Burgos starts fining motorhome owners for oversized parking

A retired couple from Mallorca, Maribel and Vicente, left their home five years ago to travel around Spain in a motorhome. They live on about $2,300 a month, which they say is cheaper than maintaining an apartment. The motorhome is equipped with solar panels for autonomy, but they rely on laundromats for washing clothes.

In the Sa Joveria area near Can Misses hospital in Ibiza, an informal settlement of motorhomes and tents has formed, where local workers live because they cannot afford housing. The average price of housing in the Balearic Islands exceeds 4,000 euros per square meter, and rents are high and scarce due to tourist demand. The settlement was evicted in 2023, but by 2026 more than 100 people had returned, and authorities intervened again in April. Among the residents are single mothers, cleaners, and pensioners; electrician Gabriel, 50, lives in a truck because renting an apartment is impossible.

In the Balearic Islands, where the average price per square meter exceeds 4,000 euros, many workers, including single mothers and retirees, are forced to live in motorhomes and vans. Municipal ordinances prohibit overnight stays in most urban areas, and the vehicle influx control law restricts camping outside legally established campsites. In 2026, an informal settlement in Sa Joveria, housing over a hundred workers, was evicted in April.

Nico and Sofi, creators of Modo Van, shared their six-year experience living in a motorhome during a presentation at the Salón del Caravaning Barcelona 2025. They have visited 39 countries and covered over 130,000 kilometers since starting their journey in 2019, leaving office jobs in Buenos Aires. The couple emphasizes that the most valuable part of their travels has been the people they met, not the destinations.

Sandra Sabatés, co-host of 'El Intermedio' on laSexta, has returned to work after a summer holiday spent travelling through Spain in a camper. She was accompanied by musician Josemán Escrivá of the band Santero y Los Muchachos, with whom she is reportedly in a relationship. Sabatés shared photos from the trip, including images of cliffs, beaches, and concerts.

Lola García, president of the Cabildo of Fuerteventura, said the island needs to restrict the entry of motorhomes and camper vans from outside. The administration is considering an annual quota or seasonal limits, especially in summer, and a prior authorization system with entry and exit dates. The reason is limited carrying capacity and pressure on natural areas. The Campers Association of Fuerteventura supports regulation but demands more designated areas, as the island is the only one in the archipelago without a camping zone. A new Canary Islands decree, pending approval, will ban free camping but allow legal parking and overnight stays under certain conditions.