The largest volcanic tube in the European Union and fifth in the world, the icodense Wind Cavereceived in 2021 the visit of 12,499 people, despite the limited capacity due to the restrictions imposed by the health authorities due to the coronavirus pandemic. Covid-19. The number of visits is still far from the almost 27,000 visits that were registered in 2018, but they make clear the tourist importance this great labyrinthine cavity of volcanic originmanaged by the Cabildo of Tenerife through IDECO.
The Island Councilor for Museums and the person in charge of this space, Concepcion Riveropoints out that “visitor data confirm the interest that the cave arouses among tourists who visit Tenerife and also among the local population, so we have had to adapt to the circumstances so that our visitors could get to know the cave in a safe way for everyone ».
Rivero details that the cave of the wind reopened to the public in mid-February and, little by little, its visitors increased with the limitations of each moment: «The arrival of the variant Omicron It was a new setback, but currently we have increased the routes up to 30 a week to be able to meet the demand of people who want to know one of the most important volcanic tubes in the world».
Last year a total of 1,226 guided routes were organized through the cave in several languages: Spanish, English, French and German. In addition, an investment of more than 37,000 euros was made for the improvement and modernization of the Visitor Center, the comprehensive cleaning of the entrances to the cave and the acquisition of two nine-seater vehicles to transport visitors to the entrance of the cavity. .
“We continue to work on new improvements, such as the creation of an adapted visit for schools, with the idea of doubling the number of visitors this year and offer more than 1,900 routes», assures the insular counselor.
Last year’s figures are still far from the almost 27,000 visits that were registered in 2018
Located in the municipal area of Icod of the Wines, the Cueva del Viento was originated by the flows of the Pico Viejo volcano 27,000 years ago. From the Island Council they remember that its name is due to “the important air currents that occur inside it”.
“It is a unique place because its galleries extend over three superimposed levels, has numerous ramifications still unexplored and presents a great variety of structures of primary origin such as lava stalactites, lava waterfalls, lateral terraces or lava lakes. Added to its physical beauty is a high ecological, scientific and archaeological value, as it is the home of unique species, such as the underground loboptera eyeless cockroach, and houses remains of Guanche burials and fossils of vertebrates already extinct on the Island such as the Houbara or giant rat and lizard», they detail. It has 18 kilometers surveyed and home to 190 known speciesmost of them invertebrates, of which 15 were new discoveries at the time.
The visit to the cave, which is made by prior reservation at the Webhas a price of 20 euros for adults and 8.50 for children over five years old, although for Canarian residents the price is reduced to 10 and 5 eurosrespectively.
