Tenerife Leads Canaries in Paranormal Experiences, Study Finds
A new study identifies Tenerife as the most mysterious Canary Island, with over a quarter of residents reporting paranormal experiences and widespread belief in superstitions, including witches and healers.
Do people in Tenerife believe in ghosts, witches, or old legends? The answer is a resounding yes. In fact, a new study suggests Tenerife is the most mysterious island in the Canary Islands. The research, from entertainment platform Casino.org, found that over a quarter of Tenerife residents (26.3%) say they've had at least one paranormal experience.
This makes Tenerife the leading island in the Canaries for supernatural encounters, accounting for a quarter of all reported cases across the region. The report is based on a national survey of 10,000 people, carried out for Halloween, which looked into the beliefs, superstitions, and unexplained experiences of people in Spain.
For Tenerife, the study shows that a mix of old traditions, myths, and modern life keeps the island's interest in the supernatural very much alive.
What kind of paranormal events do Tenerife residents report? They range from the common feeling of "being watched" to objects moving on their own. Among those who've had such experiences, 38.5% describe the unsettling sensation of being watched by someone invisible. Another 35.7% say they've heard loud noises when no one else was around.
Other frequent occurrences include sudden changes in temperature (31.8%), objects moving by themselves (29.1%), and even seeing apparitions or human shapes (28.5%). Interestingly, 14.3% of people reported experiences that didn't fit any of these categories, suggesting a wide range of personal encounters with the paranormal.
Even with its high number of supernatural experiences, Tenerife isn't the most superstitious island in the Canaries, though it's a close second. About 30.2% of its residents openly admit to being superstitious, just behind Gran Canaria at 32.4%.
However, the study also found an interesting group: the "secretly superstitious." These are people who say they don't believe in the supernatural but still follow certain rituals "just in case." In Tenerife, nearly half the population (48.5%) falls into this category. This is ten points higher than the average for the Canary Islands and thirteen points higher than the national average, making Tenerife one of the Spanish regions with the most hidden superstitious practices.
Among the most common superstitions on the island, belief in witches and healers is prominent, with almost 60% of Tenerife residents (59.4%) holding such beliefs. These traditions, deeply rooted in the rural and popular imagination of the Canaries, still carry significant meaning in today's culture.
Other popular beliefs include making wishes on shooting stars or to the universe (57.2%) and trusting in good luck charms like four-leaf clovers (55.9%). More universal customs, such as knocking on wood to prevent bad luck (37.5%) or avoiding opening an umbrella indoors (25.3%), are also common.
More specific practices like using a ouija board (34.7%), reading tarot cards (26.1%), or even love spells (8.7%) are also present among Tenerife's more mystical residents, though with lower percentages. Less common superstitions include the New Year's Eve lucky grapes (7.1%) or throwing a coin into water to make a wish (3.6%).
The report suggests that superstitions in Tenerife aren't just about religion or culture; they're part of many people's daily lives. Sociologists involved in the study point out that these beliefs can help people cope with uncertainty or fear, especially during difficult times or periods of big social change.
Old myths about witches, the evil eye, and negative energies exist alongside newer trends like manifestation, digital tarot, and social media astrology. This creates a diverse and modern mix of esoteric beliefs on the island.
With its unique blend of tradition, spirituality, and mystery, Tenerife continues to be the island most likely to believe in—and experience—the unexplainable.
The study was carried out by Casino.org/es-es, an online safety and entertainment platform. It surveyed 10,000 people across Spain, with a margin of error of ±2%. A team of specialized sociologists analyzed the results, excluding regions where there weren't enough participants (Murcia, La Rioja, Ceuta, Melilla, and the Balearic Islands). Published around Halloween, the report aims to explore how superstition connects with cultural identity in different parts of Spain.