The persistent, low-lying mist that covers the capital of Gran Canaria for much of the summer, commonly known as "donkey's belly," not only darkens the sky but also shuts down the cash registers of dozens of beachfront businesses. Unlike the sunny south of the island, Las Palmas lives under a blanket of gray between June and September, discouraging casual tourists and diminishing the performance of bars, restaurants, ice cream shops, and businesses that rely on light as a draw.
“A cloudy day can reduce our turnover by up to 40%,” says Julio Santana, manager of a restaurant in Las Canteras. “It's not just that people are eating less on the terrace, it's that they just aren't coming.” The lack of sun, combined with wind and humidity, turns the iconic seafront promenade into a picture more like the Cantabrian Sea than the promised tropics.
The meteorological phenomenon, generated by the trade winds colliding with the inland mountains, stabilizes temperatures but generates a low-lying fog that frequently settles over the city. For many residents, it's a thermal relief from the heat of the rest of the archipelago, but for visitors and tour operators, it's a headache.
Cancellations and escape to the south
“It's becoming more common for guests who arrive in the city with a reservation to head south as soon as they see the overcast sky,” explains Elena Rodríguez, manager of a tourist apartment complex in the port area. “We see it on the platforms: last-minute cancellations, zone changes. And in the comments: 'too windy, no sun, we'll return to Maspalomas.'”
Business leaders warn of a "structural imbalance" in tourism promotion. "You can't sell Las Palmas as a sun-and-beach destination without explaining to visitors what "donkey belly" means in the summer in Las Palmas, because it incurs costs for us to retain tourists and send them south without additional costs. It's a climatic reality, not an exception," says one business leader.
Businesses close in summer
Paradoxically, July and August—months traditionally considered peak season—have become low season for many businesses along the promenade. “We're considering closing for a month in the summer, something unthinkable a decade ago,” admits a businessman with two establishments on Las Alcaravaneras beach. “The numbers just don't add up.”
This pattern is also reflected in hotel occupancy. While Meloneras and Playa del Inglés exceed 90% of beds occupied by sun-seeking tourists, in Las Palmas the figures drop to 65–70% during the cloudiest months. “The Nordic and mainland markets react negatively to the lack of clarity in the offer,” comments a hotel industry executive from the capital. “We position ourselves poorly when visitors see photos of the beach and then experience a different reality.”
Adaptation or resignation?
Some businesses have chosen to adapt. Expanding indoor dining rooms, offering menus focused on local residents, programming cultural activities, and collaborating with summer festivals like TEMUDAS Fest all seek to diversify their appeal. But the perception that "there is no summer in Las Palmas" continues to weigh heavily, and the fear, far from dissipating, seems to have also taken its toll on investment decisions.
