The Port of Los Cristianos, in the south of Tenerife, is preparing for one of its busiest times of the year, with around 72,000 passengers and nearly 20,000 vehicles expected to pass through its facilities over the Easter weekend.
The majority will be travelling to the western islands of La Gomera, La Palma, and El Hierro, with the port acting as a vital connection point for inter-island transport during the bank holidays.
According to the Port Authorities, ferry company Fred. Olsen is set to carry approximately 55,000 passengers across its routes to the three islands, while Naviera Armas expects to handle around 17,000. La Gomera remains the most popular destination, accounting for more than half of the total travel volume, followed by La Palma and El Hierro.
In light of these high numbers, the Port Authority, Arona Town Council, and the ferry operators have launched a coordinated traffic plan aimed at avoiding congestion, particularly on peak days such as today, tomorrow, and Sunday, when the return operation is expected to be at its height.
To facilitate smoother access and minimise disruption, both the port and local police will increase their presence in and around the area. Special attention will be paid to El Espigón road, which serves as the main access route to the port. From 4:00 p.m. on Saturday until 10:00 p.m. on Sunday, parking will be prohibited along this road to ensure an unimpeded flow of vehicles.
Ferry companies are also advising passengers returning to Los Cristianos to exit the port via Calle Madrigueras, rather than the more commonly used Avenida Chayofita and Avenida Juan Carlos I, to reduce pressure on key junctions.
This busy travel period coincides with renewed debate over the future of the port and its capacity to handle growing demand. Tensions have escalated between the President of the Cabildo of La Gomera, Casimiro Curbelo, and the President of the Cabildo of Tenerife, Rosa Dávila.
Curbelo has demanded an immediate reorganisation of the port’s operations and has even threatened to call a protest in Santa Cruz this August. Dávila, in contrast, insists that solutions in Tenerife must come through dialogue and consensus, rather than through ultimatums.
A recent report by the College of Civil Engineers of Santa Cruz outlines possible responses to the port’s growing challenges. Proposed options include expanding the existing port, either by adding an external dock or extending the current breakwater, or scaling back the controversial Fonsalía port project in Guía de Isora.
Arona’s mayor, Fátima Lemes, has voiced her opposition to expanding Los Cristianos port but remains open to discussions to find a “sustainable solution, guided by technical, social, and environmental considerations.”
Meanwhile, local residents and business owners in Los Cristianos have been increasingly vocal in their opposition to any enlargement of the port, citing concerns over the environmental impact and the effect on the town’s quality of life.
