Los Marteles, Volcanic caldera in Gran Canaria, Spain

Los Marteles is a volcanic caldera in eastern Gran Canaria with steep walls, a depth of about 80 meters, and a diameter of about 550 meters. Marked trails run through the area, leading to different viewpoints overlooking the landscape.

The caldera formed through a freatomagmatic eruption when molten lava met underground water sources. This volcanic formation is less than one million years old.

The reserve was declared a special nature reserve on 16 November 1994 and is also a Site of Community Importance. Its pine woods are mostly replanted stands of Canary Island pine, mixed with Aleppo, Monterey and stone pines. On the slopes of the middle barranco de los Cernícalos grows the largest and best-preserved wild olive grove on Gran Canaria.

The reserve covers 3,568.7 hectares across the municipalities of Valsequillo, San Bartolomé de Tirajana, Santa Lucía de Tirajana, Ingenio, Agüimes and Telde, on the eastern summit of the island. It borders the protected landscape of Las Cumbres and the Nublo rural park to the west, and Lomo Magullo and the Barranco de Guayadeque to the east. The caldera lies at about 1,523 metres, so expect cooler, windier conditions than on the coast.

The reserve was declared a special nature reserve on 16 November 1994 and covers 3,568.7 hectares across six municipalities, from Valsequillo to Agüimes. Its slopes above the middle course of the Barranco de los Cernícalos hold the largest and best-preserved wild olive grove on Gran Canaria. Two plants grow only around the Tirajana cliffs: Bencomia brachystachya and Globularia sarcophylla.