Garachico Beach Closed After Wall Collapse; Summer Reopening Hopes
La Consolación beach in Garachico's El Guincho neighborhood has been closed since mid-month following a partial retaining wall collapse that rendered the area unsafe, with authorities investigating and hoping for a summer reopening.
La Consolación beach, located in Garachico's El Guincho neighborhood, has been closed to the public since mid-month. This closure is due to a partial collapse of a retaining wall above the bay, which made the area unsafe for swimmers and triggered a complex official procedure.
After the incident, whose cause is still unknown, local police temporarily cordoned off the area. A report from the Garachico City Council's Technical Office then led to the decision to completely close off access for safety reasons. The collapsed section is part of a concrete path's side wall, which leads to several banana farms. This closure affects not only residents and visitors but also guests of the nearby hotel.
Local authorities are now investigating whether the land where the collapse occurred is privately or publicly owned. This is a crucial step before sending all details to the General Directorate of Coasts and Management of the Canarian Maritime Space. This body will decide what to do next, as the area falls under public coastal land. Any work in these areas requires approval and supervision from the relevant state authority, which makes resolving the problem more complicated.
Andrés Hernández (CC), the local government's Councillor for Beaches, said they are speeding up all necessary steps to decide and act on the area. However, he hasn't given a reopening date, explaining that official procedures take time. The councillor hopes the beach will be open again before summer. But first, they need to hear from Coasts whether the structure needs repairing or if the remaining part should be demolished.
Hernández stressed that the collapsed platform "is not an access to the beach and has no other purpose." He added that the main danger is its position above the sunbathing area, which could endanger people in the water. Some residents have suggested allowing partial access, but the councillor repeated that it's impossible to mark off a safe area in the water and ensure people don't go under the unstable wall. This is why La Consolación must remain completely closed. According to the official, El Guincho residents are most worried about whether the beach will be ready for the summer season.