Mass Tourism, Urban Speculation, and Ecocide: El Puertito de Adeje
Irene Guacimara Fuentes Bauzá is an environmental advocate and journalist
The Canary Islands are one of the world’s top tourist destinations: in 2024 alone, they received nearly 18 million visitors, almost 90% foreigners. On the southwest coast of Tenerife lies a small, charming bay nestled between two protected natural areas—El Puertito de Adeje. But this idyll is now the site of systematic destruction of historical, cultural, and especially natural heritage inflicted by the Canarian mass tourism model. It is one of the last bastions of traditional Canarian essence on the island.
As is the case in many places across Spain and the world, this attack on the land and biodiversity follows the same modus operandi: a natural paradise is destroyed with total impunity for private economic interests linked to mass tourism. A paradise built is a paradise destroyed. And all under the false green guise of sustainable tourism.
View of El Puertito de Adeje
The development of the luxury tourism megaproject called “Cuna del Alma” (“Cradle of the Soul”) in Puertito de Adeje has faced strong public opposition since its inception but continues with the tacit approval of public institutions that violate local, national, and European laws protecting natural environments and species.
In the case of El Puertito de Adeje, several elements legally qualify this situation as “ecocide”, as defined by an Independent Expert Panel¹: unlawful or wanton acts are being carried out, in the full knowledge that they are causing severe and long-lasting environmental damage². But that’s not all...
Why Is the Protection of El Puertito de Adeje Important?
El Puertito de Adeje includes a small fishing neighbourhood and coves with reefs and marine caves. This coastal area holds high natural, historical, cultural, and geological value in urgent need of protection.
El Puertito borders La Caleta, a Site of Scientific Interest (SSI), which would be fully enclosed and degraded by the megaproject, relegated to a tiny pocket. Together, these protected spaces contain four Habitats of Community Interest (HCI), and despite both forming a single ecosystem of great ecological value, the Puertito was not declared a SIC by arbitrary decision of the Mayor, as this would hinder his old plans for urban mega-development. Just a short walk from El Puertito is Diego Hernández Beach, which is also a SSI and a Protected Natural Area³ of high ecological sensitivity. According to national regulations, authorities must monitor and prevent the degradation or fragmentation of such habitats and species.
A digger undertakes construction work in El Puertito
Biologically, the area hosts 25 endemic plant species⁴, three exclusive to Tenerife, 20 Canarian, and two Macaronesian. One such plant, the beautiful and delicate Viborina Triste, is unique in the world and enjoys special protection⁵. It may only be relocated with a special permit, by qualified personnel, and with authorization from the island’s top institution—the Cabildo of Tenerife. Additionally, there are three endemic reptile species⁶, and around 30 bird species⁷ that reside there.
El Puertito and La Caleta are part of a Special Area of Conservation (SAC)⁸ under the EU’s Natura 2000 network, governed by Directive 92/43/EEC for the conservation of natural habitats and wildlife.
In marine terms, the ecosystem supports 350 fish species, also including critically endangered ones such as the angelshark, loggerhead turtle, and green turtle—all of which rely on “sebadales” (seagrass meadows) that would be harmed by the resort’s effluent disposal, as would the bottlenose dolphins. A resident population of over 200 short-finned pilot whales already suffers from chronic stress.
It’s worth remembering that the Canary Islands were declared the first whale sanctuary in Europe and hold the “Responsible Watching” certification by the World Cetacean Alliance, allowing respectful sightings of these magnificent creatures.
The geological richness of El Puertito is stunning—nicknamed “the little Grand Canyon” for its reddish tones and volcanic cliffs.
Spain’s Geological and Mining Institute (IGME) declared it a Geological Site of National Interest (LIG) with a HIGH protection priority, covering an area of about 25 football pitches. This is due to the presence of a well preserved, rare welded ignimbrite— formed by a highly explosive eruption likely hotter and more intense than Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. It’s an accessible key for volcanologists studying future eruptions of Mount Teide. El Puertito has the highest number of “adopted rocks” in Spain’s Adopt a Rock programme. IGME called on the Canarian government to stop the works and protect the site but their demand, so far, has been ignored.
An international geological study funded and led by British-Canarian company GeoTenerife, which resulted in the Puertito volcanic deposits being included in the Spanish national inventory, highlights that many of the island’s ancient explosive remains have already been eroded or destroyed by human activity. This makes the remaining formations in El Puertito all the more valuable. Sharon Backhouse, the company’s director, supports creating an environmental and geological interpretation park and a Guanches⁹ archaeology centre. “Between them, La Caleta and El Puertito are an open book of 300,000 years of the island’s most dramatic, explosive history that you can comfortably view on an easy walk. And El Puertito bears witness to the lives of the island’s earliest settlers. There’s nothing else like it here.” But not only has this proposal been ignored—several scientists involved in the study declined to reveal their names for fear of reprisals.
In terms of Archaeological Relevance, El Puertito’s historical significance dates back to the Guanche indigenous population, with findings including ceramics and shelters and huts, with shell and stone remains. In 2022, the heritage association Teguico denounced the destruction of the largest archaeological site found in southwest Tenerife due to construction works. Despite a temporary halt and a €600,000 fine, only 2% of the site was protected, and the case was allowed to expire. Shockingly, the historical heritage office has not conducted a thorough investigation, and the local Adeje archaeological catalogue is incomplete.
Overwhelming Social Response
We are in a race against time to save El Puertito’s ecosystems and identity. Although severe damage has occurred since construction began in 2022, with care and time, this unique site could still be restored.
In December 2024, the environmental group “Salvar La Tejita” filed a complaint with the island’s environmental prosecutor over damage caused by the renewed construction—affecting over 9,000 square meters, decimating the “Tabaibal-Cardonal” habitat and destroying a “viborina triste” population, sawn off and violently uprooted by “unqualified personnel” hired by the developer (Segunda Casa Adeje SL/Second Home Tenerife), with the Adeje Municipal Council’s consent. The nature group “ATAN” also filed a complaint with the prosecutor against the developers, builders, mayor, and Adeje Municipal Council for alleged environmental crimes, urban planning violations, and falsification of documents. None of these cases have prospered yet.
Public anger has erupted in numerous mass demonstrations under the slogan “Canarias tiene un límite” ("The Canary Islands have a limit”), explicitly demanding the halt of the “Cuna del Alma” and La Tejita Hotel projects. In 2024, six young people went on a 20-day hunger strike.
In 2022, activists organized a Stop Cuna del Alma encampment, leading to clashes with construction workers. It led to three stop orders being imposed, and work was halted for two years. In 2023, the developer installed tall, ultra high definition surveillance cameras overnight aimed at public trails—violating data protection laws—and erected sharp metal panel fencing that strong winds later blew away twice, endangering hikers and local residents. Works officially restarted in November 2024.
Devastation of the landscape in El Puertito
A total of 154 scientists and experts signed a petition demanding the complete halt to construction and restoration of the affected area, sent to the Canary Islands President, the Cabildo, and the Adeje mayor. A “You Move Europe” petition (addressed to the European Parliament, the Directorate-General for the Environment of the European Commission, the Government of the Canary Islands and the Adeje City Council) has gathered over 50,000 signatures. Moreover, the Hispania Nostra Red List, a national heritage platform that highlights cultural sites at risk of destruction, now includes the Puertito case.
Just days before a massive protest on May 18 this year, it was announced that an archaeological fine against the developer would be cut by 50% and downgraded from “very grave” to “grave”. Meanwhile, activists receive threats, heavy penalties and quick sentencing to deter any protest in Puertito de Adeje.
The Pirate Village
Alongside the luxury project, a nearby area has become a shantytown known as The Pirate Village, expanding over decades due to speculation and unaffordable housing. Some inhabitants are hotel workers. The area features makeshift homes, gardens, livestock, and a basic electricity system. The authorities are using this illegal human settlement as a “pretext to justify the luxury megaproject”, by marketing Cuna del Alma to the public as the only way to save this unique enclave. But in reality, the development is intended as just a playground for millionaires.
Cradle of Darkness: Who’s Behind “Cuna del Alma”?
The economic interests behind this multibillion-euro project are so powerful that even rival political parties have aligned. Despite the European Commission acknowledging possible EU law violations, the project continues with shocking impunity.
To secure permits from the Coastal Authority and Ministry of Ecological Transition, an NGO named “Océano Sostenible” presented a plan for a Marine Education Centre, supposedly to protect and restore the marine ecosystem of El Puertito. This was the golden key presented to locals to greenwash the project.
But recently the “Cuna del Alma Compensation Board” (Adeje Town Hall and the developer) expropriated the very building where the project’s inaugural presentation was held—without notice or compensation to its owner—despite it being a historically significant packing house recognized by the Cabildo. The aim? Demolish it and nearby structures to “introduce yellow sand” to create an extended tourist beach stretching far inland, severely altering the bay’s coastal and marine ecosystems.
The face of the project is businessman Filip Hoste, while other investors remain in the shadows. Known funders include two Belgian families—Van der Marliere and Van Biervliet—and possibly European and Asian investment funds.
Environmental Assessment Deficiencies
The Cuna del Alma tourism development project had two official negative archaeological reports issued by the Tenerife Cabildo in 2014 and 2017, which were ignored.
Furthermore, the Environmental Report (memoria ambiental) required in Spanish legislation is incomplete and flawed, as it omits multiple protected species and habitats¹⁰. How? The Adeje Town Hall’s environmental department head also worked for the developer, preparing the deficient report and signing it off himself.
Thirdly, the project lacks a legally required Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report, or Construction Impact Report, (informe de impacto ambiental de proyecto) as mandated by the European Union¹¹. This omission is particularly serious given that the project involves major construction within or near a Natura 2000 protected site (ZEC Franja Marina Teno-Rasca), where environmental assessments are strictly obligatory.
The absence of a comprehensive and legally compliant EIA report should invalidate the project’s environmental authorisation.
Since the new regional government under President Fernando Clavijo took office, all three prior suspensions of the project were lifted—including one from the Cultural Heritage Department, now led by Clavijo’s uncle.
A Reckless Tourism Model That Destroys at All Costs
El Puertito de Adeje is more than a natural treasure—it is a symbol of the global struggle between frenzied urban development and environmental preservation amid climate change and biodiversity loss. Its destruction would be an irreparable loss and send a dangerous global message: that money and power can override nature, society, and the law. Tourism should not lead to widespread, long-lasting environmental harm—otherwise known as ecocide.
The European Parliament’s news site reported on February 27 that “environmental crime is now the fourth most profitable criminal activity globally”, on par with drug and human trafficking.
To combat this, the EU passed a new Environmental Crime Directive in April 2024, expanding the list of environmental offenses to include acts comparable to ecocide as qualified crimes.
Increasingly, lawyers, environmentalists, and citizens are calling for ecocide to become the fifth international crime under the International Criminal Court, and for its inclusion in national and regional laws so that the courts have greater influence in the protection of nature, biodiversity and the environment.
Spain is relying recklessly on mass tourism as its main economic activity, vulnerable to geopolitical crises and environmental collapse. This short-term vision ignores the urgent need for a more sustainable and balanced model.
Tourism’s boom has created a “gold rush” effect, overwhelming ecosystems and cultures. We cannot allow progress to mean destruction. The future of the Canary Islands—and many tourist destinations—depends on our ability to respect and preserve its unique beauty.
“The University of La Laguna in Tenerife calculates it would cost the island authority 12-14 million euros to buy back the Puertito de Adeje site. If they impose a small tourist tax, the money could be raised in a heartbeat. They have a small window to do the right thing, but it’s closing fast. If they don’t, it will be open season for a raft of other megahotel projects on the table under the guise of eco-friendly development that will decimate the essence of what makes the Canary Islands so very special and turn them into a tourist theme park, exiling locals from the places they love.” says Backhouse.
Final Thoughts from César Manrique
The emblematic and visionary Canarian artist César Manrique received the World Prize for Ecology and Tourism and the Europa Prize for his defense of environmental values. He spent his entire career creating spaces perfectly integrated into the natural environment, in harmony with and respect for biodiversity, the landscape, and ecosystems. He said:
“It is truly sad [...] that authorities, politicians and governments now lack a clear vision of the future" because "the survival of a people cannot be based on the extermination of all its natural resources.”
During the 1992 Rio Summit, Manrique wrote:
“Nature has given us the splendor of life, and as a splendid mother, we have a duty to protect it from all danger, because we are dependent on it. If nature becomes sick and dies, we all die. If the human species is truly intelligent, we must demonstrate our care for it, given the consequences we might suffer.”
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Wherever you are, please help us Save El Puertito de Adeje.
Sign the petition and adopt a rock from the LIG site via IGME’s free Adopt a Rock programme.
1. “Ecocide” shall be understood as any unlawful or wanton act committed with the knowledge that there is a substantial likelihood of causing severe damage that is widespread or long-lasting to the environment. For more information: https://es.stopecocide.earth/legal-definition
2. Widely recognized as ecocide in society:
https://www.ecologistasenaccion.org/282097/la-lucha-activista-paraliza-el-complejo-turistico-cuna-del-alma-en-tenerife/
3. Area protected under Regional Law 12/94
4. Among the protected species are: coastal halophytes, sweet tabaiba, cardón cacti, verodes, balillos, communities of balos, nitrophilous scrub, and small cardón.
5. According to Annex IV of the Canary Islands Catalog of Protected Species
6. Endemic reptiles include: the perenquén (a type of gecko), the common lizard (lisa común), and the Tenerife lizard (lagarto tizón)
7. Bird species include: the Berthelot’s pipit (bisbita caminero), the spectacled warbler (curruca tomillera), the grey wagtail (lavandera cascadeña), the common kestrel (cernícalo vulgar), the plain swift (vencejo unicolor), the long-eared owl (búho chico), the Cory’s shearwater (pardela cenicienta), among others.
8. This Special Area of Conservation (SAC) within the Natura 2000 network is known as the Teno-Rasca Marine Strip (Franja Marítima Teno-Rasca).
9. The Guanches were the original indigenous inhabitants of the Canary Islands, specifically of the island of Tenerife, before the colonization from the Iberian Peninsula in the 15th century.
10. According to Annex IV of the Habitats Directive and the Canary Islands’ regional catalogue of protected species.
11. Directive 2011/92/EU, as amended by Directive 2014/52/EU, and transposed into Spanish law by Ley 21/2013, de Evaluación Ambiental.