Reserva Natural Especial de El Brezal

Reserva Natural Especial de El Brezal is a special nature reserve in the north of Gran Canaria, located entirely within the municipality of Santa María de Guía. It protects roughly 107 hectares of montane cloud forest and is considered the best surviving example of fayal-brezal vegetation on the island — a transitional plant community that sits between laurel forest and heathland, typical of humid, high-altitude spots in the Canary Islands.

What grows inside the reserve?

The forest canopy is dominated by Canary laurel (Laurus azorica), Canary holly (Ilex canariensis), fire tree or faya (Myrica faya) and tree heath (Erica arborea), the plant that gives the reserve its name. Canary St. John's wort (Hypericum canariense) grows alongside them. Together these species make El Brezal the largest cloud forest reserve on Gran Canaria, and the constant humidity supports a dense undergrowth and epiphytes typical of fog-fed forests.

Why is the area protected?

The reserve belongs to the Canary Islands Network of Protected Natural Areas and is also part of the EU's Natura 2000 network as a Special Conservation Zone, since it harbours several habitat types considered important for the whole European Union. The protection aims to preserve one of the last remaining patches of the island's original laurel-heath vegetation, a plant community that has all but disappeared elsewhere on Gran Canaria due to historic deforestation and agricultural expansion.

How can you visit El Brezal?

Three circular walking routes run through the reserve, starting at an altitude of around 640 metres. They range from easy to moderate difficulty, making them suitable for families as well as more experienced hikers who want to experience a cloud forest without a long, strenuous climb. The trails reveal different faces of the forest, from dense, shaded stretches of laurel to more open sections covered in heath.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the reserve located? El Brezal lies entirely within the municipality of Santa María de Guía, in the northern part of Gran Canaria, near areas also known locally as El Palmital or Santa Cristina — hence the alternative names sometimes used for the site.

How large is the reserve? It covers approximately 107 hectares of forest and surrounding land.

Can visitors explore it on their own? Yes, the area is open to visitors via three marked circular trails, which makes it easy to walk without a guide.

What sets this forest apart from other areas of Gran Canaria? It is the island's largest remaining stretch of fayal-brezal forest, a transitional vegetation type between laurel forest and heathland that is now rarely found in such good condition.

Does the reserve have international significance? Yes, as a Special Conservation Zone under the Natura 2000 network, it protects habitats recognised as important across the European Union, underlining its value beyond the local scale.