Punta Mujeres
A stroll along the coast of Punta Mujeres, a small village in the North of Lanzarote (Spain).
Inside one of the last ancient laurel forests
ANAGA
The Canary Islands are home to an extraordinary natural treasure that dates back 20 million years: the laurisilva, or laurel forests. This ancient ecosystem, found primarily on the westernmost islands of the archipelago, and on Madeira and several islands of the Azores, is a lush remnant of the subtropical forests that once covered much of the Mediterranean basin during the Tertiary period.
I journeyed in the Parque Rural de Anaga (Anaga Rural Park), a protected site located on the northwest of Tenerife, the largest of the Canary Islands. The area’s special climate has led to the existence of one of the most important specimens of laurel forest in the world (laurel, til and evergreen laurel). The forest has deep soils and is typically north-facing, with a tangle of laurel trees and huge heathers, ferns, mosses and lichens. And to put the finishing touches to the scenery, the moisture-laden trade winds often shroud the Anaga mountains in fog, giving the forest its enchanting and mysterious aura. Access to portions of the heart of the forest is limited to 45 people per day through a free permit system in order to protect and preserve the area, which was declared an Integral Natural Reserve.
Laurisilva is an extremely important resource, since its dense mass retains moisture, refills the aquifers (natural water deposits on the island), as well as creating and preserving fertile soil. Other kinds of vegetation include thermophilic woods (dragon, juniper and Atlantic mastic trees, etc.), fayal-brezal (wax-myrtle, heather, small-leaved holly and yew), wild spurge (on the coast), and cattails and reeds (in ravines). Because of its rugged terrain and wide variety of microclimates, the park contains incredibly diverse natural habitats, and was added to the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves in 2015. As such, it is home to the highest concentration of endemic species in Europe. No less than 800 unique species of flora and fauna have been recorded in its skies, waters, the shade of its dense laurel forest and its sparsely vegetated mountain peaks. They include the Canary Island spurge, Phoenician Juniper and dragon trees perched on inaccessible rocks. As for wildlife, there are hundreds of endemic invertebrates and reptiles, such as the Tenerife lizard. You can also spot a host of birds there: over 200 species fly over the island each year.
Immersing oneself in the Anaga forest is a multi-sensory experience full of sights, smells, sounds, and textures, which offers a unique journey back in time to a lush, ancient world.
Canary Islands
BOOKING.COM
Immersive destination photography highlighting the Canary Islands’ multifaceted character, vibrancy, and unique experiences that await travellers on arrival.
No models, no staging, just going with the flow of whatever the locations could possibly offer at varying times of day to realistically represent a traveller’s journey on Tenerife, La Palma, La Gomera, El Hierro, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura, and Lanzarote.
Mallorca
BOOKING.COM
Immersive destination photography bespoke to Booking.com highlighting Mallorca’s multifaceted character, vibrancy, and unique experiences that await travellers on arrival.
No models, no staging, just going with the flow of whatever the location could possibly offer at varying times of day to realistically represent a traveller’s journey.
