The Agüimes phenomenon: A residential boom beyond tourism
On Gran Canaria, the cost of land and rent has been under pressure for years. A combination of population growth, employment concentrated in specific corridors of the island, and a housing supply that can’t keep up with demand has consistently pushed prices upward. This isn’t a phenomenon exclusive to tourist zones; it also affects municipalities tied to work, education, and the island’s logistics. In this context, the southeastern coastal town of Agüimes stands out as a striking case of evolution without a tourist label.
Strategic location and economic drivers
Well-connected by the GC-1 motorway, close to the airport, and with a consolidated productive hub along its coastline, Agüimes has become a residential magnet for working families and professionals who commute daily along the Las Palmas–South axis. Municipalities like Agüimes are notable for their near-doubling of rental prices in just over a decade. The average price per square meter has skyrocketed from €5.70 in 2011 to €11.30 in 2025—an increase of €5.60, or 98.2%, placing it among the most significant increases in the province.
Roots of the growth: Population and housing
This surge is largely explained by a growing population census, centered around the area of Playa de Arinaga, which has significantly boosted the number of registered inhabitants. In response, the City Council is currently promoting an innovative plan for public-private housing construction, offering 1,700 units for affordable rent aimed at middle-income earners. Despite this expansion of the housing stock, it still won’t cover the current overwhelming demand. To put it in perspective, a 100 m² house that rented for €560 fourteen years ago now costs around €1,000 for a similar property. This pattern isn’t unique to Agüimes; the northern town of Arucas paints a very similar picture, with rents gradually climbing until they have practically doubled over the same period.
A magnet for daily life, not just holidays
The driving force bringing people to this municipality isn’t hotel sunshine or summer postcards, but everyday work. The Arinaga industrial estate, together with a network of small and medium-sized businesses at the inland crossroads, sustains a stable year-round rhythm of employment. This is complemented by a decisive advantage: the GC-1 is right on its doorstep and the airport is just minutes away, facilitating easy daily commutes to the capital or the south without wasting hours on the road.
Discovering Agüimes: From history to the stars
This economic base supports a daily life that is well-serviced and fulfilling. The town boasts schools, sports centers, a bustling municipal market, local shops, and a constant program of cultural activities. Together, these amenities allow for something simple yet valuable: living from Monday to Friday without being dependent on other towns.
Start your exploration in the impeccably maintained, pedestrianized historic quarter, where sculptures dot the plazas and the neoclassical lines of the Church of San Sebastián define the skyline. From there, the route leads to the Guayadeque Ravine, one of Gran Canaria’s most unique landscapes—a deep gorge featuring cave houses, a chapel carved into the rock, and interpretation centers detailing its immense natural and archaeological value.
Back on the coast, the shoreline of Arinaga offers a different pace: a seaside promenade, small coves, a lighthouse, and historic salt pans. It also serves as the gateway to volcanic seabeds, like the renowned El Cabrón, which are highly prized by divers. As the afternoon fades, head up into the mid-altitude hills: the Temisas Observatory and its viewpoints offer pristine skies perfect for astronomical discovery and enjoying spectacular, long sunsets.
The complete picture: Community and identity
Daily life is further enriched by a theater-auditorium with a steady program, libraries, music schools, municipal pools and sports courts, plus a calendar of traditional festivals that keeps the community tightly knit. This is a municipality made for walking, learning, swimming, and putting down roots.
For centuries, Agüimes was a predominantly agricultural and livestock territory, organized around its historic core and mid-altitude farmlands. Since the late 20th century, the bet on industrial and logistical activity in Arinaga, coupled with residential expansion along the coast and reinforced public facilities, has gradually reshaped the municipality’s demographic map. Today, its heritage town center, newly created neighborhoods, and waterfront coexist, and this diversity explains why it continues to gain a stable population without relying on traditional tourism.
Solving the mystery of a booming rental market
The “mystery” of rents nearly doubling without a single hotel or resort is solved by adding up the pieces: local employment, excellent connections, comprehensive services, and a high quality of life. Agüimes clearly illustrates that real estate pressure isn’t the exclusive domain of holiday zones; municipalities where people work, study, and raise their families are also growing, and significantly. The ongoing challenge is to produce affordable housing at a pace that matches its own demand, all without sacrificing the unique identity that makes it so attractive in the first place.
