Fifth San Salitre Swim Kicks Off Santa Cruz Sports Year

Santa Cruz de Tenerife is getting ready for the fifth San Salitre Open Water Swim on January 1st. This popular event officially kicks off the city's sports calendar. It will be held in Valleseco, at the familiar El Bloque swimming spot. The Sports Service of the Santa Cruz de Tenerife City Council organizes the swim, with technical support from Gesport Canarias and help from the Port Authority of Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

Beyond the competitive races, the San Salitre will again host its traditional 'First Swim of the Year.' This fun, non-competitive category celebrates originality and creative costumes, encouraging locals and visitors to start the new year with a splash, enjoying friendship and a great atmosphere.

Swimmers of all ages can join, from cadets to veterans. There are several race options: the 2,000-meter and 1,000-meter swims each cost 20 euros to enter. Children aged 7 to 12 can take part in their own swim for a small fee of 5 euros. The special 'First Swim of the Year' category, which is open to everyone and focuses on fun, costs 10 euros.

Ivo López, the event's technical director, explained that the San Salitre was designed to be unique, not to compete with other New Year's Eve 'San Silvestre' races. Instead, it makes the most of Santa Cruz's beautiful sea and coastline. He noted that this year, 350 adults and 50 children will participate, along with many others joining just for the 'First Swim of the Year.' López added that the children's races and the 'First Swim of the Year' will cover short distances and have a very festive feel, with participants encouraged to wear fun and original costumes.

López also mentioned that 40% of participants are women, and nearly 30% are registered swimmers. For the first time, race bibs can be collected on December 29th, from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM, near Plaza del Príncipe, by the 'chicharro' statue – a symbol of the city. The children's races begin at 11:00 AM, followed by the adult race at 11:30 AM. Registration is open until December 26th at https://bit.ly/InscripcionesSanSalitre2026.

Santa Cruz de Tenerife's Mayor, José Manuel Bermúdez, emphasized that the San Salitre represents a vibrant start to the year and shows the city's dedication to sports and an active lifestyle. He said it highlights the best of Santa Cruz: the energy of its people and their strong connection to the sea. The Mayor added that launching such an event to kick off the new year is a clear success for the Sports Service.