Tenerife Overtourism: Viral Video Reignites Debate Over Bus Access in Anaga Park
A viral video showing a large tourist bus struggling on a narrow road in Tenerife's Anaga Rural Park has intensified concerns over the impact of unchecked tourism on local life and protected natural areas, amidst unenforced traffic regulations.
Too many tourists in the Canary Islands are making daily life difficult for locals, especially in sensitive spots like Anaga Rural Park in Tenerife. A TikTok user, Humedal Verde (@humedalverde), recently shared a video showing just how bad things get on these roads on weekends.
The video shows a large bus struggling to drive down a very narrow road – one clearly not built for such big vehicles. The bus repeatedly scrapes the guardrail and even loses a piece of its back bumper. This incident highlights the serious issue of overcrowded roads and the strain tourism puts on protected natural areas.
In the video, the resident calls for a ban on "12-meter private buses." The Tenerife Island Council actually announced this rule, saying it would apply to protected areas like Anaga Rural Park and Masca (Teno) from the start of the year. However, it hasn't been put into practice yet.
The video has brought the debate about too much tourism and the rising tensions between visitors and locals back into the spotlight. Overcrowding means many residents can't go about their daily lives normally. Their routines are constantly interrupted by a steady stream of tourists, many of whom don't respect the local environment.
Despite calls from authorities and the public to set limits, the number of tourists keeps growing each year. In 2024, Tenerife welcomed about 7.2 million visitors, a 12.2% jump from 2023. Over the last ten years, tourist numbers have risen by 30%. The surge in private excursions means rural areas like Anaga now have infrastructure that simply can't handle the amount of traffic.
The Tenerife resident shared the video to highlight what daily life is like for locals using these narrow roads. She states, "We are fed up with the overpopulation and the number of people who come to spend their holidays without limits or restrictions." She constantly encounters large buses in places where there's barely enough room to pass.
The video's creator even had to pick up the fallen bumper piece herself because the bus just kept going. Her story points to the everyday dangers: landslides, traffic jams, risky driving, and ongoing damage in a natural area that's been declared a Biosphere Reserve.
This complaint has reignited discussions about how high-volume tourism can coexist with life in the villages of the Anaga Massif. Locals warn that too many tourists disrupt their travel, make journeys longer, and drive up the cost of living on the island.