Every tale has its beginnings, often sparked by an unusual idea. Bocacangrejo was merely another fishing spot on the island of Tenerife, known only to local inhabitants and the inquisitive visitors who stumbled upon this quaint village adjacent to Radazul. In 2021, a resident altered the narrative of this location forever: Crabmouth became infused with affection.
Rafa commenced adorning every nook and cranny of the village with hearts: on facades, floors, and in hidden spots… a visual representation that rapidly went viral and spread globally. The town of love in Tenerife was accidentally born, spurred by a local initiative and the enchanting influence of social media on such occurrences.
Crabmouth Hearts / Andrés Gutiérrez
The small community, part of the municipality of El Rosario, began to witness an influx of vehicles on its outskirts, with tourists and onlookers eager to discover what TikTok or Instagram had to offer. A whirlwind of visitors disrupted the peace that had long defined this tranquil fishing village and its inhabitants. Such a scenario escalated three years after the blissful inception of love in Bocacangrejo.
Overuse strained the love
A quote from Rocío Jurado aptly encapsulates the tale of the hearts in Tenerife: “Our love broke from using it excessively”. The narrow streets of Bocacangrejo became crowded as countless individuals queued for photographs to eternalise their experience, resulting in weariness among the locals.
A snapshot from one of the videos showing the hearts blemished with scratches and graffiti / Tiktok
An act of vandalism marked the beginning of the end. Several locations emerged the following morning with hearts defaced by graffiti. Just five days after this disrespect towards his artwork, Rafa resolved to revert to his original approach, this time to restore the ancient colour of the village that preceded the hearts.
Within two nights, the vibrant landscape was transformed into white walls and grey floors. What was once a photocall for countless visitors reverted to the fishing village of Bocacangrejo, which had long remained in obscurity, unnamed by the curious travellers flocking to the Canary Islands.
Rafa, the principal figure in this chapter, perceived either as a hero or a villain depending on the narrator, exchanged his characteristic exuberance, typically welcomed by tourists who received free bracelets from him, for the sorrow of having erased his masterpiece. At that time, nearly six months ago, local residents attested to Rafa’s good nature, stating that “he is a very kind person.”
The promenade adorned with drawn hearts on Bocacangrejo beach, featuring graffiti / Rafael Arturo Jiménez Rivero
After over five months, Bocacangrejo has moved past the troubling traffic that had formed on the edges of the village, which complicated parking for its residents. The clatter of humanity has subsided, allowing the calming sounds of waves and fishermen casting their lines peacefully, while locals enjoy their home. The most viral hearts in the Canary Islands have ceased to beat, and the village now exists without forgetting its former title as the heart of love in the Canary Islands.
