Barranco Ruiz never to be missed.

The Barranco Ruiz depicted by the Ruiz Tigaiga aerial map on your right gives you a good idea of its location. It is not just a gorge of Los Realejos. It is a key Tenerife region for scientists of geography, biology, micro biology, ornithology, botany, natural chemistry as well as volcanology.

It is one of the steepest and most spectacular ravines of the Canary Islands and may date back as much as 3 Million years.

This wide gorge which descends from the Tenerife highlands has a surface of 95,6 hectares and was formed a very long time ago. It has a length of about 2,1km long and is just over half a km wide . It separates the municipalities of Los Realejos and San Juan de la Rambla.

Where the name of the Barranco comes from.

It dates back to Francisco de Ruiz who obtained extensive property in 1520 in the said gorge from Don Maria de Abarca who had received it from the conqueror of Tenerife.

Eight ways to reach the crest of Ruiz

1. Via Realejos main PLaza Viera y Clavijo and C/El Medio Arriba, on the right into Travesia el Pino to TF 342
2. Via San Juan de la Rambla turning off the TF5
3. Via the TF5 and TF342 at El Paso after Icod de Los Vinos in different direction
4. Via the TF221 that joins La Orotava with La Guancha
5. Via the national road TF 2218 which crosses the spaces higher up of the ravine
6. Walking via the villages Las Aguas, El Rosario, Oreja de la Vera
7. Hiking up from the grill grounds of Ruiz by the TF5
8. Up via the steep Marathon track 0-4-0 or 0-4000 from Playa El Socorro

Why is the Barranco Ruiz a unique wonder of nature?

• Partly dating back to the Tertiary period of Macaronesia
• Geographically protected by the rocky Massif of Tigaiga in the east
• Hugged by Teide National Park above its protected space ending at 1300m a.s.
• Coast and Meridianas region that goes from 400m to 1300m
• High humidity and falling fog moisture by Elysian trade winds from the NNE Atlantic directon
• Temperature changes caused by altitudes influencing more moisture and plant growth
• Chemical soil changes in many areas caused by layers of lava of different thickness
• More soil changes by ground mixtures, too involved to explain fast
• Diverse endemic flora and fauna

Barranco Ruiz flora of 67 endemic, protected species

Canary Pine
• Tabaibas, of which mostly Euphorbias
• Important medicinal Tabaibas balsamicas already known by King Juba and Plinius the Elder
• Succulent drought resistant endemic rock plants
• Medicinal Penca agaves
• Tunera Opuntia cactus species
• Adernos
• Sabrinas
• Junipers
• Many an Endemic Canary pine (many replanted)
• Pinus Radiata
• Chest nuts
• Brezal
• Scrub
• Heather
• Laurisilva related species like Delfino and Til trees
• Endemic Bicácaros Tenerife Bell flowers Canarinas Canariensis of Lauisilva habitat
• Indigenous Tenerife Crestas de Gallo (Isoplexis Canariensis) rain forest flowers
• Endemic Siemprevivas (limonium arborescens)

Ravine Ruiz and Tigaiga cliff fauna

• Wild endemic pigeons, such as Rabiches, Ploma Turqué
• Gavilán birds of prey
• Pardelas pichonetas and parcelas
• Forest owls


Falcon of Ruiz el Rosario


• Barbary falcon Peregrino
• Chaffinches
• Tit birds of various colors, such as blue tits
• White wagtail birds
• Warblers
• Goldfinches
• and Kestrels to name just some

In short, every Tenerife bird is also found in the gorge of Ruiz.

Photo gallery of region Ruiz and Tigaiga

High geographical importance of Gorge Ruiz and Tigaiga cliff

In fact the Barranco and the cliff i.e. Massif of Tigaiga belong together. The latter forms the boundery of the Orotava Valley and Tenerife North.

Scientific chores on the agenda

49,8 hectares of Barranco
Ruiz are still to be explored for biological, geographical, geological, volcanological and chemical clues.

The Barranco Ruiz is one of few Tenerife gorges which has not been tempered with, unless by a little tunnel or a harmless bridge like the one by 'Madre Juana'.

This deep mountain valley is one of Tenerife's deepest and most spectacular gorges. It may be as old as three million years. That's when three separate isles were joined to become one. The ravine of Ruiz measures 510 hectares together with the Tigaiga massif.

Agriculture in Gorge Ruiz

You are bound to note patches of cultivated terraces of narrow strips of land when you drive up on the Camino Real past El Lance Look-out to Icod El Alto. However, the spacious land plain for wheat is higher up. The ancient farm of the ravine Ruiz the now abandoned Finca or Hacienda La Pared is partly in such a terrain. The giant 500 year old estate is famous for the first potatoes from Peru on Tenerife. Otherwise, all vegetables grow and orchards, vineyards and granaries are plenty,

The location of the half ruin farm house offers one of most spectacular views of a very lush and green Barranco Ruiz as well as some arid spaces.

From Puerto Cruz to the Ruiz Barranco grill place

Drive on the road TF5 from Puerto de la Cruz towards Icod de los Vinos. Leave all Los Realejos turn offs by your wayside. Take care, as the TF5 stops being a typical multi-lane freeway at the height of lower Los Realejos, where it shouldn't be called TF5 any more and will always be an environmentally protected coastal road with only 2 lanes in each direction. Encounter the Barranco of Ruiz Pick-Nick Grounds at about 15 km from Puerto de la Cruz by km 44 just before San Juan de la Rambla on your left. Turning off to the right allows for a u-turn and to cross the freeway to get into the Ruiz pick-nick grounds.

Picnic spot Campeches Barranco de Ruiz

• Also called Tenderete by the locals
• Scenic set up on level grounds of appr.2000 square metes between high and steep, overgrown cliffs
• Open towards the TF5 road with noise being no issue
• Bordered by lateral and vertical timber poles
• Free parking inside
• Bar that sells little fish and other things
• Rustic bricked up ovens to do your own grilling i.e. barbecue
• Timber benches and tables
• Grass roof shelters
• Water
• Stairs leading up the hill from the recreational grounds
• 5 minutes drive from the ocean

Spot the triangular tree crown of Draco Dracaena San Francisco on the ridge. Indeed, a landmark for Realejo Bajo in the photo below... This endemic Tenerife flora is one of several dragon trees that are all unique.

The ravine of Ruiz compared to Barranco Godinez.

Mind the wide and deep gorge which runs almost parallel to the Barranco of Ruiz. That gorge is called Barranco Godinez. The historical archives of Los Realejos mention this name related to the conqueror of Tenerife the Adelantado De Lugo. They say he reserved all land to the east of Barranco Godinez as high up as Icod El Alto to himself. It was the most fertile and most blessed with water which had also been the prime property of the former king of the Guanches the Mencey of Taoro and Orotava.

The photo was taken from Realejos Alto which is separated by the Godinez creek from Realejos Bajo.

The image depicts very lush vegetation despite two years without rain. However some of the vegetable terraces deep down in the gorge were bare at the time in 2012. Also, the Godinez river bed is more integrated into human settlements contrary to that of the more virgin crest of Ruiz. Some of the Godinez and Ruiz caves once served as housing for Guanches but are now used for agriculture. However, vegetables, and above all potatoes and wheat fields are more prominent at Barranco Ruiz on its Eastern side by Icod el Alto. Even vineyards are successful there.

Barranco Ruiz by the seashore

A Tenerife native will do like his ancestors. He will count all ravines near the ocean as part of the land of Ruiz. This concerns the entire region from San Juan de la Rambla up to Barranco de Gordejuela alias Barranco de Palo Blanco.

The Barranco Ruiz region includes Barranco de la Calera. Depicted is its section by the ocean the Barranco de San Vincente with its bridge a part of most spectacular coastal walking in Tenerife. 

More Tenerife nature photos of coast of Ruiz

Ravine Ruiz by Playa del Camelo

River de Ruiz temporarily dried out by its Atlantic mouth.

Related links to the region of Ruiz gorges.

Kings Highway TF342 of Tenerife Ruiz crest and Tigaiga by El Lance

Surf beach el Socorro

Return from Barranco Ruiz to Los Realejos the region, history, holidays, festivals, sports, its Guanches, culture, beaches, weather, Spanish traditions, La Longuera, Tozcal, La Gorvorana, Viera y Clavijo, hotels, apartment accommodation and much more.

A blog with many related photos here

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