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Caldera de Taburiente Travel Guide

Travel to Caldera de Taburiente - Largest Erosion Crater in the World

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The Caldera de Taburiente is the largest erosion crater in the world with its highest point at 2545 metres above sea level and dropping to about 1200 metres in the centre and sea-level where the river-bed runs out into the sea. Caldera de Taburiente is located into the Caldera de Taburiente National Park.

During the Spanish conquest of the Canary Islands in the 15th century, the caldera was the site of the last stand of the indigenous people of the archipelago, the Guanches. It proved impregnable to the invading Spaniards, and they only defeated the Guanches by luring their leader out on the pretext of holding talks.

The caldera originated some 2 million years ago, with a massive shield volcano about 20 kilometres in diametre. The caldera was not formed by an explosion of that volcano however, but by erosion starting from the volcano's original crater.

Attractions in Caldera de Taburiente

They include the Briestas gorge, the Roque Idafe, the Reventon Pas, the Roque de los Muchachos, the Barranco de las Augustias, and the Caldera de Taburiente National Park. The main flora of the latter comprises a large forest of Canary Island Pine, with important population of the endangered Canary Islands Junipe.