The Canary Islands in August reach the highest temperatures of the year: an average high of 28.4 °C at Tenerife South, 29.1 °C on Lanzarote and 29.0 °C in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, nights of 21–22 °C and only token rain on the coast, 0 to 2 mm over the whole month. The sea, at 22–23 °C, is still a little below September's. The averages do hide heatwaves of more than 40 °C, though.
- High °C
- 26–29 °C
- Low °C
- 21–22 °C
- Sea °C
- 22–23 °C
- Rainy days
- 0–0
- Hours of sun a day
- 7–10 h
- Daylight hours
- 13 h 10 min
- Lanzarote29 °C
- Tenerife28 °C
- Fuerteventura28 °C
- Gran Canaria28 °C
- La Palma26 °C
- El Hierro26 °C
| High °C | Low °C | Sea °C | Rainy days | Hours of sun a day | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tenerife, south coast | 28 °C | 21 °C | 23 °C | 0 | 9 h |
| Tenerife, north (La Laguna, 632 m) | 26 °C | 17 °C | 23 °C | 1 | 9 h |
| Gran Canaria, east coast | 28 °C | 22 °C | 23 °C | 0 | 10 h |
| Lanzarote | 29 °C | 21 °C | 22 °C | 0 | 10 h |
| Fuerteventura | 28 °C | 22 °C | 23 °C | 0 | 9 h |
| La Palma, east coast | 26 °C | 21 °C | 23 °C | 0 | 7 h |
| La Gomera | — | — | 23 °C | — | — |
| El Hierro | 26 °C | 21 °C | 23 °C | 0 | 8 h |
| Teide, high zone (Izaña, 2,369 m) | 23 °C | 14 °C | — | 1 | 12 h |
Sunrise and sunset in mid-month: 07:33 – 20:43 · Source: AEMET, climate normals (1981–2010) · sea temperature: seatemperature.info, ten-year average
What's the weather like in the Canary Islands in August: south, north, east and summits
August follows July's script: trade winds, an almost permanent temperature inversion and clear skies in the south, with more heat built up. Lanzarote (29.1 °C) and Santa Cruz de Tenerife (29.0 °C) have the hottest afternoons of the whole year; Fuerteventura stops at 27.8 °C and Gran Canaria at 27.5 °C.
The averages leave out the days of Saharan air. When the wind swings round to the east or south-east, hot, dry, dusty air arrives, and according to AEMET, Spain's state weather agency, it is felt more in the high areas than on the coast. In mid-August Gran Canaria has gone above 40 °C with a maximum fire alert above 400 m. On those days the beach is a better plan than the summits.
The north is another world: Tenerife North, at 632 m, records a high of 25.7 °C and a low of 16.6 °C, with 9.5 days of fog. La Palma (26.3 °C) and El Hierro (26.1 °C) have the mildest summers, and at Izaña, at 2,369 m, it's 22.6 °C by day and 13.8 °C at night.
Sea temperature in August: can you swim?
Yes: the water is 22.4 °C off Lanzarote, 22.5 °C off Fuerteventura, 22.8 °C off Gran Canaria, 23.1 °C off Tenerife and 23.4 °C off El Hierro. Very pleasant, but not the peak: the water reaches 23–24 °C in September and October. The islands are washed by a cold current, which is why the sea always lags behind the air.
In your bag: a cap, high-factor sun cream and water for any walk, as AEMET measures higher UV indices in the Canaries than the 9–11 of a summer on mainland Spain. And something warm if you're going stargazing on Teide: 14 °C on average at night at 2,369 m.
Where to go in the Canary Islands in August
For real heat, Lanzarote and the south of Tenerife. If the heat gets to you, El Hierro and La Palma, with afternoons of 26 °C and the warmest water. For long beaches and wind, Fuerteventura. More in which island to choose.
August, island by island
29.1 °C, the hottest afternoons
San Ginés and the grape harvest.
South at 28.4 °C
Costa Adeje and Los Cristianos dry and clear; up top, Teide for the Perseids.
27.8 °C and 9.3 h of sun
Long beaches and wind; the end of the main kite and windsurf season.
27.5 °C and 9.7 h of sun
Fiestas de la Rama in Agaete; on calima days, give the summits a miss.
26.3 °C and the sea at 23.2 °C
A mild summer for walking, and a Starlight Reserve sky.
26.1 °C and the sea at 23.4 °C
The warmest water of the month and the most bearable heat.
Things to do in the Canary Islands in August: festivals and events
- La Rama, Agaete (Gran Canaria). The fiestas of the Virgen de las Nieves run from 25 July to 25 August. The big day of La Rama, with thousands of people heading down to the sea holding branches aloft, falls in early August, on the eve of the 5th, the Virgin's feast day; check the date in the town hall's programme.
- Perseids, mid-August. How many you see depends on the Moon: check the moon phase before booking your night out (stargazing).
- San Ginés, Arrecife (Lanzarote). A fiesta of national tourist interest, from mid to late August.
- Grape harvest on Lanzarote. Bodegas La Geria holds its Fiesta de la Vendimia on 15 August, with the grapes arriving by camel and treading at midday, free in recent years. Tinajo holds its romería (pilgrimage festival) and grape treading early in the month.
- Fiesta del Pino, Teror (Gran Canaria). The programme starts in late August; the main day is 8 September.
What's in season: water parks, boats, hiking and stars
Water and parks. It's the month of long opening hours: Aqualand closes at 18:00 (Aqualand Maspalomas opening times) and Acua Water Park, in Corralejo, opens from 10:00 to 18:00 (water parks).
| Where | Ticket | Rating | Price | Where to book |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GetYourGuide | Costa Adeje: Aqualand Water Park Ticket with Dolphin Show | 4.3 (1,108) | €37 | View on GetYourGuide |
| Tiqets | Aqualand Costa Adeje: Entry Ticket | 4.3 (219) | €37 | View on Tiqets |
| Official website | Aqualand Costa Adeje, official online fare (from) | — | €35 Cheapest | Official site ↗ |
Adult prices checked on 2 October 2026. They may vary by date; each site confirms the final price.
Aqualand Costa Adeje costs €35 online on its own website and €37 on the platforms: buy direct. The Siam Park and Loro Parque combined ticket is €78 everywhere.
| Where | Ticket | Rating | Price | Where to book |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GetYourGuide | Loro Parque and Siam Park Combined Admission Tickets | 4.7 (8,432) | €78 | View on GetYourGuide |
| Tiqets | Loro Parque & Siam Park: Entry Ticket | 4.7 (1,298) | €78 | View on Tiqets |
| Official website | Official Twin Ticket (Loro Parque + Siam Park) | — | €78 | Official site ↗ |
Adult prices checked on 2 October 2026. They may vary by date; each site confirms the final price.
Boats, whales and dolphins. With the trade wind blowing, the leeward coasts of south-west Tenerife and Gran Canaria stay calm. The resident pilot whales and dolphins are still there, with fewer passing species than in spring (whale watching in Tenerife).
Hiking. Only first thing in the morning or at altitude, and check beforehand whether any forests are closed. The climb to the summit of Teide needs its permit in every season (Teide).
Stars. The Milky Way is still high at nightfall; for the Perseids, a moonless night on the summits of Tenerife or La Palma is best.
Tours that suit August
Our pick
1
No-chase whale watching
An hour and a half off Tenerife, with more than 15,000 reviews.
GetYourGuide1.5 hours
Tenerife: Eco No-Chase Respectful Whale & Dolphin Encounter
4.6 (15,400 reviews)
from €28Check availability
2
Kayak and snorkelling
Three hours paddling and peering at the seabed through a mask, from €22.50.
GetYourGuide3 hours
Tenerife Kayak & Snorkelling Safari with Wildlife and Snacks
4.8 (913 reviews)
from €22.50Check availability
3
Aqualand Costa Adeje
Open until 18:00 in August; €2 cheaper on its official website.
GetYourGuide
Costa Adeje: Aqualand Water Park Ticket with Dolphin Show
4.3 (1,108 reviews)
from €37Check availability
4
Stars on Teide
Sunset, dinner and the summer sky above the clouds; bring a jacket.
GetYourGuide3.5 - 8 hours
Teide National Park – Dinner, Sunset & Stargazing Experience
4.5 (2,518 reviews)
from €55Check availability
GetYourGuide
Costa Adeje: Aqualand Water Park Ticket with Dolphin Show
4.3 (1,108 reviews)
from €37Check availability
GetYourGuide
Loro Parque and Siam Park Combined Admission Tickets
4.7 (8,432 reviews)
from €78Check availability
GetYourGuide1 day
Corralejo: Isla de Lobos Return Ticket with Park Entry
4.7 (1,381 reviews)
from €17Check availability
GetYourGuide6 hours
La Graciosa: Island Cruise with Lunch and Water Activities
4.5 (2,102 reviews)
from €66Check availability
GetYourGuide3 hours
Tenerife Kayak & Snorkelling Safari with Wildlife and Snacks
4.8 (913 reviews)
from €22.50Check availability
GetYourGuide3.5 hours
Fuerteventura: Surf Lesson for All Levels and Ages
4.7 (296 reviews)
from €50Check availability
See all options on GetYourGuide →Prices checked on 2 October 2026
August compared with July and September
July is almost as hot and windier, with the water almost a degree cooler. September brings the warmest sea of the year and about 155,000 fewer arrivals. For the whole year, see Canary Islands weather by month.
Canary Islands in August: frequently asked questions
What's the temperature in the Canary Islands in August?
On the coast, 26–29 °C in the afternoon and 21–22 °C at night: 28.4 °C at Tenerife South, 29.1 °C on Lanzarote and 26.1 °C on El Hierro, according to AEMET averages. During episodes of Saharan air it has gone above 40 °C.
How warm is the sea in the Canary Islands in August?
From 22.4 °C off Lanzarote to 23.4 °C off El Hierro; off Tenerife, 23.1 °C. It rises a little further in September and October.
Does it rain in the Canary Islands in August?
Practically never: an average of 0 to 2 mm on the coasts. July and August are the driest months in the archipelago.
Is it windy or busy in the Canary Islands in August?
The trade wind keeps blowing, especially on the north and east coasts. It's the summer peak, with about 1.55 million arrivals, but that's fewer than in any month from October to March.
