Reserva Natural Especial del Malpaís de la Rasca

Reserva Natural Especial del Malpaís de la Rasca is a protected natural area covering more than 315 hectares on the southern tip of Tenerife, within the municipality of Arona. The reserve stretches along a strip of coastline and adjoining inland terrain where a raw volcanic landscape meets the Atlantic Ocean. Its name, "malpaís" ("badland"), refers to the hardened lava and volcanic clinker surface typical of the Canary Islands — rugged terrain that is difficult to cross but ecologically valuable.

What makes this landscape geologically unusual?

The reserve's most distinctive feature is La Laguneta, a coastal hydromagmatic edifice shaped like a ring, with a low rim rising to around 50 meters and a wide crater roughly 1 kilometer in diameter. This type of formation results from the interaction between magma and seawater during coastal eruptions and is a comparatively rare volcanic phenomenon on the island. Beyond La Laguneta, the reserve also preserves the broader geomorphology typical of southern Tenerife: volcanic cones and solidified lava flows that give the terrain its stark, moon-like appearance.

What plant life grows in Malpaís de la Rasca?

The vegetation belongs to the coastal cardón-tabaibal community characteristic of the dry southern coast of the island. Shrubby succulents dominate, well adapted to drought and saline soils: cardón, or Canary Island spurge (Euphorbia canariensis), tabaiba (Euphorbia balsamifera and Euphorbia lamarckii), verode (Kleinia neriifolia), cardoncillo (Ceropegia dichotoma), and balo (Plocama pendula). Together these species create a jagged, low-growing plant cover interspersed with exposed volcanic rock.

Which animals live in the reserve?

Bird species recorded here are well suited to dry, open terrain, including the trumpeter finch (Bucanetes githagineus), the stone-curlew (Burhinus oedicnemus), and Berthelot's pipit (Anthus berthelotii), a bird endemic to Macaronesia. Among reptiles, three species found only on Tenerife occur in the reserve: the Tenerife lizard, the Tenerife skink, and the Tenerife gecko. The only native mammal recorded in the area is a free-tailed bat species.

What archaeological traces survive here?

Malpaís de la Rasca is also one of Tenerife's significant archaeological sites. The area shows a strong historical presence of the Guanches, the island's pre-Hispanic indigenous inhabitants. Surviving evidence includes the remains of huts, shell middens documenting the exploitation of marine resources, pottery fragments, and stone tools. These finds make the reserve an important reference point for researchers studying the archipelago's pre-Hispanic history.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the reserve located? On the southern tip of Tenerife, in the municipality of Arona, covering the coastal headland known as Punta de la Rasca.

Can visitors explore the reserve on foot? Yes, the area is accessible to visitors walking along marked paths, though due to the fragile volcanic surface and its protected status, staying on designated routes is strongly advised.

Why was this area given protected status? Because of its distinctive geological formations, including the La Laguneta crater structure, its valuable succulent vegetation typical of the island's dry south, and an important archaeological record linked to Guanche culture.

Are there endemic species in the reserve? Yes — the Tenerife lizard, Tenerife skink, and Tenerife gecko are found only on Tenerife, and Berthelot's pipit is endemic to Macaronesia.