Bureaucratic Standoff Keeps Tenerife’s Benijo Beach Closed Amid Safety Dispute
Benijo Beach remains closed indefinitely as a bureaucratic dispute between the Spanish national government and Canary Islands officials stalls essential safety work on the site's unstable slopes.
Benijo Beach in the Anaga massif has been closed since July due to a bureaucratic standoff between the Spanish Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Canary Islands government. According to Diario de Avisos, the national General Directorate of Coasts has rejected the Santa Cruz de Tenerife City Council’s emergency declaration, effectively halting essential slope stabilization work needed to make the beach safe for the public.
The disagreement centers on whether the project qualifies for an emergency procedure. While the regional government approved the €2.15 million project—funded by the Ministry of Tourism—the national government argues that the urgency has not been proven. The Ministry’s report cites missing documentation and a lack of mandatory environmental assessments, noting that the area is a protected site within the Natura 2000 network. Additionally, the state argues that because the coastline is inherently dangerous, it may not even qualify as a designated bathing zone, further undermining the case for an emergency intervention.
This conflict has sparked a heated response from local officials. Antonio Acosta, the Canary Islands’ Director General of Coasts, maintains that the regional approval is valid and has challenged the state to take the matter to court if they believe their authority has been undermined. Santa Cruz Mayor José Manuel Bermúdez has criticized the state’s decision as an "arbitrary blockade" that is stalling a fully funded and planned safety project.
The political tension continues to rise, with First Deputy Mayor Carlos Tarife calling the Ministry’s intervention an "attack" on local management and warning of potential protests from Anaga residents. The project, designed by Wara Ingeniería, is now in legal limbo. The state insists that without approval from the Tenerife Island Council and the necessary environmental reports, no work can legally proceed, meaning the beach will remain closed until these jurisdictional and environmental disputes are settled.