Zona de Especial Conservación Barlovento, Garafía, El Paso y Tijarafe

The Special Conservation Zone Barlovento, Garafía, El Paso y Tijarafe is a vast protected area on the island of La Palma, stretching across steep, heavily inclined terrain in the island's northern and northwestern reaches. It spans parts of the four municipalities named in its title — Barlovento, Garafía, El Paso and Tijarafe — forming one of the more significant pieces of the Natura 2000 network in the Canary Islands. The zone carries the code ES7020084, with its conservation measures approved by order on 18 November 2013.

What makes this area distinctive?

Within the ZEC, five habitats of community interest have been identified. The most widespread is the Canary endemic pine forest (Pinus canariensis), which covers most of the surface in the western sector of the zone. The opposite side of the area is dominated instead by summit-level scrub formations — known locally as retamonar and codesar — alongside monteverde, the evergreen laurel forest typical of the archipelago's cooler, more humid highlands.

Which species live here?

The summit vegetation and laurel forest shelter several endangered species. Among them is the fern píjara (Woodwardia radicans), which favors damp, shaded corners of the laurel woodland, and the blue tajinaste (Echium gentianoides), a striking flowering plant found only in La Palma's higher elevations. The presence of these species was among the key reasons the area was brought under protection within the European Natura 2000 network.

Why was the area protected?

The ZEC designation aims to secure the long-term survival of Europe's most threatened habitats and species. The region's varied terrain — ranging from coastal slopes to high mountain ridgelines — creates a mosaic of microclimates that has allowed rare, often endemic flora to persist. The steep, hard-to-reach slopes that once limited human access have, somewhat paradoxically, helped preserve the natural character of these landscapes over centuries.

How to plan a visit

The ZEC is not a single, easily accessible viewpoint but a sprawling zone crossing four municipalities. Visits are best planned around specific hiking trails that cut through the pine and monteverde forests — for instance near Garafía or El Paso — offering views of both endemic woodland and the coastline beyond. Given the steep slopes involved, sturdy hiking footwear and caution on narrower stretches of trail are recommended.

Frequently asked questions

How does a ZEC differ from other nature protection categories? A Zona Especial de Conservación stems from the EU Habitats Directive and forms part of the Natura 2000 network — its purpose is to protect specific habitats and species rather than to safeguard scenery in general.

Can visitors walk through the whole ZEC? Most of the area is accessible on foot via local trails, though the steep and rocky sections call for good physical preparation.

Which municipalities does this zone cover? Barlovento, Garafía, El Paso and Tijarafe — four municipalities in the northern and western part of La Palma.

What is the standout natural feature here? The endemic Canary pine forests and the remnants of monteverde laurel forest, home to rare plants such as the blue tajinaste.