What happened in the dunes on 11 October?
A group moved on all fours through the Maspalomas dunes. The participants wore leads, hoods and collars, and one person carried a Puppy Pride flag.
The group was first seen on a dune ridge near Chiringuito number 5. According to the report, that area is not part of the restricted section of the nature reserve.
Further checks using the IDE Canarias platform told a different story. The group entered up to 70 metres into a restricted-use area of the Reserva Natural Especial de las Dunas de Maspalomas.
Environment officers got their first leads from videos on Instagram, TikTok and from media reports. Based on the data collected so far, the activity was linked to the Maspalomas Fetish Pride.
What penalty do the organisers face?
The Cabildo de Gran Canaria plans to fine the organisers of the activity 650 euros. According to Canarias7, the legal basis is the Ley del Suelo, Spain's land law.
The Cabildo's environment department is handling the announced fine. It is headed by environment councillor Raúl García Brink.
According to Canarias7, the procedure was due to be completed on 27 October 2026 and served on the suspected organiser shortly afterwards. The Cabildo did not give an exact date.
It is also unclear who the procedure formally targets. Nobody has yet named the organisers.
What does this mean for visitors and residents?
The same usage rules apply to everyone in the protected area. The report mentions no special rules based on residence or nationality.
Anyone who walks in the restricted dune area away from permitted paths risks a sanction procedure. The report announces no new prices, access closures, deadlines or additional bans.
Anyone planning an event should check in advance whether it fits the protected area rules. This applies especially to groups that want to move away from the marked paths.
The Maspalomas dunes are part of a Reserva Natural Especial, a specially protected nature reserve. Access is not banned everywhere, but leaving the marked paths is prohibited.
How does the Cabildo monitor the dunes?
Raúl García Brink says, according to Canarias7, that the Cabildo monitors the Maspalomas dunes constantly. The current fine is only becoming public because the event drew attention.
For November 2026, the environment councillor has announced large joint patrols through the dunes. Environment officers, the Guardia Civil's Seprona unit and the Policía Canaria are due to take part.
Officers walk through the protected area and report people found outside the permitted paths.
According to Raúl García Brink, an influencer recently had to remove videos that encouraged leaving the paths and cruising in the dunes. The influencer has withdrawn all the videos.
What rules apply in the nature reserve?
The Maspalomas dunes cover more than 400 hectares of wind-shaped sand. The beaches can only be reached via the designated access points.
Leaving the marked paths is prohibited. Camping is also not allowed in the protected area.
The official advice is to use only the designated paths and follow the signs. Visitors should neither touch nor alter the flora and fauna.
What is still open?
The Cabildo still has to complete the sanction procedure. It will then serve the decision on the suspected organiser.
It is unclear whether individual participants are also liable. There is also no information yet on a possible payment reduction or on legal remedies.
No final decision on the 650 euro fine has been published. For the group involved, it also remains open who the procedure formally targets.
Visitors should expect checks to become much more visible in November 2026. Anyone visiting the dunes is best advised to stay on the marked paths.