Hello surfer,
In addition to the bad news you hear every day, we finally have good news for those who want to soak up the sun and surf again:
As of today, December 10th, 2021, the Canary Islands also allow entry with an antigen or corona quik test by decree.
I had already announced in the previous blog posts that the rules for the test may change again at short notice upon entry.
Now this is exactly what has happened. What is the reason?
After the Canaries were a risk area in September, almost all of Europe is now a risk area with numbers of newly infected people that are many times higher than they ever were in the Canaries.
In order to protect tourism and, above all, the local population, the Canary Islands have long wanted a test regulation for people who visit the islands.
The government of the Canaries wants everyone who arrives at the airport in the Canaries to undergo a quick test. For various political and legal reasons, it is unfortunately not that easy to implement this regulation exactly. So far there have been different rules from December 12th the following rules now apply:
The new regulation Text regulation for travelers from December 10th
1.
To enter the Canary Islands you need a negative corona test that is not older than 72 hours. This can be a PCR test or an antigen or rapid test recognized in the EU.
There is probably the exception rule that if you enter without corona test, the test can be made up here on site. You then stay in quarantine until a negative test result is available ...
We strongly recommend not to travel without a negative test. We have already had guests who tried this and were not carried on the plane by German airlines.
2.
The Canarian entry form is checked upon entry. You fill out this form digitally and receive a QR code that is scanned at the airport upon arrival. All airlines and tour operators send a link to the form when booking.
3.
At the airport, body temperature is measured contactlessly via infrared or thermal imaging cameras.
4.
The operator / landlord must also check the negative Corona test in all accommodations registered for tourism (for example: hotels, guest houses, officially registered holiday homes). At Check Inn, this must also not be older than 72 hours.
In theory, everyone should have the test upon arrival, but in practice it can be the case that the test has to be checked a second time when changing accommodation. In this case, it is best to contact the landlord or hotelier on site directly, because in most cases the test upon entry shows that the guest has not traveled to the Canary Islands without a negative test result.
Tourism in Fuerteventura is safe!
The Canary Islands still have one of the lowest incidences of the number of new infections with the corona virus in 7 days in a European comparison.
This is certainly due to the mild climate, which allows you to spend most of the day outside in the sun. Another reason is the rather strict rules for distance and hygiene since August.
Of course, the restaurants and shops are still open on site.
You don't have to wear a mask on Fuerteventura when eating in a restaurant, doing sports, hiking, biking or on the beach outside of built-up areas and of course not when surfing.
When walking through a pedestrian zone as well as in all closed rooms or public transport, there is a mask requirement in Fuerteventura. The same applies to the maximum number of people who are allowed to meet and the opening times for bars and restaurants.
Most of these rules, which seem to be strict at the end of summer time, are now also in place in the rest of the European countries, and in some cases and in some cases even more strictly.
Thanks to these rules, you can still move around freely here on Fuerteventura, lying on the beach, surfing, going to a restaurant - in short, you can "almost" have a normal vacation!
Conclusion
As of today (December 10th) you can travel to the Canaries again with a Corona rapid test / antigen test. A PCR test is no longer necessary. A short-term trip to the sun and the waves just becomes a little easier!