The ‘simulacro’ podcast, created by the Ministry of Tourism and Employment of the Canary Islands Government through Turismo de Islas Canarias, has achieved over 2.2 million listens following the release of its second season. In its first eleven days, the new season has already accumulated more than 112,000 plays.
This audio drama, written by Chilean screenwriter Julio Rojas, stars Leonor Watling, Alejandro García, and Abril Zamora, alongside returning cast members Isak Férriz and Alberto San Juan. The production features over twenty actors, fifteen of whom are from the Canary Islands, with La Palma serving as a primary setting, alongside La Gomera and El Hierro.
Canarian sound engineer Alejandro Doreste captured 1,500 sound recordings from the landscapes of these three islands, which are integral to the auditory experience of the second season. Jéssica de León, the Minister of Tourism and Employment, stated, “With ‘simulacro’, we tell the story of the islands in a unique and innovative way, through an audio drama where the landscapes and sounds are essential to the narrative, guiding the listener on this journey.” She emphasised that the podcast reaches new audiences through a cultural proposal that invites discovery of the destination in a quality entertainment format.
The launch of the new season has also positively impacted the first season, which has seen a 47% increase in listens, demonstrating ‘simulacro’s’ ability to attract new listeners and rekindle interest in the original story. This audio drama now ranks among the most listened to in Spain, holding the top position on iVoox and second on Apple Podcasts.
The podcast's reception is reflected in its audience retention, with six out of ten listeners from the first season continuing into the second, which boasts an impressive average retention rate of 93% per episode. Positive reviews have poured in, with 98% of ratings being favourable and an average score of 4.8 out of 5 stars. Listeners have particularly praised the production quality, the suspenseful narrative, and the prominence of the Canary Islands' landscapes.
All ten episodes of the second season of ‘simulacro’ are now available on various podcast platforms, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iVoox, Amazon Music, Podimo, and YouTube Music. Additionally, the series has its own dedicated page on the Holaislascanarias website.
The first season of this audio drama, co-produced by Turismo de Islas Canarias and El Extraordinario, premiered in April 2024, achieving the top spot among fiction podcasts on Apple Podcasts in Spain and ranking among the twenty most listened to podcasts in six countries. Rojas's creation was notable for its high retention rate, with ten episodes keeping listeners engaged for over three and a half hours.
The audience's response has been complemented by industry recognition, with ‘simulacro’ winning the iVoox Award for Best Branded Podcast and the Ondas Global Award for Best Branded Content. This acclaim confirms that Turismo de Canarias successfully connected with the audience in an entertaining manner, as the production is perceived not as advertising but as an engaging narrative where the islands take centre stage. Additional accolades include a Gold Award for Best Branded Content Campaign at the W!N Awards, presented by national and international communication agencies. Furthermore, Apple Podcasts ranked the series fourth in its Top 10 New Shows of 2024, while Spotify included it in its selection of Best New Shows.
‘simulacro’ combines suspense, science fiction, and reflections on reality with an immersive sound experience, where the sea, volcanoes, stars, and forests of the islands are integral to the story. The first season began with the disappearance of Marcos Oliveira, portrayed by Alberto San Juan, a brilliant scientist convinced that the real world is a simulation. After exploring the eight islands, he left behind a map with specific locations that could hide doors to another reality. His son-in-law, writer Santiago Álvarez, voiced by Isak Férriz, then embarked on a quest that attracted others fascinated by Oliveira's theories.
The second season unfolds in 2026, three years after Oliveira's disappearance. It follows Irene Arizmendi (Leonor Watling), a journalist who arrives in La Palma to prepare a travel report while grappling with the loss of her partner. In the picturesque Isla Bonita, accompanied by local cameraman Gonzalo (Alejandro García), she encounters the so-called ‘seekers’ who follow Oliveira's map. As she delves deeper into their stories, Irene becomes increasingly involved in the search, blurring the lines between the narrative she intended to tell and the experiences she is living.
