August is the Canaries at full throttle: the hottest, busiest and priciest month of the year. All of Europe is on holiday, the resorts are packed, and the sun blazes down on south-coast beaches from dawn to dusk. It's also the height of the fiesta season, when villages across the islands throw their biggest annual celebrations. If you love a lively, sociable, sun-soaked holiday — and don't mind sharing it — August is peak summer perfection. If you crave quiet and value, it's the one month to think twice about.
August at a glance
| Typical August | |
|---|---|
| Daytime high (south coasts) | Around 28–29 °C (hotter in a calima) |
| Overnight low | Around 21–22 °C |
| Sea temperature | Around 22–23 °C (warm) |
| Rainfall | Effectively nil |
| Crowds & prices | Busiest and most expensive of the year |
The weather: hot, dry, and occasionally scorching
August is the peak of summer heat. The south coasts are hot and cloudless, cooled — thankfully — by the reliable trade winds that keep the islands from becoming unbearable. The exception is the calima: when the wind swings round from the Sahara, the temperature can spike sharply, the sky turns milky and dust settles on everything. These heat waves usually pass within a day or two. The north stays a touch cooler and can hold cloud, while the high mountains offer welcome relief. For the full mechanics, see our weather guide.
August is the most likely month for a strong calima and for genuine heat. Keep hydrated, use strong sun protection, avoid strenuous activity in the midday sun, and check on older or very young travellers during hot spells. Our health and safety guide has the essentials.
The sea & swimming
The Atlantic is at its most inviting — warm, clear and perfect for cooling off. Every watersport is in full swing, and the trade winds make it a world-class month for windsurfing and kitesurfing. For calm family swimming, choose sheltered south-facing bays like Amadores, Playa de las Vistas and Playa Blanca, which stay out of the strongest breeze. Popular beaches get busy early — stake your spot in the morning.
What's on: village fiestas
August is the heart of the fiestas season, when towns and villages celebrate their patron saints with days of music, processions, funfairs, food and fireworks. Among the most spectacular is the Bajada de la Rama in Agaete on Gran Canaria (around 4–5 August), an ancient rain-making rite in which crowds beat the sea with tree branches. The Fiestas de la Virgen del Pino around Teror build through the month, and Candelaria on Tenerife draws pilgrims in mid-August. Wherever you are, chances are a nearby village is in full swing — see our festivals guide.
Crowds & prices
This is the single busiest month. Spanish and other European families take their main summer break, so flights, accommodation and car hire are at their yearly peak, and popular beaches, restaurants and water parks are full. Book everything well ahead — nothing gets cheaper or easier as August approaches. If budget matters, the shoulder months are dramatically better value for near-identical weather.
Best islands & things to do
The big resort islands — Gran Canaria, Tenerife, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura — are geared for exactly this kind of summer holiday, with beaches, boat trips and buzzing nightlife. To dodge the heat and crowds, escape upward and outward: the cool heights of Teide, the shady laurel forests of Garajonay, or the quieter green islands of La Palma and El Hierro. Save any hiking for dawn or high altitude.
Who August suits
August suits families locked into the main school holidays, sociable travellers who love a full, lively resort and non-stop fiesta atmosphere, and watersport enthusiasts. It's the least suitable month for anyone after peace, cool weather or a bargain. If you can be flexible, September offers the same warm sea with fewer people and lower prices — compare the year in our best time to visit guide, or read on to September.