What changes for motorhome drivers on Tenerife?
The Cabildo has issued instructions for the caravan service areas at its puntos limpios (recycling centres). They are to be posted at every black-water and grey-water point and at the fresh-water points already in place.
The facilities may be used only for drinking water and caravan waste water. The notice names no new bans or fines.
Four services are on offer: drinking water for the fresh-water tank, grey-water emptying, black-water disposal and a rinse hose for the cassette. The stations take black water only from a cassette or potti, meaning a portable toilet.
Washing vehicles, people, animals or objects there is expressly banned. Anyone who needs water for that must find somewhere else.
Where and when can motorhomes empty their waste?
The Cabildo lists five places as the first points in the network: Arona, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, La Guancha and Buenavista del Norte. Arona has the Centro Logístico de Malpaso with two facilities and the Punto Limpio Arona, while Santa Cruz has the Punto Limpio de Jagua.
La Guancha, Jagua and Arona open Tuesday to Friday from 08:00 to 20:00 and on Saturday from 09:00 to 20:00. Hours are shorter on Monday, 08:00 to 16:00, and on Sunday, 09:00 to 14:00.
Buenavista del Norte opened on 2 October 2026 and keeps the same hours as its Punto Limpio. If you come on a Monday or a Sunday, arrive early.
The Cabildo answers questions on the free number 900 305 000 and by email at residuosdetenerife@gmail.com. It gave no start date for the instructions.
What does it cost, and what must drivers do?
The Cabildo's notice names no fee. La Guancha was described as public and free when it opened on 21 August 2026, and there is no price information for the other stations.
At the entrance, drivers give their details to Punto Limpio staff. They then park in the marked zone and switch off the engine.
Companions and minors stay outside the work area. At the end, drivers close the taps, put the hoses back, leave the site clean and drive off.
The notice does not say which details are required. The Cabildo also named no penalties for misuse.
How many campers already use the stations?
Arona alone accounts for 543 of the 911 people who used the first three facilities in their first six weeks. Jagua counted 239 and La Guancha 129, as announced at the opening in Buenavista del Norte on 2 October 2026.
Arona therefore beats Jagua and La Guancha combined. No figures on capacity or waiting times are available.
An earlier count on 21 August 2026 gave 166 users in the first month, 69 in Arona and 97 in Jagua. The periods differ, so the figures allow only a rough comparison.
Why is the Cabildo setting up these stations?
The Cabildo wants to stop waste water ending up in protected places where it is not allowed. According to the notice, island councillor Blanca Pérez called the stations “one of the historic demands” of the caravan scene at the opening in Buenavista del Norte.
All the island's puntos limpios are to get these systems, said Alejandro Molowny, the Cabildo's waste director. The waste department is preparing the work, but there are no dates.
Since 2022 the Cabildo, under then president Pedro Martín, has been working on an island bylaw for camping and caravans. At the time the Canary Islands were the only region without rules of their own.
Whether the bylaw was passed is not on record. That question stays open.
What applies to overnight stays, and what comes next?
The Cabildo's instructions say nothing about overnight stays in motorhomes. They cover only disposal and water.
If you want to stay overnight, check the rules of the municipality yourself.
The Cabildo names a gradual rollout to more puntos limpios as the next step, once the service areas are built. It had published no timetable by Thursday 12 November 2026.