Tenerife: Pilgrims to Candelaria will be allowed through detour routes due to fire risk

The Tenerife Island Council has allowed pilgrims to reach Candelaria on Thursday, August 14, via the Old Road and the TF-28 highway. However, due to the high risk of forest fires, movement through the mountains, especially through the forest area, and the TF-1 highway will be prohibited for safety reasons.

This decision was made at a meeting attended by the Councilor for Natural Environment, Blanca Pérez, the Director of Security, Iván Martín, the Councilor for Security of Candelaria, and representatives of the Canary Islands Emergency Service and the Aemet meteorological agency. They discussed the situation on the island for the coming days.

Blanca Pérez explained that although the temperature will drop slightly, the fire risk warning remains in place. Therefore, it was decided that pilgrims will be able to walk along the Old Road and the TF-28.

"Due to the risk of fire, we cannot allow thousands of people to be in the mountains. The Old Road is safer because there is no forest there. But we will still organize patrols there. The TF-28 highway will also be open, as many people usually walk along it," Pérez added.

The transport company TITSA will increase the number of buses to make it easier for pilgrims to reach Candelaria on August 14 and 15. Buses will depart from Los Menceyes Avenue (near the old station) from 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 14, to 5:00 p.m. on Friday, August 15. Stops from Belgium Street to Terror Square will not be operating.

TITSA will also launch a special route No. 522: La Laguna – Highway – Candelaria. Buses will run from 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, August 14, to 9:30 p.m. on Friday, August 15.

The last bus from Candelaria to La Laguna will depart at 11:30 p.m. The route in both directions: La Laguna – Northern Highway TF-5 – Highway TF-2 – Southern Highway TF-1 – Candelaria.

Pilgrims who want to start their journey from the Southern Highway can use buses that run on the regular schedule on Thursday, August 14. Transfers can be made at the following locations: Santa Cruz – La Cuesta: buses No. 014 and 228; Santa Cruz – Taco: buses No. 232, 233, 934, 936, 937 and 238; Santa Cruz – University Hospital: buses No. 015, 102, 103 and 108.

Those traveling from the south of the island can use buses No. 111 and 711, which connect Santa Cruz de Tenerife with Costa Adeje via the TF-1 highway.

Pilgrims who arrive by bus will be able to park for free at the transfer hubs in Santa Cruz de Tenerife and La Laguna from 6:00 p.m. on August 14 to 11:00 p.m. on August 15, upon presentation of a ticket for buses No. 120, 122 and 522.

The Island Council reminds that roads to the forest area are closed due to the risk of fire. A large number of vehicles and people will complicate the evacuation and work of firefighters.

Therefore, the TF-21, TF-24 and TF-28 roads leading to Teide will be closed from 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. until Wednesday, August 13, due to the Perseid meteor shower.

The closures will be carried out by the Civil Guard together with employees of the Island Council.

From 2:00 p.m. on Friday, August 8, it is forbidden to be in the mountains, walk along trails, forest roads on foot or by transport. The exception is owners of property and infrastructure who have the right to access their property.

It is also forbidden to drive motor vehicles on forest roads for entertainment.

It is forbidden to light fires, make bonfires, use barbecues, gas stoves, arrange pyrotechnic shows, use tools that produce sparks, and cut down forests.

Hunting has been suspended, and the Chipeque and Chimage campsites and observation decks have been closed.

All outdoor activities organized by the Island Council have also been canceled.

Due to the heat on the island, people are asked to be careful with any activity that could cause a fire: do not smoke in the forest, do not use electric generators and pyrotechnics.

Private organizers of permitted events in the risk zone are also advised to take the necessary safety measures.