All for a handful of likes and to gain new followers on social media. That’s the world today. A money-hide challenge went viral, where a person hides cash in a public spot and dares others to find it. The prize is simple: the bills belong to the finder. Videos like these flood social networks. This Saturday, February 24, a similar stunt unfolded near Maspalomas Dunes.
In the surroundings of this Gran Canaria natural site, crowds were seen digging with shovels and rakes, excavating the sand with one clear aim: to locate the 1,000 euros that an influencer had hidden there, as shown by an Instagram user in a video that quickly circulated across social apps and messaging platforms.
The episode sparked significant discomfort online, with many criticizing the action and demanding accountability.
Incidents and Fines
This is not the first time acts like this have targeted the reserve. Last summer, a video captured a wave of tourists strolling through the dunes and slipping into remote areas off limits, done to snap a selfie and show off on social media.
The Environment Department of the Cabildo de Gran Canaria stepped in. Between January and July 2023, the council reported issuing 120 fines for trespassing and camping in prohibited zones.
Most penalties were 150 euros, charged to both foreign tourists and resident Spaniards. Some productions faced 400-euro fines for failing to comply with permit conditions for filming inside the area.
Special Natural Reserve
The Dunes, spanning nearly 404 hectares of sand, were designated a protected area for the first time in 1987. The Government of the Canary Islands granted the site Special Natural Reserve status seven years later, in 1994.
Human impact and urban development have altered wind patterns over decades, changing the dune dynamics and contributing to the erosion of the iconic arid landscape. The dunes lose about 45,000 cubic meters of sand annually, much of which ends up at sea. The desert-like scenery has grown popular with visitors hoping to enjoy stunning sunsets.