Discover Los Tilos, the heart of the laurel forest of La Palma

Entering the Los Tilos forest, located in the municipality of San Andrés y Sauces, is like taking a trip back in time. Giant ferns, tils, viñátigos and heath bushes shape an unforgettable place reminiscent of prehistoric times. Would you like to learn all the secrets at the heart of the Canary Island’s laurel forests?

World Biosphere Reserve

In 2002, UNESCO declared the entire island of La Palma a World Biosphere Reserve. But it all started several decades earlier with the Los Tilos Forest.

In 1983, this international organisation decreed that the 511 hectares of the El Canal estate and Los Tilos would be the first Biosphere Reserve on an island in Spain. The goal was to protect a small area that evoked the Tertiary Age’s relict forest, one that is considered the most important laurel forest in Macaronesia.

Millions of years ago, laurel forests covered areas of Africa and the Middle East in Asia. La Palma, as well as other places in the Canaries, are home to remnants of those landscapes, especially in areas of high humidity that allow these ecosystems to persist.

In the Los Tilos Forest, in addition to strolling among the typical flora of the area, you’ll discover the famous Marcos y Cordero route, one of the most striking trails on the island due to its vast ravines, lush trees, imposing river sources and narrow paths between tunnels and galleries.

How to get to the Los Tilos forest

To reach the Los Tilos forest, we’ll use as a reference the location of our hotels, La Palma & Teneguía Princess and Esencia de La Palma, which are ninety minutes away by car.

First, leave the resort in the direction of the town of Las Indias. Once there, take the LP-2 towards Santa Cruz de La Palma, the island’s capital. As you approach the entrance to Santa Cruz, the fastest way to continue towards the Los Tilos Forest is via the road that bypasses the capital.

After the bypass, keep driving along the LP-2 towards Puntallana and then continue on the LP-1 to San Andrés and Sauces. As you approach this municipality, be on the lookout to take the exit to the Los Tilos road. Be sure to drive carefully along this stretch, since the path becomes a little narrower toward the end.

Ideally, you would go to Los Tilos Forest in a private or rental vehicle. You can also go by bus or take one of the tours offered to the area by private operators. The path isn’t particularly difficult, just follow the route.

When you reach the Los Tilos Forest, you will find numerous parking spaces. There is usually enough room for all the cars, although it does get crowded during peak season, such as summer, winter or Holy Week.

What to do in the Los Tilos Forest

Visiting the Los Tilos Forest is an ideal activity for nature and hiking lovers, but also for those travellers who are always looking for that great pic.

To find out more about the flora and fauna, as well as the geological value of the area, there is an Environmental Information Point. It’s open daily from 9:00 to 17:30, except for special days such as Christmas, New Year’s and January 6, when it’s closed. On 24 and 31 December, it has shortened hours from 9:00 to 14:00.

For the more adventurous types, we recommend wearing hiking clothes. The area marks the trail head for several easy paths, such as the one that leads to the Espigon Atravesado Lookout and the Las Barandas Lookout. Then there’s the star attraction: the trek to the Nacientes de Marcos y Cordero.

There are two options for taking this route, and neither should be improvised. The first is the traditional way: booking a taxi to take you to the start of the path. Be sure to book it several days in advance, since they are usually in high demand. The second way to do the Marcos and Cordero route is a round-trip walk. This option is only recommended for very fit and experienced hikers. It’s about a 25-kilometre hike with a considerable elevation change. Make sure you’re up to it before starting the route.

Whichever option you choose, Marcos and Cordero will be an unforgettable experience. Along the way, you will cross 13 water tunnels, admire the imposing sources (nacientes) that give the route its name and go deep into the heart of La Palma’s laurel forest. As you can tell, there is plenty of water, so consider packing a raincoat in your knapsack.

The best photos in Los Tilos

The good thing about this laurel forest is that you don’t need to walk far to discover some wonderful spots. The Los Tilos waterfall – possibly the most photographed spot in La Palma – is just a few minutes’ walk from the parking area. You can do the route perfectly in trainers or even sandals.

It’s also not unusual for the area to be covered in fog, creating lights and shadows that perfectly showcase the greenery of the place. If you adjust the exposure right on your mobile or camera, you can get some spectacular results.

If you do eventually decide to go hiking, all the routes here offer unforgettable panoramic views. Of course, the path through the tunnels and river sources is the most spectacular. What’s more, anyone with a wide-angle lens can convey the dizzying heights of Los Tilos to all their followers by going to the top of the Espigón Atravesado lookout.

Categories: Canaries, Be inspired, La Palma