12/4/2021 (updated: 10/26/2024) | 9min Reading time

Tamaimo tunnel blocked by bar operator

IslandTenerife

Status 15.04.2024: The middle Tamaimo tunnel is closed and the other three Tamaimo and cliff tunnels are "still" open.

1.0What happened to the former bar operator on the Camino Real?
2.0Part 1 – December 2021 operator “sells” tunnel tickets illegally
3.0Bar operators attach lock to tunnel
4.0The charges have been filed – but what will happen to the lock on the tunnel?
5.0IMPORTANT Therefore, do not under any circumstances pay these people for tunnel crossings, tunnel tickets, equipment such as helmets and headlamps, and the like. And under no circumstances give them your identity cards. IMPORTANT

What happened to the former bar operator on the Camino Real?

Map

December 2021 to April 2022

In December 2021, I reported on the bar owner for the first time. At the time, he had apparently illegally set up a bar directly on the Camino Real between Puerto de Santiago and Tamaimo. In the bar, he pretended with posters that he belonged to the company Tenerife’s Secrets. This did not correspond to the truth. He charged money for tunnel passages and accessories such as helmets and lamps. You can read the details in the article below.

The former bar is no longer a bar, but is apparently only used privately.

In the following months, various people filed complaints with the local police and the Guardia Civil. Again and again I heard from readers through comments, letters and stories from other walkers that the business just went on as described. But in March 2022, the tunnel suddenly seemed to be open again. You can read that well from the comments on this website. But the kiosk with helmet rental continued to exist. Fewer hikers come up there during the summer, so I wasn’t there any more either.

The tunnel entrance is blocked with CIATF tapes

October 2022 to May 2023

It wasn’t until October that I came along the Camino Real again and saw that the bar no longer existed in the form described. However, someone obviously lived and still lives in the building. However, a bar is no longer operated there. And also a helmet rental or similar shops seem to be housed there anymore. Instead, however, the middle Tamaimo tunnel was double-locked with a chain. This did not seem to be done by the municipality, but by a private person. From there and throughout last winter, the situation then gradually became more and more confusing.

I received reports from walkers who were able to pass the tunnel just fine. Then the tunnel was closed again with a chain or a gate. Other hikers told me that now a woman and then again a man demanded money for the tunnel passage. What could be seen for sure, however, was that someone was converting the old ruins next to the tunnel entrance into a kind of cottage. I can’t imagine that these buildings directly on the Camino Real are legal structures. But of course I don’t know that for sure. But gradually a kind of dwelling house was built there.

The new cottages at the entrance of the middle Tamaimo tunnel

Status June 2023

At the moment there are people living there and they have built a second house that they use as a chicken coop. Whether this is legal, I don’t know. But what is certain is that neither these people, nor the former bar operator, nor third parties are allowed to charge money for tunnel passages there. They are not legitimised to do so by anyone and have no authority to do so. As you can see from the photo of the ribbons at the tunnel entrance, the CIATF (Consejo Insular de Aguas de Tenerife), which is responsible for the management of water on Tenerife, has closed the tunnel. Although it is currently accessible, it is probably not meant to be walked. Therefore, under no circumstances pay money to people who approach you at the tunnel. Even if you pay money, you do not have the right to enter the tunnel. If you are asked to pay money, file a complaint.

At the moment, the cliff tunnel between Los Gigantes and Barranco Seco is already closed. In the other tunnels between this Barranco and the Barranco de Santiago, work is still going on. For example, new water pipes are being laid in the lower Tamaimo tunnel. I assume that after these works are finished, the tunnels will all be closed. It remains to be seen whether the authorities will also take action because of possible illegal constructions and because of fraud on the tunnel.

Part 1 – December 2021 operator “sells” tunnel tickets illegally

Below Tamaimo is a tunnel that leads into the Barranco Seco. I described it, for example, in the tour Pure Adventure – Dark Tunnels and Breathta king Cliffs.

Helmets with headlamps borrowed from the bar operator

Some time ago, several readers told me that a small bar with refreshments had opened directly on the Camino Real from Los Gigantes to Santiago del Teide. That didn’t sound bad at first.

Newly built bar on the Camino Real - building in the centre of the picture

But then I gradually learned from more and more people that this small refreshment bar offered more than just drinks. At first, a man who sold fruit and refreshments in the bar approached all the people who wanted to go through the tunnel and passed by there. Some were supposed to pay €10 to pass through the tunnel. He told others that helmets were compulsory in the tunnel. These helmets could be borrowed from him with a headlamp for a fee. In some cases, identity cards should also be deposited as security.

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Tunnel now locked with a small lock by the bar operator

Bar operators attach lock to tunnel

Around this small bar there are 2 men who speak Spanish, English and German. Since they apparently could not relieve enough people of their money in this way, they have now probably attached a lock to the grille in front of the tunnel. It is unlikely that the municipality acted here – as claimed by the men. There is no official sign and the tunnel is only locked from one side. In any case, the two men have the keys. One man is constantly at the tunnel entrance to let people who have paid or those who are coming back in and out. The other man is in the bar and “sells” tickets and rents helmets in addition to refreshments.

Tunnel entrance and a man who lets hikers into the tunnel with the key

When hikers come through the tunnel from the other direction (from the Barranco), they are supposed to pay before the man unlocks and lets them out. Yesterday someone who didn’t want to pay told me that they wouldn’t let him out of the tunnel. He had to go back through the tunnel and find another way to Tamaimo. This is not possible for everyone because of the condition. Therefore, it is not only fraud that is taking place in front of the tunnel.

Lock on tunnel inside

The charges have been filed – but what will happen to the lock on the tunnel?

Today someone filed a complaint with the police. Allegedly, the construction of the entire house is illegal because there is no building area directly on the Camino Real. But it may take time before a possible demolition order is implemented. The local Spanish police believe that as long as people pay voluntarily, they cannot do anything.

IMPORTANT Therefore, do not under any circumstances pay these people for tunnel crossings, tunnel tickets, equipment such as helmets and headlamps, and the like. And under no circumstances give them your identity cards. IMPORTANT

Bar operator not only sells refreshments

But what happens to the tunnel blocked by the lock and the tunnel walks? The police will certainly not remove the lock so quickly. To be informed about the current state of affairs, please read the numerous comments on this information. If you have any new information, please be sure to share it with the other walkers here.

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Comments

Canario - 01/06/22, 12:11 PM

Quién hizo el túnel? Por qué? Para que? Es propiedad privada? Esto primero antes de bla bla bla girissss!!!

Dagmar - 01/07/22, 04:49 PM

Los túneles se construyeron como galerías para recoger agua. La propiedad de los mismos es diferente en cada caso. A menudo hay empresas detrás de ellos. Pero los habitantes del Túnel de Tamaimo no son los propietarios, sino que han construido una estructura ilegal y se han limitado a colocar una cerradura en un túnel que mantiene abierto el municipio. Simples sinvergüenzas que roban dinero todos los días.

Koenraad De Decker - 01/07/22, 11:14 PM

Did the trip today (7/1/22) and checked tunnels:
First one (coastal side): open but coastal path was in very bad condition. Going up probably not a problem but we were with four people experienced hikers and we didn’t find a way down we found safe. We turned back to go over the mountains.
Middle tunnel (ending at the bar): indeed there was a gate on one side but it was unlocked when we checked (wirhout money scam). Maybe they only lock it when they are selling their tours.
Last tunnel (northern one): open.
Hope this helps. In the end we climbed the mountain and it was not bad but if you want to take the tunnel it’s also an experience.

Dagmar - 01/08/22, 07:23 AM

Thanks for sharing the information

Edmunds - 01/18/22, 10:14 AM

I hiked the way down about a month ago, and I agree this is tricky. There is a part with tiny stones all over a very steep bit, which is IMO a bit dangerous. But this is only one part right after the tunnel, everything else is completely fine.

iain schrøder - 01/10/22, 08:49 AM

Interesting information!

JP - 01/20/22, 03:36 PM

We did the tunnel hike yesterday 19 januari 2022, from tainamo to Los gigantes. Beautiful and challenging. The scammers were there to ask 10e for the tunnel, they were very persistent (almost as persistent as the donkey that walked with us :)). However we took the Eastern tunnel instead, it was open and Noone at the entrance. Had to climb a bit to find it, but surprisingly there is a water gutter that showed the way in :). The way out we didn’t follow the gutter but we took a left turn down and followed our way to the western tunnel to Los gigantes. The door is installed but wide open. Exiting that tunnel follow the dots a little bit towards the ocean to land on the “path”. After 20 minutes of walking we took a wrong (but credible) turn somewhere and stranded at a dangerous part. We decided to go back to the tunnel but a few turns back we saw that we did not follow the dots, so we continued our way to Los gigantes. Enjoy hiking!

Dagmar - 01/20/22, 03:46 PM

thank you for sharing your recent experiences here

iain schrøder - 01/25/22, 09:31 AM

Happy to heare that the dors to the lower tunnel is open! I’m coming to Los Gigantes 1. of february.

Dagmar - 01/25/22, 09:21 PM

looking forward

Paw - 02/03/22, 09:01 PM

Hello,
Any recent update if the gate is open?

Dagmar - 02/04/22, 06:37 AM

People reported since two days, that the gate to the tunnel was open.

Paw - 02/05/22, 08:55 AM

Yesterday it was closed. The guy let us out when my girlfriend insisted that she was feeling unwell and we were poor students etc. There were some people on the outside who could not come in. We called police. Ps. The guy seemed a bit crazy, maybe someone is using him.

Endru - 02/07/22, 02:08 PM

Spanish people are the worst. ?

Luckily all other tunnel around are still open, so enjoy them and skip this tourist trap. ?

Endru - 02/07/22, 02:11 PM

Guys, leave a bad review for this place on Google Maps, hopefully this will prevent such behaviour in the future. ?

Simon - 03/01/22, 03:20 PM

I hiked and passed the tunnel on Sunday 27 Feb 2022 and found that the gate has now been removed (it had been cut away and looks like it will stay that way) and so there is now free access to the entrance. The former operator still has helmets and lights for rent for those that want but you no longer have to pay to access the tunnel.

Dagmar - 03/01/22, 03:34 PM

Yes Simon, I also saw it last week and some other readers – that you can read in their comments.