Tenerife Residents Sound Alarm Over Dangerous Traffic Congestion in Anaga Rural Park

The management of Tenerife’s protected natural areas is back in the spotlight after local group Unidos por Anaga raised concerns about severe traffic congestion. According to the group, the area around Pico del Inglés—specifically the Pista Militar—has become so clogged with vehicles that traffic has backed up into three lanes. This gridlock blocks the road entirely, forcing pedestrians to walk in the middle of the street.

Residents argue that this level of tourism is unsustainable and creates a serious safety risk. Their biggest fear is that emergency vehicles would be unable to reach the area, or that residents could not be evacuated quickly, in the event of a disaster like a forest fire. This is not an isolated incident; it is a recurring issue across the Anaga Rural Park, a designated Biosphere Reserve.

Many locals are frustrated, feeling that current measures—such as traffic cameras and counters—have failed to reduce the pressure on the ecosystem or ease congestion. This disillusionment has led many residents to avoid these areas altogether, effectively losing access to their own public spaces. Similar protests took place last March at Cruz del Carmen, where nearly 400 people gathered to demand a comprehensive mobility plan to limit private cars and tourist buses.

The Cabildo de Tenerife says it is working on solutions, including better traffic management and improved public transport. However, residents in nearby hamlets like Afur, Roque Negro, Taborno, Las Carboneras, and El Batán feel there is still a wide gap between these official plans and their daily reality. As traffic continues to build up every morning, the community is calling for urgent, definitive action to protect both their safety and the integrity of this ecologically sensitive landscape.