Ijuana Integral Nature Reserve

Santa Cruz de Tenerife · Category: Leisure · Subcategory: Green spaces

This natural area occupies the southeastern zone of the Anaga Rural Park, at the tip of the peninsula of the same name. The Ijuana Nature Reserve groups the steep ravines of Ijuana, Anosma and El Palmital. The coast in this area is rugged and features enormous cliffs, softening at the mouths of the ravines, where in some cases small black sand beaches are found. In these zones, a xeric landscape shaped by erosion dominates, where cardones, tabaibas and their associated flora abound, representing one of the best examples of this type of vegetation on the entire island. Some inaccessible volcanic plugs also stand out, such as that of Juan Bay, and almost vertical walls close the ravines, where rupicolous plants take refuge, such as one shaped like thyme ( Satureja rivas-martinezii ) or a succulent bird's tongue ( Polycarpaea carnosa ). The area also contains interesting halophilic (saline) ecosystems.

These ravines may carry water sporadically and riparian communities dominated by rushes settle in their beds. In their upper part, which reaches 600 metres above sea level, the greater humidity allows the appearance of laurel forest masses in a good state of conservation.

The reserve is located in a very remote area with very little human presence; only hunters and occasional hikers visit these places, where trails are scarce due to the complicated terrain topography.

28.559003, -16.147021