The Cabildo de Tenerife has approved the initial step toward developing a new official campsite and campervan area in the south of Tenerife, on the former site of the El Pinalito bottled water factory in Vilaflor, within the Corona Forestal Natural Park.
The decision was made unanimously during a plenary session held last Friday, marking a formal move to “insularise” the economic activity associated with operating a campsite at the location.
As part of the resolution, councilors agreed to establish a commission tasked with preparing a detailed study examining the legal, financial, and social implications of various management models. Pedro Millán, Tenerife’s Island Director for the Natural Environment, told the plenary session that the aim is to analyze all conditions before deciding how the site should be run.
The site has undergone several transitions over the past two decades. The El Pinalito factory ceased operations in 2004, and the facilities were later transferred to the Cabildo. In 2012, following approval of the Corona Forestal management plan, the area was identified as particularly suitable for accommodation use, including a hostel and camping area.
Demolition of the former factory buildings began in 2025 under a contract valued at €453,000, with works completed in February of this year. The total plot spans 7,020 square meters, of which 2,836 square meters had been occupied by buildings.
An initial draft project has since been commissioned to outline the transformation of the land into a campsite and motorhome area.
The proposal includes 35 pitches suitable for tents and motorhomes, along with public restrooms, a reception area, green spaces, a café, and designated wastewater disposal points for motorhomes. The developed footprint would cover approximately 4,800 square meters, according to Canarian Weekly.
Plans also call for the installation of a photovoltaic energy system intended to allow the site to operate independently and provide a reliable electricity supply within the forested setting.
The Cabildo is expected to evaluate several operational structures, with a public works concession currently viewed as the preferred option. Under this model, a specialized private company would manage the campsite directly. Officials indicated that the goal is to issue a public tender in the second half of this year.
Millán described the initiative as “unprecedented”, noting it will be the first time a campsite has been developed in a wooded natural area bordering Teide National Park.
For business owners in the outdoor hospitality and RV sectors, the project highlights how regional governments are approaching regulated campsite development within protected landscapes.
The use of a concession model, combined with early-stage feasibility assessments and renewable energy integration, may offer a reference point for operators considering partnerships on public land, particularly in environmentally sensitive destinations where infrastructure, permitting, and long-term management structures require careful planning.