In the shadow of the controversial tourism project 'Cuna del Alma' in Puertito de Adeje, in the south of Tenerife, an alternative settlement of makeshift homes, caravans, and cabins has been growing, housing vulnerable people and workers in the tourism industry. This burgeoning community starkly contrasts with the region's thriving luxury tourism sector and affluent holiday homes populated by foreign tourists.
José Miguel Rodríguez Fraga, the Mayor of Adeje, has been a staunch supporter of the 'Cuna del Alma' project, insisting that the luxury villas, despite significant ecological opposition, represent progress and development.
However, while waiting for this upscale development to proceed, a different kind of "urbanisation" has been taking shape in this remote part of the south coast, a “shanty town” featuring dirt roads, diverse types of makeshift housing, many made of wood, and an assortment of cars and makeshift garages.
Before reaching the small church, beach, bar, and homes of Puertito, now increasingly visited by excursion and leisure boats, and serving as a refuge for both turtles and eclectic humans, a small settlement composed of pallets, wooden houses, prefabricated structures, and caravans catches the eye. This improvised community stands in sharp contrast to the grand hotels of Playa Paraíso.
Discussions with some inhabitants of these self-made and improvised homes reveal that many are hospitality and service sector workers who can’t find somewhere to live or can’t afford current rental prices despite the tourism boom. Others are people in dire need of help who have found refuge in this semi-urban sprawl.
The local government plans to issue a detailed report on the proliferation of these irregular dwellings. They emphasise that most of the land is privately owned, requiring the property owners to take action for evictions. Among these private owners are the promoters of the 'Cuna del Alma' project. The settlement has notably expanded since protests against the luxury development have seemingly drawn more people to the area.
Meanwhile, 'Cuna del Alma' itself remains a hotbed of controversy. The construction of 420 luxury villas has been criticised for posing an imminent threat to protected flora, destroying an archaeological site, and commencing without an environmental impact assessment. These issues led the Canary Islands Government to halt the project in the previous legislative period. However, under the current administration the project is being pushed forward despite ecological opposition.
