La Orotava Launches "Brushstrokes on the Lava" Tours Across Tenerife
The La Orotava City Council is launching a new series of "Brushstrokes on the Lava" tours, offering 10 themed routes across Tenerife's protected natural areas from February to June to showcase its natural and cultural heritage and promote environmental awareness.
The La Orotava City Council is launching a new series of "Brushstrokes on the Lava" tours. This program offers 10 themed routes across various protected natural areas on Tenerife.
Organized by the Department of Environment, Sustainability, and Climate Change, through its Municipal Environmental Education Center (CEAM), these tours will run from February to June, covering both northern and southern parts of the island. The tours will happen twice a month on Saturdays, starting February 7th and finishing June 20th.
La Orotava's mayor, Francisco Linares, explained that this new edition aims to showcase Tenerife's natural heritage. It combines natural beauty with cultural history, using old paths and trails to help participants explore the land and learn about its traditional uses. The program offers a healthy way to spend free time and makes it easier for people to visit natural areas through educational guided walks.
Luis Perera, the Environment Councilor, added that participants will not only learn about nature but also discover the unique heritage of an oceanic island like Tenerife. He explained that these areas are crucial for maintaining ecological balance and are home to many species found nowhere else. The tours also aim to raise awareness about protecting these environments.
Experts in fields like biology, archaeology, geology, and vulcanology will lead each tour. Their goal is to deepen understanding of the island's natural heritage and diverse wildlife.
The routes will visit places like Anaga Rural Park, the Pedro Álvarez mountains (a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve), Taganana, Derriscaderos Natural Monument, Corona Forestal Natural Park, Teno Rural Park, Teide National Park, and the Barranco de Ruiz Site of Scientific Interest.
The program also features a special activity combining nature, science, and education: a guided walk through the Canary Garden at the University of La Laguna's Central Campus. Here, visitors can see the diverse plants from various Canary Islands vegetation zones and learn about ongoing scientific research. This visit includes the archipelago's most comprehensive herbarium, housing over 130,000 specimens of algae, fungi, lichens, mosses, and vascular plants. There will also be a hands-on activity to create a herbarium sheet using professional conservation techniques, highlighting its importance for research and protecting biodiversity.
Tours will be held in metropolitan areas, as well as the north and south of the island. They are rated low to medium difficulty. Each activity is limited to 20 participants.
Registration is free and can be done via the La Orotava City Council website (www.laorotava.es). Each person can sign up for a maximum of three routes. Pets are not allowed.