Canary Islands Film & Photography Production Services & Camera Crews
Are you a media company, brand, ad agency or production company looking for film / photography production support or shooting crew in the Canary Islands? Contact us for trusted fixers, producers, directors, DoPs, videographers, photographers, and full shooting crews tailored for the specific needs of your project.
Filming in the Canary Islands
For an introduction to shooting in the Canary Islands see below notes on film locations, permits, when to shoot, unique local stories, costs, tax incentives, crews, talent, equipment, communications, art department, studios, post facilities, visas and work permits for filming, transport, film-friendly accommodation, and safety advice.
Canary Islands Film Locations
An autonomous community of Spain, the Canary Islands are an archipelago located to the west of southern Morocco. The islands are best known for their beautiful white and black sand beaches, surf breaks, luxury villas, buildings by famous architects, wild nightlife, colonial towns, volcanic peaks, sand dunes, desert roads, pine wood forests, waterfalls, lighthouses, and underwater photography options.
Agricultural film locations include bananas, oranges, coffee, sugarcane, and tobacco plantations.
The Canary Islands have hosted a long list of TV commercials, stills shoots, and feature films including Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018), Fast & Furious 6 (2013), Wrath of the Titans (2012), The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (2005), and Intacto (2001).
From largest to smallest, the main islands include the following:
Tenerife
Tenerife island is the largest and most populous island.
Santa Cruz de Tenerife is the capital of the Canary Islands. Film locations include Santa Auditorio de Tenerife designed by Santiago Calatrava, Tenerife Espacio de las Artes designed by Herzog & de Meuron, Plaza de España, Castle of St John the Baptist, Tenerife International Centre for Trade Fairs and Congresses, Teatro Guimerá, Palacio Insular de Tenerife, Masonic Temple of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Parque García Sanabria, Estadio Heliodoro Rodriguez Lopez, and Port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. The Guanche mummies of Necochea can be found at the Museo de la Naturaleza y Arqueología.
Basílica de Nuestra Señora de Candelaria is located in Candelaria.
Lighthouses of note include Punta del Hidalgo Lighthouse, Punta Rasca Lighthouse, Punta Abona Lighthouse, Buenavista Lighthouse, and Punta de Teno Lighthouse.
Playa De La Arena, Playa de Fañabé, and Playa de el Bollullo are black sand beaches. Playa de la Tejita is popular with windsurfers.
Mount Teide, located in Teide National Park, is the highest peak in Spain and one of the highest volcanoes in the world. A cable car can be taken to the top. The Teide Observatory is an astronomical observatory located on Mount Teide.
Cueva del Viento is the largest lava tube system in Europe.
Fuerteventura
Fuerteventura is known for its white sand beaches and year-round warm weather. It is a popular destination for surfers and windsurfers.
Beaches of note include Corralejo, Sotavento, Cofete, Esquinzo, and El Cotillo.
Lighthouses of note include Tostón Lighthouse, Puerto del Rosario Lighthouse, Morro Jable Lighthouse, and Punta Jandía Lighthouse.
Lobos Island is a nature preserve.
Pico de la Zarza is Fuerteventura’s highest peak.
Calderón Hondo is a volcanic crater.
Gran Canaria
Gran Canaria is known for its black and white sand beaches.
Las Palmas is the largest city in the Canary Islands. The city is known for Las Palmas Cathedral, Church of San Juan Bautista, Casa de Colón, Alfredo Kraus Auditorium, Gran Canaria Arena, Estadio Gran Canaria, Port of Las Palmas, and Lady Harimaguada statue by Martín Chirino.
Sioux City is an American Wild West theme park with a saloon, school, church, and prison available for filming.
Lighthouses of note include Maspalomas Lighthouse, and Punta del Castillete Lighthouse.
The vast beach sand dunes of Maspalomas on Gran Canaria can double for Sahara Desert looks.
Beaches of note include Playa de Las Canteras, and Playa de Güigüí.
Roque Nublo is an iconic rock formation.
The Guayadeque ravine is also located on Gran Canaria.
Tamadaba Natural Park is known for its pine forests.
Gran Canaria Airport is the main airport on Gran Canaria.
Lanzarote
Lanzarote is known for its year-round warm weather, beaches and volcanic landscape.
Punta Pechiguera Lighthouse is located in Lanzarote.
Beaches of note include Playa Famara, Playa Papagayo, Playa El Golfo, Playa Blanca.
Museo Atlántico is an underwater museum located off of Playa Blanca.
Jameos del Agua by Cesar Manrique is located in Lanzarote.
Timanfaya National Park is known for its striking volcanic landscape.
Cueva de los Verdes is a lava tube.
Los Hervideros is a rugged volcanic coastline.
Castillo de San Gabriel is also located in Lanzarote.
La Palma
La Palma has rugged, forested, volcanic terrain.
Santa Cruz de la Palma is the largest city in the Canary Islands. It is known for its colonial architecture and cobblestone streets.
The Roque de los Muchachos Observatory is located in the spectacular Parque Nacional de la Caldera de Taburiente. The observatory’s telescope facilities include the Gran Telescopio Canarias, William Herschel Telescope, and the Swedish Solar Telescope.
Lighthouses include Fuencaliente Lighthouse, Punta Lava Lighthouse, and Punta Cumplida Lighthouse.
Fuencaliente Saltworks are located in La Palma.
Volcanoes include Teneguía, and Cumbre Vieja.
La Gomera
La Gomera has a landscape of craggy volcanic mountains and dense forests.
Garajonay National Park is known for its dense moss covered forests and mist.
Playa Valle Gran Rey is a black sand beach on La Gomera.
El Hierro
El Hierro is the smallest of the islands. It is a remote and rugged island that sees very little tourism compared to the other islands.
Punta Orchilla Lighthouse is located on El Hierro.
La Graciosa
La Graciosa is a volcanic island located just north of Lanzarote.
The island is part of the Chinijo Archipelago.
Smaller Islands & Islets
Include Alegranza, Isla de Lobos, Montaña Clara, Roque del Oeste, and Roque del Este.
Canary Islands Film Location Permits
Permitting is a quick and easy process. Most public locations are free of charge. Please contact us for location specific information.
When To Shoot?
The Canary Islands see around 300 days of sunshine each year, making it a great year-round filming destination. Temperatures are hot in summer and mild in winter with mountainous areas cooler still. For monthly weather statistics please see here.
The Canary Islands are renowned for their year-round celebrations and fiestas, ranging from Catholic festivals to hedonistic parties such as Carnaval de Santa Cruz which takes place in February / March.
Christianity is the main religion so those holidays are observed.
Public holidays may affect timing, availability and costs. See here for public holiday dates in the Canary Islands.
Unique Local Stories
Brands are looking for local stories that match their brand narrative. Our local teams are a great lead for sourcing those unique stories and characters.
If you are looking for stories for your next shoot, send us your brief and we will pitch you ideas.
If you have a unique story you would like to pitch to a brand anywhere in the world, pitch us your idea. We have well-established processes to ensure that your ideas are properly seen and protected.
Canary Islands Costs & Tax Incentives For Filming
Costs. The Canary Islands trade in the Euro. Local costs are slightly less expensive than major Spanish cities. Our Canarian fixer / service producer will negotiate local deals and provide the appropriate level of production support to match every budget.
Tax Incentives. The Canary Islands offer a generous tax rebate of up to 50% on qualifying production spend.
Canary Islands Film Crew & Talent
Crews. The Canary Islands have a small but good pool of local directors, directors of photography and stills photographers. Key crews are experienced and speak fluent English. Its close proximity to European production centres allows easy access to those pools of creative talent.
Contact us if you are looking for a director, DP, photographer, videographer (cameraman / camera operator), camera assistant (focus puller), sound operator, grip, gaffer, stylist, hair and makeup, PA / runner, production driver, or any other film crew for your shoot in the Canary Islands.
Talent is non-union and buyouts are negotiable.
Spanish is the official language. Silbo Gomero is a whistled register of Spanish used by inhabitants of La Gomera.
Most Canarians are of Spanish decent, with the islands also being home to expats from all over the Americas, Europe, and Africa.
Canary Islands Film Equipment
Equipment. The Canary Islands have all of the standard camera, grip and lighting equipment for hire. Some specialised equipment such as camera cars are also available locally. Other specialised equipment needs to be brought in from abroad. Spain is an ATA carnet country.
Communications. Communication is key. Our agility and global experience allows us to customise the right communications systems for every shoot.
Web posted casting, scouting, and videoconferencing.
For clients that are unable to attend set we offer a virtual video village solution. This dedicated and secure high-resolution video streaming platform allows clients from one or multiple timezones to view setups without compromise and to participate in real-time with the team on set. Separate systems can be set up for the discrete conversations that are required to make a job run right. Working remotely with our local teams reduces your content production costs, turnaround times, carbon footprint, and risks associated with unpredictable global events.
Canary Islands Art Department, Studios, Backlots, & Post Production
Art department and set construction. Experienced art department. Large set construction is expensive compared to places such as Eastern Europe, for example.
Studios and backlots. None exist at present.
Post Production. Post abroad.
Canary Islands Visas & Work Permits For Filming
As a Spanish territory, the rules are the same as on the Spanish mainland. Spain is a member of the Schengen Area. Entry is subject to regulations from country of origin. US crews can enter and film visa-free for a period of up to 90 days. Contact your local Spanish embassy or representative for more information.
Canary Islands Transport & Accommodation
Transportation Infrastructure. The Canary Islands are very well serviced by several international and budget regional airlines. The islands are a short 3 hours flight from several major European airports. Gran Canaria, Tenerife and Lanzarote all have international airports. Local roads are well maintained.
Accommodation. The Canary Islands offer hundreds of accommodation options. Contact us for special rates at recommended film friendly hotels in the Canary Islands. For longer stays we can also organize serviced apartments.
Final Notes
Safety. The Canary Islands are a very safe and reliable place for foreign productions to visit. See here for up to date travel advice.
Down Time. Try the papas arrugadas con mojo.
Projects. For an example of TV commercials, stills campaigns, online content, corporate videos, virtual reality 360 content, feature films, TV series and documentaries shot in the Canary Islands, please see below:
Hire Canary Islands Production Support & Shooting Crew
If you are looking for a film or photographic production service company, line producer or fixer for your shoot in the Canary Islands, please contact us.
If you are looking for a shooting crew for your shoot in the Canary Islands, such as a director, DoP, photographer, videographer (cameraman / camera operator), camera assistant (focus puller), sound operator, grip, gaffer, stylist, hair and makeup, PA / runner, production driver, please contact us.
We are able to provide you with answers, references and bids quickly.
