Tenerife is introducing daily visitor caps and a new tourist tax
Spain has introduced various measures to clamp down on its overtourism problem recently, from two-year bans on new holiday lets in Alicante to the doubling of tourist taxes in Barcelona.
The Canary Islands have arguably been most impacted by the negative effects of too many tourists. In the first quarter of 2025, a whopping 4.36 million international visitors made their way to the islands, prompting huge demonstrations this April to demand tighter regulations on tourism. According to Travel Tomorrow, banners read 'The Canaries Have A Limit'.
Now, Tenerife – the most visited of the archipelago's islands – is introducing new measures to protect its natural environment from the impact of overtourism.
One initiative is a daily cap on visitor numbers to Anaga Rural Park. The park, on the island's northern tip, brags dramatic mountains looming over the Atlantic Ocean, as well as black sand beaches, prehistoric forests and protected species such as the Laurel Pigeon. There are also 26 traditional villages within the park, which survive by ancestral agricultural methods – pretty fascinating, right?
A motion was passed by the council to restrict access to the park, and in January, large coaches specifically were blocked from accessing certain areas. Carmen Peña, councillor for San Cristobal de la Laguna, has called on the island's governing body Cabildo de Tenerife to continue enforcing the motion, including introducing daily visitor caps.
Elsewhere on the island, the Cabildo de Tenerife announced the launch of an online booking system for some of the trails in Teide National Park, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site and is home to Spain's highest peak.
According to the Times, tourists visiting the peak – Teide – will now be charged an 'eco-tax', and security cameras are reportedly being installed to control the park's visitor numbers and monitor when areas are overcrowded.
Environmental groups have said these measures are insufficient and have called for a significant reduction in the park's four million annual visitors.
Spain's battle with overtourism
Spain is set to become the most-visited destination in the world within the next 15 years, but the recent protests on the Canary Islands echo a resentment felt across the country.
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Wales Online
2 days ago
- Wales Online
You can do a white water raft trip into the prettiest river town in Wales with charming pubs overlooking the water
You can do a white water raft trip into the prettiest river town in Wales with charming pubs overlooking the water You probably didn't come to Wales expecting to crash through swirling rapids with gulp-inducing names like 'Serpent's Tail' The thing is, I'm not exactly what you'd call naturally coordinated, so negotiating a fast-flowing river was always going to be a challenge. (Image: Portia Jones / Bearded Men Adventures ) You probably didn't come to Wales expecting to crash through swirling rapids with gulp-inducing names like Serpent's Tail. But in the charming riverside town of Llangollen, thrill-seekers swap sightseeing for spray as the River Dee barrels straight through the heart of this picturesque riverside spot. One minute, you're admiring tearooms and canal boats; the next, you're kitted up in neoprene, plunging into frothing white water that surges past historic stone bridges and lush wooded banks. This is white water rafting in Wales, and it's wilder than you think. Here's how you can go white water rafting in Llangollen, dubbed one of the best places to travel to this summer by Tripadvisor. Cradled by the River Dee in Denbighshire, Llangollen fuses industrial grit with a proud Welsh music and culture scene and adventure activities. It sits where the Dee Valley narrows into a dramatic corridor carved through a UNESCO World Heritage landscape. The 11-mile canal route from Gledrid to the Horseshoe Falls threads through this scenic stretch, soaring above the valley on the towering Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, a masterpiece of 19th-century engineering. The popular Pontcysyllte Aqueduct is also located here and is a must-visit destination for civil engineering enthusiasts, as it's one of the most astonishing achievements of the Industrial Revolution. Article continues below While the canals and Aqueduct are a huge draw, it's on the River Dee that the most thrilling activity is found, as Llangollen is home to some of the best whitewater rafting experiences in the UK. From superstar gigs to cosy pubs, find out What's On in Wales by signing up to our newsletter here Llangollen white water rafting Cradled by the River Dee in Denbighshire, the charming town of Llangollen fuses industrial grit with a proud Welsh music and culture scene (Image: Portia Jones ) The Dee is the largest River in North Wales, with a catchment area of over 1,800 km². It is one of the most highly regulated rivers in Europe, and along with Llyn Tegid, it has been designated as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC). It's on this 70-mile-long River that you can hop in a raft and bounce along grade two to four rapids towards Llangollen, where the Dee runs through the Vale of Llangollen and flows into the Atlantic Ocean just below Chester. The Llangollen section of the Dee is 2.5 miles of exhilarating white water, starting at the Horseshoe Falls and finishing at Town Falls. It's here that you can 'raft' on the rushing waters in a large boat. But what exactly is white water rafting? Rafting is an adventure activity where you navigate a fast-flowing river in an inflatable raft, usually with a small team and a guide who (thankfully) knows what they are doing. Armed with paddles, helmets, and nerves of varying steadiness, you work together to steer through swirling currents, drops, and foamy 'rapids', which are graded from gentle bobbing to a full-on rollercoaster ride through frothing waters. Armed with paddles, helmets, and nerves of varying steadiness, you work together to steer through swirling currents, drops, and foamy 'rapids' (Image: Portia Jones ) To safely experience the rush of rating here, take a guided rafting trip with Bearded Men Adventures down the lengthy River and enjoy the adrenaline of paddling against the surging rapids, ranging from grades two to four. On a thrilling raft trip, you'll traverse epic rapids, including Serpent's Tail and Town Falls, bounce through the waves, and surf holes while guides yell instructions like "back paddle, right turn, left turn, stop, get down, as you try to remember your left from your right. It's not as easy as it sounds when you're getting splashed in the face with icy water. As soon as I found out that you could raft into a pretty town with riverside pubs, I just knew I had to give it a try and dragged my long-suffering husband along for a "little river trip". As soon as I found out that you could raft into a pretty town with riverside pubs, I just knew I had to give it a try and dragged my long-suffering husband along for a "little river trip". (Image: Portia Jones ) Our rafting trip with Bearded Men Adventures began with a safety briefing and introduction section, where we met our guide and got acquainted with the basics while safely on dry land. Once kitted up, our large raft boats were launched at the picturesque Horseshoe Falls, part of the 11-mile-long UNESCO World Heritage Site that surrounds the Pontcysylte Aqueduct and Chirk. A masterpiece of Thomas Telford's engineering, this curved weir provides a thrilling start as you tip over it and enter the River with a big splash. Paddles at the ready, we were soon bouncing along the River towards reassuringly named rapids called Tombstones and "Serpents Tail" as our boat careened off rocky ledges and into frothing waters. Paddles at the ready, we were soon bouncing along the River towards reassuringly named rapids called Tombstones and "Serpents Tail" (Image: Portia Jones ) I've been white water rafting before, so I figured I had some idea of what I was doing. But as I perched on the edge of the inflatable raft, paddle in hand, listening to our guide bark out instructions —'Forward paddle! Back paddle! LEFT! No, your other left!' — it became painfully clear that muscle memory wasn't going to save me this time. The thing is, I'm not exactly what you'd call naturally coordinated, so negotiating a fast-flowing river was always going to be a challenge. Every time our extremely patient guide yelled, 'paddle left!' I had a mini panic. Which left? My left or the raft's left? I tried to follow the others, craftily copying whichever way their paddles went, hoping no one would notice the minor chaos I was causing on our side of the boat. Honestly, I'm amazed no one staged a mutiny and shoved me straight into the roaring river. Miraculously, I managed to stay on board as we hurtled towards the Town Falls in the centre of Llangollen. (Image: Portia Jones ) Miraculously, I managed to stay on board as we hurtled towards the Town Falls in the centre of Llangollen. It's here that your friends and family can watch from the Corn Mill Pub or the bridge above as you plunge over the dramatic falls! There are surely not many waterside pubs where you can watch rafters plunge over unforgiving rapids and hear their shrieks reverberate across the valley. Who doesn't love a bit of free entertainment? Your friends and family can watch from the Corn Mill Pub or the bridge above as you plunge over the dramatic falls (Image: Portia Jones ) Now, it was my turn to be the spectacle. There's a very specific moment in white water rafting when your brain switches from 'This is fine' to 'S*** we're definitely going in.' For me, that moment came as the raft lurched towards the Town Falls series of dramatic drops, a frothing swirl of cold white water tumbling over a stack of jagged, craggy rocks that looked like something out of a Netflix documentary titled Mistakes Were Made: The River Dee Files. Who would play me in the series? Billie Piper, obviously, we're practically daydreaming was soon interrupted by crashing through the rapids while inadvertently ignoring all issued instructions. You will get wet! (Image: Portia Jones ) I think our guide yelled, "Get down", the standard instruction when heading face-first into a rapid. I'm not sure; I was busy bargaining with the river gods for a happy ending and not appearing as the idiot tourist on the 6 o'clock news. Thanks to our calm and highly qualified guide, who had essentially been babysitting me for the last two hours, we emerged unscathed on the other side. Soaked to the skin and shrieking with laughter, we lifted our paddles in the air like victorious sea captains, conveniently forgetting that we'd mostly been along for the ride. Our guide, meanwhile, looked like a man in urgent need of a pint. Or possibly three. Thanks to our calm and highly qualified guide, who had essentially been babysitting me for the last two hours, we emerged unscathed on the other side (Image: Portia Jones ) White water rafting in Llangollen wasn't quite the gentle river trip I'd promised my husband, but it was a brilliant way to see a different side of this pretty town. I left soaked, full of adrenaline and with some pretty epic photos. If you're looking for a river adventure, this is the rafting spot for you. Article continues below For more information and booking, click here.
Daily Record
2 days ago
- Daily Record
Canary Islands protest group faces pushback over demonstration plans
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Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Daily Mirror
You'll never guess where the tiny 'UK's best island' is
The UK's best islands have been named - and the winner is a tiny spot off the coast of northwest Wales. It's a peaceful escape with plenty to explore and miles of beautiful beaches If you're on the hunt for a staycation spot, look no further - the UK's best islands have been revealed. Topping the list is Anglesey, located off the northwest coast of Wales. Despite having a modest population of just 70,000, the island attracts a million tourists each year. But don't let these figures put you off; it never feels overcrowded. In fact, it's the ideal location for a tranquil escape, perfect for unwinding and disconnecting from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. The Telegraph assessed 35 factors across more than 40 islands, with Anglesey outshining popular holiday destinations such as Jersey, Skye, and the Isle of Wight. There's plenty to keep you occupied, including a 140-mile coastal path that encircles the island, the romantic Llandwyn Island, and wildlife spotting at South Stack Lighthouse. Even a simple afternoon spent exploring the marine life in the rockpools at the nearest beach can be delightful. For those less inclined towards hiking and nature spotting, Anglesey boasts the 13th-century Beaumaris Castle and the Halen Môn sea salt company's visitor centre, reports the Express. Additionally, there's the Copper Kingdom - once the world's largest copper mine, and Holy Island, renowned for its high concentration of standing stones, burial chambers and other religious sites. GeoMôn, a Unesco World Heritage site of extraordinary geological importance, showcases 1.8 billion years of Earth's history, the oldest fossils in England and Wales, and rock formations from nearly every geological period. The publication hailed Anglesey as "Wales's biggest island romped to the top of the ranking", with its 25 historic sites and the Michelin-starred delights of Sosban and the Old Butchers in Menai Strait. A stone's throw from the island lies the stunning Eryri National Park (formerly known as Snowdonia), where those keen on challenging hikes can tackle peaks like Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon), the highest mountain in the UK outside Scotland. Reaching Anglesey is a breeze by car or train via Bangor to Holyhead, a bustling cruise and ferry port offering frequent services to Dublin. The island boasts an array of accommodation options, including self-catering holiday homes, hotels, and B&Bs. The Telegraph's roundup of the UK's best islands also features the Isle of Wight, Jersey, Mull, Skye, Guernsey, Mainland (Orkney), St Mary (Isles of Scilly), Isle of Man, and Arran.
