Tenerife holidays: Iconic beach Playa Jardín in Puerto de la Cruz reopens with holidaymakers allowed to swim - after nearly a year closed

Playa Jardín, one of the most iconic beaches in Puerto de la Cruz and on the north coast of Tenerife, has finally reopened for swimming. It was closed for nearly a year due to safety and public health concerns.

The beach was shut to bathers on 3rd July 2024 following the detection of high levels of Escherichia coli (E. coli), a bacterial indicator of faecal contamination. Since then, a series of technical interventions, inspections, and administrative actions have been carried out to address the underlying issues.

From mid-December 2024, two cycles of intensive cleaning and civil engineering works were conducted on the sewage and stormwater systems in the nearby Punta Brava area. These actions aimed to eliminate uncontrolled discharges into the sea and improve wastewater treatment ahead of its arrival at the regional wastewater treatment plant (EDAR).

Since February, the Public Health Department has carried out approximately 50 water quality tests (two per week) with 20 consecutive samples meeting legal safety standards, paving the way for the beach's safe reopening. The source of the contamination was traced to cracks in the Punta Brava outfall pipe and illegal discharges from properties not connected to the municipal sewer network.

Local and regional authorities have invested a combined €28 million in improving the outfall, expanding the treatment plant, and upgrading the sanitation network. Continued investment and oversight are still essential to prevent future closures and protect public health.