The residents can now relish this Sunday at one of the most popular beaches in northern Tenerife, following a closure of three days due to a wastewater discharge. This pertains to San Marcos Beach situated in the municipality of Icod de los Vinos, awaiting a rehabilitation project after losing some sand.
On Thursday, May 15, in the afternoon, the Icodense City Council announced the closure of San Marcos. The reason provided by the council on their social media was a result of a sudden halt at the treatment plant for this beach, which led to a failure at the station causing an emission of waste in the pedestrian zone of the bathing area.
For public health and safety reasons, we had to temporarily close access to the beach until complete disinfection is achieved, “stated the Council in a release.
The treatment plant resumed operations later that same day, but San Marcos could not reopen until the cleaning work was finished. “We apologise for the inconvenience and appreciate the understanding of residents and visitors,” added the Icodense City Council.
Reopening
The situation has been resolved, and this Sunday, locals and visitors can once again enjoy this bathing area in Icod de los Vinos without any concerns. “Following the cleaning and disinfection efforts conducted at San Marcos Beach and after receiving the analytical results, we can confirm that the water is in perfect condition for bathing,” the council reported.
This coastal region in the north of the island is awaiting a rehabilitation project that the Icodense Council is preparing in collaboration with other administrations, primarily the Government of the Canary Islands.
Recent updates indicate that San Marcos Beach in Icod de los Vinos will address the shortage of black sand by utilising ash from the Tajogaite volcano’s eruption on La Palma.
Tajogaite Sand
This proposal from the Vice Ministry of Infrastructure of the Regional Executive has made significant progress to ensure that this solution, the first of its kind in Spain, will help protect one of the main bathing areas in the north ofTenerife.
A panoramic view of San Marcos Beach, located in the municipality of Icod de los Vinos. / Arturo Jiménez
The project has already garnered the approval of the Ecological Impact Studies Service of the Regional Executive and the College of Civil, Canals, and Ports Engineers, along with the support of the General Directorate of the Coast and the Sea from the national government.
Progress has reached a stage where there is even a budget estimate: the transfer of 41,000 cubic metres of ash from La Palma to San Marcos Beach will amount to 2.2 million euros.
Before Summer 2026?
The Deputy Minister of Infrastructure of the Canarian Government, Francisco González, suggests that “if the process continues as planned, there should be sand in San Marcos before the summer of 2026.”
Playa de San Marcos, in the municipality of Icod de los Vinos, in the north of Tenerife. / Arturo Jiménez
The strong sea conditions that San Marcos Beach has experienced, along with other factors, have resulted in a progressive loss of sand that prompted action from the responsible authorities.
Loss of Sand
In 2015, ten years ago, it was estimated that the publicly accessible area of this bathing spot had lost over 15,000 cubic metres of sand, which has not been replenished by tides or natural coastal dynamics.
