Los Realejos is one of the districts in the Canaries to which nature has been most generous. This is clear from the fact that almost 50% of the land is under legal protection.

As a result, this is one of the best-conserved areas in the Canaries, with the territory enjoying a number of different kinds of protected status, whether national, regional (the Law of Natural Spaces of the Canary Islands) or European (Area of Special Protection for Birds).

Among the protected areas, the most important are the las Cañadas del Teide National Park, (79 hectares), the Natural Park of the Corona Forestal (2,270 hectares), the Protected Landscapes of Los Campeches, Tigaiga and Ruiz, (510 hectares), Rambla de Castro (45.9 hectares) and Montaña de los Frailes (25.7 hectares) and the Barranco Ruiz Site of Special Scientific Interest (49.8 hectares.).

These natural spaces, quite apart from their scenic beauty, are also important for their flora and fauna, due largely to the sparse population and the unevenness of the terrain.

The National Park and the Natural Spaces located in the district contain innumerable locations for leisure activities, including particularly the Emilio Fernández Muñoz Nature Classroom and a number of recreational areas.

The diversity of ecosystems in these protected areas makes them an attractive setting for educational activities with local schoolchildren, principally from the districts surrounding the park.

There is also an extensive network of footpaths running to the main centres of population of the Orotava Valley.