Árbol de Casandra

A Canary Island pine more than 380 years old, standing on a small hill at the edge of the Presa de las Niñas reservoir in the mountains above Tejeda. Locals call it Pino Bonito, "the pretty pine". It's wide and low: at about three and a half metres the trunk splits into two limbs that twist together at the top. It has survived several fires and storms, which is why it has such an unusual shape. It's named after Casandra, a 15-year-old girl in a local legend. Her neighbours called her a witch over her love for a boy named Iván, and she was burned beside the tree. Nobody knows whether it really happened.

• Getting there: from Las Palmas it's about an hour and a half by car. Take the GC-15 through Santa Brígida and San Mateo, then the GC-600 towards Roque Nublo, and finally the GC-605 to the reservoir. The tree stands on a rise above the water, so you can see it from the reservoir.
• Be careful: the pine is a protected heritage tree, and the Cabildo is currently working to save it from drought and trampling. Stay on the marked paths, don't walk on the roots and don't climb the tree.
• On site: there's a picnic area and a campsite by the reservoir. Apart from that there's nothing here, so bring water and food.
• When: you're at around 900 m, so it's usually cooler and windier than on the coast. Bring an extra layer. It's prettiest in the morning or towards evening, when the light falls on the water and the pines.