started once again, and another year full of fiestas and festivities commences. The almond trees are almost in full blossom across the island's mountainous interior, from Valsequillo to Ayacata, Tunte to Tejeda and Carnival season is also fast approaching. The first patron saint's festivities of 2023 are taking place in...

More than half of all Canary Islands properties sold last year were bought by foreigners, more than half of those non-residents

While we still await final figures for the last quarter of 2022, the latest official data from The Canary Islands has shown foreigners are buying more homes in the Canary Islands than ever before. The number of real estate acquisitions by non-residents in the Canary Islands has risen 52% compared to the same period in 2021, and is already 16% higher than the highest ever record set in 2017. The causes of this increase...

Cordial director says they will fight “illegal” decision to allow cement factory to continue in Port of Santa Águeda

The general director of hoteliers, the Cordial group, a member of the Las Palmas tourist association, Nicolás Villalobos, has described as "illegal" the decision taken by the Canarian Regional Government to extend the usage of the deep water port of Santa Águeda so that the cement company CEISA (Cementos Especiales de Las Islas SA) can continue to operate beyond its concession which expired last October. <!--more-->     The...

Gran Canaria Reyes de Magos “The Three King’s” 2023

Twelfth night is almost upon us, the Epiphany, preceded by the Noche del Reyes Magos, or night of the kings, the spectacular finale of the holiday season, when 3 wise men are expected to visit every home in the kingdom. This is the most magical time of the year for Spanish kids. The tradition here is that Los Reyes Magos, known as the Three Wise Men or the Three Kings, are actually the ones who bring children their gifts on the Day of the Epiphany, which is the 6th of January. This is when...

The Canary Guide: Nochevieja, New Year’s #WeekendTips 2022-23

Well, it's the New Year's weekend and perhaps you are wondering what there is to do on our sub-tropical winter-sunshine island. There will be celebrations for the start of 2023 across Gran Canaria at most bars and restaurants, with several fireworks displays on offer, the biggest and most popular of which include the main beach in the capital, Las Canteras, and in the south on Anfi Beach, The Faro de Maspalomas lighthouse (where many of the hotels have lavish parties and compete for the...

The Canary Guide: Gran Canaria Public Holidays, Fiestas, Romerías and Celebrations for 2023

Gran Canaria and the Canary Islands share 8 official "bank holidays" with the rest of Spain. Following the publication of the Laboral Calendar in the Official State Gazette (BOE), the eight immovable holidays are: April 7: Good Friday, May 1: Labor Day, (Monday), August 15: Assumption of the Virgin (Tuesday), October 12: National holiday, (Thursday), November 1: All Saints, (Wednesday),  December 6: Constitution Day, (Wednesday), December 8: The Immaculate Conception, (Friday) and December 25:...

The Canary Guide Yule time #WeekendTips, Merry Christmas

From sunny Gran Canaria, we wish you all Feliz Navidad! Happy holidays! Merry Yuletime! Local celebrations on the 24th and 25th are often low key and family oriented and it looks like the weather is going to be wonderful, at least until Monday, when a cold front looks set to move in over the archipelago, bringing with it some rain and even a chance of snow on top of Mount Teide. This week there have been loads of wonderful seasonal goings-on all around Gran Canaria. Christmas lights across the...

Spain’s second largest ever seizure of designer club drug “Tusi”

Spain's, so far, second largest consignment of the pink drug concoction has been intercepted at Gran Canaria airport. A 22-year-old passenger from Belgium was stopped, by Customs Surveillance and Guardia Civil, with an estimated ten kilos of the drug, writes A. Castilian in Spanish language daily, La Provincia     Last Tuesday, Customs Surveillance and the Guardia  Civil intercepted a consignment of, what is known as, "pink...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 16-18 December 2022

It's the weekend before most foreign residents (and visitors) celebrate their Yuletime dinners and get-togethers. Of course here in Spain, and on the Canary Islands, December 25th is a day of simple, quiet contemplation with the main gift giving days being 12th night, the epiphany, January 5th & 6th, in celebration of the Day of the Three Kings, so for Canary Islanders there is still plenty of time of Christmas shopping to be done. This year the 25th forms part of a 'puente', a bridge...

Works on the new Soria-Chira hydroelectric project expand to the Soria Dam

The new Salto de Chira hydroelectric power station project broke ground this year, after nearly 2 decades of planning, with works now being prepared on the primary wall of the Soria dam (the largest in The Canary Islands) and its surroundings, where a spillway will be constructed to facilitate access via a service road to install elements such as water intake, the hydraulic circuit along with a secondary tunnel which will be installed.     [adrotate...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 9-11 December 2022

There is no avoiding it. It's the second weekend of December and the Yule time festivities are pretty much the theme for all the events happening on Gran Canaria over the days and weeks ahead. The municipalities of Santa Lucía and Agaete are celebrating their patron saints' festivities as well as a few other neighbourhoods around the island. The municipalities of Mogán, Teror, Valsequillo and Arucas are just about to start their seasonal programs this weekend, with their respective Lights-on...

A minimum 15 journeys per month for Canary Islands Residents Bus Pass holders wishing to travel for free, from January 1st

As of January 1, public road transport services, urban and interurban, for anyone with a resident's monthly bus pass, can travel free by bus and tram in the Canary Islands, the Government of the Canary Islands and the seven island councils have announced after a meeting held on Wednesday. This and other issues will be included in an action protocol that will be signed by all parties before the end of the year.     Anyone not in...

Gran Canaria Weather: Yellow Warning – Rough seas, strong winds and rain from the South West

A massive Atlantic storm has been rumbling across the Azores over the last few days, bringing some residual wet weather last weekend and another band of rain which looks set to sweep across the archipelago today, and over the next 12 hours. Spanish State Meteorological Agency, AEMET, have issued a yellow advisory warning for the southern half of Gran Canaria, this Wednesday, for rainfall that could accumulate up to 15 litres per square...

Supermarket opening times this week, for Tuesday and Thursday and the December “Bridge”

There are two bank holidays this week, as Tuesday marks Spain's Constitution Day and Thursday is the feast of the Immaculate Conception, both of which are national holidays every year, which will make next weekend a long "bridge" weekend, and of course lots of people will take the opportunity to stock up in time of the seasonal festivities relentlessly heading our way at the end of the month. Many supermarkets will change their opening hours for these two most important shopping days at the...

#VoteLocal: Want to have your say? The deadline to register for next May’s local elections is January 15, 2023

Across Spain, municipal elections, to vote for your representatives in your local town hall, will be held on May 28, 2023. All EU nationals, legally resident, have the right to stand for election in their local council, and to elect the councillors whose job it will be to serve you and local interests, defend citizen rights and administrate local town hall funds to where they are most needed and useful for the the community. For non-EU...

Winds of up to 90 km/h from the northwest and heavy rain: AEMET activates Yellow and Orange warnings for the Canary Islands this weekend

Spanish State Meteorological Agency, AEMET, this Friday issued yellow and orange warnings for the Canary Islands this weekend. An orange advisory warning will be in affect for the islands of Tenerife and La Palma, due to strong winds, and there is a yellow warning for rain and wind on the western islands and Gran Canaria. Gran Canaria has a yellow warning for strong wind, with gusts of up to 70 kilometres per hour, especially on the north...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 2-4 December 2022

      The first weekend of December and it's going to be an interesting one. The weather forecast is a bit unstable for Gran Canaria for the coming days with some rain, clouds and sunshine to look forward to. That being said, bad weather can cause any outdoor event to be postponed, moved indoors, or cancelled. Overall, the many events and festivities to explore and enjoy include the Avocado fair in Arguineguin. Some of the finest artisan...

Bus companies very concerned about being able to maintain services with free travel from January 1st

Bus operators, technicians and managers have been expressing some concern over the new plan to make public transport free for regular daily users as of next January 1. 2023 is expected to begin with a sudden increase in demand for which the bus companies are not well prepared. The  increase in the number of users, means that bus companies like Global Bus (Interurban island-wide) and Guaguas Municipales (Las Palmas de Gran Canaria) will have to provide a potentially larger number of services...

Swedish man faces up to 29 years, on trail, suspected of killing his partner in Puerto Rico de Gran Canaria

The Guardia Civil arrested a Swedish man, in April 2019, in the tourist resort town of Puerto Rico, in the south western municipality of Mogán, accused of having beaten his partner to death. The woman, who was 42 years old, according to sources within the initial investigation was found dead in her apartment by a Guardia Civil patrol responding to a 112 emergency call, to ask for help at around 10 am the following morning. However,...

Three stowaways found on the rudder of an oil tanker after it docked in Las Palmas on Monday

The Salvamento Marítimo (Maritime Rescue) rescued three stowaways on Monday, found on the rudder blade of an oil tanker that had just arrived in the Port of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, having left eleven days earlier from Lagos (Nigeria). They were picked up this Tuesday by the Salvamar Nunki in the port of the capital of Gran Canaria, having been sighted in a precarious position outside the ship's hull, with their feet hanging barely half a metre from the surface of the water. [fb_plugin...

Animal abuser, as well as a municipal service vet, investigated after dog beating in Mogán

Last month, a Guardia Civil SEPRONA (Nature Protection Service) patrol investigated an individual for a crime of animal abuse and/or abandonment, as in addition to having four dogs at a private home in a somewhat precarious state, evidenced by images provided to the Guardia Civil, the owner of the dogs was seen striking one dog with a stick, then with a large heavy rock and later with some sort of wooden board, at the house in question in the municipality of Mogán.  ...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 25-27 November 2022

What an awesome month of sunshine it has been, the Orange harvest is in full swing, and now it's time to enjoy the last weekend of November before, Hello December! We have one busy weekend coming up, and that most American celebration of consumerism, the so-called Black Friday, arrives once again on the island. Events to celebrate the switching on of Christmas lights have already started and will continue in various places around the island over the next week...

First of its kind national congress on the local administration of finance and funding puts Maspalomas under the spotlight

A three day congress, the first of it's kind in Spain, has found itself the target of criticism over the cost of aiming to inaugurate a national conversation on financial responsibility, in particular in the administration of local, regional, national and EU funding.  Some opposition parties, many of whom, it seems, were not invited, have sought clarifications on how the expenditure for the event itself was decided, and why there was only one sound and lighting company invited to tender...

Free resident travel will be limited to regular and frequent users with monthly bus passes

Free public transport in the Canary Islands is to be limited to those people who use bus services on a regular basis, in their day-to-day activities, using one of the usual monthly or annual bus passes already issued by the Gran Canaria Single Transport Authority or similar institutions on the rest of the islands. Citizens to benefit from free trips will those who undertake a minimum number of trips per month, still to be determined,...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 18-20 November 2022

  It's official! Yule time starts this weekend on Gran Canaria with the first of the seasonal lighting events happening this Friday. The gorgeous summery weather that we have been enjoying all the way into mid-November will now take a few days off but it looks like it will return next week. Work has already started of Gran Canaria’s biggest nativity sculpture, the sand art Belen de Arena 2022 in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, and opens on Friday, December 2...

Quick response from Mogán Policia Local results in arrests following restaurant theft in Puerto Rico

In the early hours of the morning of this Thursday, November 17, Mogán Policia Local arrested three adults and a minor for allegedly having forced their way into the Bahía Playa restaurant, in Puerto Rico de Gran Canaria, and stealing a cash register. Once alerted, the local agents managed to intercept a vehicle in which the suspects were fleeing, in the area of ​​El Tablero, just 10km away.     The Police were alerted around...

Ella the danger mouse grabs more than she bargained for on holiday in Puerto Rico de Gran Canaria

Ella the danger mouse got more than she bargained for when she tried to win herself one of the gift teddies in a grab-a-prize machine, located in the family amusement zone of the Sunspot bar, in Fase IV of the Shopping Centre Puerto Rico, last Sunday at about 8.30 pm.     Her panicked mum, Lisa, found her little ball of energy had been so focused on winning a stuffed toy she'd spotted that, as soon as her 13 year old sister's...

Sting to perform in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria summer 2023

British singer songwriter Sting looks set to return to Gran Canaria in 2023. Gordon Matthew Thomas Summer (Wallsend, North Tyneside, England, October 2, 1951), known globally as Sting, will perform for islanders next summer, according to sources consulted by Spanish language daily, Canarias7. , in an enclave like the Gran Canaria Arena, in Siete Palmas.     The arena concert by the ex lead singer of The Police looks set to be one...

Regular resident bus travel to be FREE – 100% subsidised – in the Canary Islands from Jan 1

Spain's central government in Madrid, it was announced this Monday, has accepted 100% free resident travel on Canary Islands urban and interurban buses from January 1. The regionalist CC party have been negotiating with and socialist PSOE government since October culminating in an agreement to support the central Government's 2023 budget in exchange for the 100% subsidy for passenger and freight transport, and a specific plan for La Palma.    ...

Man admits locking up, assaulting and raping a woman in Mogán during the pandemic confinement

A man accused of having, allegedly, held a woman in Mogán during the state of alarm, against her will and wilfully engaging in her sexually abuse, confessed this Tuesday to being guilty as charged. The man acknowledged that he had taken the victim into his home, knowing that she was in a vulnerable situation, after having had problems with her partner, and that he took advantage of her, even engaging in non-consensual sex.     [adrotate...

Gran Canaria Weather: Summer-like temperatures will give way to some rain and a slight cooling by the weekend

It's the middle of November and Gran Canaria has been enjoying temperatures more typical of summer than of the middle of Autumn. The balmy sunshine looks set to continue for a few more days this week across the Canary Islands, while Calima haze is expected to trap some of that heat, forecasts suggest the temperatures may well drop by then end of the week and there is a distinct possibility of rainfall, so it could well be time to dust off the umbrella, just incase the prediction of Spain's...

New Mogán law to prohibit sleeping in public spaces, hanging clothes on balconies and drinking in the streets

Gran Canaria's second most important tourism municipality, Mogán on the south west coast of the island, are understood to be engaged in the process of endowing themselves with a new set of local bylaws which, among various other things, will prohibit and penalise anyone found sleeping, day or night, in public spaces. Prohibited too, in some of Gran Canaria's favourite resorts, will be the leaving of clothing or towels on balconies. The apparently deeply conservative Mogán town hall, led by the...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 11-13 November 2022

  It's the second weekend of November already and it is going to be a beautiful and busy one on Gran Canaria. The festive season is getting closer and closer and a lot of the Yuletime lights are up already, with many official 'lights on' events still to come, so stay tuned. There are plenty of awesome events and festivities taking place around Gran Canaria, highlights include the WOMAD world music and dance festival, happening in the capital, as well as Fashion & Friends. It's also...

Mass message alert “reverse 112” system tested on the Canary Islands

This Thursday, November 10, at midday, 12:00, the Canary Islands participated in a test of a new public alert system, using mobile phone networks, called ES-Alert, organised by the General Directorate of Civil Protection and Emergencies (DGPCE) and the Regional Ministry of Public Administrations, Justice and Security, directed by Julio Pérez. The system is designed to send mass warnings to the population, via all mobile phones in a specific area, during the test to around 10,000 people The...

Want to live on Gran Canaria? Feel free to Follow the Sun this Thursday, with Pride Properties

    Sponsored On Thursday 10 November, between 11.00am and 1.00pm a FREE consultation has been laid on by popular real estate experts Pride Properties, who have gathered together their team, which includes the two property agents behind the company, a trusted architect, a property lawyer and an expert on global accountancy to offer free information and advice for anyone thinking of buying or selling on Gran Canaria. They have offered to answer any...

Foreign woman arrested in Playa del Inglés accused of collecting donations on false pretences

Policia Nacional have arrested a 39-year-old woman suspected of scamming more than €10,000 from at least five foreign restaurateurs on the south of the island island on the false premise that her daughter was suffering from a serious illness and then died after a failed operation, supposedly in Houston, Texas, for which she allegedly needed to raise money.     The detainee has been accused of fraud, forgery of documents, the...

La Alcaldesa, the mayoress of Mogán, investigations continue before the courts, after trying to block Guardia Civil from looking at municipal files

La Alcaldesa, O. Bueno, was called on Thursday, before the judge, to defend why she ordered her IT manager to stop Guardia Civil access to town hall computers after her arrest, not for the first time, back in September 2020.  The case is just one of the several derived from the latest round of allegations, which came to light after the 2015 local elections, accusing her and her people of dodgy dealing and electoral fraud, having been accused of orchestrating a vote buying plot with a local...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 4-6 November 2022

    The first weekend of November and we have been truly blessed with some rather tropical weather across the whole island recently, the island is still layered with greens after the October rains, though temperatures look set to drop a little over the next few days. One of the biggest county fairs of the year, the "Feria del Sureste", is on this weekend in Vecindario. Tejeda is celebrating their Finaos market. There is a beach clean taking place as...

Gran Canaria Weather: Gradually cooling back towards seasonal norms and a small possibility of showers by Saturday

Well it looks like predictions of an extended autumn heat wave have receded in The Canary Islands as weather forecasts across the archipelago turn towards a more seasonal outlook, with temperatures starting to drop following the balmy weather over the weekend. All Saints' Day has started with cloudy intervals at lower altitudes, but continues with a probability of Calima haze and maximum daytime temperatures in the shade of up to 27ºC, and dropping to 20ºC at night, according to Spanish State...

The Canary Guide: Noche de Finaos vs. Halloween on Gran Canaria 2022

All saints’ Day, All Hallows’ Day, Halloween, Todos Los Santos Monday, 31 October 2022  The 31st of October has long been celebrated here in The Canary Islands. A most traditional celebration where families gather and tell each other stories of family members long departed, ancestors of note, parents, grandparents, and the occasional spooky ghost story. Graveyards extend their opening hours so that families can visit their loved ones. Of course, US influences have seeped in over recent years,...

The Canary Guide #Weekend Tips 28-30 October 2022

    What a wonderful October it has been and it will also end with the most glorious warm weather around the island with just a hint of calima in the air. A perfect last weekend of October for absolutely any adventure or rest break. This is also going to be a long and interesting weekend as Finaos/Halloween lands this year on a Monday and then Tuesday, 1 November is a bank holiday in Spain. So a long festive "bridge" weekend ahead. There will be...

“Very unusual” warm spell over the Canaries likely to last into November and also affecting mainland for warmest Autumn on record

Spanish State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) has announced their forecast of a new "very unusual" warm spell for this time of year in the Canary Islands. Meteorologists have not ruled out that the end of October will make it the hottest October in Spain since records began. "Clearly warmer than normal conditions are likely to continue into the first half of November ," they have warned. According to AEMET, thermometers could reach up and over 30°C in the shade in The Canary Islands over coming...

Gran Canaria continues work to protect the Dunes of Maspalomas and avoid their destruction

Gran Canaria's island government, the Cabildo de Gran Canaria, are working with the Coastal Authority to reinforce fences that delimit and prevent access to certain areas of the Maspalomas Dunes.     The president of the insular institution, Antonio Morales, who made a visit to the Special Nature Reserve, did not give details about which places they would be focused on, but he did clarify that they would include access to the...

25-year-old allegedly faked the theft of €1,900 in Puerto Rico de Gran Canaria

The Guardia Civil in Puerto Rico de Gran Canaria report that they identified a simulated crime, allegedly perpetrated by a 25-year-old on October 1, who stated that they had been attacked and held against their will by a group of six people, who forced them to withdraw €1,900 from a nearby ATM, in the popular tourist town on the southwest of Gran Canaria.     The person identified had reported to the Guardia Civil that day,...

31ºC in the shade this weekend on Gran Canaria, with a touch of Calima to end October

The Canary Islands have been enjoying some very pleasant October weather with clear skies with just a few intervals of cloud, daytime highs of around 27ºC and night time lows of around 20ºC. The westernmost islands are a little cooler, with lows of around 17-18ºC in La Palma and El Hierro. However, the thermometers look set to rise as we approach the weekend. On Saturday and Sunday and next week, as we head into November, the temperatures across the Canary Islands archipelago will approach...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 21-23 October 2022

An absolutely gorgeous October weekend ahead on Gran Canaria. The weather looks great and the splendid variety of different events and festivities happening is too. On the south of the island, there is a major free concert and a drone show to enjoy among many other music offerings. Arucas is finally celebrating its "World Beers Festival" and in Gáldar the bodyboard competition Frontón King continues on the north coast. In Vecindario the patronal festivities in honour of Archangel Rafael...

Missing man found dead inside a car parked in the Bellavista area of Maspalomas

Agents of the Policia Nacional have found the body of a man inside a vehicle parked in residential area of Bellavista, near Maspalomas, 0n the south of Gran Canaria. It is thought the deceased may have been there for about 15 days.     According to reports from sources within the San Bartolomé de Tirajana Town Council, and subsequently from Spanish language news portals, late on Sunday, everything appears to indicate that it was...

At least 5 flights diverted to Gran Canaria due to powerful electrical storm over Fuerteventura on Saturday night

A powerful electrical storm descended last night over Puerto del Rosario, forcing at least five planes destined for Fuerteventura to have to be diverted to land on Gran Canaria. All arrived without major incidents.       The affected flights all originated from the United Kingdom. The first, from Jet2, had taken off from Manchester and at about 8pm, after remaining on hold to the south of Fuerteventura, controllers...

The Canary Guide: Maspalomas Market has moved to Parque Europeo while the new facilities are being built

At the start of October the popular Maspalomas Market moved to the Parque Europeo, in the heart of Playa del Inglés. The Town Council provisionally moved the Wednesday and Saturday market due to works due to start on the new municipal market renovation The Councillor for Markets of San Bartolomé de Tirajana town hall, María Ángeles Rodríguez Vega, held a meeting with representatives of the market stallholders, in which the details were agreed to proceed with the change of location (just next...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 14-16 October 2022

   It's mid-October weekend and there are many wonderful events and festivities taking place to see and enjoy. Free concerts in Meloneras. Patron Saint festivities in La Isleta in the capital and in Vecindario. Tejeda is finally trying to celebrate World Tourism Day after being forced to postpone already twice. Last days to enjoy Water Circus in Maspalomas and there is an autumn Fair happening in Holy Trinity church in Las Palmas de G.C. This...

Blood & Gold: The ‘Discoverer’ and the brutality of conquest

Many in Spain celebrate the national day, October 12, as a day for all Spaniards to revel in Spanishness, and remember an empire, replete with displays of military might, with marches and the waving of flags coloured blood and gold. For many, it is not a day of celebration but a time worth spent remembering countless millions whose lives were so irrevocably affected after the arrival of one lost adventurer, who managed to find a small Bahamian island,  an ocean away from the newly united...

Rain showers to end the week, but nothing like Tropical Storm Hermine, likely to remain mostly sunny in the south

Forecasters over the last few days have been expecting a DANA (which stands for High Altitude Isolated Atmospheric Depression - Depresión Atmosférica aislada en Niveles Altos) approaching from the north and bringing rainfall, while temperatures are expected to remain little changed, they could drop slightly as the weather system attracts colder air from the north.  When a DANA like this brings significantly colder temperatures it is also known as a Gota Fría or "cold drop". Though the rains...

A “good winter” predicted for Canary Islands tourism as demand rises 12% in a week

The forecasts of the business sector and the Tourism Department of the Government of the Canary Islands, which indicate that the islands will have a good winter, are gaining consistency as November 1, the official start date of the season, approaches, reports Silvia Fernandez in Spanish language daily, Canarias7 this Tuesday. Over the last week, reservations have grown more than 12% and it is expected that in the coming days the tourism rebound will be higher,...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 7-9 October 2022

    A much more as-to-be-expected October weekend ahead on Gran Canaria, with an intriguing selection of different kinds of events taking place. Patronal festivities in La Isleta, Big Bang Vintage Festival, Movelec at INFECAR and free concerts this weekend in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria are just a few of the biggest ones to mention. Agüimes celebrate their co-patron's festivities of The Rosary. There is a Cangrejo fest on the coast of Arucas. Water...

An unusually strong African Calima blows out over us from the east

An intense Calima has been sweeping the Canary Islands since Monday, October 3. According to forecasts of the meteorological models consulted by CanariasAhora, Saharan dust will remain suspended in the air at least until Wednesday. It is expected that this episode will also affect the entire peninsula, especially southern and central parts of Spain. [video width="1280" height="720" mp4="https://thecanarynews.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2022/10/finalVideo-3.mp4" loop="true"...

The rains guarantee water for crops until 2024 on Gran Canaria, but generate millions of euros of damage to roads

The rain last weekend has caused significant damage to roads and infrastructure across Gran Canaria, but the water has been "a blessing" for agriculture. This was expressed on Tuesday by the president of the Cabildo, Antonio Morales, who said that 2,721,212 cubic meters of water had been collected in the island's public and private reservoirs, a 6% increase on the total volume available. Specifically, the private reservoirs have collected 1,970,440 cubic meters, 8% of the total volume, and the...

The alert and pre-alert for rain declared finished following Hermine

The alert declaration for the heavy rains affecting El Hierro and the pre-alert situation that was still in place on La Gomera, La Palma, Tenerife and Gran Canaria due to tropical storm Hermine ended at 12:00 noon this Wednesday, according to the General Directorate of Security and Emergencies of the Canary Islands regional government. In a statement they specified that the meteorological conditions behind the declaration have now ended. Likewise, they have assured that communications and...

Maximum Alert for rains remains in place until midday Monday, more than 800 incidents reported, airports closed and 200 or more flights cancelled

The President of the Government of the Canary Islands, Ángel Víctor Torres, has reported this Sunday evening on the evolution of 'Hermine' over the Archipelago, which despite being downgraded this morning from a Tropical Storm, to a depression, continues to make its presence felt across the Archipelago. So far, more than 800 incidents related to heavy rains have been reported and more than 250 flights to or from the Islands having been cancelled. In addition,...

Hermine downgraded to Tropical Depression, 12 or more hours of heavy rainfall still expected

The NOAA Hurricane Centre has downgraded Storm Hermine to a tropical depression this Sunday morning, as had been predicted in previous discussions, as wind speeds fell below 62 kilometres per hour. Meanwhile on social media some members of the public had become confused by the use of the word "cyclone" which had been utilised to describe the cyclonic, or circular, motion of the winds attached to this Atlantic wet weather system; comparing the abundant rainfall as no worse than a "Saturday...

AEMET raises advisory warning for heavy rains to Red, on Gran Canaria this Sunday

The Spanish State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) in the Canary Islands this Saturday updated their warnings for rain on Sunday, September 25, on the islands of Gran Canaria, El Hierro and La Palma as tropical storm 'Hermine' passes to the south and west of the archipelago. The Red Advisory warning (the highest level) comes into force from 12:00 midday tomorrow for the east, south and west of Gran Canaria, where accumulated rainfall of 120 litres per square meter...

“Complicated” Sunday forecast as weakening Tropical Storm Hermine passes west of Canary Islands

Tropical Storm 'Hermine' is expected to bring Autumn rains to The Canary Islands this weekend, reaching a peak for Sunday , which is expected to be "a complicated day", according to the Emergency technicians at a Canary Islands press conference on Friday, with effects expected to last until Monday. Among the official recommendations, they advised everyone to ensure they had candles, flashlights and a radio on hand, to be prepared in the event of a power outage. Likewise, the regional...

Canarian Government issue urgent warnings to help you keep safe during the coming Storm Hermine

Heavy rains forecast this weekend in the Canary Islands have led the regional government to remind everyone that the situation can change rapidly when a storm like this affects the weather systems of the archipelago. Stay at home and drive with extreme caution are just some of the advice that the Government of the Canary Islands urge in situations like the one that is coming. With sudden downpours like this barrancos and ravines can fill quickly and turn into...

Classes suspended on Monday as Government of the Canary Islands asks for caution and calls for self-protection in the face of a maximum alert

The president of the Canary Islands, Ángel Víctor Torres, this afternoon appealed for "prudence" and called for "self-protection and maximum precautions" during the weekend, in the face of what, he pointed out, "may be the most important rains in recent years ”. Torres announced that all activities are suspended from tonight and until the change from maximum alert. At this time, the forecasts highlight that the core of the cyclone will not touch the islands, but the meteorological phenomenon...

Atlantic depression south of Canaries upgraded to Tropical Storm Hermine

The Atlantic cyclone that has formed to the south of the Canary Islands has in the last hour been officially upgraded from a tropical depression to a tropical storm. The new classification has confirmed this Friday night by the US National Hurricane Centre. The president of the Canary Islands, Ángel Víctor Torres, reported this afternoon's press conference that the Canary Islands would very likely be affected by what was then a "tropical depression",  a type of...

Maximum Alerts declared for heavy downpours and possible storm weather bringing strong winds and flooding

The Government of the Canary Islands, through the General Directorate of Security and Emergencies, has declared a Maximum Alert for Rains in the Canary Islands, starting at 00:00 midnight and into the early hours of September 24. This decision was made taking into account the most current information available and applying the Canary Islands Specific Emergency Plan for Risks of Adverse Meteorological Phenomena (known as PEFMA). The State Meteorological Agency...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 16-18 September 2022

Autumn is here, and the weather prediction for the weekend is trying to prove it.  There is so much going on this weekend hopefully the rain predicted will not spoil any of the upcoming events. World clean up Day is celebrated this Saturday. There is also a double event happening in Vecindario with Km.0 Fair Gran Canaria - SouthEast edition and 'Feria del Sol' which is all about renewable energy. Many patron saint festivities are taking place this weekend including in Guía, Tejeda, Agüimes...

San Bartolomé de Tirajana will completely renew sunbeds and umbrellas on its beaches

The Maspalomas-Gran Canaria Tourism Rehabilitation Consortium has put out to tender, to a value of €600,000, divided into two lots, for the supply of sun-beds (hammocks) and umbrellas for the beaches of Maspalomas Costa Canaria, Spain and The Canary Islands' top tourism destination. The simple sun-beds, spare parts and double-covered Balinese hammocks, are budgeted at €263,500, and the circular parasols, various spare parts and windbreaks for €297,246. This is...

Perpetrator of Puerto Bello disturbances sentenced to 3 years in prison

Ahmed Haison, of Moroccan origin and in an irregular situation on the islands, has been convicted of causing damage to the Puerto Bello complex, in Puerto Rico de Gran Canaira, where he was being accommodated by the Government of the Canary Islands, he has, this week, been sentenced to three and a half years in prison. Convicted by the Second Section of the Provincial Court of Las Palmas for a crime of public disorder, and another of attack on an agent of the authorities, he was acquitted of a...

Mogán town hall ordered, for the third time, to remove “illegal” bar restaurant construction in Puerto Rico harbour

The magistrate at Contentious-Administrative Court 4 of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria has ordered Mogán Town Hall to immediately open a new file to restore urban legality altered by Waikiki restaurant bar, illegally built by the Puerto Rico de Gran Canaria Sailing School, more than twenty years ago. The establishment is in clear violation of Coastal Law, by invading the maritime-terrestrial public domain. In 2003, a demolition order was issued, which the local town hall administration did not act...

British Embassy and Consulates announce opening condolence books to mark passing of their Queen

The Embassy of the United Kingdom in Spain announced on Friday the opening to the public of books of condolences, following the death of Elizabeth II, at its headquarters in Madrid, as well as consulates in seven other Spanish cities, including Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Through a statement issued by the British embassy, ​​​​it was confirmed that a book of condolence would be available, to be signed, on Friday and over the next few...

Gran Canaria Weather: Mainly clear blue skies and a touch of Calima, daytime highs upto 31ºC in the shade

Canarian skies this weekend will see some cloud cover over the north of the island, though mainly clear this Saturday to the south according to Spanish State Meteorological Agency (AEMET), with forecasts of Calima blowing in at high altitude over the easternmost islands, and night time lows of around 23ºC and daytime highs in the shade hitting up to 31ºC in the south, temperatures will see few changes from recent days, as moderate winds continue from the northeast. [fb_plugin...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 9-11 September 2022

  As the summer comes to a close, it has been an important week already on Gran Canaria with the main September celebration of the island's Patron Saint taking place in Teror, and Thursday being a bank holiday on the island, in honour of Nuestra Señora del Pino, Our Lady of the Pine. This weekend will see more big, popular celebrations taking place, and particularly busy in the westernmost municipality of Gran Canaria, La Aldea, with their own Patron...

Meanwhile, in Las Palmas: Taxi driver escapes injury after crashing into building site from the air

The networks are going wild over a spectacular traffic accident this Friday in the capital, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, on Pancho Guerra street, Paseo de San Antonio, after a taxi mishap managed to result in a tumble from a height of 5 meters, into the middle of a building site. Fortunately, according to the Policia Local of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria on its official Twitter account, the driver of the vehicle does not appear to have suffered any serious...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 2-4 September 2022

It's the first weekend of September edition of The Canary Guide #WeekendTips. What a summer its been, but it's not quite over yet, and as we roll towards the autumn there is a full weekend of activities ahead, with various events and fairs to go and see. The month of September will also see some of the biggest and most popular patron saint festivities on Gran Canaria with the Fiestas del Pino in Teror, the Patron Saint of Gran Canaria, and patron festivities in honour of San Nicolas de...

Price of bus passes discounted 50% for all Canary Islands’ residents

  The Gran Canaria Single Transport Authority (AUTGC) have been able to lower the prices of public transport cards (bonos) on the Island, thanks to a 50% subsidy from the Government of Spain for bus transport on Gran Canaria. The state contribution was raised from 30% to 50% after the signing of a collaboration protocol carried out last Monday by the President of the Canary Islands, Ángel Víctor Torres, and the Minister of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda, Raquel Sánchez, in the...

Gran Canaria Weather: The first of the Autumn rains beckon, warm winds and passing storm showers for the end of August

August comes to an end on the Canary Islands with heat and Calima haze, from African winds carrying Saharan dust in suspension, with a mass of warm air that looks set to raise temperatures to 34ºC, or more, in the shade, particularly on south and west facing slopes, the spokesman for Spain's State Meteorological Agency (AEMET), Rubén del Campo, has reported. By Wednesday, however, there could be some storm showers on the westernmost islands, and from Thursday...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 26-28 August 2022

It's the last weekend of August (already!) and the end of the traditional holiday month, which will mean a slow down in some of the summer season tourism traffic, to the enclaves of the south, as local preparations get underway for a new school year to start. Summer weather, as ever, continues on Gran Canaria, with lovely warm daytime temperatures predicted this weekend pretty much around the whole island, with some possibility of a little cloud cover in the capital and in the rugged north,...

The Canary Guide Weekend Tips 19-21 August 2022

The most summery month of August is already in its 3rd weekend, and it's going to be another warm one. The Canary Islands Health Department has activated risk warnings due to high temperatures forecast on Gran Canaria. The weather prediction by AEMET shows highs of up to 38º in the shade for the southern part of the island and average temperatures set to stay way above 30º all around the island. So a proper summer weekend ahead! There are several Romerías and fiestas, celebrating various...

Wildfire prevented after a palm tree fell on to high voltage power lines in the Mogán Valley

Several news outlets are reporting a more than five meter tall Canarian palm tree having fallen on to high voltage power lines, causing a fire, in the Barranco de Mogán ravine, near El Cercado, which prevented residents of agricultural farms from accessing or leaving their properties. The 'phoenix canariensis' fell at around 6:00pm onto power cables causing three separate outbreaks of fire. The area has a lot of dry vegetation, bushes and reed beds, which...

Young man alleges that he was attacked and robbed by Yumbo centre security guards

A 26-year-old resident of Mogán has accused two security guards of brutally beating him last Friday at the Yumbo Shopping Centre, in Playa del Inglés, in an unprovoked attack that he has reported in a denuncia complaint to the Guardia Civil. Image of alleged victim's injuries, courtesy of El Digital Sur GC The complainant says he was having drinks at the well known leisure centre with a friend, before noticing that two of the centre's security officers were...

Innovative new “Fog Water Collectors” installed on north Gran Canaria, to help prevent soil erosion and assist reforestation

👷🏽‍♂️This week the installation of innovative Fog Water Collectors has begun on the north of Gran Canaria as part of a 4 year project to use this innovative method of water collection in an attempt to prevent further soil degradation or loss of vegetation.🛠️. Deforestation and desertification have long been recognised as two of the principal causes for biodiversity loss and soil degradation. These phenomena are mostly caused by a mixture of ongoing climate...

Head-on collision in Arguineguín leaves two injured and major traffic problems

This Saturday morning, August 13, at around 9am a head on collision on the entry road to Arguineguín, on the south west of Gran Canaria, left a Mapfre tow truck (grua) and a Mercedes very badly damaged. The impact caused significant damage to the driver's side of the tow truck, and appears to have written off the Mercedes which was travelling in the other direction. From the amount of damage it appears that at least one or both vehicles were travelling at some...

Town hall silent this Friday as Playa de Mogán beach again closed due to suspected fecal contamination

Mogán town hall has once again chosen to remain silent this Friday in regard to the closure of Playa de Mogán due to suspected sewage having been detected in the waters of one of the islands favourite tourist-cum-fishing towns, choosing instead to talk about how much money they have spent on sports projects. This is already the 5th time in 4 months, reports news portal El Digital Sur Gran Canaria, that Playa de Mogán beach, one of the most important on Gran Canaria, in the Municipality of...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 12-14 August 2022

Mid August and what a gorgeous and hot summer it's already been. This weekend will be a long weekend, known as a 'bridge' or 'puente', as Monday 15th of August is a public holiday throughout Spain, ostensibly to celebrate the religious Asunción de la Virgen, the feast of the Assumption. Bare in mind that governmental offices will be closed on Monday as well as some retail shops; like Carrefour in Vecindario. The weather is looking fine indeed, with more "normal" summer temperatures predicted...

HIV+ activist, Orlando Viera, demands life saving medication be made available in Maspalomas

August 10th is International LGBTQ+ Tourism Day, and Maspalomas is world famous for its large Rainbow Community as well as welcoming an estimated 15% of Canary Islands tourism oriented specifically towards this sector.  Maspalomas is also, therefore, a focal point for a large number of foreign residents who work within tourism related businesses, and among whom there are a number of HIV+ patients who, with the right medical assistance, are able to successfully manage their condition and...

Gran Canaria Weather: A little cooler, breezes and bright sunshine after the third hottest July in 61 years

July 2022 saw two consecutive heat waves in The Canary Islands archipelago, and temperatures that reached maximums of 45º Celsius, making it the third warmest in the last 61 years, according to the climate analysis published by the Spanish State Meteorological Agency AEMET. It details the average temperature, during the observed period, was 23.7º Celsius across the islands, a positive anomaly of 1.6º Celsius on what is usually expected, which classifies July as...

Spain requires shops and institutions to turn lights off after 10pm with limits on heating and air conditioning temperatures to be controlled

The countdown has begun to power-saving blackouts, in shops and institutional buildings, set to be in force at least until November 1, 2023. The measures, decreed last week by Spain's central government form part of the package of measures on energy saving and efficiency. The open commercial areas of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria have reportedly reacted with skepticism, waiting to see how it will affect business and consumption; however, the sector recognises that inflation and the rise in...

Sailor rescued thanks to the Maspalomas satellite receiving space station COSPAS-SARSAT search program response

A 62-year-old French man, rescued last Tuesday in a harrowing shipwreck off the Costa da Morte, was, it has emerged as reported in La Provincia, located thanks to a signal from his sailboat's emergency beacon, which reached the COSPAS-SARSAT search program, located at the Maspalomas Space Centre . Operators in Maspalomas quickly notified the National Maritime Rescue Centre in Madrid, which deployed units to begin an intervention that lasted more than 16 hours, in which the survivor had managed...

Ryanair strike action causes more disruption in Spain, but has not yet affected Canary Islands flights

Ryanair has cancelled at least ten flights this Monday, coinciding with the start of the new strike call for cabin crew (TCP), as well as having experienced a number of delays. At the moment, no Canary Islands air traffic has been affected, as with previous strikes, the majority of problems caused appear to have been on flights to and from mainland Spain and elsewhere in Europe. This morning cancellations have been reported between Barcelona and Milan, Menorca,...

Canary Islands recommend El Pajar Cement Factory continue to have use of Santa Águeda port for several more years

The Government of the Canary Islands set up a commission to examine the future of the port of Santa Águeda, on the south of Gran Canaria across the bay from Arguineguín, because the concession allowing the cement company to use the port is due to expire on October 22.  The commission's conclusions are that the port be temporarily shared between tourism and industrial use, at least until the factory can operate in Arinaga, some time in the future. Something that will take a minimum of 6 years...

Mogán’s deputy mayor will be put on trial accused of awarding 16 contracts ‘by finger’ to his own law firm

Since 2018 the courts have been investigating an alleged crime of continued prevarication (deception) in Mogán Town Council's having awarded up to 16 contracts to one particular law firm. Mogán's deputy mayor, and councillor for Urban Planning, Mencey Navarro (CIUCA), will go to trial when the Investigating Magistrate's Court number 3, in San Bartolomé de Tirajana, has reviewed the collected evidence of the commission of a crime of prevarication. A recent order from the Sixth Section of the...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 5-7 August 2022

The long hot Gran Canaria August is here, and it's a busy summer weekend with some amazing, popular Patronal festivities going on, including the Fiestas de Las Nieves in Agaete and in Lomo Magullo, Telde. Santa Brigida is celebrating their patron saint's festivities and have their Romeria, pilgrimage offering, this Saturday. The small neighbourhood of San Lorenzo, in the capital, is celebrating their main festivities; Fiestas San Lorenzo, marked by a huge fireworks display. There are many...

Something smelly in the waters of Mogán: Police close Playa de Mogán beach again, for the third time this summer

Playa de Mogán beach was closed yet again this week and bathing was prohibited, on Wednesday, when fecal contamination was detected in its waters. Independent Spanish-language news portal for the south of Gran Canaria, El Sur Digital Gran Canaria, reported subsequently that Mogán Town Council workers removed the delimiting tape closing the beach to bathers in Playa de Mogán at around 9:00 a.m. on Thursday morning. Analysis carried out on Thursday came out...

Canary Islands Government consider 7 visions of the future for El Pajar

The Canary Islands Government are considering up to seven different visions for the future of the El Pajar Port of Santa Águeda (San Bartolomé de Tirajana, in Gran Canaria), the concession for which is held by Cementos Especiales de las Islas (CEISA) at least until October of this year. The industrial cement company aspires to renew its permit to manage the deep water dock that it has held for the last 65 years, while various entities in the tourism sector are demanding the port be given over...

Mogán’s CIUCA town council approve doubling taxi fares and prohibiting unattended towels on the beaches or boats within 200m of the shore

A rather unwelcome set of new measures has been announced by those fun folks still running Mogán Town Council this week, making clear that they will not allow parasols, umbrellas, tables or towels to be used to reserve space on the beaches, for long periods in the absence of their owners. The representatives of the people of Mogán have decided such items left unattended will be considered abandoned, and may be removed by municipal workers. It is one of the more...

August on Gran Canaria begins at 40ºC with our third heatwave in as many weeks

The Canary Islands are yet again expecting to spend the next few days in short sleeves, flip-flips and shorts, due to warning advisories from the Spanish State Meteorological Agency (AEMET), among others, due to yet another wave of incoming high temperatures. This latest heatwave, though for many a little less oppressive than the back to back swelters we experienced throughout July, is expected to persist throughout this week, at least until Thursday. Gran...

Maspalomas Soul Festival closes its successful sixth edition in Boogie Woogie style, ‘cus the music certainly moved them

The sixth edition of the Maspalomas Costa Canaria Soul Festival closed this year having exceeded all initial expectations, both in terms of public attendance during the three days of programming, and artistic performances that have already written a new chapter in the history of this annual musical San Agustín Beach encounter on the famous Maspalomas Costa Canaria. In spite of a two-year hiatus, the festival was an outright success over the three day weekend on the south coast of sub-tropical...

Maspalomas got Soul, if it didn’t they wouldn’t be here – Maspalomas Costa Canaria Soul Festival 2022 – Exclusive images

The south of Gran Canaria was treated to an extraordinary show, on Friday night, by a line up of world class musicians, with the happiest faces, occasionally casting furtive sidelong glances towards the rolling waves of the incoming tide on San Agustín Beach, as they performed for the more than 5,000-strong crowd who'd come to join them for the Maspalomas Costa Canaria Soul Festival 2022.     Editor's Thoughts:   Since the Maspalomas Soul...

Canary Islands Ministry of Health reactivate advisory warnings for high temperatures this weekend on Gran Canaria

The Ministry of Health of the Government of the Canary Islands, through the General Directorate of Public Health, have reactivated health risk warnings in different municipalities of Gran Canaria for the next few days due to forecasts of temperatures exceeding 32º Celsius maximum (daytime in the shade) and 24º minimum (night time), as established in the Preventive Action Plan for the Effects of Excessive Temperatures on Health. Yellow notice (low risk) Agüimes...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 29-31 July 2022

It’s the last weekend of July and what a spectacular Summer 2022 we are having… as if you expected anything less here on Gran Canaria! Weather predictions feature highs of around 32-34ºC in the shade, to the south, blue skies and bright sunshine raising the thermometers still higher; a little cooler to the north, where some cloud cover is quite normal at this time of year. A few of the biggest and most popular summer events and fiestas are happening, or just...

Guardia Civil investigate violent homicide of man found dead on Friday with stab wounds

The Guardia Civil Judicial Police continue to investigate the death of Juan José VJ, a 53-year-old resident of Santa Lucía whose body was found last Friday in the Los Frailes ravine (Mogán). The body was found with numerous injuries including several deep cuts believed to be the result of stab wounds, according to sources close to the investigation, who added that it has now been ruled out that his death occurred due to a fall. This is now a homicide investigation. [fb_plugin...

38ºC+ high temperatures on Gran Canaria, Orange warnings extended for Gran Canaria this Tuesday

The July summer heat is expected to continue for another few days here in The Canary Islands with the ECMWF European weather forecasting models predicting a day of intense heat this Tuesday that looks set to affect all the islands. Temperatures on Monday were already stifling, especially on Gran Canaria, and the south of Tenerife and Fuerteventura, and this Tuesday the thermometers will continue to rise in many places throughout the archipelago. The General...

One dead and another injured in rally collision tragedy on the North of Gran Canaria

A woman has died and a man seriously injured after being hit by a rally car participating in the competition being held this weekend on north of Gran Canaria, in the municipality of Gáldar. The vehicle left the road and travelled a few meters up a hillside, running over a small group of people who were there watching the event. The rally was suspended shortly afterwards. The 112 Government of the Canary Islands Emergency Coordination Centre (CECOES) reported...

Police investigate dead body found in the Los Frailes ravine, between Tauro and Taurito, in municipality of Mogán

Guardia Civil Judicial Police are investigating the death of one Juan José VJ; a 53 year old resident of Santa Lucía de Tirajana, originally from Ingenio, who was found dead on Friday afternoon in a waterway channel, in the Los Frailes ravine, in the municipality of Mogan. The body appears to have had various injuries, so agents are trying to determine if these were made by another person or if it was due to an accidental fall. The discovery was reported at...

Orange Advisories on Gran Canaria for high temperatures and Saharan dust this Sunday & Monday

The Government of the Canary Islands, through the General Directorate of Security and Emergencies, have declared an Alert for Maximum Temperatures on Gran Canaria, starting from 10:00 a.m. this Sunday, July 24. This decision was made on Saturday taking into account all available information and applying the Canary Islands Specific Emergency Plan for Risks of Adverse Meteorological Phenomena (PEFMA). Episodes of maximum temperatures of up to 34ºC, in the shade...

Barranco Fire in Puerto Rico de Gran Canaria

Residents at the top of Puerto Rico de Gran Canaria's West Hill, on the other side overlooking Amadores, were shocked at around 22:30 on Friday night after a fire broke out in the barranco below the Lairaga apartment complex. Local resident and fitness trainer, Ben Stone, managed to capture a video of the blaze, including the heroic actions of at least one resident who appeared to be trying to tackle the fire from above using a garden hose. Fire crews were called to the scene,...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 22-24 July 2022

A blissful summer weekend ahead on Gran Canaria with some pretty awesome events to go and see. Top picks for the coming weekend include the Virgen de Carmen festivities in Playa de Mogán and La Isleta, in the Capital, and one of the main annual festivities in the ancient Royal Capital, Gáldar. There are also festive events happening in the wonderfully picturesque mountain towns of Tunte and Valsequillo and music galore on offer, including the a Latin Salsa Festival in Teror, as well as all...

Tragedy in Puerto Rico de Gran Canaria as workers trapped following a hotel wall collapse, at least one dead

At least one worker has died and the other has been seriously injured this Wednesday when major hotel renovation work lead to the collapse of a retaining wall in the popular holiday resort town of Puerto Rico de Gran Canaria, in the municipality of Mogán. At around quarter past three in the afternoon, one of the walls collapsed trapping the two workers. Numerous emergency services were deployed to the scene, including firefighters from the Puerto Rico Park Consortium, Mogán...

British holidaymaker pleads for help to pay for medical repatriation when clerical error leaves him without insurance following life saving surgery

British holidaymaker Russell Stones from Wellington, Telford travelled with his wife Vicky and their two teenage daughters on all inclusive family holiday holiday to Furteventura back in May. Within a couple of days of being there the whole family fell ill, and Russell managed to rupture his oesophagus due to chronic vomiting. He was flown by air ambulance to the Insular Hospital in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria for a life saving operation to repair it. Thanks to the excellent surgical team that...

Heat Alerts issued for Risk to Health on Gran Canaria and other islands

A red notice has been issued for the south eastern municipality of Santa Lucía de Tirajana, on Gran Canaria. With orange notices for La Aldea de San Nicolás, Artenara, Mogán, Tejeda, San Bartolomé de Tirajana, Agüimes, Ingenio, Valsequillo and Vega de San Mateo. And a yellow notice is in force for Santa Brigida. Alerts have also been issued on Tenerife, La Palma and Fuerteventura                The...

Gran Canaria recorded fifth highest number of arrivals in its history during the second quarter

Gran Canaria has received nearly 700,000 foreign tourists during just the second quarter of this year, according to data collected by Spanish airport authority AENA. A total of 699,949 non-national visitors landed at Gran Canaria airport to enjoy a few days of vacation. This figure represents the fifth best on record, corresponding to the months of April, May and June, since data began being collecting in 1990.              ...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 15-17 July 2022

The main weekend for the Virgen del Carmen festivities lies ahead, celebrating the patron saint of sailors and fisher' folk, which will see fiestas in many coastal areas of Gran Canaria and in Spain. Saturday is the main festive Day and also a local bank holiday in the municipality of Mogán. You will find many other neighbourhoods on the island celebrating Virgen del Carmen, here below are some of our top picks. There are also big festivities taking place in Gáldar and Teror. The very best...

Police seek possible victims of Patalavaca masseur accused of sexual abuse and videoing his clients

The Guardia Civil's Judicial Police Team in Puerto Rico de Gran Canaria (Mogán), as part of Operation Kurnia, has investigated a 59-year-old German for seven crimes of sexual abuse and intimacy. The man, who runs a massage parlour located in Patalavaca, on the south of Gran Canaria, is accused of having taken advantage of his clients by touching and/or recording them with hidden cameras over more than a decade between 2005 and 2020.        ...

Covid-19 infections on the rise as Gran Canaria returns to Alert Level 3

Gran Canaria has returned to Alert Level 3 due to rising infections.  In reality, for now, that does not mean any serious increase in restrictions, with masks, hand washing and social distancing being our primary tools to combat further increases.  Nonetheless most appear to have ditched even those simple measures, and so it may take some serious effort to get people to refocus themselves on breaking the chain of transmission.  For now most measures remain suspended, as we detailed back in...

ALDI opens its first two stores on Gran Canaria, in Las Palmas and Telde

Supermarket chain ALDI today opened their first two stores on Gran Canaria in the municipalities of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and Telde. These are the island's two main population centres, and the locations are easily accessible from the primary motorways, off the GC23 ring road and at the Melenara exit from the GC1. Both stores were rammed full, on their first day, of people eager to find out what this new-to-the-islands store brand can offer, in Las Palmas the prices across all sectors were...

78 year old Norwegian hiker survives a day and a night of high temperatures and is rescued after falling into a ravine

A 78-year-old Norwegian tourist, who had been missing since Sunday, was found by a Guardia Civil patrol in a hard to reach area, thanks to the reflections they say from the mans watch. A helicopter took him to hospital with a serious blow to the head, and severe burns all over his body.             The report was filed by his son at eleven o'clock on Sunday night. The septuagenarian had gone for a walk in the...

Missing 76 year old found dead near his home on the south of Gran Canaria

A man who suffers from Alzheimer's disappeared in the southern Gran Canaria municipality of San Bartolomé de Tirajana, according to reports this Sunday. The 76-year-old man who had been missing since Saturday in San Fernando de Maspalomas, and in need of medication, was found this morning near his home.             The septuagenarian had left his house at 10:30 on July 9, last Saturday. "He had to take a bus to...

Gran Canaria heatwave starts to dissipate, though Orange advisory remains in place this Monday, 43ºC measured yesterday in Agüimes

Temperatures look set to drop a little this Monday across the Canary Islands, following our first proper heatwave of the summer, though will still exceed 35ºC in the shade across the south of Gran Canaria, according to Rubén del Campo, spokesman for the Spanish State Meteorological Agency (AEMET), which also suggests that by Tuesday temperatures will normalise, however by the end of this week, he warned, they could rise once more.        ...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 8-10 July 2022

A hot July weekend ahead full of summer festivities and events to enjoy. Top picks for this coming weekend include the Virgen del Carmen festivities, celebrating the patron protector of sailors and fisherfolk,  in Arguineguín (a Romería, pilgrimage offering, this Sunday), and in the neighbourhood La Isleta, up in the capital. The Canarias Jazz Festival this weekend comes to the south with two free concerts, just next to the Faro de Maspalomas. A major windsurfing competition starts this...

Alert for Maximum Temperatures & Forest Fire Risk Across Gran Canaria This Weekend

ALERTs FOR MAXIMUM TEMPERATURES AND MAXIMUM ALERT FOR RISK OF FOREST FIRE JULY 8 ◾️ The Government of the Canary Islands General Directorate of Security and Emergencies has declared an alert for maximum temperatures starting from 10:00 on July 8th.             GRAN CANARIA: the worst affected areas will be the south and west midland areas, southeast coasts and higher altitude zones. The heat wave will be...

Fuel thefts reported on Gran Canaria as prices continue to rise at the pumps

Reports of fuel theft have been increasing of late as prices at the pump continue to soar in the face of rising prices, something that had begun to happen even before Russia's invasion of Ukraine which has only increased the uncertainty for motorists             In the last week alone fuel has been reported stolen from at least 10 vehicles on the southeast of Gran Canaria, in the area around Vecindario. One...

Gran Canaria Weather: Heatwave expected as temperatures exceed 40ºC in the shade this weekend

Spanish State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) have announced the first proper heat wave of the summer, accompanied by desert winds from the Sahara this week. The trade winds have been keeping the archipelago cool, as the sub-tropical summer has started to heat up, however now AEMET foresees a notable rise in temperatures throughout July and in particular over the next few days. With "the African continental air mass" expected to "move westward affecting the Canary Islands"....

Forest fires high risk season has begun on Gran Canaria

Summer has arrived and the forest fires high risk season on Gran Canaria, which means in practice until September 30, special care must be taken in all rural and forest areas, with the burning of agricultural waste totally prohibited, while any use of fireworks, barbecues and machinery that generates sparks is limited and subject to conditions.            Cabildo de Gran Canaria Councillor for the Environment,...

Sand & Limestone, the El Pajar dilemma: More tourism facilities for the south, or protection of an important industry and an authentic community history

On October 22, 2022 the concession for the deep water dock, used by the cement factory operated by Cementos Especiales de las Islas (Ceisa SA), in the port of Santa Águeda is due to come to an end after 65 years of use, however the company is hoping to renew their contract. The Government of the Canary Islands owns the port and will have to decide whether to extend the concession for the industrial facility to maintain activities there or alternatively follow the established 2003 planning...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 1-3 July 2022

Hello July and Hello Summer! The summer months of July to September witness some of the most popular celebrations and the biggest traditional festivities and 'romería' pilgrimage offerings, on Gran Canaria. In July, we have the Virgen del Carmen festivities in multiple locations, patron saint festivities in the name of Santiago Apóstol in Gáldar and San Bartolomé de Tirajana (This is also the Holy Year of 'the Way of St. James' on Gran Canaria ) and then there's the Maspalomas Soul Festival...

PRIDE Matters to the Yumbo and Maspalomas

GLAY is the volunteer-led LGBTQIA+ not-for-profit association that founded Maspalomas PRIDE back in 2002. The Gay & Lesbian Associates of Yumbo were responsible for establishing communication with their local town hall, San Bartolomé de Tirajana, taking this community event from very humble beginnings, during the quietest month of the year, to becoming one of the single most highly attended annual celebrations on the island, bringing foreigners and native Canarians together, visitors and...

Canary Islands Migration: Ukraine war exasperating food shortages, poverty and unrest in the West African Sahel

Special ReportTimon .:. Without being overly sensationalist, it would be fair to say that, a perfect storm has been brewing for some time in Western Africa.  The Canary Islands is a region on the frontier, and needs to avoid allowing fear to drive decision making. The war in Ukraine may seem very far away, however the disruption to global cereal supplies, those blocked in Black Sea ports, or worse still not harvested all, is adding a growing food crisis to the problems that already existed....

The British of Las Palmas plant a tree for the Jubilee and celebrate longevity of friendships old and new

The British Club of Las Palmas this week continued their celebrations of the Queen of England's Platinum Jubilee, with the planting of an olive tree in their grounds, where it can be directly viewed from the main entrance to their historic headquarters in this once-mostly-British enclave of the city, known as Ciudad Jardín.             The event, organised by the club committee headed up by the newly re-elected...

Newsbrief: 30 kg of hashish found floating by the beach in Arguineguín

Agents of the Mogán Local Police seized a 30-kilo bundle of hashish last week, on the night of June 19, that appeared floating near the Costa Alegre beach, in Arguineguín, Mogán.            After being alerted by residents in the area, after 21:15, two agents from the Mogán Local Police dragged the bundle to shore, helped by two young men. Once transferred to the local police station, they proceeded to verify the contents, in this...

Four convicted and sentenced for multiple rape of a tourist attacked in Puerto Rico

A Las Palmas Court has sentenced four men accused of raping a Danish tourist to between 3 1/2 years and 8 1/2 years in prison, after one took advantage of her the other three then also abused the young woman during the early hours of the morning of December 25, 2016 at a shopping centre in the south of Gran Canaria. The judge ruled that there is "sufficient evidence" to destroy any presumption of innocence of the four defendants, Mohamed EH, 31 years old; Ahmed A., and Brahim A., 30; and...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips San Juan 23-26 June 2022

Summer has officially begun with the June solstice on Tuesday and now the foundational San Juan festivities are upon us, celebrating 544 years since the Castillian army first set camp on the banks of the Guineguada fresh water stream, in what is now the old quarter of our capital city, Vegueta! It is a long "puente" weekend with one of the biggest and most magical celebrations on Gran Canaria, and throughout Spain, entailing many traditional fiestas, midnight dips in the sea and various...

Las Palmas City Council does not plan to withdraw its controversial Pride Day campaign: “We have turned it inside out”

A controversial campaign from the Captial City Town Hall proclaiming “Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, One, great and free, free of prejudice, free of LGBTQIphobia, free of mortal sin, free of injustice and free of hate”. The motto of the new campaign, being used to commemorate this Saturday's LGBTQIA+ Pride event, in Gran Canaria's capital, has been clearly inspired by the words spoken by the Franco regime, and this has generated uproar on all sides of the debate. The Councillor for Equality in...

Medical marijuana in Spain will soon be regulated, available from pharmacies and health centres, as a complimentary therapy

Spain's Subcommittee on medicinal cannabis in the Congress of Deputies (lower house) this Tuesday approved their final report to regulate the legal, therapeutic use of marijuana. The proposal has been supported of various political parties including the socialist PSOE, United We Can, and Ciudadanos, PNV and PDECAT, however the ERC and Bildu parties abstained, demanding a more ambitious text, and the conservative PP, along with ultra right wing Vox, voted against the proposals....

Policia Nacional check point detain nine individuals caught with recreational drugs

The National Police on Sunday arrested nine individuals between the ages of 21 and 46 years of age, in San Bartolomé de Tirajana, four of them with prior police records, having allegedly perpetrated crimes against public health. As part of their work to prevent drug trafficking, a police control this Sunday was set up at an event near Playa del Águila, on the south of Gran Canaria. As a result of this operation, a total of 74 packages containing cocaine, 53 doses of LSD, several ecstasy and...

Superstar DJ Carl Cox plays intimate gig on Gran Canaria ahead of next weekend’s 90s music extravaganza

Superstar DJ Carl Cox visited Gran Canaria this weekend for the first time, to the delight of those in the know, headlining a little publicised event named La Misa, at the newly reopened outdoor music venue attached to Sioux City, in the Barranco del Águila, now called Oasis Sioux, on the south of the sub-tropical island paradise.             World famous 59 year-old British DJ and producer, Carl Cox, has been...

GC1 southern motorway night time closures announced from June 20 until June 23

Gran Canaria's highways maintenance department have announced night time closures in both directions on the main GC1 southern motorway for asphalting work between the exits for Pasito Blanco and Arguineguín, starting from Sunday night, in work expected to continue until at least Thursday.            Diversions will be in place every night from 11pm between kilometres 50 to 56 of the primary north south highway,...

Judge re-orders final closure of unauthorised carnival chiringuitos at Yumbo in time for main weekend

The Contentious Administrative Court number 4 in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria has ordered the unauthorised Maspalomas Carnival chiringuitos to be closed once again, ahead of the main weekend of festivities. The court dismissed the very precautionary measures requested by the company Poppy Garden Terraza SL, one of the companies that installed chiringuito beach bars in two parking areas on the outer perimeter of the Yumbo Shopping Centre, which had reversed the decision to close them made by the...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 17-19 June 2022

It is the weekend before the midsummer San Juan Festivities, one of the biggest celebrations on Gran Canaria, and with summer solstice one of the oldest with spring officially becoming summer. This year San Juan lands on a Friday, and together with the eve of San Juan, both days will put ancient traditions on show, and there will be a lot of festivities and events to see and experience. The next Canary Guide #WeekendTips will be out in time to highlight some of these cultural traditions...

Crew strikes threaten disruption to around 300 Ryanair flights to and from the Canary Islands

Ryanair are due to operate some 300 international flights (150 round trips) in the Canary Islands during the six days of strikes called by the unions representing cabin crew this summer, for the weekend of June 24, 25 and 26 and June 30, July 1 and 2 . An estimated 50,000 passengers are booked to be on these flights, and they could suffer delays and cancellations, according to Spanish language daily Canarias7.            ...

From carnival cross-dressing rose Maspalomas Carnival, Drag Galas, and the Chiringays promoting LGBTQIA+ visibility on Gran Canaria

One of the more interesting legacies, promoted through Gran Canaria's near 500 year old tradition of Carnaval, has got to be the outlandish displays of public cross-dressing, these days celebrated as mass media events with a full system of lights, pyrotechnics and massive sound, but they were once upon a time more hidden away in rural communities.  It is one of the most transgressive acts of annual trespass to be found in this sub-tropical archipelago. Carnival arrived here with the Genoese...

Judgement controversy as illegal carnival bars allowed to reopen taking bread from the mouths of legitimate businesses

A controversy has been brewing over the "chiringuito" street bars that were properly authorised for the Maspalomas International Carnival. Last week 25 unauthorised street bars set up in a car park at the Yumbo (why do they call them "chiringays"?), were officially closed down by the Town Council of San Bartolomé de Tirajana, but at the last minute managed to get a judge to lift the ban with a temporary judicial order. Now the 13 legitimate businesses who followed the law, supported the town...

Ryanair reportedly say they expect no disruptions, calling 6 days of strikes “a distraction from their own failures”

Ryanair have been reported as saying it does not expect widespread disruption this summer, after industrial action was called unions representing cabin crews in Spain, on Monday.             Announcing their six-day strike the USO and SITCPLA unions, representing a significant number of airline staff across Spain, following a break down in talks with the Irish no frills air carrier, who are calling for more...

ALDI announce its first four Canary Islands stores opening in July as it launches its logistics platform on Gran Canaria

The well loved European brand will open its first supermarkets in the archipelago on July 13, two on Tenerife and two on Gran Canaria · The supermarkets will have nearly 330 products of Canarian origin, from more than 40 suppliers in the archipelago · ALDI is working to make this platform the first logistics centre in the region to have the "BREEAM" sustainability and energy efficiency certificate with an "excellent" rating.          ...

Ryanair cabin crew will strike for six days at the start of the summer season

Ryanair cabin crew will go on strike for six days at the start of the summer season. The USO and Sitcpla unions announced this Monday a call for a six-day strike set for June 24, 25, 26 and 30, as well as July 1 and 2. USO (Unión Sindical Obrera or Labour Trade Union) and Sitcpla (Sindicato Independiente de Tripulantes de Cabina de Pasajeros de Líneas Aéreas; Independent Airline Passenger Cabin Crew Syndicate) are the unions representing a majority of airline crew staffing Ryanair in...

Driver critical after leaving mountain road and rolling into 80m deep ravine

A 48-year-old man was seriously injured after his a car crashed into a ravine, having left the road that connects the mountain market town of San Mateo with Utiaca, on the way towards Teror. The occupant had to be rescued by helicopter and taken to a car park in nearby for evacuation in another aircraft to hospital, where he was admitted in critical condition. A large rescue operation was deployed at the scene.          ...

The viral truck driver with an oversized tube dangerously loaded was not drunk

The driver of a truck transporting a dangerous load in the Gran Canaria municipality of Santa María de Guía was arrested after trying to carry a large tube that protruded several meters behind his vehicle.  Reports of his having tested positive for alcohol, however, appear to have been mistaken.             A witness to the events, working at a nearby supermarket told a local radio station "We heard a noise like stones falling,"...

A 50th birthday gift for Gran Canaria’s iconic Sioux City, as production begins on Prime Zorro reboot

It has been announced that the only wild west theme park on the island, and believed to be the first ever theme park in Spain, will be closed for the rest of this year. The filming of a new Amazon Prime "Mega-Production", which looks set to renew and rejuvenate the famous 1920s franchise of Zorro, has begun pre-production and will shoot an exclusive ten-part series around the famous rapier wielding defender of El Pueblo de Los Angeles. There is much history behind this latest location for...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 10-12 June 2022

It's the second weekend of June and midsummer night, San Juan, is fast approaching, Mogán are celebrating their patron Saint San Antonio. Gran Canaria keeps on giving with ever more patronal summer fiestas being celebrated around the island. There are carnival celebrations in Maspalomas and the island's second city, Telde. In the capital, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, there is the Eco market by Organic Meeting Point as well as Foundational festivities offering a multitude of free concerts to...

Maspalomas town hall closes two large sections of illegal carnival bars at Yumbo

The Maspalomas Town Council (San Bartolomé de Tirajana) this Thursday ordered the closure of two outdoor Carnival street party areas, which use mobile beach bars usually called "Chiriguitos", but for some reason renamed "chiringays" by the organisers, which were located within two private parking areas at ​​the famous Yumbo Shopping Centre (in front of a well-known restaurant), prior to the celebration of the Maspalomas International Carnival for “lacking authorisations and organising a...

Meanwhile on the north of Gran Canaria… A Truck Wheelies and smashes into a police car

A truck driver had a nasty surprise when he ended up doing a wheelie in the northern Gran Canaria town of Montaña Alta, in the municipality of Guía, after trying to transport a large tube that was twice as long his vehicle, and was arrested shortly afterwards having tested positive for alcohol.              After having initial difficulties climbing a hill, which were caught on video, the truck continued...

Gran Canaria suffers two small fires in two days as the first summer heatwaves approach

Firefighters have been working during the early afternoon of this Wednesday, June 8, to extinguish a scrubland fire in an area of ​​Las Mesas and Los Giles, within the municipality of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, not far from the capital.            The fire affected a grassy area with dry weeds and had nowhere to spread. Aerial means were deployed to extinguish the flames, which were declared under control less...

Dolphin found dead in Maspalomas on World Ocean’s Day

What greater demonstration could there be of the dire, urgent need for tighter controls over discarded fishing gear, plastics and other human pollutants in the ocean, on this World Ocean's Day 2022, than the utter tragedy of a dead wild cetacean found with blue fishing net wrapped around its tail? Disgust must surely rise in the throats of anyone who cares for our environment, or about our marine neighbours, so many of whom make their homes off our southern coasts and a third of the world's...

Maspalomas International Carnival begins 10 days of revelry and free events at Yumbo

One of the most exciting celebrations in the Canary Islands has to be Maspalomas Carnival! Usually celebrated in the run up to lent and Easter this year is a little different with all of Gran Canaria's "carnavales" occurring in the summertime.  And what a way to celebrate!  You'll find people of every age and background celebrating in the most outlandish costumes, most of them home made, with some glittering and truly entertaining people participating, some of them even on the main...

High Temperatures on Gran Canaria for the rest of the week and into the weekend

A pre-alert was being declared on Tuesday, due to a potential risk of forest fires on the island of Gran Canaria, as the well-known 30-30-30 guideline was being applied in readiness should the authorities need to activate the PEFMA (Plan Específico por Fenómenos Meteorológicos Adversos) "specific plan for adverse meteorological phenomena" following warnings of rising temperatures and strong winds from Spanish Meteorological Agency AEMET.       ...

Canary Islands airline #Binter will connect Gran Canaria with #Boston and #NewYork

The regional airline, Binter, are to operate connections with New York and Boston between the months of July to September, in a shared route alongside SATA Azores Airlines. The flights will make a stopover at Ponta Delgada on their way to the North American continent. The Canarian flight company will also include any inter-island jumps in the Canary Islands, as part of the journey, for no additional cost.            [adrotate...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 3-5 June 2022

June is here and the Summer season of 2022 is just getting started with a very busy first weekend of the month offering an opulent selection of events all across Gran Canaria. Remember to check for more from our website, www.thecanaryguide.com.Not only are there the foundational festivities, celebrating 544 years of our island capital, starting this Friday, and the Patron Saint of San Fernando celebrations happening, but also Gáldar is celebrating its very first Pride event, and the big...

Canary Islands become first Spanish destination to exceed pre-pandemic tourist arrivals

The Canary Islands have become Spain's first destination, and Autonomous Community, to exceed the numbers of international tourists visiting prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, and have been joined by the Balearic Islands and, to a lesser extent, the Community of Valencia who are very close to matching pre-pandemic figures recorded in the fourth month of 2019.            According to the National Institute of...

Prominent Gran Canaria lawyer attacked and burned alive, allegedly by farm hand who lived on his property

A murder investigation has begun into the series of events that allegedly led to a man, who had lived quietly for ten years on a farm near the well-to-do neighbourhood of Santa Brígida, having attacked the lawyer, say sources, who had let him live there in exchange for help around the property.               The well respected criminal lawyer, and former chief inspector of the Policia Nacional, from Gran...

The Canary Guide ‘Día de Canarias’ #WeekendTips 27-30 May 2022

It's the last weekend of May and also a festive 'puente' long weekend. The busiest this year so far, and the summer season festivities have truly started. The next few days are filled with a multitude of institutional and cultural celebrations with many other events and festivities besides. There is the 'Tuna and Sea Fair' in Arguineguín and the 'Patronal festivities in San Fernando de Maspalomas', including a "Romería" pilgrimage offering as well as popular Carnival main festivities in...

Gran Canaria Weather: Some grey skies, clearing into the weekend, but a little rain expected by Día de Canarias on Monday

The weather across the Canary Islands, ahead of the main Día de Canarias May 30th holiday is expected to be a touch greyer than usual and with a little rain possible, according to the latest updates and weather forecast models from Spanish State Meteorological Agency AEMET.  The tail of an Atlantic storm is expected to sweep over the islands from the early hours of Monday, Canary Islands Day, effecting the long "bridge" weekend ahead, throughout the Archipelago, leaving some light...

Gran Canaria confirms a monkeypox case and reports five new ones under study

The Ministry of Health of the Government of the Canary Islands, after receiving results on the first case in the Canary Islands reported to the Centre for the Coordination of Alerts and Emergencies of the Ministry of Health, last week, has confirmed the presence of monkeypox. The second case reported last Friday, on Tenerife, is still awaiting results of the sample that is being analysed in coordination with the National Centre for Microbiology. The first two cases notified last week continue...

The Canary Guide: Foundational festivities of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria 2022

This year marks the 544th Anniversary of the founding of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain’s first Atlantic City and colony. From its origins on June 24th 1478, first named El Real de las Tres Palmas (The Royal Town of the Three Palms), the city celebrates the anniversary of its foundation every summer with an intense program of cultural activities and open-air shows in and around Vegueta, the old quarter, with festivities completed every Midsummer's Night (on the feast day of St. John The...

Canarian Health service ‘Sanidad’ invests €654,700 in the new Playa de Mogán Local Clinic

The Primary Health Care Management of ​​Gran Canaria, part of The Canary Islands Ministry of Health, have launched the new Local Playa de Mogán Health Centre (Centro de Salud), infrastructure which involved a total investment of €654,717.             The new centro de salud, includes two Family Care Units (Unidades de Atención Familiar (UAF)), two doctors and two nurses who attend consultations and will attend...

Pride organisers silent as Ministry of Health investigates “probable” link to monkeypox in Maspalomas

Spain is the country with the highest number of Monkeypox cases in Europe, and the Ministry of Health has confirmed thirty cases so far, all of them in Madrid. The majority of cases detected have been men who have had sex with other men, however it is very important to understand that this virus is in no way based around sexual orientation or so-called "risky" practices. The simple fact is that this is an infection that can be passed between any individuals who come into close contact with...

Covid certificates no longer needed to enter Spain, just a negative test result will be enough

As advanced by this publication on Thursday, non-EU, third country, travellers from this Saturday can now enter Spain, by just presenting a negative PCR or antigen test, with so-called Covid certificates no longer needed, regardless of place of origin, according to the latest update to the Spanish pandemic restrictions.               The BOE (Spanish Gazette) this Saturday published the order from the...

World Health Organisation working closely with countries responding to monkeypox

The World Health Organisation today, in a statement, have said they and their partners are working to better understand the extent and cause of an outbreak of monkeypox. Editor’s comment: While sexual interaction has been identified as a potential vector, special emphasis was given to the importance of not jumping to conclusions, highlighting the unusual multiple occurrences currently being reported across the world, still less than 100 confirmed cases, and the inherent differences...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 20-22 May 2022

More than half way through May and on the south, patron saints' fiesta season is in full swing. This Friday and Saturday are also the last days to enjoy some live Jazz in Puerto de Mogán. The Fair of The Sea is taking place in the capital, and there is a tomato fair to be enjoyed in La Aldea. There's a double-take to enjoy in Gáldar, with the last days of 'Flower week' as well as the Collectibles fair on Saturday. Remember that next weekend is a 'puente' long weekend with Canarian Day...

Suspected Monkeypox case under investigation in Las Palmas

Something unusual is happening across the world, though many have been pointing out that our currently heightened state of awareness, means our ability to detect even small epidemiological outbreaks is more acute than ever.With less than 100 cases confirmed worldwide, doctors are urging calm as a series of Monkeypox infections have been reported, including at least one suspected case on Gran Canaria. This rare, and most-often mild, infection, is not new, and was first detected in the...

The Canary Islands lead Spain’s tourism recovery, the first to return to pre-pandemic numbers of arrivals

The Canary Islands have been confirmed, as of April, to be leading the Spanish tourism recovery with international passenger volumes comparable with pre-pandemic levels in 2019, with a total of 1.1 million, representing 15.9% of national market share throughout Spain, according to data released this Wednesday by the national tourism board, Turespaña. The Canary Islands are, not only, still the favourite destination in Spain for UK tourists, but they are also the fastest growing destination for...

Covid19 certificate for non-EU travellers to enter Spain will end “in a matter of days”

Spain's Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, Reyes Maroto, has said this Thursday that the requirement for travellers coming from outside the EU to present a COVID19 certificate, for vaccination status, test result or prior infection, will come to an end "in a matter of days" allowing them to enter the country with a simple negative test result.             "It will be a matter of days before we are going...

Gran Canaria’s Southern tourism heartlands have only one Blue Flag beach, with none in Mogán for 5 years now

The Canary Islands have been awarded 54 Blue Flag beaches and four awards for marinas, distinguishing those facilities that meet criteria of excellence, in terms of the quality of bathing water,  environmental regulations, and health and safety infrastructure.  While Maspalomas and San Agustín have not achieved the honour this year, Playa del Inglés is the sole remaining Blue Flag beach on the south of the island.  Mogán's beaches have not achieved any blue flags since at least 2017....

Tragedy in Arguineguín pool as triathlete perishes while practicing free diving technique

A well-respected ultra-distance triathlete from the municipality of Mogán, Suso Muñoz Jiménez (58), has died in Arguineguín after suffering a suspected fainting spell while free-diving in the municipal pool. Medical staff, including a health technician, a nurse and a psychologist from the Red Cross, attended the scene, attempting to revive him, and even called for the Canarian Emergency Service (SUC) helicopter, but in the end certified his death at the scene after more than half an hour of...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 13-15 May 2022

It's mid-May already, and what a marvellous weekend we have ahead indeed. This weekend's events, activities, and festivities will be as widespread as the unusual weather conditions we have experienced this past week, when Calima met thunder, lightening, rain and heatwave (though that's all calmed down a bit now). There are patron saints' festivities, flowers, parades, an Andalusian fiesta, museums, music, and markets to see, explore and enjoy, among many other attractions around the island....

Final season of Tom Clancy’s ‘Jack Ryan’ will also be filming on Gran Canaria’s wild west coast, in La Aldea de San Nicolás

The production crew making the fourth season of Tom Clancy's American political action thriller series, Jack Ryan, have been filming on the southeast of Gran Canaria, and are about to head west to La Aldea de San Nicolás to continue with location shoots for what has been revealed, by Hollywood news and gossip portal Deadline, to be likely the last season of the series starring John Krasinski in the title role.  Don't expect to see any of these familiar terrains on your screens any time soon...

The newly green-lighted Cañadas de Gatos tunnel could reopen Playa de Mogán road within the next two years

The project to reopen the old national road between the resort of Taurito and the tourist-cum-fishing port town of Playa de Mogán has finally emerged almost five years after a landslide that forced the Mogán coastal road to be closed to traffic on the southwest of the island, although it could still take another two years or more before vehicles and cyclists will be able to travel the less than two kilometres between the tiny tourist enclave and the ancient coastal settlement without having to...

Gran Canaria Weather: Temperatures climbing upwards to 35ºC in the shade, with just a touch of Calima

Increasing temperatures and high altitude cloud have predominated this Saturday in the Canary Islands archipelago, supplemented to the east by a light Calima blanketing the islands in dust from the Sahara, travelling at altitude, but causing maximum temperatures to rise still further and expected to spread to all the islands as the weekend wears on.               At sea, northeasterly moderate winds, of...

Faro de Maspalomas: More than 132 years as a beacon for Gran Canaria

The Maspalomas Lighthouse El Faro de Maspalomas is a 19th century lighthouse at the southern tip of Gran Canaria, in the Canary Islands archipelago. It stands at the Meloneras end of Maspalomas beach, Playa de Maspalomas, 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) southwest of the southern tip of the main resort town centre of Playa del Inglés,  next to the famous area known as the Dunes of Maspalomas. Image: Maspalomas 1960 - courtesy of Maspalomas Costa Canaria       [fb_plugin...

The most active house burglar in the south arrested and identified

Guardia Civil from the Puerto Rico de Gran Canaria (Mogán) Main Post have arrested a 54-year-old, with various prior police records, for an alleged ten crimes of robbery with force, committed inside homes located in the south of Gran Canaria, from which he may have obtained a booty of approximately €40,000.           The investigations began last October 2021, after a complaint...

Prime series, Tom Clancy’s ‘Jack Ryan’, filming on the south of Gran Canaria

Various enclaves of the southern municipality of San Bartolomé de Tirajana on Gran Canaria will be the setting for the shooting of a fourth season of the popular series broadcast by a well-known streaming platform, Tom Clancy's 'Jack Ryan', starring the American actor John Krasinski, who plays a CIA analyst with specialist skills.         For approximately 45 days, a large film crew will...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 6-8 May 2022

What a gorgeous start to the month of May it has been on Gran Canaria. This weekend will see temperatures rising and Calima having an effect, making it feel like summer is already here 😉. It’s also going to be a very busy weekend with loads of events, activities and patron saints’ festivities going on around the island. Upcoming events:9-21 May | Jazz Festival in Puerto de Mogán12-14 May | Rally Islas Canarias14 May | Romeria, pilgrimage offering in El Tablero13-15 May | Feria de Abril in...

The Canary Islands continue at medium and low health alert risk levels for another week

The regional Ministry of Health has this Thursday updated the health alert levels in line with the epidemiological report from the General Directorate of Public Health, carried out in accordance with the latest Surveillance and Control Strategy criteria for COVID-19, following the acute phase of the Pandemic, based on the indicators in use to assess assistance services.         ...

Canary Islands exceeds a monthly total of one million tourists for the first time following the start of the pandemic

The Canary Islands received 1.12 million foreign tourists in March, exceeding the one million visitors in one month mark for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The figure represents an eleven fold increase in the number of arrivals in March 2021, which stood at just 100,525 for the whole archipelago.         The figures are, however, slightly down on those registered in March 2019, the year before the...

The Canary Guide “May Day” Weekend Tips 29 April – 1 May 2022

An exhilarating May Day weekend ahead, with a multitude of events, markets and festivities to enjoy around Gran Canaria. Sunday, May 1 is also when Spain celebrates Mothers' Day and there is a special Mothers' Day edition of the monthly Tejeda market among others. The biggest fair dedicated to the produce of this island 'Gran Canaria Me Gusta' is at INFECAR again this weekend as well as music and dance shows happening around the capital. Montaña Alta in Guía celebrates the second of this...

Guardia Civil and Policia Local of Telde Local Police macro operation against illegal car racing on GC-1

Agents intervened in the middle of the illegal road race and arrested 42 people, and are investigating another 6 for crimes against road safety 40 vehicles used in the races were seized and their owners taken to court. A large number of charges have been filed against the Road Safety Law, the General Vehicle Regulations and the Citizen Security Law The races had an audience and they competed by positioning themselves in parallel in the middle of GC-1 The Guardia Civil and the Telde Local...

Emergency training simulation will close GC-1 between Arguineguín and Puerto Rico this Wednesday

The Cabildo de Gran Canaria reports the closure of the GC-1 between Arguineguín and Puerto Rico/Tauro, in both directions of traffic, this Wednesday 27 April 2022, due to a incident simulation, taht will take the form of an emergency drill in the Heriberto Linares tunnel. The main highway will be closed between 08:30 to 13:00. The only detour possibility is to use the coastal road, GC-500 through Arguineguín.   GC-1 will be closed in both directions: the Arguineguin interchange -...

Gran Canaria’s southern tourism heartland announces the removal of temporary “express” terraces

The southern Town Council of San Bartolomé de Tirajana has notified catering establishments who are using temporary terraces, put in place during the pandemic restrictions, on public roads, to proceed with their removal. To do this, they will have until Monday, May 2, 2022. This measure is taken based on the Government of the Canary Islands having established the end of restrictions associated with the Covid-19 pandemic.         [adrotate...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 22-24 April 2022

A wonderfully interesting April weekend ahead.  Weather predictions are showing some sunshine, clouds, and a big possibility of some rain on Gran Canaria this weekend (April, eh?). With masks coming off across Spain (psst... it's still ok to wear one if you want to...) there will be many, many events this weekend, definitely worth visiting, like the Cheese Festival taking place in Santa Maria de Guía. There are also Carnival celebrations happening in Agaete and some traditional neighbourhood...

Spain removes the mandatory masks almost everywhere, but still required on all public transport

The Government of Spain, as expected, have announced that face masks will no longer be compulsory as of Wednesday, 20 April 2022, albeit with some exceptions. Royal Decree 286/2022, of April 19, was published in the State Gazette (BOE) and modifies the guidance on mandatory use of masks, put in place during the health crisis caused by COVID-19. The Council of Ministers approved the end of mandatory face masks indoors from 20 April.  Minister for Health, Carolina Darias, argued that the high...

The Challenge Mogán Gran Canaria triathlon and road closures on Saturday 23 April on GC-500 Mogán

The Mogán town council, on the popular southwest of Gran Canaria, has issued several maps to indicate restricted access to various locations, as well as road closures, this Saturday, April 23 between 06:00-14:00. Likewise, the town hall have made their apologies for any inconvenience these measures may cause. This year, the Mogan Gran Canaria Challenge has been divided into two sporting events, the first of which took place on 2 April, when the GC-500 old national road was closed for a morning...

A fishing boat loaded with three tons of cocaine intercepted south of the Canary Islands

Officials from the Spanish Tax Agency's Customs Surveillance Service, working as part of a joint operation with agents from the Policia Nacional and Guardia Civil, in waters south of the Canary Islands, last week, intercepted a fishing boat loaded with more than 2,900 kilos of cocaine hidden in one of its fuel tanks, arresting all five crew members. Operation 'Capirote-Piteas-Acerico', led to the boarding of the 20-meter-long fishing vessel, named 'AKT 1', on the afternoon of April 13, some...

Gran Canaria Weather: Calima and high temperatures expected to linger until Wednesday, rain possible by weekend

An unexpected "whiteout" Calima arrived on the eastern slopes of the Canary Islands archipelago this Easter Sunday, driving temperatures as high as 35.2ºC in Pájara, on Fuerteventura, which was the highest temperature officially recorded in Spain that day, and this Monday temperatures of 30º and above are expected on the south and west of Gran Canaria.  Temperatures, here, are always measured in the shade, and so as the skies clear we can expect hotter measurements to be taken in direct...

Gran Canaria Weather: 34ºC+ in the shade expected this Easter Sunday, with a yellow advisory for rising temperatures

The warm Easter weekend weather will continue to soar this Sunday, with the hotels and beaches full of holidaymakers from around the island and further afield all heading for the south. Slight Calima haze is expected on Canary Islands slopes facing south this weekend, up to 34ºC in the interior of the islands, and on the southwest of Gran Canaria, with gusts of wind that could reach 70 kilometres per hour this Sunday on the west sides of Canary Islands, according to AEMET. At the sea there...

Masks indoors in Spain will no long be mandatory from next Wednesday in most settings

Masks indoors will no long be mandatory from next Wednesday. Spain's Ministry of Health will continue to monitor epidemic indicators with the utmost attention, as an increase in infections could also lead to an increase in hospitalisations and serious cases of covid, said Spain's Health Minister, Carolina Darias, this Saturday in statements made during her visit to the island, from our provincial capital, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.        ...

Man found dead at landfill identified as Telde homeless man, named Raúl

The man found dead by workers at the Ecoparque Gran Canaria Sur landfill last Thursday, in Juan Grande, has been identified was being a 40 year old homeless man named Raúl. He was  known in the area of ​​Telde's San Gregorio health clinic, where he spent his days assisting drivers to find parking, in the hope of earning small amounts of cash. His body was discovered when the collected refuse was being sorted, and upon first examination did not appear to show any signs of violence, leading...

Suspected thief arrested in Puerto Rico de Gran Canaria with fake id and possible counterfeit money

Agents of the Citizen Security Unit (USECI) of the General Corps of the Canarian Police  on the afternoon of Friday, April 15, arrested an individual for an alleged crime of robbery with force at a house in the south western tourist resort town of Puerto Rico de Gran Canaria. The man had been seen trying force several locks on doors of an apartment complex in the municipality of Mogán.           Agents discovered,...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 15-17 April 2022

A long, hot "puente" weekend lies ahead on Gran Canaria, with Thursday and Friday both being Easter bank holidays (but not Monday). The southern beaches have already seen a huge influx of people arriving to enjoy some Easter feasting in sun. The weather forecast for the coming days is simply marvellous across Gran Canaria, though seas may be a little rougher than usual,  temperatures are expected to rise to 30º Celsius, in the shade, on the south of the Island. All around the island,...

La Alcaldesa, hoping to rise again, wants to wipe away the alleged “black cloud” for which she is still under investigation

La Alcaldesa, the still-serving Mogán mayor, currently presiding over Gran Canaria's southwestern town hall, has been under investigation for years, for one thing or another, and arrested at least twice while working for the good people of Mogán, though currently she and her alleged co-conspirators do appear rather bullish, having once more escaped prosecution, this time on a technicality, following multiple allegations of electoral fraud, and other crimes, stemming from the Mogán local...

Body found at Juan Grande “EcoParque” landfill in south of Gran Canaria

The body of a deceased man was found early on Thursday morning, April 14, at the main Juan Grande landfill site, in the municipality of San Bartolomé de Tirajana, on the south of Gran Canaria. The dead body had come from a refuse container that had been collected from Gran Canaria's north eastern town of Telde.         Judicial police cordoned off the area to proceed to remove the body, once a court order was obtained....

Europe welcomes Ukrainian refugees with a fast-track asylum system already in backlog

Europe welcomes Ukrainian refugees with an asylum system that averages more than 15 months of delay Ukrainian refugees now arrive under the aegis of the ultra-fast special protection system, but regular reception centres are piling up hundreds of thousands of applications and rejecting many.         Eva Belmonte, Ángela Bernardo, Miguel Ángel Gavilanes, Carmen Torrecillas, David Cabo, Lucas Laursen, April 4, 2022 Story...

More than 52,000 Spanish protection visas granted to Ukrainian refugees, 1,000 already in Canary Islands

Spain's Office for Asylum and Refuge (OAR) and the Policia Nacional have granted 51,957 temporary visas, over the last month, to people displaced by the war in Ukraine, almost a thousand of those are in the Canary Islands (965), according to the Ministry of the Interior.  More have been arriving across Spain, and on the islands, some being accommodated by private individuals, with many more seeking refuge after more than 45 days of horrendous bloodshed.     [fb_plugin...

Market stall holders protest 46% hike in town hall fees in Arguineguín and Mogán

Market stall-holders in the municipality of Mogán, are up in arms, after their town hall took the opportunity of re-establishing stall subs to raise their monthly fees to the council by 46% per pitch. Mayor Bueno's governing group, who also raised their own salaries last year, as well as business rates, while consistently failing to meet the needs of a sharp increase in social care provision, say they had planned to apply this increase back in 2020, however, due to the health crisis and the...

42 year old arrested in Puerto Rico de Gran Canaria on suspicion of setting fire to neighbour’s car

The Guardia Civil Main Post in Puerto Rico de Gran Canaria, Mogán, arrested a 42-year-old last March 11, allegedly the perpetrator of the crimes of arson and damage having set fire to their neighbour's car causing damage to a residential complex belonging to a Community of the Property Owners in the town. The events occurred during the early hours of February 26, when the Puerto Rico Civil Guard were alerted to an incident at a duplex located on Calle Valencia, where a vehicle was on...

A summary of some of the main Easter processions worth visiting on Gran Canaria (2022)

Whether you are religious or not, there are few more interesting spectacles than the faithful following in processions behind images and statues of the foci of their devotions, infused with deep heartfelt sentiments and strongly held traditions, among the faithful you can expect weeping in the streets, wailing, fragrant incense and men in various colours of hoods and robes, among many other strange sights at this time of year on Gran Canaria. Semana Santa, Holy Week, on Gran Canaria includes a...

The Canary Guide Weekend Tips 8-10 April 2022

A gorgeous April weekend ahead as well as the start of Easter week this coming Palm Sunday. Next week, there will be two bank holidays on Gran Canaria, Thursday and Friday. Holy Week on Gran Canaria is one of the most unique cultural celebrations and with much historical emphasis. Religious ceremonies and processions can be expected around the island 10-17 April, especially now that new regulations allow mass events to happen once again. The most popular events take place in the capital and...

Mogán town hall change traffic priorities on three Puerto Rico streets above Amadores

This week the south west Gran Canaria town hall of Mogán have announce a change to the direction of traffic on three streets in the upper area of ​​Puerto Rico de Gran Canaria, overlooking Amadores, Calles Montaña Clara, Timanfaya and Tenerife. The objective, they say, is to achieve better traffic flow and expand the number of parking spaces available.         Town Councillor for Traffic and Transport, Víctor Gutiérrez,...

Travellers entering Spain will no longer be required to fill in the SpTH control forms if they have an accepted Digital Covid Certificate

British travellers are being advised to continue using the Spain Travel Health forms until definitively told they will not need them.  There are still complications between the British system and the EU, so for the sake of 15 minutes of form filling the safest course of action is to fill in the form prior to travel, though the requirement is expected to be fully relaxed.           Spain have announced further...

The end of indoor mask requirements in Spain is expected to be announced after Easter, though still recommended in many settings

Spain's Council of Ministers look set to approve an end to most indoor mask requirements, on April 19, according to Spanish press reports this Wednesday, one of the last of the coronavirus pandemic restrictions still in force across the country, having decided to wait until after Easter to relax the mandatory use of the mask indoors. The intention to end mandatory mask use has also been confirmed by Spanish Health Minister, Carolina Darías Masks will continue to be mandatory in nursing homes,...

The Canary Guide Weekend Tips 1-3 April 2022

April begins with a few clouds and an occasional shower, but there are a few big fairs happening around the island this weekend, a great chance to really start to celebrate the Spring as we relentlessly move towards the Easter holidays. The island is enjoying some beautiful greenery due to the long-needed rainfalls over the past weeks, and Springtime blooms pepper the mountainsides.  Sunday's weather forecast and the start of the new week warn of a possibility of further rains, especially in...

Siam Park Gran Canaria: Largest water park attraction in Europe edges ever closer to final approval, hoping to break ground this year

The San Bartolomé de Tirajana Town Hall Governing Board, this Thursday, have announced their long awaited approval of the urbanisation project for the waste land area known as El Veril, between the GC1 north-south highway and the entry point to the southern resort areas of Playa del Inglés and Maspalomas, where the construction of a new Siam Park Aqua Adventure attraction has been planned since at least 2013. This is a preliminary step to granting the final license to building the much...

77-year-old Félix rescued after four days wedged in a ditch having tried to rescue a cat

Félix Guerra spent four days trapped between two walls at a farm in the north Gran Canaria area of Gáldar, he was rescued on Wednesday when another man heard his cries for help, and admitted to the Dr. Negrín hospital in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, here he is now recovering. His family say they are confident that he will be able to return home very soon, once his body returns to normal.           Residents of the...

Petrol prices continue to rise, despite Friday’s incoming subsidy and moderate drops in oil prices

Drivers have been up in arms for weeks, with transport workers on strike across mainland Spain, adding to fears of shortages here on the islands, where we import 80% of what we consume. Prices on the forecourts have continued to rise in the Canary Islands, despite the fact that the oil prices have been falling recently, having peaked at just over $130.2 a barrel on March 8 the price of Brent crude oil, the European benchmark, has been oscillating between $100 and $120 a barrel.  Most transport...

Puerto Bello complex claims €1million in damages from Canary Islands Government

The owners of the Puerto Bello apartment complex, in the popular tourist town of Puerto Rico de Gran Canaria, are claiming nearly one million euros from the Canary Islands Government for damages caused by some of a group of unaccompanied migrant minors who were being sheltered there for several months, ostensibly under the guardianship of the Canary Islands Regional Autonomous Executive. Featured Image: Puerto Bello damage, Image by @Rafaleonortega/CanariasAhora    ...

Doctors and campaigners disappointed by the return of smoking on outside terraces

84 weeks after being banned outright, smoking has been allowed to return to the outside terraces of the Canary Islands Archipelago. As of last Friday, March 25, all Covid restrictions at the regional level have been removed, following last Thursday's Governing Council (regional cabinet) meeting. However doctors have reacted negatively to the return of the smokers, with Pedro Cabrera, president of the Official College of Physicians of Las Palmas, calling it "a step backwards" in the fight...

Measuring the effects of a nuclear blast in Puerto Rico de Gran Canaria

What would happen if a nuclear blast went off in Puerto Rico de Gran Canaria? Anti-nuclear war campaigners, Outrider.org, have produced a simulation system that allows you to choose any town or place to see what the immediate effects would likely be were they unlucky enough to be hit by a nuclear strike.         Though this is at first a little shocking, it is designed to make you think, more locally, about how terrible...

Two injured in serious car accident on Saturday night in the Agüimes hills

A vehicle left the road last Saturday night, in the rural area known as La Cortada, in Los Corralillos, in the Gran Canaria municipality of Agüimes.           Two people were injured and the vehicle also suffered extensive damage. The driver apparently lost control of the vehicle, which left the road (the GC-551) at speed at around 9:00 p.m. on Saturday, passing over the safety fences and the various large rocks...

Spanish Congress will debate and vote on the relaxation of mask rules

The Spanish Congress will debate, and vote, this week on if it is now finally time to abolish the legal obligation to wear masks against coronavirus, not only outdoors but also indoors.         The Plenary Session of the Chamber will discuss a proposal presented by the conservative leaning Ciudadanos (Cs) party, who will also take advantage of the control session this Wednesday to ask the Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro...

Las Palmas court hears case of the individual accused of causing the Puerto Bello disturbances last year

The Second Section of the Las Palmas Provincial Court this Tuesday will hear the case of one Ahmed Haison who, according to the Prosecutor's Office, was at the heart of the serious incidents that occurred in the Puerto Bello apartments, in the tourism enclave of Puerto Rico de Gran Canaria, after being transferred to the temporary facility used to accommodate unaccompanied minors, having arrived on the island of Gran Canaria by open boat.      ...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 25-27 March 2022

A little unstable weather is forecast for the weekend ahead. The Canary Islands Government has announced the suspension all the COVID-19 restrictions, it is going to feel a bit different than it has over the last 2 long years. Remember that preventive measures are still in place in some cases and masks are still in use indoors. It's Mother's Day in UK this Sunday. Summer is a step closer with the spring forward of the clocks this Sunday as 1 AM becomes 2 AM. This will also mean sunrise and...

TUI confirms high tourism expectations for the summer with longer stays and higher spending

The world's largest tour operator, TUI Group, communicated on Thursday morning, to the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce of the Government of the Canary Islands. its strong commitment to the islands, confirming good expectations for the summer, with the arrival of tourists who will enjoy longer stays and spend more on vacations.               Regional Tourism Minister, Yaiza Castilla received the news,...

Netflix movie ‘The Mother’ with Jennifer Lopez, wraps up filming on location on Gran Canaria

Since the beginning of the year, Gran Canaria's Economic Promotion Society (SPEGC) and the Gran Canaria Film Commission have been providing technical coverage to the international team that travelled to the island for the production of 'The Mother', a feature film that will be released later this year on Netflix, which this week  ended its filming on location on Gran Canaria.         The production has involved the...

Accessibility improvements on the southern beaches of San Bartolomé de Tirajana (Maspalomas, Playa del Inglés and San Agustín)

In recent months, various improvements have been carried out on different beaches in the southern municipality of San Bartolomé de Tirajana, aiming to to secure nothing less than to have the best beaches available for residents and the tourists who visit throughout the year, as well as recovering Blue Flags, which were lost two years ago.           Works to improve accessibility, like the installation of walkways to...

Maspalomas town hall transfers land to the Ministry of Health to expand the San Fernando Health Centre

The Municipal Council of San Bartolomé de Tirajana has announced the transfer of a plot of land to the Government of the Canary Islands for the expansion of the San Fernando de Maspalomas Health Centre. The plot is attached to that of the current health centre. Mayor, Conchi Narváez, highlighted the need to strengthen the municipality's primary care network, "above all because we are aware of the population increase in the municipality over recent years, the trajectory of the age curve of our...

From Saturday The Canary Islands suspends all restrictions and maintains prevention measures

The Canary Islands Governing Council (regional cabinet), has approved an agreement to limit restrictions and measures in force on all the islands, suspending them temporarily, based on health alert levels for each island.            The elimination of the restrictions in force on the Canary Islands is part of the continuation of "progressive and prudent" de-escalation that the Autonomous Executive began in February....

Let’s Dance! Canary Islands to lift all Covid-19 restrictions on Thursday, but mask rules will continue for a little while longer

The Canary Islands are to eliminate all restrictions activated by the Covid-19 pandemic this Thursday, except the use of masks indoors, which remains strictly a state measure, in the hands of the Spanish Ministry of Health and, for the moment, there is no date set to address the matter.           Regional President Ángel Víctor Torres announced on Tuesday, in the regional Parliament, that “following the technical...

People diagnosed with asymptomatic coronavirus will no longer need to isolate from next Monday

The Public Health Commission has, this Tuesday, given a green light to the new strategy aimed at normalising the way we deal with COVID in The Canary Islands, as of March 28, when self-isolation for asymptomatic people will no longer be required by law and general testing will no longer be carried out across the population.           This was decided by the general directors of Public Health, on the part of the...

Spanish Transport strike seriously threatens produce cargos headed for Canary Islands

The Canary Islands have started to feel repercussions from skyrocketing transport costs and are facing their second week with a large drop in cargo arriving from the mainland, due to the transport strike in peninsular Spain and, although for now supermarket shelves appear normal, the distribution sector has been warning for days of shortages of some products - especially perishables - and a real risk of shortages across the islands, if the Government of Spain does not take measures to put an...

The Canary Islands, this Thursday, “will suspend all restrictions” for COVID

The president of the Canary Islands, Ángel Víctor Torres, has announced that, in this week’s Governing Council on Thursday, as ever following the technical criteria, "we will suspend all restrictions that remain in the Canary Islands" regarding the covid pandemic.         Torres stressed that this is to take the form of a temporary suspension of the general and regional measures, making clear that if circumstances worsen,...

All the islands maintain their current health alert levels, though infections rise slightly

Gran Canaria, Tenerife, La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro remain at level 3; and Fuerteventura and Lanzarote at level 2. The daily average of conventional hospital beds occupied by covid patients throughout the Archipelago as a whole has decreased by 18.4% compared to the previous week and that of ICU beds decreased by 12%.           The Canary Islands Ministry of Health on Thursday, March 17, updated health alert...

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 18-20 March 2022

Spring has finally sprung, as the sun crosses the equator from south to north, the March equinox is this Sunday. A festive weekend ahead with Spanish Father's Day this Saturday, Día del Padre. It is also the feast day in honour of San José, Saint Joseph, the patron saint of families, fathers, pioneers and travellers and many more. After two years of postponements, religious processions start taking place once again on Gran Canaria. You'll find some notable traditional celebrations around the...