Concerns are growing in Tenerife after a rise in people living in illegal cave dwellings. Authorities say some of the caves have been turned into makeshift homes, with outdoor seating areas and signs of long-term use. Many of the caves are located in ravines near tourist hotspots in the south of the island, including Granadilla de Abona and Arona.
While some people are living there out of desperation, others have reportedly chosen the lifestyle voluntarily, often seeking isolation or cheaper alternatives to housing. Local officials say the growing number of cave dwellings is harming the environment and putting pressure on public services. Arona Town Hall recently hosted a meeting with police and other agencies to discuss how to respond, with calls for both social support and enforcement.
Experts warn the issue is getting worse. In 2024, Granadilla de Abona council dismantled 45 illegal settlements, some near protected coastal areas.
Around 100 people, mostly from other European countries, were affected by the action.
According to environmental educator José Carlos Herrero, the impact goes far beyond the visual damage.
He told Canarian Weekly that illegal camps can lead to soil erosion, disrupt water cycles, and damage native wildlife habitats.
He said noise, rubbish, and even invasive species like rats were all contributing to long-term harm.
Herrero added that some areas are home to migratory birds and rare species, and even small changes to the land can destroy what makes the landscape special.
He also warned that these activities reduce the ecosystem services that ravines provide, such as biodiversity, flood control, and scenic beauty.
Back in 2024, Canarian Weekly also reported that 2,309 people were recorded as suffering “severe residential exclusion” in Tenerife in 2023, up 2.1% on the previous year.
The term includes rough sleepers, squatters and those using shelters.
The figures showed 836 people were affected in Santa Cruz, 293 in Arona, and 120 in Granadilla de Abona, two of the areas where illegal cave homes are now causing concern.
A spokesperson for Caritas Tenerife, the island’s main homelessness charity, said the housing crisis had worsened since the Covid pandemic.
Most of those affected were men, and nearly 40% were foreign nationals.
Around a third had chronic health conditions, including mental illness, and over a quarter struggled with addiction.
Express reporter Adam Toms recently visited Tenerife for the first time and there was one thing he did not understand.