Members of Imastanen have reported that this unique site, known for its distinctive rock art, shows signs of graffiti, scratches, and broken stone panel fragments. Furthermore, a concerning amount of trash has accumulated at the location.
According to the collective, the current damage mirrors that which led to its protected status nearly two decades ago, highlighting the ineffectiveness of heritage measures without proper monitoring and surveillance. They emphasize that the site features rare rock carvings, previously thought to be unique to Tenerife, which establish a cultural link among the archipelago's early inhabitants.
“"Far from making any difference, the state of the site is the same or even worse than when it was declared a protected asset. Over these two decades, the area has become even more popular, and in recent years, it has even been publicly advertised as a 'must-visit' on tourism and hiking websites across Europe."
The situation is exacerbated, according to Imastanen, because mountaineering route websites provide GPS coordinates to access the site without warning visitors about its heritage value and extreme vulnerability. They criticize that neither the Arona City Council, the Cabildo de Tenerife, nor the Government of the Canary Islands have intervened to mark or physically protect the site for almost twenty years, despite its official classification.
Additionally, local residents have voiced concerns about alleged illegal practices by a nearby livestock farm, which is reportedly discharging unauthorized slurry and other by-products into the adjacent ravine. The collective has brought this issue to the authorities, hoping for an investigation and immediate action to prevent further contamination of the area.
