What is it?

Barranco del Infierno Special Nature Reserve is a ravine ecosystem that is chiefly notable for the geomorphological structure of its water network. It is home to both aquatic environments and rocky environments in which soil is almost entirely absent.

Along with the protected areas of Anaga and Teno, the massif in which the ravine is located was formed from some of the oldest materials found on the island. The process of erosion has carved out a network of deep ravines within the massif, of which the most important are the Hoyo, Infierno, Agua and Fañabé ravines.  The Barranco del Infierno is the most spectacular, owing to its extremely deep and narrow watercourse, with drops of over 150 metres in height, and the impressive quantity of water that flows through it. It is also home to widely diverse plant populations, with a number of endemic species that include around a dozen endangered plants such as the extremely rare Ceropegia chrysantha and Atalanthus microcarpus.

Getting there

Access to the reserve via the path through the Barranco del Infierno is closed for safety reasons, namely the risk of rock-falls and fatal accidents.

Total area

1,843.1 ha

Municipality

Adeje

Governing legislation

Barranco del Infierno was declared a Special Nature Reserve and area of environmental sensitivity by Autonomous Region Act 12/94, which was later integrated into the Organisation of the Canary Islands Territory Act via Legislative Decree 1/2000.