If you are looking for a small subtropical paradise without leaving Europe, you will find it without a doubt in La Gomera. A practically wild island, far from the mass tourism that counts with 17 protected natural spaces impressive, today we are going to tell you some things of one of them, the Natural Reserve Integral of Benchijigua.
Benchijigua Reserve, is located in the caldera of the same name, in the center of the island, including the headwaters of Benchijigua ravine. Located in the municipality of San Sebastián de La Gomera, it limits to the north and northwest with the Garajonay National Park and to the southwest with the Protected Landscape of Orone.
Being an Integral Natural Reserve, the exploitation of resources is prohibited, unless authorized by the Administration for research, educational or conservation reasons, its objective being the protection of ecosystems, communities or biological or geological elements that, due to their rarity, fragility or singularity deserve a special assessment.
This area characterized by abrupt and vertical walls, presents mainly ruptured vegetation, especially in rocky areas and has a high concentration of endemic and threatened species, many of which are protected as the tajinaste.
This area hosts one of the most extensive and best preserved forests in the Canaries, housing, among others, important populations of endemic and subendemic birds.
Among these birds are the pigeon rabiche and turqué, endemic and emblematic species of the laurisilva forests of the Canary Islands. You will also be able to observe in this place, among others, the buster ratonero, the hererrillo canario, the little owl, the canary kingfisher or the canary.
In Benchijigua Reserve is found one of the most spectacular landscapes of La Gomera, included in the complex called "Natural Monument of Los Roques", with the spectacular Roque de Agando and the other three rocks Ojila, Carmona and La Zarcita. The Roques are located next to the TF-713 road that climbs towards the mountains of La Gomera from San Sebastián. The Roque Agando, of approximately 1,250 meters of altitude, is like the other rocks, a phonolithic python, a formation of lava solidified in the form of volcanic chimney that we can contemplate today to have eroded the volcanic cone with the passage of time.
Last year a group of volunteers from the Hotel Jardín Tecina, including some guests and workers, participated together with staff from the Cabildo de La Gomera in a reforestation action on Mount Los Noruegos within the Benchijigua Reserve.
If you visit La Gomera, the Integral Natural Reserve of Benchijigua is a must see, come and enjoy its spectacular landscapes in pure state.