I see the same things every year. Visitors arrive happy, and a few small mistakes ruin part of their holiday or annoy the people who live here. Most of them are easy to avoid, and that is one of the reasons I started this website: so you can enjoy the islands like a local.
Quick answer: use sun cream every day, do not do your shopping at the airport, take your rubbish with you, respect the sea and the locals, and learn two words: guagua and chacho.
The mistakes
1. Getting sunburnt
This is number one, and it is not a joke. Almost every visitor gets burnt, because the breeze makes the sun feel gentler than it is. Sunburn can ruin your holiday, and too much sun can cause skin cancer, which is serious. Use high factor sun cream every day, even when it is cloudy, put it on again after swimming and look for shade in the middle of the day.
2. Shopping at the airport
Food, drinks and souvenirs at the airport are very expensive. Buy water, snacks and gifts at a normal supermarket or in a village shop, where you will also find local products like mojo, gofio and cheese for a much better price.
3. Leaving rubbish on the beach
This is what bothers locals the most. Bottles, cans, cigarette ends and plastic left on the sand or in the natural pools. These are our beaches, and many of them are protected. Take your rubbish with you, always.
4. Forgetting you are a guest
Most visitors are lovely. But every year some people drink too much and behave in a way they never would at home. Have fun, but remember that people live, work and raise their families here. Respect goes a long way, and Canarians are very friendly when you treat them well.
5. Underestimating the Atlantic
This is not the Mediterranean. Waves and currents can be very strong, especially in the north and in winter. Respect the flags, never swim when the waves break over the rocks of a natural pool and, if you surf, stay away from local spots. Read my guide to learning to surf in Tenerife.
6. Never leaving the resort
The best of the islands is outside the hotels: the mountains, the villages, the natural pools, the guachinches. Rent a car for a few days and explore. See my car rental tips.
7. Eating only on the seafront
Menus with photos in five languages are rarely where locals eat. Walk a street or two back, or go to the next village. Start with my guide to what to eat.
8. Thinking the whole island has the same weather
The north and the south can be completely different on the same day. If it is cloudy where you are, it may be sunny half an hour away. Read about the weather in winter.
9. Going up Mount Teide in beach clothes
It can be warm on the beach and close to freezing at the top. Bring warm clothes, and remember that the summit needs a permit. See my Mount Teide guide.
10. Not trying the local food
What surprises visitors most is how much flavour the food has. Try papas arrugadas, a proper bocadillo and grilled cheese with jam and gofio, and finish with a barraquito.
Canarian words you will hear everywhere
Canarian Spanish is different from the Spanish you learnt at school. If you only learn two words, make it these two. They are 100% from here.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Guagua | Bus. You will take one, so you need this word! |
| Chacho | Hey, mate, wow. Canarians use it all the time. |
| Papa | Potato (not “patata” like in mainland Spain). |
| Millo | Sweetcorn. |
| Cholas | Flip-flops. |
| ¡Ños! | Wow! Surprise or amazement. |
| Mi niño / mi niña | A friendly way to talk to someone, at any age. |
| Traje | What surfers here call a wetsuit. |
A local’s perfect Sunday
Want to live a day like a Canarian? This is my perfect Sunday in Tenerife:
- Wake up and go for breakfast somewhere with a nice view.
- Spend the morning on the beach.
- In the afternoon, pick a plan: a viewpoint, a walk, a village, there is always something to do on the islands.
- Dinner somewhere beautiful.
- Then a night out, for example in Las Verónicas in Playa de Las Américas, or something more relaxed.
Frequently asked questions
Do people speak English in the Canary Islands?
In the tourist areas, yes. In villages and local restaurants, less so, so a few words of Spanish help a lot and are always appreciated.
What does “guagua” mean?
Bus. In the Canary Islands nobody says “autobús”: it is always the guagua.
This guide reflects the experience of a local. Always follow official safety advice on beaches and in the mountains.
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