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ANAGA RURAL PARK

Situated in the north west of the island of Tenerife, if offers visitors the chance to enjoy an outstanding landscape, the result of a long and harmonious co-existence between man and a rich and diverse natural environment. The misty forests of the mountain peaks, the numerous rocky crags, the scattered traditional hamlets and, especially, the ancestral system of farming terraces, sculpted into the slopes of the ravines, are some of the features that give meaning and form to this landscape.
The mountain tops are covered with a forest mass that is essential to protect the soil and to recharge the aquifers, which run into the heads of most of the many ravines cutting through the massif. The laurel forest of the mountain tops, the wax myrtle-tree heath, the juniper forests of the foothills and the spurge and cactus spurge scrub are all an excellent example of its habitat. For species like the laurel pigeons, these forests are a vitally important habitat for their biology, and for many other birds that nest in the Roques de Anaga.
Much of the Anaga Massif is classed as a Special Protection Area for Birds (SPA), because of the presence of forest zones for the sparrow hawks and the two endemic pigeons, and as a nesting ground for sea birds like the Bulwer’s petrel, the little shearwater, Cory’s shearwater and the Madeira storm petrel.

IJUANA INTEGRAL NATURE RESERVE

This reserve contains the best example of spurge-cactus spurge in Tenerife. It has a high level of endemic biodiversity, with many protected species and a few endangered species. The ravines are the leading geo-morphological feature, with the Roque de Juan Bay rising from them in a salic tower that has been eroded away by the sea. The reserve as a whole represents an erosive landscape, barren and full of contrast, in one of what can be considered the most unspoilt areas of the island.
This reserve falls within the Anaga Rural Park.

LOS ROQUES DE ANAGA INTEGRAL NATURE RESERVE

Los Roques form an enclave of great scientific and geo-morphological interest in a good state of conservation that is outstanding for its scenic value. It contains populations of endangered species that are protected both by regional regulations and international conventions, like the orange dove’s bill (Lotus maculatus). Moreover, it is a representative example of the islet habitat and a zone of vital importance for species like the lizard (Gallotia galloti insulanagae), which maintains its only known population here, and for some birds.

EL PIRAJAL INTEGRAL NATURE RESERVE

This Reserve brings together one of the best representations of tertiary age flora. The Anaga laurel forest is one of the best and richest in species in the Canary Islands, and the area bounded within this reserve is one of the best conserved examples of laurel forest. The forest mass plays a fundamental role in re-charging the aquifer because of its high capacity to condensate the moisture transported by the Trade Winds, plus its ability to protect the soil against erosion. The existence of many endemic species, several of which are endangered and most are protected by regional regulations, enhances its importance, especially when they are only known in this area. For the bird life, the reserve is a magnificent refuge where many species nest. On the other hand, the Roques de Chinobre and Anambro, on the southern boundary of the reserve, are two outstanding landscape features of scientific, geological and geo-morphological interest.

Forest Recreational Areas

The recreational areas of the mountains in the borough are ideal for spending a day in natural surroundings, eating amid the wild vegetation and breathing the clean air with its perfume of pine and laurel forests.

Anaga Rural Park

North east of the city are the mountains of the Anaga massif, classed as a Nature Park in 1987 because of its enormous ecological value. It was later classed as a Rural Park in 1994.
The Anaga massif is an area that quickly climbs from sea level to almost one thousand metres. Steep ridges and deep gorges spread out from the range, running down to the sea and creating a wide variety of micro-climates and flora with an abundance of endemic species.
Anaga was formed as the result of a period of intense volcanic activity some 6.5 million years ago, and it is one of the few reserves of laurel forest in the world. The laurel forest is a relict from the tertiary age and it is an essential resource for both the borough and the island as it provides the entire area with water. There are other kinds of vegetation that grow in Anaga too, like the small groves of thermophyllous forest and extensions of spurges and cactus spurges that host some peculiar animal species, like the laurel pigeons.
In Anaga, you can see the “sea of clouds”, a meteorological phenomenon that occurs on the slopes of the mountains due to the Trade Winds, the frequent mists and the high level of moisture.
The human landscape in this area is associated with farming activities, livestock and fishing. Here, the people conserve the customs and traditions that have been handed down from past generations, like the craft work. Wickerwork baskets are still made here and you can still find the traditional embroidery.

La Ensillada Park

This is a recreational park that has barbecues and wooden tables. To get here, you have to take the road leading to the town of Chamorga, in the Anaga Rural Park.

Las Quebradas Park

A Park set at kilometre 14 along the TF-12 main road. Visitors can bring their own food and grill it on the barbecues. There are also tables and areas for walking and to submerge yourself in the natural surroundings.

Rosa Sosa Park

Located at the entrance to the Taganana tunnel, it offers tables and picnic areas for visitors, but it does not have grills for cooking food.

Las Mesas Park

Las Mesas Park is the only one situated outside of Anaga, You get there along Los Campitos road, beyond the village of Ifara. The land borders on the technical facilities of Radio Nacional de España (RNE).
A few months ago, the Santa Cruz city council signed an agreement with RNE to refurbish and remodel this recreational area, which has excellent views over the city.

Shoreline

The borough shoreline is covered to a large extent by port facilities, although there are stretches of the coastline for leisure activities, like Las Teresitas beach, the Cesar Manrique Marine Park and the future Añaza Marine Park.
Geologically, the Anaga peninsular is one of the oldest parts of the island. It is a steep range of rugged peaks cut by deep valleys and ravines that run down to the sea. The coasts are high cliffs, so many of the beaches at the mouths of these valleys are only accessible by sea, or with a hike lasting several hours along paths offering impressive views over the precipices. The highest point in Anaga is La Cruz de Taborno, at a height of 1,024 metres above sea level.
There was a time when the shoreline of Santa Cruz was made up of small black sand or pebble beaches that, over time, gave way to port facilities. Between the 30s and the 70s, the Santa Cruz bathing resort, with its beaches and pools, was the major meeting point between the city and the sea.
Today’s beaches are on the outskirts of the city, Las Teresitas is the most popular of Santa Cruz’ beaches. It is about 7 kilometres from the city centre, along the sea front promenade leading to the town of San Andres. Equipped and extended in 1973, with sand brought from the Sahara, it is 1.5 kilometres long and has an artificial reef that is covered by the high tide, protecting the beach from waves and currents. This is a beach for the whole family: safe, clean and offering a range of services that is soon set to be extended, with the project of French architect Dominique Perrault, who plans to develop and re-model the surroundings.

Beyond Las Teresitas, the coast road continues towards Igueste, climbing the cliffs and offering fantastic views like at La Punta de los Organos look out spot. Two kilometres further on, a turn off leads to Las Gaviotas beach.
This black, volcanic sand beach, which is covered at high tide, is open to the waves. Las Gaviotas beach became established as a nudist beach by popular custom that was recognised by the authorities.
The beaches of Roque de las Bodegas, Almáciga and Benijo are in the north of the Anaga Peninsular, beyond Taganana. These beaches can be dangerous if you do not pay attention to the signals and warnings as they are completely open to the Trade Winds, which create large waves and currents. They are beautiful however. Their black sand, the enormous waves often break in spectacular fashion and they are framed by the sheer cliffs, reefs and large islets.
One of the proposed Sites of Community Interest to be included in the Natura 2000 Network is on the coast of the borough, the San Andres Sea Grass Meadow. The waters of the northern area, from Punta del Fronton to Punta de Anequera, are included in a proposal for a Marine Reserve of Anaga, with a view to conserving the fishing and marine resources and the ecosystems.

Urban Recreational Areas

Public parks

Santa Cruz de Tenerife is a city full of charming public parks to rest in, walk around, read a book in the shade or for sports. The leading municipal parks are spacious and offer a wide variety of flowers, including the García Sanabria Park and La Granja Park, although you can find parks and green areas in almost every neighbourhood, like the Secundino Delgado Park in the Salamanca District, or the Ofra Park.

García Sanabria Park

The García Sanabria Park covers an area of 55,000 square metres of a plot flanked on one side by the Rambla del General Franco and by the Avenida Mendez Nuñez on the other.
In 1881, journalist Patricio Estévanez launched the idea of a municipal park, which was taken up by the mayor of Santa Cruz, Santiago Garcia Sanabria, in 1926. To do this, he created what was known as the “Pro-Park Commission”, a public subscription aimed at raising funds for buying the necessary land. The first project was designed by architect Antonio Pintor in 1910, and was very similar to the current design, although the final design was drawn up by Casa Levra, a company from Granada specialising in landscape gardening and flower growing. The park is a genuine Botanical gardens with over 200 species of plants from all over the world, apart from paths, fountains, pools, areas designed for children to enjoy themselves, monuments and interesting sculptures. The most significant and popular spots in this oasis are:

The Floral Clock, a gift from the Danish consul. It was built by Swiss clock makers Favag in 1958 and remains decked out in with fresh flowers all year round.

The Central Fountain, which was erected as a tribute to Mayor Garcia Sanabria and is made up of several stone monoliths and reliefs of male figures, along with a bust of the mayor and the figure of Motherhood, the work of sculptor Francisco Borges Salas.

The Arbour Path, decorated with adelphi, bouganvillea and climbing roses. Four sculptures representing the seasons of the year arise from the vegetation.

The Pond, where there are 19th century marble busts by Italian sculptor Angelo Cherubini, identified with characters from classic mythology, like Bacus or Apollo.

The Tamarind. This is the oldest tree in the Park, as it was already there when the gardeners planted the first trees.

The Bamboo Walk, an exotic path covered by a dense vegetation of bamboo cane.

La Granja Park

Many inhabitants of Santa Cruz associate sports with this park, which you can get into from Avenida de Madrid or from Benito Pérez Armas. La Granja Park, built in 1969, is slightly larger than Garcia Sanabria Park, and it contains groves of royal palms and bamboo thickets, spacious lawns, a children’s playground and several sculptures, one of which was put up by Belen Morales as a tribute to Felix Rodriguez de la Fuente.

Información proporcionada por la oficina de turismo de Santa Cruz.