Santa Cruz de Tenerife City Council has responded to concerns over the recent ‘Black Flag’ awarded to Las Teresitas by stressing that the beach remains safe for swimming. According to the latest official analyses carried out under the Canary Islands Government’s bathing water health monitoring programme, both Las Teresitas and the bathing areas at Valleseco are in good sanitary condition and suitable for public use.
The latest reports, updated on 22 June, confirm that the municipality’s main bathing areas meet the health and quality standards required under current regulations. The results come at the start of July, one of the busiest periods of the year for beaches across Santa Cruz, when thousands of residents, visitors and tourists head to the coast.
The tests were carried out by the competent health authority as part of the official monitoring programme for bathing waters. They confirm that Las Teresitas beach, Valleseco-Los Charcos and Valleseco-El Bloque comply with the parameters established for areas used for bathing.
The mayor of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, José Manuel Bermúdez, said the results provide reassurance for the public. He stressed that the official reports confirm that the municipality’s main bathing areas meet the appropriate health standards and added that this is also the result of the City Council’s ongoing work to improve coastal infrastructure, maintenance and protection.
According to Bermúdez, the findings offer peace of mind to the many people who use the coastline every day. He also highlighted the importance of continuing to invest in improvements that protect both users and the natural environment.
The Councillor for Public Services and the Environment, Carlos Tarife, also underlined that the measurements are part of the official health monitoring programme run by the Canary Islands Government. He explained that this regional authority is responsible for taking samples, analysing their quality and issuing the official classification of bathing waters.
In the case of Las Teresitas, the annual classification of the bathing water remains “Excellent”. The bathing area of Valleseco-El Bloque also retains its annual “Excellent” classification. Meanwhile, the stretch of coastline corresponding to Valleseco-Los Charcos is also listed as suitable for bathing, according to the results of the official health inspections.
The reports also state that, during the visual inspections carried out in these areas, no waste, oil, foam, floating debris, algae or other elements that could affect sanitary conditions were detected. This means that the inspected bathing areas showed no visible signs of contamination at the time of the checks.
Santa Cruz City Council has reminded the public that health checks on bathing waters are carried out regularly throughout the season. These inspections form part of an official monitoring programme, and the results are published by the relevant health authority. The aim is to provide residents and visitors with reliable information on the condition of each bathing area, using objective and standardised criteria across the Canary Islands.
Programme of improvements at Las Teresitas
The City Council has also pointed to the programme of works and improvements carried out at Las Teresitas in recent years. The aim of these measures has been to modernise the beach’s infrastructure, improve services for users and strengthen the conservation of one of the municipality’s most important natural and leisure spaces.
These investments have made it possible to renew facilities, improve accessibility, enhance safety, optimise mobility and move forward with environmental sustainability measures along the coast.
Among the most significant projects are the comprehensive refurbishment of the breakwater, improvements to access points, the installation and upgrading of accessible toilets and changing rooms, and the introduction of a smart traffic and car park management system providing real-time information.
The council has also worked on renewing various services and infrastructure, as well as launching new concessions to modernise the beach kiosks and improve the range of services available to beachgoers.
Environmental conservation has also been included in the action programme. One of the most notable initiatives is the scientific monitoring of angel sharks that use Las Teresitas as a breeding ground. This work is being carried out in collaboration with specialist organisations and aims to improve knowledge and protection of the species, which is classified as critically endangered.
According to the council, these measures are part of a broader strategy for the continuous improvement of the Santa Cruz coastline. The objective is to provide a beach that is more accessible, safer, more comfortable and more sustainable, while remaining compatible with the conservation of its natural values.
Safety, lifesaving and first aid
Las Teresitas also has a dedicated lifesaving and first-aid service, with both human and technical resources available to ensure the safety of beachgoers during peak periods.
Under the contract awarded to the Spanish Red Cross, the beach has at least four lifeguards on duty. These staff cover both the surveillance post and different water-based activities. The service also includes lifeguards carrying out patrols on foot, a skipper for the patrol boat, a Healthcare Emergency Technician, a Registered Nurse and a coordinator responsible for the whole team.
The available resources include the main first-aid post, an additional post near beach access point number 5, a Basic Life Support ambulance, an inflatable boat, a quad bike and a jet ski. The beach also has the necessary medical and emergency equipment for an initial response in the event of an incident.
During the summer period, the Local Police also operate a post next to access point number 5. A police crew is present there during both the morning and afternoon. These officers work alongside operational units that focus mainly on traffic management and crime prevention, particularly around vehicle access points and the beach car park.
The City Council maintains that these services, together with the regular health inspections and the investment programme at Las Teresitas, demonstrate its commitment to maintaining safe, accessible and well-managed bathing areas for residents and visitors throughout the year.
