The travel advice on this page covers the islands of Tenerife, La Palma, La Gomera & El Hierro. For the latest general travel advice for Spain, please see FCO travel advice.

Crime

• you should take particular care with pick pockets, petty thieves and robberies in the tourist areas of all islands, during the high seasons and in events where there might be crowds, e.g. Carnival (February-March)

• special care should also be taken when being offered time share. Time share and property sales persons tout for business on Tenerife, especially in the Arona /Adeje area, and on Gran Canaria, especially in the Playa del Inglés area. You should read the fine print very carefully and seek legal advice before signing any kind of contract. Under Spanish law, purchasers of time shares are entitled to a 15-day “cooling off” period during which they should receive a full refund of any money paid if they change their mind.

Weather

• some beaches have strong undercurrents. Most of them have a flag system in operation. Before swimming, please ensure you understand the system and heed any warnings

• hiking is not recommended with bad weather conditions. Proper equipment should  always be used. If you are amateur, you should always get advice and/or instructions from an experienced hiker or a hiking and trekking company.