IslaBuWhat do the beach flags mean in the Canary Islands?
A green flag means swimming is allowed, yellow means swim with caution and red means no swimming. The lifeguards on the spot decide which flag flies, and their instructions always take priority.
Green, yellow, red
Green: conditions are good, swimming is allowed. Yellow: swim with caution, stay close to the shore and where you can touch the bottom – it is usually because of waves, currents or another risk. Red: no swimming, do not go into the water even if the sea looks calm. Rip currents cannot be seen from the shore.
The jellyfish flag
When jellyfish are present, many municipalities fly a special flag with a jellyfish symbol. Its design varies from one municipality to another, so always read the board at the beach entrance or ask a lifeguard.
When there is no flag
Flags are put up by lifeguards. On a beach without a lifeguard, or outside their hours of duty, there may be no flag at all – that does not mean the sea is safe. In such places, decide by the state of the sea and the official warnings.
The Blue Flag is something different
The Blue Flag is an award given to a beach for water quality, services and safety, and it is granted for the whole season. It says nothing about the current state of the sea.
The flag and the IslaBu score
The swimming score in IslaBu is a rough estimate based on the forecast. The flag on the beach, a lifeguard's instruction and an official warning always take priority.
Sources: Gobierno de Canarias · ADEAC – Bandera Azul · Updated October 4, 2026