Political row erupts over neglect of historic Bencomo Cave in Tenerife

The Cave of Bencomo in La Orotava is once again at the center of a political debate over its ongoing neglect. The political group Nueva Canarias-Bloque Canarista (NC-BC) claims that despite the site being classified as a Property of Cultural Interest (BIC), the Tenerife Island Council and the local government have failed to follow through on their promises to protect it. The group is now calling for urgent, practical action to preserve this vital piece of the archipelago’s history.

The main issue stems from a lack of progress since the last archaeological work in 2018. Because the government does not yet officially own the land, it remains impossible to move forward with any formal conservation or museum plans. Local spokesperson Naike Ramos Benítez argues that protecting the cave—which is historically linked to Mencey Bencomo—should be a priority for all officials, rather than a matter of political disagreement.

This situation highlights a common problem in the Canary Islands: heritage sites often have legal protection on paper, but receive little actual care on the ground. To resolve the deadlock, NC-BC has proposed a three-part plan: the government must finalize the purchase of the land, launch a full conservation project, and build an interpretation center to allow for public access and research.

The group has vowed to keep pressuring local and island authorities, insisting that restoring the site is essential to preserving the region's identity. For now, the cave remains a symbol of the disconnect between the official promises made to protect cultural heritage and the reality of its continued deterioration.