We’ve lived on Tenerife long enough to know that until something actually happens, there’s a decent chance that it might not happen at all, so we’re cautious about spreading news about situations that are still in the ‘planning’ stage.
However, there’s a lot of interest in Tenerife’s most popular walk through the Barranco del Infierno above Costa Adeje and there have been more and more reports about it re-opening this year.
So what is the actual situation?
Barranco del Infierno to Open in 2013
At the end of July Spanish newspaper reports ran a story about the Barranco del Infierno re-opening before the end of 2013.
The second most popular attraction has been closed for four years as Adeje Council and Tenerife’s Cabildo (Government) tried to reach agreement where both were satisfied that the barranco was safe enough to open to walkers again. The Cabildo have felt that the walk should re-open again for some time, but politics being what they are on Tenerife, things have progressed very slowly.
Finally, both parties have now agreed that the walk can re-open. But there are a few things to be ironed out first.
The number of people will be limited to 300 a day, there will be guided walks for those who want them and there will still be a charge to access the Barranco del Infierno.
However, what that charge will be nobody knows and there is still the little matter of putting the management of the barranco out to tender.
The announcement that the Barranco del Infierno will open before the end of 2013 is a positive one.
So was the announcement at the start of 2012 that it would re-open before the end of that year.
Despite the news reports, the message on the Barranco del Infierno website remains – ‘Closed for safety reasons’.
Whilst the one on Adeje Council’s website states – ‘El sendero del Barranco del Infierno permanecerá’ (The Barranco del Infierno walking route will remain closed).
All in all, it does seem that the Barranco del Infierno will finally be open again to the public. The big question is when?
If it happens before the end of 2013, we’ll be gob-smacked.
We shall keep you up to date as soon as actual details are agreed. Don’t hold your breath in the meantime.
Jack is co-owner, writer and photographer for Walking Tenerife and the Real Tenerife series of travel websites as well as a contributor to lots of other places. Follow Jack on Google+
Hi. We’re coming to Adeje in Jan 2014 & hope to do some walking. Is barranco going to be accessible?
Hi Mike, that’s an extremely good question, and one that is on many people’s minds. According to press reports the Adeje Council and the Island Government signed a second agreement in August permitting the Barranco to be re-opened and are just waiting on “paperwork” for that to happen. Reports state “before the end of the year” for the proposed re-opening but in our experience, “paperwork” can take months. All we can do is keep our eyes on reports, and I think all you can do is watch this space. Fingers crossed 🙂
Hi, has there been any update on this? I’m heading to Tenerife tomorrow or 4 days and would like to do this walk if it is open
Thanks
No change I’m afraid. The Barranco remains officially closed and after the storms and heavy rain in that area last week I’d imagine it’s not in a great condition. The most recent feedback we’ve had is that it was in quite a poor state before the rains. Sorry. We will be posting information as soon as there is any news.
Not only is Barranco not yet open (early June 2014) but there’s also a barrier right across the entrance, which means you can’t even get into that lookout area where the ticket office is. Pity.
Video Barranco del Infierno (2013) : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGf0fJ8RVsM
Thanks Ingrid. The barriers haven’t stopped people from still walking the barranco whilst it’s been closed – but they’re doing so at their own risk.
Is Barranco open yet? I’m coming out to Tenerife on 16th Jan 2015 and would like to do this walk if possible.
Unfortunately the Barranco del Infierno remains officially closed. The latest news was that the local council and Tenerife’s government had come to an agreement about re-opening to the public and were going to contract with a company to get the Barranco in good shape. That was before the seasonal rains came in November and made their work harder. Since then there’s been no new news. These things can take a ridiculously long time here.
Although it’s closed people still walk it, and we’ve had feedback from people who did it quite recently. But anyone who does walk the ravine does so at their own risk.