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Rural Parks

Parque Rural de Anaga

Description

The Anaga Rural Park, which occupies 7% of the island and is part of the Anaga Biosphere Reserve, was one of the first landmasses to emerge from the seabed when the island of Tenerife began to form. 

The effect of erosion over millions of years has created an abrupt massif of jagged peaks with deep ravines leading down to the sea. Numerous beaches of fine black sand dot the coastline, often only accessible on foot or by boat.

The park is a beautiful natural area, rich in contrasting landscapes, that harbours a wealth of flora and fauna featuring a great variety of endemic species. 

Cruz del Carmen is a hotspot that has the highest biodiversity per square kilometre in Europe. Moreover, as it is a rural park, it contains villages in which many of the traditional popular, agricultural and livestock farming customs are still preserved.

  • #Flora
  • #Fauna
  • #LaurelForest
  • #Geology

Recommended time to visit: All year round.

Geology

The special climate of the area favours the existence of one of the finest examples of laurel forest in the Canary Islands. 

Another highlight is its impressive geological formations, which time and erosion have sculpted into capricious landforms, carving out crags, dykes and deep ravines scattered across the massif. 

Thanks to these features, the Anaga Rural Park has become one of the natural symbols of the island, attracting both local and foreign visitors all year round.

Parque Rural de Anaga

Flora and fauna

As the park stretches from the coast to Cruz de Taborno at an altitude of 1024 metres, it has different levels of vegetation depending on the elevation. 

Along the coast you will find tomillo de mar (Frankenia capitata) and lechuga de mar (Astydamia latifolia), and tarajal (Tamarixcanariensis) at the mouths of the ravines. 

A little further away from the coast you can find cardón or Canary Island spurge (Euphorbia canariensis), tabaiba (Euphorbia balsamifera, Euphorbia lamarckii) and verode (Kleinianeriifolia). 

As you continue upwards, the vegetation changes and in some places there are copses of sabina (Juniperus turbinatassp. canariensis), Mount Atlas mastic tree or almácigo (Pistacia atlantica) and acebuche (Olea cerasiformis). 

Then, further up, you enter the monteverde ecosystem, with typical laurel forest species such as laurel (Laurus novocanariensis), viñatigo (Persea indica), mocán (Visneamocanera), follao (Viburnum rigidum) and marmulano (Sideroxyloncanariense), fayal-brezal species – faya (Morella faya), tree heath (Erica arborea) and acebiño (Ilex canariensis) – and tejo (Erica platycodon) on the ridgetops. 

Significant plant communities are also found at the bottom of the ravines, with healthy populations of a native willow known as sauce canario (Salix canariensis), and rock-dwelling communities on the slopes and cliff faces, with many different Aeonium and Sonchus species.

The laurel forest has a powerful role to play in biodiversity, with many endemic species of fauna, especially invertebrates, of which there are well over a thousand species, many of which have yet to be studied. 

Among the species native to Anaga are a slug known as the babosa de boinaenana (Insulivitrina reticulata), a millipede (Anagaiulusblancatypa), a cockroach (Lobopteraanagae) and an earwig (Guanchiatenerifensis).

The reptiles that can be seen in this rural park are the Tenerife skink, the Tenerife gecko and the Tenerife lizard, with a subspecies that is found only at Roque de Fuera. 

As for birdlife, the largest populations of laurel forest pigeons are to be found here, along with those of Teno. 

Seabirds feature particularly prominently, as the Roques de Anaga are home to the largest breeding grounds on Tenerife for Bulwer’s petrels and Madeiran storm petrels.

Carabus faustus
Carabus faustus

Interesting routes

PRA 14 Hija Cambada

Hija Cambada

  • PRA 18 La Asomada - Cruz de Afur

    Trail La Asomada - Cruz de Afur (Monte Aguirre Exclusion Zone)

  • PR-TF 01 Las Mercedes-Cruz del Carmen

    PR-TF 01 Las Mercedes - Cruz del Carmen

  • Taborno - Valleseco

    PR TF 02 Taborno - Pico del Inglés - Valleseco

  • PR-TF 02.1 Derivación de El Frontón

    PR-TF 02.1 Conection PR TF 02 and PR TF 09 (by El Frontón)

  • PR-TF 03Casas de La Cumbre - Valle Brosque - Casa Forestal

    PR-TF 03 Casas de La Cumbre - Valle Brosque - Casa Forestal

  • PR-TF 04 El Bailadero - Taganana

    PR-TF 04 El Bailadero - Taganana

  • PR-TF 04.1 Derivación Playa del Roque de Las Bodegas

    PR-TF 04.1 Amogoje Viewpoint - Almáciga

  • Derivación al Semáforo

    PR TF 05.1 Igueste de San Andrés - El Semáforo

  • Draguillo Faro

    PR-TF 06 El Draguillo - Chamorga - Faro de Anaga

  • TF 06.1 Variante de Tafada

    PR TF 06.1 Chamorga - Casas de Tafada - Faro de Anaga

  • PR TF 06.2 Playa del Roque de Las Bodegas - El Draguillo

    PR TF 06.2 Roque de Las Bodegas - Almáciga - Benijo - El Draguillo

  • PR TF 06.3 Camino del Paso del Hediondo

    PR TF 06.3 Benijo - Cruz del Draguillo

  • Afur - Taganana

    PR TF 08 Afur - Taganana - Afur

  • PR TF 09 Las Carboneras - Afur

    PR TF 09 Afur - Las Carboneras

  • Cruz del Carmen - Punta del Hidalgo

    PR TF 10 Cruz del Carmen - Punta del Hidalgo

  • PR TF 10.1 Las Carboneras Chinamada

    PR TF 10.1 Degollada Las Escaleras - Las Carboneras - Chinamada

  • Cruz del Carmen - Punta del Hidalgo (por El Batán)

    PR TF 11 Cruz del Carmen - El Batán - Punta del Hidalgo

  • PR-TF 12 Cruz del Carmen - Bajamar

  • PR TF 12.1 Variante Tegueste

    PR TF 12.1 Tegueste Spur Trail (from PR TF 12)

  • PR TF 12.2 Pedro Álvarez

    PR TF 12.2 Pedro Álvarez Spur Trail (from PR TF 12)

  • SIA PRA 01 Sendero interpretado Taganana

    Taganana Interpreted Trail

  • PRAN 2 Bosque de los Enigmas

    Bosque de Los Enigmas Self-guided Interpretative Trail

  • Technical information sheet

    Surface area

    14,418.7 ha (7.1% of the island)

    Species of interest

    Tarajal (Tamarixcanariensis), cardón or Canary Island spurge (Euphorbia canariensis), tabaibaduce (Euphorbia balsamifera), tabaibaamarga (Euphorbia lamarckii), verode (Kleinianeriifolia), tajinasteblanco (Echium decaisnei), Mount Atlas mastic tree or almácigo (Pistacia atlantica), acebuche (Olea cerasiformis), sabina (Juniperus turbinatassp. canariensis), acebiño (Ilex canariensis), follao (Viburnum rigidum), tejo (Erica platycodon), Canary laurel or barbusano (Apolloniasbarbujana), til (Ocotea foetens), faya (Morella faya), saúco (Sambucus palmensis), Portugal laurel (Prunus lusitanica), mocán (Visneamocanera), marmulano (Sideroxyloncanariense), sauce (Salix canariensis), laurel pigeon, Bolle’s pigeon, goldcrest, sparrowhawk, spectacled warbler, chiffchaff, canary, Bulwer’s petrel, Scopoli’s shearwater, Barolo shearwater, Savi’s pipistrelle, Madeira pipistrelle, European free-tailed bat, lesser noctule, barbastelle bat.

    Ecosystems

    Coastal tarajal/tamarisk, cardonal-tabaibal (Euphorbia), thermophilic, monteverde, rock-dwelling plant communities.

    Places of interest

    Cruz del Carmen Visitor Centre, Pico del Inglés Viewpoint, Amogoje, Taganana, Roque de Las Bodegas, Benijo, Afur, Chinamada, Taborno, Chamorga.

    Regulations

    To consult permits for use and updated regulations for this Protected Natural Area, visit the official website of the Government of the Canary Islands.

    Parque Rural de Anaga

    Municipalities

    • San Cristóbal de La Laguna
    • Santa Cruz de Tenerife
    • Tegueste

    Places of interest

    These are some of the points of interest you can find along this route.

    Playa_Benijo
    Beach

    Benijo Beach

    A wild beach surrounded by nature and with spectacular views of the Roques de Anaga. It is 300...

    Chamorga
    Hamlet

    Chamorga

    This is a traditionally agricultural village, with interesting examples of typical Canary Island...

    Semaforo_San_Andres
    Unique building

    Semaphore tower, La Atalaya, Igueste de San Andrés

    A former maritime signal station built between 1880 and 1895, which operated until 1971. Now in a...

    Caserio_Los_Batanes
    Hamlet

    Los Batanes

    A hamlet known for its ethnographic value due to the traditional linen textile industry, with the...

    Winery

    Lagar de la Chanca

    One of 46 winepresses in the area, one of the best preserved.

    ...
    Faro_Anaga
    Lighthouse

    Anaga Lighthouse

    The Anaga Lighthouse is the most easterly lighthouse on the island, and is located in the area...

    Barranco_Roque_Bermejo
    Ravine

    Barranco Roque Bermejo

    Final stretch of the Barranco de Chamorga ravine, which ends in a rocky formation on the coast...

    Playa_Almaciga
    Beach

    Almáciga Beach

    With fine black sand in a rocky setting, this unspoilt beach stretches for 300 metres and is 35...

    Unique building

    Chapel of Nuestra Señora de Begoña

    Our Lady of Begoña is the patron saint of Almáciga and one of the most venerated images in the...

    Dragos_del_Cura
    Monumental tree

    Dragos del Cura

    A Canary Island dragon tree (Dracaena draco) stands on the edge of a cultivated terrace,...

    Taganana
    Hamlet

    Taganana

    Village that lies to the north of the island’s capital, with a rich natural, architectural and...

    Hamlet

    Almáciga

    Small hamlet with a long agricultural tradition with its small chapel dedicated to Our Lady of...

    Playa de Troche
    Beach

    Troche Beach

    This is a pristine and secluded pebble beach. The waves are very strong and the currents are very...

    Ermita Caridad Cobre
    Unique building

    Virgen de la Caridad del Cobre Chapel

    The image of the Virgen de la Caridad del Cobre (Our Lady of Charity) which is worshipped in...

    Laureles_Llano_Viejos
    Monumental tree

    Laurels of Llano de los Viejos

    As with other trees of the Canary Island monteverde, when the main trunk of a laurel tree decays,...

    Hamlet

    Benijo

    Hamlet founded on the site of a Guanche settlement, famous for its proximity to Benijo Beach,...

    Tafada
    Hamlet

    Casas de Tafada

    Two stone buildings now in ruins. They once housed the workers of the nearby farms and were used...

    Purisima Concepcion Chamorga
    Unique building

    Chapel of the Purísima Concepción

    The chapel of Chamorga belongs to the parish of Nuestra Señora de las Nieves de Taganana, and...

    Barranco_Benijo
    Ravine

    Barranco de Benijo

    Ravine that starts at Roque de Anambro and ends at the famous Benijo Beach.

    ...
    Iglesia_Nieves_Anaga
    Heritage of Cultural Interest

    Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de las Nieves (Church of Our Lady of the Snows) - BIC (Asset of Cultural Interest) Monument

    As early as 1507, documents mention the existence of a church in the fertile Taganana Valley...

    Teleferico_Teide
    Unique building

    Teide Cable Car

    The base station of the Teide Cable Car has a rest area, cafeteria and buffet restaurant with...

    Ermita de Santiago Apostol
    Unique building

    Chapel of Santiago Apóstol

    The chapel at Lomo de Las Bodegas, dedicated to St James the Apostle, is part of the parish of...

    Pico_Ingles
    Rock

    Pico del Inglés

    Landmark in the Anaga mountains, with a viewpoint boasting spectacular panoramic views. Formerly...

    Winery

    Winepresses on Camino del Chorro

    One of 46 winepresses in the area, built next to the vineyards to reduce transport distances.

    ...
    Hamlet

    Las Casillas

    Abandoned farming hamlet, which still bears traces of traditional Canary Island rural...