Los Tilos de Moya

What is Los Tilos de Moya?

Los Tilos de Moya is a small but ecologically precious patch of laurel forest (laurisilva) in the north of Gran Canaria, protected as a Special Nature Reserve (Reserva Natural Especial). Covering roughly 91 hectares, it stretches along the slope of the Barranco de Moya ravine, on the boundary between the municipalities of Moya and Santa María de Guía. The reserve forms part of the larger Doramas Rural Park and is one of the last surviving fragments of a forest type that once covered far greater areas of the Canary Islands.

Why is this forest so significant?

Laurisilva is a type of subtropical humid forest that survived in the Canary Islands as a relic of vegetation from before the last ice age, when similar woodlands still covered large parts of Mediterranean Europe. The dense, moisture-retaining canopy plays a vital role in protecting soils from erosion and in recharging the underground water reserves that supply the whole northern side of the island. The name "Tilos" refers to the local term for trees of the Ocotea genus that are typical of this forest type, although the understorey also hosts other members of the laurel family.

What plants and animals live here?

The reserve is home to more than 50 plant species and several hundred invertebrate species, many of them endemic to Gran Canaria or to the Canary Islands as a whole. Among the most valuable and endangered plants found here are chahorra (Sideritis discolor) and the cockscomb (Isoplexis chalcantha), species of considerable scientific interest that depend closely on the forest's particular microclimate. The constant humidity maintained by the tree canopy also favours a rich growth of mosses, ferns and lichens covering trunks and rocks throughout the reserve.

When did protection of the area begin?

Legal protection of this land goes back several decades: it was incorporated into the Doramas Rural Park in 1987, and in 1994 it was granted Special Nature Reserve status, giving it the highest level of legal protection available to natural areas in the Canary Islands. The aim of this protection is not only to preserve the trees themselves but the entire, delicate ecosystem that has developed around them.

Can visitors walk through the reserve?

Yes, Los Tilos de Moya is open to small-scale hiking. A comfortable circular trail of about 2 kilometres runs through the reserve, allowing visitors to pass through its most representative stretches of laurel forest without disturbing the most sensitive parts of the ecosystem. The route is considered easy and suitable for families with children, though the humidity and shade under the canopy make sturdy footwear a good idea.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Los Tilos de Moya located? In the north of Gran Canaria, along the Barranco de Moya ravine, between the municipalities of Moya and Santa María de Guía, within the Doramas Rural Park.

How large is the protected area? The reserve covers approximately 91 hectares of laurel forest.

Is access to the reserve restricted? Visits are limited to a designated circular walking trail of about 2 km, a measure designed to protect sensitive habitats from excessive foot traffic.

Why is this forest ecologically important? It is one of the last remaining fragments of laurisilva on Gran Canaria — a forest type crucial for soil protection and groundwater recharge, and a refuge for numerous endemic species.