Ibiza evicts caravan settlements with hundreds of tenants. The problem is who lives there: workers with no alternative

The province of Cádiz (Spain) has seen a sharp increase in motorhomes and camper vans, leading to conflicts over parking, waste, and fire risk. In August 2025, a fire in the La Peña area, allegedly started by a motorhome, forced the evacuation of 1,500 people. Municipal authorities are introducing varying restrictions: in Tarifa, 78 vehicles were fined in one month for parking in a natural park, while El Puerto de Santa María still lacks a unified local ordinance.

South African company Bushwakka has introduced the Kamelback 4 module for the Toyota Land Cruiser 79 double cab. The conversion replaces the pickup's rear section with an aluminum unit featuring a pop-up roof, kitchen, and sleeping space for four. The module costs approximately €28,750 excluding the base vehicle.

The O Salnés region in Galicia, Spain, has 2,027 regulated motorhome parking spaces, but only 35 are public. Sanxenxo lost a private 100-vehicle area near Pragueira beach after its owner closed it due to legal disputes with the local council. From July, O Grove will impose fines of up to €6,000 for improper parking, while A Illa de Arousa has installed license plate readers to enforce a 24-hour limit.

High rents and low wages have led to a spontaneous settlement of over a hundred vehicles in Málaga's Sacaba Beach area. The number of residents has doubled in six months, including airport workers and hospital staff.

Yakart Autocaravanas, founded in Lugo, held its tenth annual 'Camino de Santiago' motorhome route. This year the route runs from A Coruña to Pontevedra over 12 days, with 120 participants, all from outside the region. Company representative Antonio Jul stated that the motorhome sector continues to grow, including in Europe, and that the company has expanded to four cities and ten franchises. Both rental and sale motorhomes are available.

Many coastal municipalities in Spain have introduced restrictions on parking for motorhomes, caravans, and camper vans. The Civil Guard evicted 80 such vehicles from the Estrecho natural park in Tarifa. In the municipality of Udías (Cantabria), metal stakes have been installed to block access to the Braña del Mozuco recreation area. Local authorities cite lack of infrastructure and violations by some users.