SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 5 Sep. (EUROPA PRESS) –

The ‘Anaga Biofest’, a project organised by Ecotouristing Ideas Regenerativas in collaboration with the Biosphere Reserve of Fuerteventura, is extending its network of partnerships to the island, reinforcing its commitment to creating connections between the territories designated by UNESCO.

According to its director, Javier Tejera, this act of partnership highlights “the importance of building networks of understanding among the people living in these protected areas to enhance a regenerative and balanced tourism development.”

Festival Activities

With this premise, the festival will arrive on the majorera island on 6th and 7th September to experience the ‘Apañadas’ first-hand, a tradition recently declared by the Government of the Canary Islands as a Cultural Asset, as well as to explore the richness of its biodiversity through birdwatching.

‘Between Shepherds and Gambuesas: Discovering the Millennia-Old Tradition of the Apañadas’ will take place this Saturday from 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM, starting in Ajuy (Pájara).

This tour invites participants to look back and learn about one of the oldest traditions on the island, guided by its protagonists—expert shepherds who traverse the paths to herd and gather livestock according to the apañadas schedule.

Through this initiative, the ‘Anaga Biofest’ aims to emphasise one of the most distinctive elements of majorera culture, highlighting its contribution to the sociocultural and ethnographic development of the island. This practice must be protected, conserved, and passed down, not only for its tangible elements, such as the gambuesas scattered throughout the territory, but also for the norms, beliefs, and techniques involved in its execution.

Environmental and Cultural Tourism

The route takes place between the Betancuria Rural Park, the Natural Monument of the Ajuy Caves, and the Arch of El Jurado. In line with the festival’s philosophy and its commitment to developing regenerative tourism, the activity will respect the rhythms and processes set by the livestock, the organisers indicate.

This initiative will be complemented on Sunday by the birdwatching route ‘In Search of the Canary Tarabilla in the Ríos Cabras Ravine’, starting at 8:15 AM in Tesjuate (Pájara). This walking tour will offer insights into the island’s biodiversity, with a particular focus on the Canary Tarabilla, an endemic species found only in Fuerteventura.

To conclude, there will be a visit to the Verde Aurora Bio Farm ornithological reserve, a space dedicated to nature conservation, organic farming, sustainability, and majorera traditions.

This initiative not only provides an opportunity to enjoy biodiversity but also has a strong educational aspect surrounding the need to conserve the natural habitats of these species, highlighting their role as bioindicators in a unique environment.

Interested individuals can find more information about both activities at https://www.biofest-anaga.com/.

In 2025, the ‘Anaga Biofest’ was awarded the ‘Traveling for Happiness Prize’ in the category of Regenerative Tourism, recognising its transformative impact, commitment to social innovation, and dedication to sustainable territorial development.