An illegal buggy excursion through the Lanzarote countryside has resulted in a €600 fine as residents intensify their campaign against off-road tourist vehicles operating in environmentally sensitive areas.
The penalty relates to one of only two sanctioning proceedings opened by the Lanzarote Cabildo over buggy excursions, despite long-running complaints from residents about the impact of the vehicles.
The case originated from an inspection carried out by officers from the Guardia Civil's environmental protection unit, SEPRONA, in the Guatiza area earlier this year.
Officers had received information alleging that buggies were repeatedly travelling through the area in breach of regulations.
During the inspection on January 14th, SEPRONA officers observed a convoy of six buggies travelling along a track through the Barranco de Las Piletas before leaving the established route and entering an area around an old quarry.
The resulting sanctioning procedure has now concluded with a €600 fine.
The case has renewed questions about the regulation of buggy excursions in Lanzarote, which have become a popular activity among tourists looking to explore areas away from the island's main resorts.
Residents take their concerns to SEPRONA
Residents in Guatiza have become increasingly vocal about the number of buggies travelling through the surrounding countryside and say the activity is continuing despite previous conclusions that it is prohibited.
More than 30 residents recently gathered when the local neighbourhood association highlighted its concerns about the impact of the vehicles.
Their complaints centre on buggies leaving established tracks, environmental damage, dust, noise and the effectiveness of enforcement against companies operating excursions.
According to information reported locally, a Cabildo technical report concluded more than a year ago that this type of activity was prohibited on the island, but residents argue that buggy tours have continued regardless.
Despite those concerns, only two sanctioning proceedings have reportedly been opened by the Cabildo.
One relates to the SEPRONA complaint in the Guatiza area, while the second concerns activity in the Papagayo area in the south of Lanzarote.
Area has previously seen a fatal buggy accident
The debate is particularly sensitive in Guatiza because of a fatal accident involving a buggy in the area in 2023, when a mother and her daughter lost their lives.
The latest €600 sanction does not relate to that accident, but the previous tragedy has inevitably added to residents' concerns about buggy activity in the surrounding countryside.
Buggy excursions are widely marketed to holidaymakers in the Canary Islands and can provide visitors with access to landscapes they may otherwise not see during their stay.
However, their operation has also generated controversy where vehicles enter protected or environmentally sensitive areas, leave authorised routes or come into conflict with residents and other countryside users.
The latest case highlights the continuing challenge facing Lanzarote authorities in balancing popular tourist activities with environmental protection, public safety and the concerns of communities living alongside excursion routes.
For visitors booking buggy tours, the case is also a reminder to use established operators and ensure that organised excursions comply with local restrictions and remain on authorised routes.
