Lanzarote Reviews the Future of Buggy and Quad Tours
Lanzarote is taking a fresh look at how buggies, quads and other off-road vehicles are used across the island’s rural and natural areas, with a public consultation now being launched on possible new rules.
For visitors planning a Lanzarote holiday, it is important to stress that this is a consultation and regulatory process — it is not an immediate island-wide ban on buggy excursions.
What is the Cabildo consulting on?
The Cabildo of Lanzarote and La Graciosa says it wants to create a more consistent island-wide framework for buggies, quads, trial motorcycles, enduro bikes, motocross/cross bikes and similar vehicles travelling through the natural environment.
The consultation is being handled by the Cabildo’s Land Management and Territorial Policy area. It is intended to gather views from local councils, rural landowners, environmental organisations, sporting clubs, active-tourism companies and professionals, as well as members of the public.
The consultation is due to run for one month, with contributions accepted from the day after the consultation is formally published on the Cabildo’s corporate website.
Why is Lanzarote looking at new rules?
According to the technical reports cited by the Cabildo, concerns include the physical effects that repeated vehicle traffic can have on rural and natural land.
The issues identified include soil compaction and erosion, loss of fertile soil, dust being raised, possible effects on agricultural land and native vegetation, disturbance to wildlife, noise, the creation of additional tracks, landscape impacts and possible effects on archaeological and ethnographic heritage.
These concerns are particularly relevant on an island such as Lanzarote, where volcanic landscapes, rural farmland and protected natural areas are an important part of the island’s character and tourism appeal.
Could buggy tours be banned?
One option being examined is to prohibit recreational and tourist traffic by these vehicles on dirt tracks and rural land.
However, that is only one of the alternatives being considered at this stage. The proposal also looks at whether buggy and similar activities could instead take place within specifically designated and prepared areas.
Another possibility mentioned by the Cabildo is a highly restricted Official Network of Motorised Routes. This would concentrate authorised motor activity onto selected routes rather than allowing it to operate more widely across rural land.
What would this mean for tourists in Lanzarote?
For now, travellers should not assume that existing Lanzarote buggy or quad excursions have suddenly become illegal.
The current development is about consultation and the preparation of possible regulation. Any future restrictions would depend on the process that follows, including the eventual rules that are approved and how they are implemented.
Buggy and quad excursions remain a popular way for some visitors to experience Lanzarote’s volcanic scenery and rural landscapes. Anyone booking an excursion should continue to follow the operator’s instructions, stay on authorised routes and respect signs, protected areas, farmland and private property.
Why does this matter to residents?
For people living in Lanzarote, the discussion is also about how tourism activity fits alongside farming, rural communities, environmental protection and everyday life.
The Cabildo says one of the reasons for considering island-wide rules is that activities can cross municipal boundaries. A common framework could therefore mean that the same type of activity is treated more consistently from one part of the island to another.
The consultation gives residents and affected sectors an opportunity to make their views known before any new framework is finalised.
What happens next?
The Cabildo’s preferred route is to explore a Provisional Island Ordinance under the Canary Islands’ planning legislation. The purpose would be to establish common criteria for rural land while work continues on the new Island Planning Plan.
A restricted official motor-route network is also being examined as an alternative.
The important point for tourists is that the final outcome has not yet been decided. The consultation is part of the process of deciding how Lanzarote should manage these activities in the future.
Lanzarote’s natural landscape is one of the biggest reasons people come to the island, from the volcanic scenery of the interior to the dramatic coastline and rural areas. The debate now is about how motorised tourism activities can be managed alongside the protection of those landscapes and the interests of people who live and work here.
For visitors planning a Lanzarote holiday, there is no need to change existing travel plans because of this announcement. If you are considering a buggy tour in Lanzarote, check the operator’s current route and conditions when booking and follow all local instructions during the excursion.
