Since 2019, with the implementation of the Los Realejos Birding strategy, this northern town has been sold abroad as an ideal place for bird watching fans, thanks to its spectacular landscapes and the presence of unique species such as the rabiche and turquoise pigeons.
The Realejos decided in 2019 to start working to capture a type of sustainable tourism that moves thousands of people every year throughout the world and which, moreover, values natural resources. Ornithological tourism, which encourages bird lovers to travel through different territories to observe and photograph their birds in freedom, is already a stable commitment of the municipality, which has its own guide and a growing network of observation points that each Each year they are promoted at specialized fairs and meetings thanks to the Los Realejos Birding tourism strategy.
With almost 50% of his territory protected by different laws and environmental regulations at the national, regional (Canary Islands Natural Spaces Law), European (Special Protection Area for Birds) and international (World Heritage) levels, Los Realejos is home to unique species such as the blue chaffinch or rabiche and turquoise pigeons, and an almost endless list of birds with stable or migratory populations: hawks, kestrels, gray herons, egrets, partridges, buzzards, sparrowhawks, Cory’s shearwaters, warblers, blue tits, canaries, alpispas, warblers , ravens…
The main observation points They are located on the cliffs of Gordejuela, the Rambla de Castro, the viewpoint of La Grimona, Tigaiga, Chanajiga, El Lance (one of the most propitious areas of the island for observing the rabiche and turquoise pigeons), Barranco de Ruiz or the Balsa de La Cruz Santa, one of the largest irrigation ponds on the island of Tenerife, converted, in the last two decades, into one of the favorite spots on the island for a large number of migratory birds. More than 30 species have been observed there, such as the white stork or the Pintail.
The success of this bet is also noticeable in initiatives such as the NaturViera International Nature Photography Contesta contest launched by the Environment and Tourism areas of the Los Realejos City Council, which brought together nearly 500 photographers from 25 countries last year.
