The Cabildo of Tenerife and the Town Council of Candelaria are coordinating a security device comprising 600 personnel for the pilgrimage to the Marian town, with the busiest days being today, Thursday, and tomorrow, Friday, 15th August.
It is expected that around 100,000 people will travel to Candelaria, so a special device has been established, in coordination with other administrations, to ensure the proper conduct of the pilgrimage, the island corporation stated in a press release.
The Cabildo’s device includes 400 personnel from the Department of Natural Environment, Sustainability, Security and Emergencies, which coordinates the operation with the various services under its remit.
These include the technical service of Security and Civil Protection – which encompasses the Coordinator Centre of Island Operations (CECOPIN) – personnel from the Forest Fire Prevention Operational Unit (Brifor), Environmental agents, the Consortium of Firefighters of Tenerife, and the Departments of Mobility and Roads.
To these 400 personnel, an additional 200 people from other administrations and entities will be added.
The device deployed by the Cabildo will be coordinated with that carried out by the various participating administrations, which include: the Town Council of Candelaria, Local Police from Candelaria, Santa Cruz, El Rosario, and Tacoronte, as well as personnel from the Civil Guard, National Police, and Autonomous Police.
The security device is completed with the Directorates General of Security and Emergencies of the Government of the Canary Islands, the Canary Emergency Service, CECOES 112, the Red Cross, and volunteers from Civil Protection groups and associations.
The President of the Cabildo of Tenerife, Rosa Dávila, and the Mayor of Candelaria, Mari Brito, visited the field hospital on Thursday. The event was also attended by the Councillor for Natural Environment, Sustainability, Security, and Emergencies, Blanca Pérez; the Island Director of Security and Emergencies, Iván Martín; and the Councillor for Security and Emergencies, Francisco Alonso.
Rosa Dávila thanked all the professionals and volunteers who will work to assist the pilgrims, more than 600 professionals dedicated to ensuring that everything proceeds “in perfect order” and attending to the more than 100,000 individuals who will travel to the Marian town, whether on foot or by bus.
Dávila reiterated that the paths remain closed due to the risk of forest fires, and that the pilgrimage on foot can only be conducted via the old road, along the TF-28, which will be closed to traffic from 18:00 hours today, and also via the Old Path of Candelaria.
The President indicated that although temperatures have slightly decreased, the paths remain closed as “the risk of forest fires continues to be very high due to the extreme heatwave experienced in recent days.”
Furthermore, she emphasised that this year there are “significant works” underway in front of the Plaza of the Basilica, and has asked pilgrims for “understanding and to follow the directions given by the authorities.”
The Mayor of Candelaria, Mari Brito, highlighted that these festivities are made possible thanks to the “coordinated work of hundreds of people who, from different administrations, collectives, and volunteers, ensure the safety and smooth conduct of the pilgrimage.”
Brito invited those walking to Candelaria to use the designated routes, “always respecting the safety instructions, so we can enjoy a celebration in honour of our Patron with joy, devotion, and responsibility.”
Restrictions and Special Services
The Cabildo of Tenerife will allow the pilgrimage to Candelaria via the Old Path and the TF-28 road from Thursday, 14th August, the eve of the Feast of Our Lady of Candelaria, the Patroness of the Canary Islands.
However, due to the risk of forest fires, access through the forest – particularly the Forest Crown – and on the TF-1 motorway is prohibited for safety reasons.
The public company Interurban Transport of Tenerife (Titsa) has reinforced some of its services to facilitate the movement of pilgrims on the 14th and 15th of August.
All services in Candelaria will operate from Avenida de los Menceyes adjacent to the old Station, from Thursday, 14th August at 14:00 until Friday, 15th August at 17:00. Consequently, the stops from Calle Bélgica to Plaza de Teror will be out of service.
According to the planned device, line 122, in addition to its usual route between Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Las Caletillas, and Candelaria, will see its regular service enhanced based on passenger demand from 18:30 on 14th August until 23:00 on 15th August, aiming to ease mobility during these busy dates in the municipality.
For its part, line 120 (Santa Cruz-Güímar, Candelaria, Puertito de Güímar) will have more departures starting from 17:25.
Additionally, Titsa will enable a special service for line 522, which will cover the route La Laguna-Motorway-Candelaria, between 18:30 on Thursday, 14th August and 21:30 on Friday, 15th August.
The last departure from Candelaria to La Laguna will be at 23:30, following the same route in both directions: La Laguna-North Motorway TF-5-TF-2 Link Road, South Motorway TF-1-Candelaria.
Pilgrims wishing to start their journey on the General South Road have available, throughout Thursday, 14th August and with their usual schedules, several lines that can provide connections at the following points: Santa Cruz-Crossing La Cuesta: lines 014 and 228; Santa Cruz-Crossing Taco: lines 232, 233, 934, 936, 937, and 238; and Santa Cruz-Canary University Hospital: lines 015, 102, 103, and 108.
Those travelling from the South of the island can use lines 111 and 711, which connect Santa Cruz de Tenerife with Costa Adeje via the TF-1 motorway, both to and from.
Pilgrims who use the bus to reach Candelaria will have free parking in the car parks of the interchanges in Santa Cruz de Tenerife and La Laguna, from 18:00 on 14th August until 23:00 on 15th August, upon showing a ticket for lines 120, 122, and 522.
Users should proceed to the central kiosk of the car park to validate their use of the aforementioned lines.
