Canary Islands News

In southwest Tenerife, a protected marine area designated as Europe’s first whale sanctuary faces mounting pressure from unregulated tourism. Despite regulations, activities like jet skis and whale watching boats are disrupting the resident population of tropical pilot whales. Learn about the conservation challenges in one of the world’s most important cetacean habitats.

The Lopesan Group has been provisionally awarded four out of five lots in a major asset auction concerning the Taurito area in Gran Canaria. With a bid nearing 100 million euros, the hotel group plans a comprehensive transformation of the destination, ensuring job continuity and new investment. This move signals a significant revival for tourism in southern Gran Canaria.

Teide National Park in Tenerife, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is buckling under the pressure of 5.2 million annual visitors, more than double the local population. Controversial management plans propose banning private cars and requiring shuttle buses, sparking debate between conservation and local access. As resident frustration boils over, find out what’s being done to protect this natural wonder.

A cloud of dust regularly envelops the small town of Guatiza in Lanzarote, a symptom of the popular but illegal buggy tours traversing the island. Local residents are at their limit, citing noise pollution, damage to crops, and harm to protected bird species. Despite regulations, authorities have yet to take decisive action against this unsustainable tourism activity.

The Circular Tourism Communities project in the Canary Islands has received the prestigious Canary Islands Tourism Award for Innovation. This initiative transforms organic waste from hotels into high-quality compost for local agriculture, creating a sustainable model that benefits both the tourism sector and the environment. Discover how this project is setting a new standard for sustainable tourism.

A group of amateur meteorologists on the Canary Island of La Palma has achieved a remarkable feat, capturing four separate instances of the legendary green flash phenomenon over two days. This rare optical event, popularized by Jules Verne, lasts less than a second and is becoming a unique tourist attraction for the island. Discover the story behind these stunning captures and the romantic legend associated with the green ray.

The Adeje Town Council is awaiting a crucial decision from the Canary Islands Government on declaring the municipality a “strained housing zone.” This measure aims to address the severe shortage of rental properties and soaring prices. Discover the proposed solutions and the political consensus behind this effort to tackle the growing housing crisis.

The Thirty Meter Telescope, a revolutionary new observatory planned for the Canary Islands, could be key to finding signs of life on distant planets. This colossal instrument will offer unprecedented capabilities for studying black holes and dark matter. Read about the international project that places La Palma at the forefront of modern astrophysics.

A unique literary festival in La Palma connected authors with the cosmos through a visit to the world’s largest optical telescope. The event sparked a fascinating conversation about the shared sense of wonder in literature and astronomy. Discover how this festival creates a singular dialogue between art and science.

The High Court of the Canary Islands has issued a significant ruling affecting property owners in tourist complexes on Gran Canaria. The court has reinforced the “principle of unified exploitation,” meaning owners cannot rent out their apartments individually as vacation homes. This decision highlights the ongoing legal tension between private property rights and tourism regulations in the Canaries.