Popular beach in Lanzarote closed over Easter due to water contamination
One of Lanzarote’s busiest beaches will remain shut over Easter after months of sewage pollution, in a move that is already causing anger among locals and businesses. El Reducto beach in Arrecife has been closed since 14th October due to faecal contamination in the water, and there is still no reopening date in sight.
The situation has now turned into a political row, with the Socialist Party (PSOE) in Lanzarote blaming Arrecife’s mayor, Yonathan de León, for what they describe as a failure to act.
They point out the beach has already been closed during several key periods, including the December bank holiday, Christmas, and Carnival, dealing repeated blows to the local economy. Now, with Easter underway, frustration is boiling over.
Tourism Hit at the Worst Possible Time
El Reducto is the main beach in the capital and a key attraction for both tourists and cruise passengers. Its closure during one of the busiest holiday periods of the year is expected to dent Arrecife’s image as a top tourist destination.
Local businesses say they are paying the price, with fewer people in the area and reduced footfall for cafés, bars, and shops that rely on beachgoers.
“Not Technical — Political”
PSOE spokesperson Cristina Duque has warned the economic impact is already severe, calling the situation “unsustainable” for many small businesses.
Duque has demanded urgent action to reopen the beach, insisting the delay can no longer be blamed on technical issues.
“If it hasn’t been sorted in six months, then the problem is not technical, it’s political, and there are clear people responsible,” she said.
With visitors arriving for Easter and one of the island’s most popular beaches still off-limits, pressure is mounting on local authorities to deliver a solution.
For now, both residents and tourists are being forced to look elsewhere, while questions continue over how such a high-profile closure has been allowed to drag on for so long.
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