About this place
Barranco Oscuro is a nature reserve located on the island of Gran Canaria, within the municipality of Moya, in the Canary Islands. Its name refers to the ravine (Spanish barranco) typical of the island's interior, around which the protected area's boundaries have been drawn. The site sits at approximately 28.0659°N, 15.5922°W, placing it in the northern part of the island, an area known for its deep valleys and ravines cutting into Gran Canaria's volcanic massif.
What kind of reserve is this?
Barranco Oscuro holds the status of an integral reserve (Spanish reserva integral) — the highest level of protection within the Spanish system of protected natural areas. This means the ecosystems found here are subject to strict, integrated protection: the site is managed as a single whole, with human interference kept to an absolute minimum.
Can visitors enter or explore the area?
No. Unlike many other protected areas on Gran Canaria, Barranco Oscuro is not open for recreational use. Entry and any form of use of the land — including hiking, independent nature observation, or other recreational activities — are prohibited here. This restriction follows directly from the reserve's integral status, which is designed to shield the natural processes taking place there from any external pressure.
What purpose does the area serve?
Under the protection rules governing it, Barranco Oscuro may be used exclusively for scientific purposes. This management model is typical of integral reserves: it allows researchers to study ecosystems under conditions as close to natural as possible, free from the disturbances caused by tourism or other human activity. In practice, this means access is limited to authorized research teams rather than the general public.
Why does this level of protection matter?
Integral reserves are among the rarer and more rigorous forms of nature protection applied in Spain. On Gran Canaria — an island with an unusually varied terrain and microclimates shaped by its volcanic origin and numerous ravines — such areas act as a kind of untouched-nature reference point, against which the condition of ecosystems in more heavily used parts of the island can be assessed. Strict protection, combined with access limited to scientific research, is intended to safeguard the ecological processes at play here from irreversible change.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Barranco Oscuro be visited? No, the area is closed to tourism and recreational use — only researchers conducting scientific studies are granted access.
Where exactly is this reserve located? On the island of Gran Canaria, in the municipality of Moya, in the northern part of the island, at approximately 28.0659°N, 15.5922°W.
What protection status does the site have? It is classified as an integral reserve (reserva integral), the strictest category of area-based protection.
Is hiking possible in the surrounding area? The reserve itself is closed to such activity; visitors interested in exploring the surroundings should look for other officially accessible trails and protected areas on Gran Canaria, outside the boundaries of Barranco Oscuro.
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