The Gran Canarian municipality of Mogán It has transformed the way people enjoy its coastline by allowing, for the first time, pets to accompany their owners on several of its beaches. After a wait of several months to adapt the regulations, the measure is now in place and has had a great reception during the first weekend, with a smooth coexistence between users with and without animals.
In total, the City Council has enabled five municipally managed beaches For access with dogs and other pets: El Perchel, La Lajilla (next to Las Marañuelas), Aguamarina, Tauro, and Los Frailes. These areas are thus incorporated into the growing network of Pet-friendly beaches in Gran Canaria, following in the footsteps of other municipalities such as Telde or Agüimes.
Which beaches in Mogán allow pets and how are they distributed
Local authorities have opted for a flexible model, adapting the conditions of use to the characteristics of each beach. to reconcile enjoyment with safety and cleanlinessNot all beaches operate the same way, neither in terms of hours nor in terms of space delimitation.
On the beach of The PerchelLocated in Arguineguín, a designated area has been created exclusively for people with pets. This area is clearly marked and reserved for those visiting with animals, allowing to better organize coexistence with the rest of the bathers.
The time slot for accessing El Perchel with pets is 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM and 18:00 PM to 21:00 PMOutside of those sections, animals cannot remain on the sand, so use is concentrated during times of lower general traffic.
En The LajillaAlso in the seaside town of Arguineguín and next to the Las Marañuelas area, the schedule is the same as in El Perchel: access allowed with pets from 7:00 - 10:00 and 18:00 - 21:00The difference is that in this case No exclusive area has been designatedso that people with animals can spread out across the beach respecting the general rules of coexistence.
Beaches Aquamarine y Taurus They present an intermediate model: they have areas specifically marked for use with pets, but They have no time restrictions.In other words, you can bring animals at any time of day, as long as you stay in the designated area and follow the rules set by the City Council.
Finally, the beach of The Friars It is the most permissive of the five. In this case, the City Council has authorized the entry of pets. across the entire surface of the beach and for 24 hours, without time slots or restricted areas, making it the most open beach for those who travel or live with pets.
Inaugural ceremony and citizen response
The first weekend of operation of these Pet-friendly beaches in Mogán The event was well-attended and without any significant incidents, according to the City Council. The institution considers the opening to have been a success. an example of coexistence between users with animals and those who come without them.
The official opening ceremony was held on El Perchel beach on the afternoon of Monday, February 23, with the presence of Mayor Onalia Bueno, the Councilor for Beaches, Willy GarcíaThe Environment Councillor, Rayco Guerra, and other members of the municipal government were present. Numerous residents and visitors attended the event, accompanied by their pets, to see firsthand how the new system will work.
During the presentation, local authorities took the opportunity to explain in detail. the specific conditions of use of each beachThe guidelines outline permitted hours, designated areas, and the responsibilities of those in charge of the animals. The goal, they indicated, is for everyone to be clear from the outset about what is and isn't allowed on each beach.
Onalia Bueno addressed the attendees, emphasizing that the municipality was "in luck" and thanking them for the patience shown during the months of waiting Since the announcement of the intention to allow pets on beaches, the mayor has emphasized that the success of this pilot program "will depend on the responsibility of each user" in caring for the environment and respecting other beachgoers.
For his part, the Councillor for Beaches, Willy García, recalled the creation of these areas for going to the beach with pets. It was not an improvised decisionbut rather the result of a process of listening and participation. In September, a meeting was held with interested parties—residents and visitors—to gather opinions and design a model that would fit the reality of each beach.
An ordinance adapted to the pet-friendly reality
In order to implement this measure, the Mogán City Council has had to amend the Municipal Ordinance on the use and exploitation of the coastlineUntil now, regulations directly prohibited the presence of pets on all beaches in the municipality, leaving those who wanted to enjoy the sea with their animals without any legal alternatives.
With the regulatory change, the following are introduced: specific exceptions which allow access with pets only on the five designated beaches and under the specific conditions established for each one. In this way, the protection of the coastline is reconciled with a growing social demand and with the new forms of tourism and leisure linked to pets.
The mayor has insisted that it is a pilot initiativeThis means that its continuation and potential expansion will depend on user behavior and the overall experience in terms of cleanliness, safety, and community. If the results are positive, the model could become established and even serve as a benchmark for other tourist destinations.
The councillor for beaches has focused on the actively listening to neighbors and visitors as the basis of the decision. The demand for coastal areas where pets can be brought has been increasing in recent years, both from residents and tourists who choose their destination based on whether they can travel with their animals.
Cleaning, signage and owners' obligations
The opening of these pet-friendly beaches comes with a reinforcement of cleaning services and street furnitureThe City Council has installed new litter bins and trash cans in the designated areas, in order to make it easier for users to collect waste and keep the sand in good condition.
In addition, it has been placed Bilingual signage in Spanish and English at beach access points and key areas. These information panels remind visitors of basic rules of use and include direct messages such as "Help us keep the beach clean: pick up your pet's waste," both in prominent text and in a format easily visible to those arriving in the area.
The City Council emphasizes that the obligation to comply with regulations on the protection and responsible ownership of animals This applies at all times, both inside and outside designated coastal areas. In other words, the usual responsibilities of any person with a pet are not suspended simply because they are on a beach.
These obligations include, for example, keeping dogs properly identified, respecting safety regulations, controlling their behavior to avoid disturbing others, and, of course, pick up the excrement immediatelyFailure to comply with these rules may result in penalties in accordance with current regulations.
Local authorities have repeatedly called on users Please respect the schedules, designated areas, and specific conditions. of each sandy area, remembering that the maintenance of these beaches as pet-friendly spaces will depend largely on the responsible use made of them.
Mogán, a new Canary Islands benchmark for traveling with pets
With the opening of El Perchel, La Lajilla, Aguamarina, Tauro and Los Frailes, Mogán joins the list of municipalities on the Canary coast that They are committed to integrating pets into the tourism and leisure offeringsThe measure complements other existing services and reinforces the image of the municipality as a destination adapted to new travel habits.
Combining beaches with different usage models —from completely open spaces like Los Frailes to limited time slots in El Perchel and La Lajilla— allows each person to choose the option that best fits with their needs and those of their animal, without losing sight of coexistence with the rest of the citizens.
The initiative's strong start, with high attendance and no significant conflicts in the first few days, has been interpreted by the City Council as a sign that It is possible to share the coastline between users with and without pets. provided there are clear rules and a willingness to comply with them.
If this trend continues, Mogán will consolidate its network of pet-friendly beaches as a Added appeal for pet-friendly residents and touristsreinforcing at the same time the idea that clean and tidy beaches are not incompatible with enjoying the company of animals responsibly.