In the Playa de las Americas resort on Tenerife, a group of people are living in vans and cars, citing the high cost of housing and low wages as their reason. The island is experiencing a housing crisis, with rents skyrocketing to as much as €1,200 per month in the south, where most tourists stay. Salaries, meanwhile, tend to be around €1,300 per month, making it difficult for locals to afford housing.
Giulia Pizzi, 32, from Pisa, Italy, quit her job as a dental cleaning receptionist due to the travel distance and now lives in a van. “If you want to find a job here, it’s full of them,” she said. “But the salary is not that good. Sometimes conditions are also pretty bad.”
The island is facing protests against overtourism, with locals voicing their discontent at the government’s handling of the issue. The influx of tourists has led to a surge in rental prices, making it difficult for locals to afford housing. “The tourists don’t mind about the prices here,” said Albert Serra, 32, who has been living in a van for two and a half years. “The salaries around Europe are higher than here. People who come here for holidays, they will pay.”
Issues with Sewage Outflows
The community also faces issues with sewage outflows into the sea, which campaigners suggest are exacerbated by the amount of effluent produced by visitors to the island. “I surf,” Giulia said. “And sometimes we can see sewage, we can smell it. So many people felt bad in the water with vomit, and get diarrhea.”
Despite the challenges, many residents say they feel free living in their vehicles. Vincent Colmenares Cañellas, 56, from Venezuela, prefers living in a van as he can drive and stay wherever he likes. “I feel great,” he said. “I feel free. My passion is surfing. We have wonderful weather, and we have marvellous waves.”
Moises Chueca Larque, 41, a Tenerife native, lives in his camper van, which he describes as his “villa”. “It’s super,” he added. “Before, I had a small house [a car]. I prefer to live with my house, it’s amazing. I don’t need too many things.”
