In the 1980s, Los Cristianos established itself as one of the most significant tourist hubs in both the south and the rest of Tenerife.
The construction of essential infrastructure, the expansion of the port, and the boom in the tourism sector characterised that era. However, since then, this coastal area of Arona has not undergone significant developments that address demographic growth, increasing traffic, or tourist pressure.
Forty years later, Los Cristianos is set to undergo a comprehensive transformation process that promises to redefine the area over the next decade.
This coastal enclave will witness a series of initiatives aimed at reorganising the urban core, enhancing mobility, and modernising its public facilities as they currently stand.
These are not isolated projects but part of a plan that local administrations emphasise as a “comprehensive and inclusive approach.”
Pedro Suárez, president of the Port Authority of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, summarised it simply: “It seemed logical to undertake an integrated management approach. It’s a joint solution.”
The catalyst for this progression is the Partial Plan for El Mojón. After 30 years of processing and stagnation, the Arona City Council has managed to unlock the largest area of urban land awaiting development in the Canary Islands.
Mobility and Underground Developments
Within its grounds, plans include 8,900 tourist beds distributed among four hotels, as well as residential units, various public spaces, and parks.
Javier Baute, the local Urban Planning Councillor, acknowledges this as a historic opportunity for the municipality: “Significant infrastructure is expected that will provide the services that residents of Arona need.”
The urbanisation of El Mojón will multiply the accommodation capacity of the area, necessitating a rethinking and modernisation of mobility and access to Los Cristianos.
This is where major complementary projects come into play.
With over 20,000 residents and a constant influx of tourists, Los Cristianos has suffered from chronic congestion for years, particularly at two critical points: Avenida Chayofita and Avenida Juan Carlos I.
In the Abona and Southwest regions alone, 25% of all island mobility is concentrated, with 70% of these movements being internal. These figures highlight the urgency of reorganising and improving the access and exits of one of the busiest hubs in southern Tenerife.
To tackle this challenge, the Tenerife Cabildo and the Canary Islands Government are promoting two key projects. The first involves the underground transformation of Avenida Chayofita, which will change the current access into a subterranean section running from before the municipal sports centre to its connection with Avenida Juan Carlos I.
The second project includes the extension of this underground work within Avenida Juan Carlos I, to connect with the parks of the new urban development and the motorway. This initiative, previously off the radar, is now in its final definition phase and will undergo public consultation.
This infrastructure design will follow a similar concept to Avenida 3 de Mayo in Santa Cruz, featuring a progressive slope to avoid vertical access and ensure functional and safe integration.
“We are fighting for the subterranean work to extend as far up as possible to genuinely alleviate congestion in Los Cristianos. This proposal has already been accepted by the Canary Islands Government,” asserts Baute.
The tunnel is expected to reach Calle Alabastro, although it will not extend to the TF-1 roundabout due to “technical limitations,” as detailed by Eulalia Garcia, the Councillor for Mobility of the Tenerife Cabildo, to this newspaper.
Both projects align with a shared diagnosis: without alleviating surface traffic, Los Cristianos cannot accommodate the anticipated growth.
The future of mobility also includes the introduction of the Southern Train, a historic and long-debated project that has made a significant leap forward following the recent signing of a state funding agreement with the Canary Islands Government for an infrastructure estimated at €2.5 billion.
The first phase, which is prioritised and expected to cover the stretch between Costa Adeje and San Isidro, will have one of its main stations located in Los Cristianos.
Interchange and Southern Train
As part of the project integration, the Cabildo also promotes the construction of a new interchange on Avenida Chayofita, which will replace the current, outdated bus stop that is insufficient for present needs.
Spanning over 8,000 square meters, the complex will feature an underground parking facility for 200 vehicles, 18 bus bays, and a service building. Importantly, it will reserve space for linking to the future railway station. This project, like the underground renovations on the eponymous avenue, is already drafted.
The Port: A Strategic Node
According to Suárez, “technicians are studying this set of works to ensure they are complementary. Otherwise, one would cancel the other out.”
The Port of Los Cristianos, a gateway to La Gomera, La Palma, and El Hierro, handles thousands of vehicles and passengers daily. Its saturated access points present one of the main urban challenges.
The Port Authority is working on a renovation project that includes a new terminal, underground access, and two parking levels.
Another significant initiative is the tunnel that will directly connect the dock with Avenida Chayofita, a project which currently is in the feasibility study phase for boring a geological tunnel beneath the Chayofita mountain. This will create a new traffic corridor to the TF-1 from the port.
The aim is to channel port traffic without congesting local roads.
“Los Cristianos has grown in a disorganised manner in one way or another. We must first consider road connectivity; otherwise, it hinders the development of other infrastructures and hubs,” Suárez acknowledges.
Beyond mobility and access, Los Cristianos will also see a transformation of its coastal front. The Las Vistas promenade is set to undergo a comprehensive reform starting in 2026. Unless there are last-minute changes, this will be the first intervention to commence.
The Cabildo maintains that this action is “designed to modernise public space and enhance its tourist and civic appeal.”
This intervention completes the portfolio of works which not only aim to resolve bottlenecks but also to improve the experience for residents and visitors in a locality striving to become Tenerife’s economic engine.
All initiatives progress in parallel, albeit in different phases. Some are in preliminary studies, while others are in tendering, with several ready to commence work.
This diversity of timelines creates uncertainty regarding the actual simultaneity of the projects and potential impacts on the daily lives of Los Cristianos residents.
Simultaneity in Timelines
“What is evident is that there are different speeds involved. Regarding the city council and the development of El Mojón, I cannot say whether any of the works will coincide in time with our project,” comments Baute. “The partial plan was approved in 1996, and it has been a long process. Each initiative will follow its own rhythm.”
Despite these varied timelines, the involved administrations assure continuous “constant contact,” with regular meetings deemed “enriching.”
What is clear is that Los Cristianos is facing its most significant transformation since it established itself as an international tourist destination.
A transformation that, as the authorities agree, cannot afford to progress in a fragmented manner.
“These are projects driven by different administrations, but they are complementary,” Suárez emphasises. “The key is that, together, they allow for the reorganisation and growth of the hub.”
