For tourists, they are both handy and a nuisance: in the Canary Islands, these unofficial parking attendants even have their own name. They are known as ‚gorillas‘. For a few cents, they point out free parking spaces to motorists. However, some holidaymakers feel threatened by them.
In Puerto de la Cruz on Tenerife, the parking attendants have long since become a fixture at the large free car park next to the old harbour. Some motorists appreciate the service, whilst others find it a nuisance. And there are occasionally concerns about car safety. A case involving a neighbouring car park is currently being investigated by the police.
Ein Autofahrer berichtet, den Loro Parque in Tenerife. On arrival, he hadn’t paid one of the ‚gorillas‘. When he returned to his car, it had been damaged. So how should one deal with the parking attendants?
How to deal with parking attendants in the Canary Islands
When they tried to confront the self-appointed usher, he reportedly became aggressive. A video shows the scene, which has also caught the attention of other holidaymakers:
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We regularly receive letters from readers enquiring about parking attendants. The content of these letters is similar. The general gist is usually that, whilst they behave as if they are official, they rarely look the part. People voluntarily hand over 50 cents or one euro out of fear. That is precisely what this so-called service is designed to achieve.
Locals rarely pay the «gorillas». Some residents might hand over a few cents out of pity, but hardly any Canarian regards this as a service. It’s a different story for tourists. Language barriers and worries about costly scratches to their hire car often result in them making payments they’d rather not.
The authorities advise against paying the ‚gorillas‘. However, anyone who feels they have come across a person in need, or who has actually managed to secure a parking space thanks to the parking attendant’s help, is free to give a few cents.
Parking attendants are an issue throughout Tenerife
«Am I breaking the law if I pay?» This was a question put to Teneriffa News in 2025. The answer is quite clear: no! However, the town of Puerto de la Cruz has responded to the latest incident. The video received nearly 2,000 comments, prompting the town hall to feel obliged to respond. They stated that such behaviour would not be tolerated. In future, checks are to be carried out at typical ‚gorilla‘ spots to drive away the unauthorised parking attendants.
The town hall also highlights the scale of the issue: «Unfortunately, this is not a problem that affects Puerto de la Cruz alone, but also other municipalities across Tenerife,» according to the local authority.
«Dealing with fake parking attendants demanding money on Kanaren»
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