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Environmental campaigners in Tenerife are set to protest against the construction of 420 luxury villas at El Puertito de Adeje. The demonstration, organised by the platform Salvar el Puertito, will take place at 12:00pm on 14th June, outside the Hotel Baobab Suites in Costa Adeje, owned by Belgian businessman Filip Hoste, the promoter behind the contentious “Cuna del Alma” tourism development.
Organisers say they will use the protest to inform hotel guests “about the sale of luxury properties in an illegal project” and to raise awareness of “how El Puertito is being destroyed” and why “we must not support businesses that harm the environment.”
Over 50,000 Sign Petition to Halt Project
Despite strong opposition and more than 50,000 signatures calling for a halt to the building work, construction at Cuna del Alma continues. The project has come under fire for environmental damage, illegal works, and violations of archaeological protections.
During the previous legislative term, three sanction proceedings were opened against the developer for destroying heritage sites, threatening protected flora, and commencing construction without an environmental impact assessment. However, all three cases were allowed to expire under the current Canary Islands government, formed by the Coalición Canaria and the Partido Popular.
A revised penalty for one of those infractions, the destruction of archaeological remains, was recently proposed. The new fine, set at €229,503, is less than half of the €600,000 initially suggested in 2022 for a “very serious” offence. Authorities accuse the company, Segunda Casa Adeje S.L., of altering protected sites and ignoring a legally binding suspension of the works.
According to official documents, heavy machinery was seen operating in restricted zones even after the project had been ordered to stop. One report dated 11th October 2022 confirmed that topographical changes had been made in a prohibited area, while another inspection two days later found workers still active on-site.
Threat to Endangered Flora
The project also poses a threat to Echium triste, a rare wildflower protected under the Canary Islands’ regional conservation laws. In November 2022, the Department of Ecological Transition issued a precautionary suspension of works due to an “imminent environmental threat” posed by construction activities.
While the developers applied to relocate the endangered plant, environmental authorities ruled against the request. Under regional law, relocation is only permitted in cases of serious public interest, safety concerns, or for scientific purposes, none of which applied in this case.
In a controversial move, the Government of the Canary Islands later declared itself unfit to rule on the matter and passed the decision to the Tenerife Cabildo, which in turn deferred it to the Adeje Town Hall. Led by Mayor José Miguel Rodríguez Fraga (PSOE), the local council approved the transplant of the viborina triste, effectively allowing construction to resume.
The approval was based on a plan to collect and disperse the plant’s seeds elsewhere. The head of the environmental body that authorised the decision, biologist Rosendo López, resigned shortly afterwards amid revelations that he had also advised the developers.
Family Faces €12,000 Expropriation Offer
Further controversy surrounds the planned expropriation of a 63-square-metre property belonging to local resident Juan Francisco Galindo. Located near the beach, the family property once served as a banana packaging facility and now functions as a cherished meeting place. Despite its strategic location and the project’s overall investment of €350 million, the developer has offered just €12,668 for the site.
“My family doesn’t have land or money to spare,” Galindo said in an interview. “We’re not going to give up El Puertito for €12,000 so they can offer their clients a semi-private beach.”
The upcoming protest is expected to reignite debate over the future of El Puertito and the balance between tourism development and environmental conservation in the Canary Islands.
