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Go to plannerThe 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.
Recommended time to visit: All year round.
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.
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.
14,418.7 ha (7.1% of the island)
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.
Coastal tarajal/tamarisk, cardonal-tabaibal (Euphorbia), thermophilic, monteverde, rock-dwelling plant communities.
Cruz del Carmen Visitor Centre, Pico del Inglés Viewpoint, Amogoje, Taganana, Roque de Las Bodegas, Benijo, Afur, Chinamada, Taborno, Chamorga.
To consult permits for use and updated regulations for this Protected Natural Area, visit the official website of the Government of the Canary Islands.
These are some of the points of interest you can find along this route.
Benijo Beach
A wild beach surrounded by nature and with spectacular views of the Roques de Anaga. It is 300...
Chamorga
This is a traditionally agricultural village, with interesting examples of typical Canary Island...
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...
Los Batanes
A hamlet known for its ethnographic value due to the traditional linen textile industry, with the...
Lagar de la Chanca
One of 46 winepresses in the area, one of the best preserved.
...Anaga Lighthouse
The Anaga Lighthouse is the most easterly lighthouse on the island, and is located in the area...
Barranco Roque Bermejo
Final stretch of the Barranco de Chamorga ravine, which ends in a rocky formation on the coast...
Almáciga Beach
With fine black sand in a rocky setting, this unspoilt beach stretches for 300 metres and is 35...
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
A Canary Island dragon tree (Dracaena draco) stands on the edge of a cultivated terrace,...
Taganana
Village that lies to the north of the island’s capital, with a rich natural, architectural and...
Almáciga
Small hamlet with a long agricultural tradition with its small chapel dedicated to Our Lady of...
Troche Beach
This is a pristine and secluded pebble beach. The waves are very strong and the currents are very...
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...
Laurels of Llano de los Viejos
As with other trees of the Canary Island monteverde, when the main trunk of a laurel tree decays,...
Benijo
Hamlet founded on the site of a Guanche settlement, famous for its proximity to Benijo Beach,...
Casas de Tafada
Two stone buildings now in ruins. They once housed the workers of the nearby farms and were used...
Chapel of the Purísima Concepción
The chapel of Chamorga belongs to the parish of Nuestra Señora de las Nieves de Taganana, and...
Barranco de Benijo
Ravine that starts at Roque de Anambro and ends at the famous Benijo Beach.
...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...
Teide Cable Car
The base station of the Teide Cable Car has a rest area, cafeteria and buffet restaurant with...
Chapel of Santiago Apóstol
The chapel at Lomo de Las Bodegas, dedicated to St James the Apostle, is part of the parish of...
Pico del Inglés
Landmark in the Anaga mountains, with a viewpoint boasting spectacular panoramic views. Formerly...
Winepresses on Camino del Chorro
One of 46 winepresses in the area, built next to the vineyards to reduce transport distances.
...Las Casillas
Abandoned farming hamlet, which still bears traces of traditional Canary Island rural...
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