Puerto de la Cruz: Decades of Unfinished Projects

As a new year begins, Puerto de la Cruz faces a familiar problem: a long list of promised projects that never seem to get finished, no matter which political party is in charge. This tourist city has many 'pending matters' – ideas that started decades ago to improve the area and boost tourism, but are still waiting to happen.

These include the long-awaited expansion of the Botanical Garden, the revamp of Martíánez beach, a future auditorium, and plans for the old bus station site. As 2026 begins, the town carries a heavy load of old promises, showing that political ambition and actual progress don't always align.

At the top of this list is the expansion of the Botanical Garden, which is Spain's second most important due to its diverse collection of plants from around the world. The plan to expand the garden onto an adjacent 40,000 square meter plot began in the late 1980s when the City Council changed zoning rules. Ten years later, a perimeter wall was built. That was the last major work done, coinciding with its designation as a Historic Garden on July 29, 1994. By 2009, a new building was almost finished, but it was never completed due to a lack of official support.

Previous opening dates have been missed. Last month, Janira Gutiérrez, president of the Canarian Institute of Agrarian Research, told this newspaper that the new building is now expected to open in 2026. However, this expansion will only include the building itself, as the garden's plants haven't even been planted yet. She estimates that planting the vegetation, which takes the most time, could take another five to six years.

Another long-standing project is the renovation of Martíánez beach. This plan was first drawn up in August 1993, has seen several changes, but still hasn't been carried out. For over 32 years, this popular tourist beach has steadily lost sand and lacks proper facilities, especially for getting into the water. By March 2025, two years had passed since the latest environmental impact assessment was submitted – a crucial step for the project to move forward. This assessment is still awaiting approval. "The previous one ran out in 2019, so we had to reapply, which took almost seven years," explained David Hernández, the Councillor for Sustainable City. "We're waiting for the new assessment to come back so we can review the conditions and requirements we've suggested for the area."

The old bus station on El Pozo street closed in November 2009 because it was unsafe. This project has faced endless red tape because the City Council gave the land to the central government in 1986 to build the station. For 14 years, officials had to prove to the Ministry of Public Works that the three plots of land were owned by the municipality, not by the now-defunct State Society for Land Promotion and Equipment (SEPES). After several governments tried, Marco González's administration (PSOE-ACP) finally resolved the issue in 2023. Since then, plans have been underway to demolish the building and decide what to do with the site.

In June 2025, David Hernández announced that the public company Gesplan had been hired to manage the demolition project. "We're waiting for them to deliver the plans; they have just over a month before their deadline, which the City Council extended, runs out," said the councilor. Once the City Council gets these plans, the next step will be to tender the demolition work. The site is planned to become a large public square for community and cultural events, several commercial buildings to boost the local economy, a four-story underground car park, and a multi-purpose building for social, cultural, and administrative uses.

The renovation of San Francisco Park has also been a source of ongoing debate. For over 40 years, this park was the city's main cultural venue, hosting major events like the Atlantic Song Festival, carnival shows, and concerts by famous artists such as 'El Puma' José Luis Rodríguez, Raphael, Noa, and Pedro Guerra. It also saw historical political rallies and even boxing matches and the significant hospitality strike of 1978.

Located on Agustín de Betancourt street, the park was closed by the City Council in 2010 because it didn't meet safety standards. It was then used as a municipal storage facility. In 2013, a competition was held to find new ideas for its use. However, major historical preservation issues arose. The winning proposal, which was to build a large auditorium, would have impacted the 18th-century San Francisco church (declared a Site of Cultural Interest in May 2013) and the San Juan hermitage (built between 1599 and 1608), both nearby.

Only the renovation of Casa Díaz Fragoso, an attached building, was completed as a necessary first step. Its demolition started in 2019 and finished in March 2020. Since then, the site has remained a pile of rubble, fenced off in the middle of Puerto de la Cruz's old town.

The project kept changing with each new government. In 2023, the PSOE-ACP administration decided to move the planned auditorium to the old bus station site. The San Francisco Park plot would instead become a large outdoor green space with shaded areas for public use. This decision was unanimously approved in December by a new three-party government (PP-ACP-CC). If this plan goes ahead, it would be the first time the government and opposition have agreed on this issue.

Despite culture being a key part of the city's identity, Puerto de la Cruz still lacks a proper venue for cultural events.