A laurisilva forest of 25,397 m² survives in the urban centre of La Esperanza, in El Rosario. Biologist Richard Pott described it as one of the best primary forests in the Canary Islands.
In Tenerife, there exists an unusual place that has nothing to envy from more famous forests like Garajonay (La Gomera) or Los Tilos (La Palma). It is a laurisilva lung embedded within the urban area of a village: the Forest of the Adelantado, in La Esperanza, municipality of El Rosario.
There is no need to enter a national park to step into it. Just walk through the streets of La Esperanza and let yourself be caught by a shady ravine. This remnant of 25,397 square meters of monteverde, at an altitude of between 850 and 875 meters, is the only one in the Canary Islands located within an urban nucleus.
A primary forest in the heart of the village
The German biologist Richard Pott described it as “one of the best primary forests in the Canary Islands,” highlighting its uniqueness for being in an inhabited environment. The El Rosario City Council defines it as “the only remnant of laurisilva, located within an urban area, existing in the Canary Islands.”
Much of the forest was cut down centuries ago for agriculture, grazing, and firewood. However, the site was paradoxically saved because the ravine continued to be used for wood supply and remained as a green threshold between neighborhoods. Between 1994 and 1998, a restoration program was carried out, promoted by the El Rosario City Council with support from the Government of the Canary Islands, the Cabildo, the State, and European funds, which allowed for cleaning, replanting, and improving pedestrian access. Today, it is a corridor of biodiversity in the heart of the village.
What makes it unique?
The laurisilva is a type of humid subtropical forest formed by laurels, viñátigos, and tiles, typical of the Canary Islands. Although there are other similar spaces in the archipelago, such as Garajonay in La Gomera or Los Tilos in La Palma, none are as integrated into the urban fabric as the Forest of the Adelantado. The island's tourism website presents it as a “small remnant of laurisilva” very close to the historic centre of La Esperanza.
There are urban routes in Tenerife, such as the Path of the Laurels, that preserve vegetation typical of laurisilva alongside the town, but they do not qualify as laurisilva enclaves within the urban area with the entity, delimitation, and management that the Forest of the Adelantado has. This forest is an example of how nature can survive in humanised environments.
For the residents of El Rosario and visitors, the Forest of the Adelantado offers a free and accessible walk through a unique ecosystem. It can be accessed from Adelantado Street, next to the old town hall and the parish, and its marked paths can be explored. It is an ideal place to disconnect without leaving the village.
