Spanish holiday resort is 23C in February and feels worlds apart from busy summer months
The Canary Islands are usually saturated with tourists during the summer months. Crowds of Brits flock to resorts to enjoy cheap booze and sunny weather, thanks to the consistently high temperatures.
Last year, a staggering 15.5 million international tourists visited Spanish owned archipelago, which is located off the coast of northwestern Africa. The majority headed to the biggest island, Tenerife, to enjoy the islands famous Siam Waterpark and it's bustling nightlife.
Gran Canaria was the second popular. It attracted 6.2 million and 4 million overseas tourists respectively.
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However, Gran Canaria's popularity has caused fury with locals. Residents believe they are being priced out of the property market by tourists and launched anti-tourism protests to show their frustration. Crowds chanted the slogan 'Canary Islands has a limit' and targeting tourist-heavy hotspots.
The Gran Canarian government has now opened a public consultation asking citizens for their opinion on the island's tourism model. The 11-question survey will remain open until the end of the month (February 28) and has already resulted in talks of a hotel 'ban', reports The Mirror.
The seaside resort of Playa del Ingles is a prime example of a destination so popular with tourists it can sometimes feel overwhelmingly crowded. Its golden beach - which stretches almost three km - is classed as one of the 'most visited and crowded' on the island, attracting swathes of sun-worshippers as well as volleyball fans and surfers.
However, taking to TikTok, user Explore Canary showed a very different side to the resort. Instead of rows of sundeck chairs and bustling crowds on the sands, the whole area seemed much more peaceful and empty. "Today, 3 February, [it's] 24°!" the caption reads. "Good start for this month. Are you going to Gran Canaria in February?"
While Brits flock to the Canary Islands all year round, February and March are still classed as the low season - and attract significantly fewer people. Expect to have more of the beach to yourself, less noise at night, and the freedom to stroll into any restaurant you fancy without a reservation.
The temperature around this time of year tends to oscillate from 18-19C, but some days will be even hotter. "While there may be occasional showers, they are typically short-lived, and the majority of days remain sunny and dry," travel firm TUI said. "This makes February an excellent time to explore the island's natural beauty, including its stunning beaches, volcanic landscapes, and picturesque villages."
Many major UK airports, including London, Manchester, Liverpool, and Glasgow, offer direct flights to Gran Canaria in February. If you're flexible with dates, you can bag return fares for as little as £33 - just make sure you pack a jumper for the evenings, as it can still get quite chilly!
