Canary Islands Placed On Fodor's Travel 'no List' For Tourists

So, you know how sometimes a friend will just ban a certain restaurant after one bad experience? Like, “Never again. The waiter sighed at my napkin request.” Well, Fodor’s Travel just did that to an entire island chain. The Canary Islands—those sunny volcanic specks off Africa—have been placed on their “No List” for 2024.

But before you start panicking and canceling your trip to Lanzarote, let’s be real. This isn’t about bad paella or rude hotel staff. It’s about overtourism. Think of it like your favorite local coffee shop suddenly getting a TikTok shoutout—except the whole island chain is the shop, and the line now stretches around the block.

The Great Tourist Squeeze

Picture this: you’re on a beautiful black-sand beach in Tenerife. The sun is warm, the waves are crashing, and you’re trying to find a spot to put your towel. But every single patch of sand has someone’s elbow in it. It’s like playing a game of human Tetris where nobody wins.

Fodor’s points out that the Canary Islands are suffering from their own success. Last year, they saw over 15 million tourists. That’s like the entire population of the Netherlands showing up for a barbecue on your front lawn. The locals are feeling it—rents are skyrocketing, and the charm is getting squeezed out.

You know that awkward moment when you walk into a tiny village bakery and the line is twenty deep with people taking photos of the bread? That’s the vibe. The islands are so popular that they’re starting to lose their soul for the people who actually live there.

Why Your Beach Day Became A Cardio Workout

Let’s get personal. I went to Gran Canaria two summers ago. I thought I was being clever, booking a “secret” cove off a hiking trail. I got there, sweat dripping, feeling like a true explorer. And what did I find? A group of German tourists blasting techno from a speaker while a guy set up a full inflatable flamingo.

That’s the irony. We all want the authentic experience. But when too many of us show up, the authentic experience becomes a parody of itself. The island becomes a backdrop for your Instagram grid, not a place to actually be.

Fodor’s isn’t saying “don’t go.” They’re saying, “Hey, maybe think twice before adding to the pile.” It’s like that friend who always shows up empty-handed to a potluck—eventually, you stop inviting them.

The Local’s Lament

I talked to a cab driver in La Palma last year. He was proud of his island—the greenest, the most untouched. He pointed to a new hotel being built on a cliff. “That,” he said, “is where we used to go fishing as kids. Now it’s a resort for people who want to look at our view from a pool.”

It stings, right? Because we’ve all been that tourist at some point. We’ve all asked a local for their “hidden spot” only to tell everyone about it later. The Canary Islands are now the victim of their own paradise status. They’re too good at being good.

And let’s be honest: the infrastructure can’t keep up. Imagine trying to flush a toilet on a plane with 300 people using it at once. That’s what happens to the sewage systems in these places during peak season. Not glamorous, but absolutely true.

So, What Do We Do? (Besides Cry)

Look, I’m not saying you should cancel your flight. But maybe treat the Canary Islands like a moody, beautiful person—you have to respect its boundaries. Go in shoulder season. Skip the famous beaches that look like a human soup. Rent a car and drive to a town nobody has heard of.

Fodor’s “No List” is basically a travel intervention. It’s your friend telling you, “I love you, but you’re being that guy.” The guy who shows up to a party, drinks all the punch, and then complains the music is too loud. We are the punch-drinkers in this scenario.

The goal isn’t to never visit. The goal is to visit like a good guest. You know, the kind who helps with the dishes. The Canary Islands don’t need more tourists; they need better ones. Ones who understand that a vacation is not a conquest.

The Silver Lining In The Sand

Here’s the funny part: the “No List” might actually save the islands. It makes people think. It makes them book a trip to a less-hyped place like La Gomera instead. And suddenly, the pressure eases.

I’m already planning a trip to El Hierro next spring. It’s the smallest island, with a population smaller than my high school. I hear the locals are friendly because they’re not yet exhausted by endless selfies. I’ll keep my mouth shut about it, though. You didn’t hear it from me.

So, cheers to Fodor’s for being the bad cop. The Canary Islands are beautiful, but they deserve a break. Maybe we all do. Next time, leave the flamingo floaty at home. Pack some respect instead.