Contramapas is a month-long event that takes place along the G131 trail (Travesía Islas Canarias). 8 islands, 8 peaks, 8 schools
and a long trail that crosses the Canary Islands on foot, from La Graciosa to El Hierro.
It is a format where traditional music and dance, hiking and the community involvement of young people at risk of social exclusion come together to create a social innovation project. The main aim of this initiative is to promote the empowerment and active participation of young people in local communities, whilst also raising awareness of the importance of the Canary Islands’ natural and cultural heritage.
The month of May marks Africa Day (25 May) and Canary Islands Day (30 May), hence our ‘África Vive’ programme, packed with community activities, including a new collaboration between Casa África and Contramapas to ensure that the 2026 edition concludes on 31 May with a concert by the Senegalese band Benabás in La Restinga.
The presence of Benabás reinforces the cultural dialogue between the Canary Islands and Africa through music, shared celebration and mutual recognition. This closing event, which brings the 3rd edition of Contramapas to a close, also aims to pay tribute to and keep alive the memory of the victims of the Canary Route, one of the world’s most dangerous migration routes.
Thus, the end of the journey in Orchilla and La Restinga symbolically becomes a space of unity between territories, cultures and human experiences, where walking together is also a way of building coexistence and shared dignity.
