The Canary Islands have presented a new summer health campaign and a dedicated heat surveillance plan for 2026, putting visitor safety, sun protection and heat-risk planning at the centre of the holiday season.
The campaign, led by the regional health department through the Directorate General of Public Health, is built around the message “En Canarias, el verano es pura felicidad”. Its practical advice is simple but important for anyone travelling to the islands this summer: drink water frequently, eat healthily, protect skin and eyes from strong solar radiation, and take accident prevention seriously at beaches and swimming pools.
Alongside the public information campaign, the Canary Islands have also introduced a new Autonomous Plan for Surveillance and Prevention Against Heat. The plan is designed to calculate daily health-risk levels by MeteoSalud zones, issue categorised alerts, coordinate the response of public bodies and organisations, and track the health impact of high temperatures so that the system can be improved over time.
For holidaymakers, this is not a reason to rethink travel to the Canary Islands. It is a sign that summer planning is becoming more precise. The archipelago remains one of Europe’s strongest warm-weather destinations, with beaches, natural parks, resorts, marine activities, family hotels, coastal promenades and outdoor dining forming the backbone of the visitor experience. The new plan matters because it recognises that a safe summer holiday depends not only on sunshine, but on how residents, visitors and tourism businesses respond when heat, ultraviolet radiation and coastal risks increase.
Why the new plan matters for Canary Islands holidays
The Canary Islands market themselves heavily on climate comfort, and with good reason. Compared with many mainland Spanish and Mediterranean destinations, the islands often offer more moderate summer conditions, sea breezes and a long outdoor season. But that does not mean the archipelago is free from health risks in summer.
The official health presentation made clear that climate change is intensifying extreme heat episodes globally and that the Canary Islands need a plan adapted to their own geography, demographics and tourism profile. That last point is especially relevant for visitors. The islands are not dealing only with their resident population on hot days. They also receive a large daily floating population made up of tourists, temporary workers, day visitors, cruise passengers and inter-island travellers.
The health department’s figures underline the scale of the issue. The plan refers to around 2.5 million people being exposed when residents and daily floating population are considered together. It also highlights more than 15 million tourists a year, many of them travelling from colder climates and many of them aged over 65. In some Canary Islands municipalities, people over 65 account for 33 percent of the population, adding another layer of vulnerability during hot spells.
The latest heat-health data are sobering. The Canary Islands recorded 130 deaths attributable to heat in 2025, according to MoMo estimates cited in the plan presentation. The previous maximum was 115 deaths in 2023. In that same earlier year, the islands registered 246 emergency attendances for heat and 57 urgent hospitalisations linked to high temperatures.
Those numbers do not mean that a normal summer beach holiday is unsafe. They do mean that heat can become a public-health issue quickly when people underestimate it. Visitors can be particularly exposed because holidays often involve longer hours outdoors, unfamiliar walking routes, alcohol, children playing in the sun, late mornings on beaches, sightseeing in inland towns, or hikes started too late in the day.
What changes under the heat surveillance plan
The new plan is intended to move summer health protection from general advice to a more active and localised system. Its first function is to calculate, every day and in advance, the health-risk level for each MeteoSalud zone in the archipelago. That matters because weather and health risk can vary sharply between coastal resorts, inland towns, higher-altitude areas, southern slopes and urban zones.
A visitor staying in Costa Adeje, Puerto Rico, Corralejo, Playa Blanca, Puerto del Carmen or Los Cristianos may experience conditions very differently from someone walking in La Laguna, Tejeda, Betancuria, the Anaga mountains, the interior of Lanzarote, or the mid-altitude areas of La Palma. A single island-wide temperature figure is rarely enough for practical planning.
The second function is alerting. The plan sets out a system of categorised warnings for the public and the bodies involved in prevention. For visitors, this means local warnings should become more useful when deciding whether to move an excursion to the morning, choose a shaded town walk instead of a long exposed route, postpone a strenuous hike, or keep children out of direct sun during the hardest part of the day.
The third function is coordination. High summer temperatures affect more than hospitals. They matter for municipalities, beach services, emergency teams, care homes, tourism operators, sports-event organisers, outdoor activity companies, hotels, local transport providers and people managing public spaces. A heat plan is only useful if the people responsible for vulnerable groups and busy visitor areas know what level of risk is expected and what response is needed.
The fourth function is evaluation. The plan will monitor the impact of heat on illness and mortality, then use that information to improve the system. That may sound technical, but it is important for a destination that depends so heavily on outdoor activity. Better local data can help authorities understand which areas, age groups, activities and weather patterns create the greatest risks.
What visitors should do differently this summer
The campaign’s advice may sound familiar, but it is often the familiar advice that gets ignored on holiday. Hydration is the first priority. Visitors should drink water regularly, not only when they feel thirsty. This is particularly important for older travellers, young children, people with chronic health conditions and anyone drinking alcohol or spending several hours at the beach.
Healthy and sustainable eating is also part of the campaign message. For tourists, this can be read in practical terms: do not rely on a long, hot day powered only by coffee, alcohol, sweet drinks and a late dinner. Light meals, fruit, salads, local fish, water-rich foods and sensible meal timing can make a difference when sightseeing or walking in strong sun.
Sun protection is the most obvious point, but it deserves serious attention in the Canary Islands. Ultraviolet radiation can be very high even when the air temperature feels comfortable. Cloud, breeze and sea air can create a false sense of safety. Visitors should use high-factor sunscreen, reapply it after swimming, wear sunglasses and hats, and think of shade as part of the day rather than a last resort when someone already feels unwell.
Beach and pool accident prevention is the other key part of the campaign. The Canary Islands’ coastline is one of the archipelago’s great attractions, but Atlantic conditions can change quickly. Tourists should respect flags, lifeguard instructions, local signs and hotel pool rules. Families should avoid assuming that a busy beach or resort pool is automatically low-risk. Children need active supervision, especially around waves, rocks, inflatables, pool edges and unfamiliar bathing areas.
The most useful change for many visitors is timing. Beach time, sightseeing, walking tours and hikes are often safer and more pleasant earlier in the day or later in the afternoon. Midday and early afternoon are better suited to shaded meals, museums, hotel rest, indoor attractions, coastal promenades with shade, or short low-effort activities.
Hiking, cycling and active tourism need extra planning
The Canary Islands are increasingly popular for active tourism: hiking in Tenerife, cycling in Gran Canaria, trail running in La Palma, volcano walks in Lanzarote, dune walks in Fuerteventura, whale-watching departures, kayak routes, diving courses, canyon landscapes, stargazing trips and guided nature excursions. These are exactly the experiences that make the islands more than a beach destination. They are also the activities where heat-risk information can be especially valuable.
Visitors planning hikes should check local forecasts and any official warnings before setting off. They should also think about route exposure, shade, gradient, water availability, mobile coverage, transport back to the resort and the real fitness of the group. A route that feels manageable in spring or winter can feel very different in summer sun.
Guided activity companies may increasingly need to build heat-risk checks into their daily operations. That can include earlier departures, route changes, extra water guidance, clearer cancellation rules, and more attention to the needs of older guests or people unused to walking in warm climates. For visitors, the best operator is not always the one promising the most dramatic itinerary. It is often the one willing to adjust the plan when conditions require it.
Cyclists face a similar issue. Long climbs, exposed roads and reflective surfaces can raise heat stress even when coastal resorts feel breezy. Anyone renting bikes or joining a cycling tour should plan water stops carefully, avoid the harshest hours and treat fatigue, dizziness or confusion as warning signs rather than something to push through.
Why older visitors and families should pay close attention
The official plan’s reference to older residents and older tourists is not incidental. The Canary Islands are a major destination for mature travellers, winter-sun repeat visitors, cruise passengers and families travelling with grandparents. Many visitors over 65 are active and experienced travellers, but age can still increase vulnerability to heat, dehydration and medication-related complications.
Older visitors should take a conservative approach during hot spells. That means scheduling essential walking for cooler hours, carrying water even on short outings, using taxis or buses when a walk becomes too exposed, and choosing accommodation routines that allow rest during the hottest part of the day. People taking medication for blood pressure, heart conditions or other chronic issues should be especially careful and follow medical advice before travel.
Families have a different challenge. Children often want to stay in the water or on the sand for hours, and parents can underestimate how much sun exposure is accumulating. Shade breaks, water breaks, rash vests, hats, sunglasses and earlier beach sessions are not overcautious; they are what make the day last. Pool safety also matters, especially in villa, apartment and hotel settings where adults may relax into holiday mode.
How hotels and tourism businesses can use the campaign
The summer campaign is not aimed only at individual travellers. Hotels, apartment complexes, excursion sellers, car-hire desks, visitor information offices, beach bars, restaurants and activity providers all have a role in making the advice visible and practical.
Hotels can help by placing clear heat and UV advice at reception, pool areas and digital guest channels. They can remind guests about water, shade and the safest times for outdoor activities without making the message feel alarming. Apartment managers can include simple information for guests arriving from cooler countries who may not immediately understand the strength of the sun.
Excursion companies can use daily heat-risk information to adjust pick-up times, explain route difficulty honestly and avoid selling demanding outdoor experiences in unsuitable conditions. Restaurants and beach venues can contribute with accessible drinking water, shaded seating and staff awareness. Visitor information offices can turn general warnings into useful local suggestions, such as alternative shaded walks, museums, market visits or coastal routes.
This is also a destination-quality issue. A traveller who feels well informed, protected and respected is more likely to enjoy the islands, recommend them and return. Good summer health communication is part of the same visitor experience as airport transfers, clean beaches, reliable buses, hotel service and well-maintained promenades.
What this means for Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura
On the larger and busiest islands, the plan has obvious visitor relevance. Tenerife combines beach resorts, high-altitude excursions, busy urban areas, Teide-related day trips, northern towns and large numbers of older visitors. Heat risk can vary significantly between the south coast, metropolitan areas, mid-altitude villages and exposed volcanic landscapes.
Gran Canaria has a similar mix. The south receives heavy resort demand around Maspalomas, Playa del Ingles, Meloneras, Puerto Rico and Mogan, while visitors also travel inland to viewpoints, villages and mountain roads. A daily zone-based risk approach can help visitors avoid treating the whole island as if conditions were identical everywhere.
Lanzarote’s open landscapes, black volcanic terrain, beaches, wine routes and popular car-based excursions make sun exposure a real planning issue. Fuerteventura’s long beaches, windy conditions, surf schools, dune areas and resort-to-beach movement can also create situations where visitors underestimate dehydration and UV exposure because the air feels fresh.
For La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro, the message is especially relevant for hikers and nature travellers. These islands attract visitors who often spend more time on trails, viewpoints and rural roads. Heat-risk information should become part of responsible route planning in the same way as footwear, daylight, water and transport arrangements.
A safety update, not a holiday warning
The most important point for travellers is balance. The Canary Islands have not announced a travel restriction, a beach closure, an airport change or a warning against holidays. The new summer campaign and heat surveillance plan are about prevention. They aim to reduce avoidable illness, improve coordination and make risk information more specific.
That is good news for visitors. It means the islands are acknowledging the realities of hotter summers while continuing to support the outdoor experiences that make the archipelago attractive. The best response is not to avoid the sun altogether or cancel plans. It is to plan better: check daily conditions, protect skin, drink water, choose activity times carefully, respect beach and pool rules, and adapt when alerts or local advice suggest doing so.
For the FlyToCanarias audience, the practical takeaway is straightforward. Summer 2026 in the Canary Islands can still be a beach, nature, food, culture and family-holiday season. The difference is that visitors should treat health-risk information as part of normal travel planning, especially during warmer periods. A little caution can protect the best parts of the trip: long lunches by the sea, safe swims, cooler evening walks, memorable viewpoints and a holiday that feels relaxed rather than exhausting.
As the new campaign puts summer happiness at the centre of its message, the underlying editorial point is just as clear. In the Canary Islands, enjoying summer well means respecting the climate, the ocean and the body’s limits. Travellers who do that will be better placed to enjoy the islands at their best.