Barranco de Guayadeque

Lying between the municipalities of Ingenio and Aguimes, this barranco is more praised by environmentalists than any other on the island. From the flat floor of the dry river bed, the walls of the ravine rise through green terraces of cultivation, through tall palms, eucalyptus and the soft green ping-pong bats of prickly pear, to lofty crags of red volcanic rock.

Many of the island's rarest plants live here, and much of the barranco has been designated a nature reserve. The 80 endemic species of flora found here include the kunkeliela cananensis and helianthemum tholiforme.

The aboriginal people who once lived in this fertile valley left behind hundreds of caves, natural and man-made, that served as homes, animal shelter and grain stores. The many burial chambers found here form an important part of the Guanche exhibits of the Museo Canario in Las Palmas  The area is little inhabited today, but the 50 or so inhabitants are probably the most direct descendants of this prehistoric aboriginal world. They still farm, keep animals and live in caves. They even park their cars in cave garages. In Roque, the one small hamlet on the valley floor, there are cave homes, restaurants and a cave church. The area's most famous restaurant, however, is the Tagoror. Right at the end of the barranco in a series of caves overlooking the valley.  The stream beds under the trees make a pleasant and popular picnic spot during the weekends.