Anaga Biofest Expands to Fuerteventura
The Anaga Biofest, a project organised by Ecotouristing Ideas Regenerativas in collaboration with the Fuerteventura Biosphere Reserve, extends its network of partnerships to the island of Fuerteventura. This initiative reinforces its commitment to fostering connections between territories designated under this UNESCO declaration. According to its director, Javier Tejera, this act of partnership highlights “the importance of generating networks of understanding among the people living in these protected areas, to promote regenerative and balanced tourism development.”
On the 6th and 7th of September, the festival arrives on the island of Fuerteventura. Attendees will have the opportunity to experience the Apañadas, recently declared by the Government of the Canary Islands as a Cultural Heritage Asset, and to discover the rich biodiversity of its landscapes through birdwatching.
Exploring Tradition and Biodiversity
‘Among Shepherds and Gambuesas: Understanding the Millennia-Old Tradition of the Apañadas’ will take place on Saturday, 6th September. The event begins at 8:30 AM and runs until 3:00 PM, starting from Ajuy (Pájara). This journey invites participants to reflect on one of the island’s oldest traditions, guided by the expertise of local shepherds who navigate the paths to guide and gather the livestock in accordance with the apaños calendar.
This initiative aims to highlight one of the most distinctive elements of majorero culture, underscoring its contribution to the socio-cultural and ethnographic development of the island. It is a practice that needs to be protected, preserved, and passed on. This is not only due to its more recognisable material elements, such as the gambuesas scattered throughout the territory, but also because of the norms, beliefs, and techniques applied to implement it.
The route will take place between the Rural Park of Betancuria, the Natural Monument of the Ajuy Caves, and the Arco de El Jurado. As part of the festival’s philosophy and its commitment to developing regenerative tourism, the activity will respect the rhythms and processes dictated by the livestock itself.
The proposal continues on Sunday, 7th September with the ornithological route ‘In Search of the Canary Warbler in Ríos Cabras Ravine’. This walk will commence at 8:15 AM in Tesjuate (Pájara). Participants will have the chance to explore the island’s biodiversity through birdwatching, paying special attention to the Canary Warbler, an endemic species found only in Fuerteventura. The event will culminate with a visit to the Verde Aurora Bio Farm ornithological reserve, dedicated to nature conservation, organic farming, sustainability, and majorero traditions.
This initiative not only offers the opportunity to appreciate biodiversity but also serves an educational purpose regarding the need to conserve the natural habitat of these species, highlighting their role as bioindicators in a unique environment.
Interested individuals can find information about both activities at https://www.biofest-anaga.com/.
Anaga Biofest: Tradition and Territory
The Anaga Biofest is now in its fifth edition and has established itself as an alternative for sustainable and regenerative tourism. With a broad programme of events that emphasise care for, and protection of, the environment, as well as traditions and culture, the focus remains on its key players. The project is organised by Ecotouristing Ideas Regenerativas, a company specialised in managing tourism projects under parameters of environmental, socio-cultural, and economic sustainability. This festival is characterised by building bridges and fostering partnerships between territories to create synergies among them. Since 2022, this vision has led to the establishment of lines and frameworks for collaboration with other biosphere reserves in the Canary Archipelago, including Gran Canaria, La Palma, El Hierro, and Lanzarote.
Fuerteventura now joins this initiative, having been recognised as a Biosphere Reserve since 2009. Its natural heritage offers the chance to experience unique geological formations, as well as a rich array of terrestrial and marine biodiversity.
This event is sponsored by the Ministry of Tourism and Employment of the Government of the Canary Islands, led by Jéssica de León, through Canary Islands Tourism. Additional support comes from the Cabildo of Tenerife, through Tenerife Tourism, as well as the municipal governments of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, San Cristóbal de La Laguna, and Tegueste, alongside the Fundación CajaCanarias.
Anaga Biofest: Travelling for Happiness Award for Regenerative Tourism
In 2025, the Anaga Biofest was honoured with the Travelling for Happiness Award in the category of Regenerative Tourism. This award recognises its transformative impact, focus on social innovation, and strong commitment to sustainable territorial development.
This recognition adds to awards received in previous editions and strengthens the value of a project that transcends culture to become a true laboratory for regeneration. It is an award that pays tribute to the hard work of a diverse and dedicated team, highlighting all the individuals, communities, and landscapes that make the Anaga Biofest much more than just a festival.
The Anaga Biofest strengthens its partnership with Fuerteventura to enhance its ethnographic and natural values.
