Now that the city lights hide the wonder of the stars from us, it might seem like we're forgetting about them. But nothing could be further from the truth. Scientists continue to look at the sky, trying to uncover the mysteries of the universe; the stars play a leading role in our stories, and increasingly, travelers seek destinations based on the quality of their night sky.

Imagine you are on El Teide, at the height of the Izaña Observatory, on the Canary Island of Tenerife, Spain. The sun sets on the horizon and, in a matter of minutes, a blanket of small luminous dots appears over your head. In a place where light pollution is practically non-existent, we will see the Milky Way so well that the definition will be so exquisite to be able to appreciate the three-dimensionality of the universe.

Humanity has lived under a blanket of stars every night, and this has always marked us. We see it in art, scientific research, and the multitude of archaeological remains that ancient civilizations have left us around the planet. The Mayan pyramids of Guatemala, the temple of Abu Simbel in Egypt, Stonehenge in England, the Goseck circle in Germany, or El Infiernito in Colombia are just a few examples. For humanity, the cosmos is science, culture, and wealth. That is why these three pillars have always been very present in The Starlight Foundation.

The Starlight Foundation

To understand the origins of the Starlight Foundation, we have to go back to 1982 when the Institute of Astrophysics of the Canary Islands (IAC) was created. This public organization was not only born for scientific research but has always sought to integrate the three dimensions of the cosmos: 

• Science: highlighting the importance of protecting the night sky to conduct science with the highest possible quality.
• Culture: the preservation of astronomical heritage and knowledge in society.
• Economy: promoting sustainable star tourism as a way to increase the attractiveness of the most depopulated rural areas. 

With these objectives in mind, the IAC created the Starlight Foundation in 2009, with the support of UNESCO, the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), and the International Astronomical Union (IAU). 

It is a non-profit entity, whose main purpose is to “develop programs and actions aimed at offering a different way of caring for and defending the sky and valuing it as a necessary resource for life and as an intangible heritage of humanity.” 

In practice, one of its main goals is to find and certify the best places for star observation, successfully combining astrology and tourism. They have different certification modalities, such as Starlight Reserves, Starlight Tourist Destinations, or Starlight Star Parks.

On their website, the Starlight Foundation shows a map where you can find all the entities that have received certification.

The Benefits of Astrotourism

Astrotourism has the peculiarity of being located in the most remote and forgotten places by society, giving them value. It is a powerful tool against depopulation, as it creates wealth and jobs in rural areas. It revalues the cultural heritage of the territory, recovering abandoned spaces such as churches or lighthouses for the dissemination of astronomy.

Furthermore, it plays a crucial role in education and awareness about the universe. Through educational workshops, lectures, and astronomy-related activities, visitors have the opportunity to learn more about the cosmos and its importance in culture and science. This educational approach not only enriches the experience of tourists but also contributes to the creation of global awareness about the need to preserve the darkness of the night sky and promote sustainable practices.

Like other activities, tourism can become a powerful instrument to develop a new alliance in favor of the quality of the night sky. Responsible tourism can and should integrate the landscape of the night sky as a resource to be safeguarded and valued in each destination. The generation of new tourist products based on the observation of the sky and nighttime phenomena opens up unforeseen possibilities for cooperation between tourism stakeholders such as local communities and scientific institutions - Article 9 of the Starlight declaration (2007).

Discover the Starlight Star Park Camino Barranco de Badajoz

As we have mentioned, among the various realities that can demonstrate their good practices for the preservation of the darkness of the night sky with Starlight, we find the Star Parks; permanent infrastructures that can be of different types, but always located in places with a clean and dark sky that allow the development of dissemination and educational activities linked to astronomical observation and contemplation.

Did you know that one of the Starlight Star Parks is located in Tenerife, and also has many of its other sustainability practices recognized with the Biosphere certification seal? It is the Starlight Star Park Camino Barranco de Badajoz.