V San Salitre Santa Cruz de Tenerife

Arriving in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the drive toward Playa Valleseco reveals a landscape where the rugged, volcanic soul of the island meets the vast Atlantic. As you descend from the heights of the Anaga Biosphere Reserve, the sheer cliffs and dramatic peaks dominate the skyline, providing a stark backdrop to your approach. The city itself feels rooted in this maritime history, a point of arrival for centuries, marked by the towering presence of the Torres de Santa Cruz. These twin structures, reaching 120 meters, serve as the modern compass for anyone navigating the harbor, their height a sharp contrast to the horizon you will soon be scanning from the water.

The water and the history

Once you reach the shore at Valleseco, the sea feels like a living archive. Swimming here means crossing paths with a history of defense and faith. You are essentially traversing the same harbor waters where, on July 25, 1797, Spanish forces repelled an amphibious assault led by Horatio Nelson. It is a local point of pride that the cannon 'El Tigre', which allegedly took the Admiral’s arm, remains guarded in the city. Nearby, the memory of the Señor de las Tribulaciones—the city's protector credited with ending the 1893 cholera epidemic—still resonates in the local culture. Beneath the surface, the environment is equally protected. The coastal strips of the Sebadales de Antequera and San Andrés are critical seagrass meadows, where you might spot the local marine flora that thrives in these stable, subtropical conditions, with temperatures holding steady around 20 °C at the start of the year.

Race day logistics

Organized by the Servicio de Deportes del Ayuntamiento de Santa Cruz de Tenerife with the technical direction of Gesport Canarias, the San Salitre event typically takes place in early January. The race offers a range of distances, from 50m sprints to a 2000m challenge, accommodating a wide spectrum of endurance levels. If you are looking for a different tempo in these waters later in the season, you might consider the V Travesía RCNT 2026, which offers a distinct perspective of the harbor in September, or the XXI Bajamar - La Punta for a northern coastal experience. While swimming, you will likely notice the artificial expanse of Playa de Las Teresitas, a landmark created in 1973 by replacing volcanic coves with Saharan sand, a reminder of the constant human dialogue with this rugged coastline.