Well-known travel media outlet warns against traveling to one of Spain’s most popular tourist areas: “It clearly needs a breather”

Even though the summer of 2026 is still a long way off, many travelers are already comparing flights and hotels to lock in early deals. But a warning coming out of Fodor’s Travel may give pause to anyone eyeing one of Spain’s most iconic vacation destinations: the Canary Islands.

The well-known creator of travel guidebooks has published a stark advisory in its ‘No List 2026’ discouraging travel to the Canary Islands in 2026. The reason, according to the outlet, goes beyond higher prices—it points to a tourism model under visible strain.

Why Fodor’s is warning travelers about the Canary Islands

The Canary Islands, located off the northwest coast of Africa and governed by Spain, have long been a magnet for European tourists seeking year-round sunshine as well as Americans. But that popularity may now be working against them.

According to Fodor’s Travel, “behind the postcard-perfect scenes in the Canary Islands, pressure is mounting.” In just the first half of 2025, the archipelago welcomed 7.8 million visitors, a figure the outlet says has intensified structural pressures across the region.

Road congestion, overburdened public services, and an increasingly inaccessible housing market for locals are cited as visible consequences of the surge.

Skyrocketing rents and the Airbnb effect

One of the strongest warnings in the report focuses on housing costs.

The article highlights that “access to housing has become virtually impossible,” largely driven by the expansion of short-term vacation rentals on platforms like Airbnb. Properties once intended for long-term residents are increasingly being converted into tourist accommodations, shrinking supply and pushing prices beyond the reach of many locals.

This trend has fueled a heated public debate in the Canary Islands about the sustainability of mass tourism—and whether the economic benefits truly outweigh the social costs for year-round residents.

“There’s a growing awareness that the real financial benefits of tourism aren’t reaching locals,” shared John Dale Beckley, founder of the sustainability platform CanaryGreen.org, speaking to Fodor’s Travel.

Environmental stress on fragile islands

Beyond housing and infrastructure, the travel outlet also flags mounting environmental concerns.

The Canary Islands face chronic water scarcity, a serious issue for a territory with limited natural resources and millions of annual visitors. The article also references pollution problems, including wastewater discharges affecting coastal areas, raising concerns about the long-term health of marine ecosystems and beaches.

For a destination that markets itself on pristine nature and crystal-clear waters, these warning signs are increasingly hard to ignore. Beckley notes that “beaches close more often due to pollution and sewage runoff.”

Fodor’s explained that everyday over 26 million gallons of untreated or barely treated sewage are released into the sea around the archipelago.

A global red flag for overtourism

The Canary Islands are just one of eight destinations on their list that identifies destinations worldwide that “need a break” due to the effects of overtourism. Notably absent were Barcelona and Venice, which have been on previous list, but their problems with mass tourism still exist Fodor’s explains.

While, the travel outlet says that its ‘No List’ is not a call for a boycott, this international recognition suggests the concerns are no longer just local complaints, but part of a broader global conversation about responsible travel.

Local protests and a call for limits

While tourism remains a cornerstone of the Canary Islands’ economy, resistance is growing.

In recent months, residents have taken to the streets under the slogan “Canarias tiene un límite” (The Canary Islands Have a Limit), demanding a more sustainable tourism model that prioritizes livability, environmental protection, and affordable housing.

The outlet notes that these protests reflect a widening gap between the interests of mass tourism and the everyday realities of those who call the islands home.

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