The Civil Guard will deploy its most demanding security operation ever undertaken by the Las Palmas Command in Arguineguín this Thursday for the Pope’s visit to Gran Canaria. The operation will mobilize some 600 officers—400 from the Command itself and 200 arriving in support from units on the mainland—along with approximately 200 vehicles, 50 motorcycles, five boats, an aircraft from the Air Service, two helicopters, and drones.The Civil Guard will escort the Pope from the airport to Arguineguin.

If you don’t live in Arguineguín or aren’t staying in the town, and you want to see the Pope this Thursday—or rather, the entourage he’s traveling with—don’t hesitate. Get up very early and go down there very, very early. At the latest, before 9:30 a.m. After that time, the fishing district of Mogán will resemble a medieval fortress. If you don’t have accreditation, you won’t be allowed in. Up to three checkpoints will block access to Arguineguín from the GC-1: one at kilometer 52, where the interchange begins; another under the highway bridge; and another at the exit towards El Pajar. In other words, there’s no way around the controls. You will be allowed to arrive before 9:30 a.m. but arrive early, with so many checkpoints, a queue is likely to form.

The event, expected to draw around 2,000 people and last an hour (from 11:40 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.), will take place at what is now called the “Wharf of Hope,” which has become an impregnable stronghold within the already restricted and gated Arguineguín neighborhood, at least in the area closest to the port. Therefore, those wishing to see the Pope will have to be content with watching him pass by. There will be no Popemobile. The town council has put up 3,000 barriers (many donated by other municipalities) to cordon off the roads along the official procession route. People will be able to watch from outside the barriers.

Thursday, June 11, 2026

Due to the official visit of Pope Leo XIV to Gran Canaria, special mobility and security measures will be in place at various points on the island on Thursday, June 11.

Tourist services, accommodations, restaurants, shops, and activities are expected to continue operating normally. Temporary traffic restrictions and increased pedestrian and vehicle movement are anticipated in certain areas.

⚠️ Additional travel time should be allowed for journeys between southern Gran Canaria, the airport, and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.

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Areas with the greatest expected impact

Arguineguín and southern Gran Canaria

An official ceremony will be held in the Port of Arguineguín during the morning.

The main impacts will be concentrated on:

Port of Arguineguín.

Access roads to Arguineguín.

GC-500.

Sections of the GC-1 highway between the airport and the south of the island.

Temporary closures and traffic restrictions are expected during official travel between Airport, Arguineguín, and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.

On June 11, Mogán Town Council will launch a security and traffic plan for Pope Leo XIV’s visit to Arguineguín Port.

Visitors who need parking should use upper Arguineguín.

Coordinated for months by the Local Police with the Civil Guard, Canary Islands Police, Civil Protection, health services, and municipal staff, the operation will deploy over 300 personnel and impose major traffic and parking restrictions across town.

Mayor Onalia Bueno and acting Local Police Chief Marcos Domínguez outlined the measures to ensure security during what they called a historic event.

Bueno asked for public understanding and stressed that Wharf access will be limited to accredited guests, mainly migrant families and professionals and organizations assisting migrants. No invitation means no access to the port area.

The mayor said residents and visitors will still be able to walk through much of lower Arguineguín, though some areas, including Manuel Álamo Suárez Avenue (Muelle Avenue), will be fully closed.

She also urged people to avoid unnecessary travel and follow security staff instructions.

To follow the event, the City Council will install three giant screens: one in Las Marañuelas Square and two along the pedestrian walkway on Miguel Marrero Rodríguez Avenue.

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez will accompany Pope Leo XIV during a visit to Arguineguín Port, where the Pope will meet with migrants. The visit is expected to attract major international media coverage, with more than 3,000 journalists on the island.

Traffic disruptions in Gran Canaria will be most severe on Thursday, June 11, with closures affecting the GC-1, GC-500, and GC-3, the Pope’s transfer from Gando Airport to Arguineguín. During this period, access ramps to the highway will also be temporarily closed.

The Canary Islands will suspend classes in Gran Canaria during the visit of Pope Leo XIV.
The Government of the Canary Islands will also recommend remote working in Las Palmas and will implement an extensive security and healthcare operation.
The GC-1 motorway will be closed for four and a half hours, with traffic restrictions in place for a total of nine hours on different sections during the Pope’s visit to Gran Canaria.
On Thursday the 11th, the southbound carriageway between kilometres 15 and 56, from Gando Airport to Arguineguín, will close from 10:30 to 11:45. The same section will close northbound from 12:15 to 13:15, continuing to kilometre 0 at the entrance to Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. In addition, all exit ramps to the GC-500 in both directions will remain closed from 9:30 to 14:00.
Preparations are also being finalised at the Port of Arguineguín for the “Stage of Hope”, which has been approved by the Vatican.
A Vatican delegation is supervising the final preparations at the Port of Arguineguín, where the stage and security arrangements are being completed ahead of an event centred on migration, welcome, and hope.

The Mogán Local Police have launched special surveillance operations along the municipality’s coastline in anticipation of summer, with the aim of promoting responsible beach use. Last week, officers issued over one hundred citations, 62 of which were for smoking or discarding cigarette butts on the sand—practices expressly prohibited by the Mogán Municipal Ordinance on the Use and Enjoyment of Beaches.
The operation, carried out by plainclothes officers, patrolled the entire coastline, inspecting various beaches to detect and penalize violations of current regulations. Among the most common infractions were smoking on the beach and discarding cigarette butts (resulting in citations), drug use and possession (resulting in nearly twenty citations), unauthorized street vending, and illegal gambling.
The established penalties are up to €450 for smoking, up to €1,800 for littering cigarette butts, and up to €900 for illegal gambling and street vending, in addition to the confiscation of the merchandise. In the case of drug use, the infraction is regulated by the Municipal Ordinance on Coexistence and Citizen Security, with a fine ranging from €751 to €1,500.

The island maintains its revenue growth despite a slight increase in visitors and a reduction in length of stay.
Tourism in Gran Canaria generated €2,003.7 million in the first quarter of 2016, a 6.17% increase compared to the same period of the previous year.
This growth is accompanied by a moderate increase in visitors, of 1%, confirming that the sector is gaining revenue per tourist rather than from overall volume.
The average expenditure per stay was €1,620.75, and daily spending reached €183.93, according to ISTAC data.
By market, Germany led the growth in spending, followed by the Netherlands, while the Nordic countries remain the main source of tourists in terms of total spending.
The United Kingdom experienced more moderate growth, and domestic spending decreased during this period.

The road between Arguineguín and Patalavaca will close for 15 days due to works on the slopes affected by Storm Therese. The cuts on the GC-500 will be from Monday to Friday between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. and traffic will be diverted along the GC-1

The restrictions will affect the section between the whale tail roundabout, in Arguineguín, and the spiral roundabout, in Patalavaca.

The Cabildo indicates that the works will consist of cleaning up the slopes through the controlled collapse of stones at risk of falling and the subsequent reinforcement of the slopes with shotcrete.

The actions are part of the emergency work carried out after the damage caused by Storm Therese to the Gran Canaria road network.

How to attend the Pope’s visit to Gran Canaria, key information for tourists in Maspalomas and Arguineguín

Pope Leo XIV will mark a turning point in the history of the archipelago with his visit to Gran Canaria on June 11, 2026. For the thousands of visitors staying in the southern tourist resorts of the island, such as Maspalomas and Arguineguin the main event will be a large-scale mass at sunset on Thursday, June 11, at the Gran Canaria Stadium. This event, which concludes his tour of Spain, has generated unprecedented anticipation, requiring meticulous logistical planning.

Attendance at the liturgical services requires mandatory registration through the official papal visit platform. Tourists must obtain their digital pass in advance, indicating whether they are attending individually or in family groups. Authorities have already warned that demand will far exceed the venue’s capacity, so registration will close as soon as the safe capacity is reached. Those who cannot get a ticket to the stadium will have the option of following the “Popemobile” route through the main arteries of the capital.

The board welcomes all owners of La Canaria Community to the

Ordinary Owners Meeting for La Canaria Community

7^th of May 2026, at 10am

Place: Conference room 1^st floor La Canaria