UK tourists looking for a sunny winter getaway have been issued a dire warning as one of Tenerife’s most popular beaches has been closed “indefinitely” for a stomach churning reason.
Playa Jardín, in the north of Tenerife, is renowned for its striking black sands, volcanic rocks and views of Mount Teide.
However, the once bustling beach has now banned visitors from entering the water due to health risks associated with contamination, casting a cloud over Brits’ overseas holiday plans.
The beach was initially given a swimming ban on July 5 and it doesn’t look like this will be lifted anytime soon.
In the months after this, only a handful of visitors have ventured past warning signs to sunbathe on the famous black sands.
Water tests conducted earlier in the summer revealed the presence of E. coli due to a broken underwater sewage pipe. The rupture – in a sewage system that discharges close to the shore – caused faecal contamination of the seas around the beach.
Faecal contamination has been a recurring issue for Playa Jardín; over the past eight years, the water quality has drastically declined from being rated excellent to poor.
Now, signs in various languages dot the beach warning holidaymakers about the risk of infection and gastrointestinal disease.
Local authorities have now imposed an indefinite swimming ban, citing health risks and declining water quality at Playa Jardín.
They said: “There is epidemiological evidence that this situation can cause gastrointestinal symptoms due to ingestion of water, as well as other types of conditions such as acute respiratory infections and infections of the ears, eyes, nasal passages, and skin.
“This decision will be extended indefinitely and is a measure in response to the decline in water quality that has been occurring at least since 2016 in the Playa Jardín area and, above all, in this last year 2024.”
Earlier this year, Puerto Rico’s mayor, Marco González, expressed his concerns that the now indefinitely closed beach would harm tourism and damage Tenerife’s reputation.
Mr González believes the poor water issue can be solved “if all administrations prioritise the actions that are already not only planned but also have the necessary financing”.
Meanwhile, the tourist page for Tenerife highlights the significance of Playa Jardin: “The beach is one of the most famous beaches in the region, and was designed in the 1990s by the famous Canarian artist, Cesar Manrique, created to guarantee rest and relaxation for its visitors.”