Spanish fir tree forest in Yunquera

These Spanish firs are of a magnificent size and can reach heights of thirty metres. The population of this particular conifer, belonging to the fir family, covers more than three thousand hectares of forest distributed throughout this natural area and the surrounding mountains.

The rugged orography of the Subbética mountain range, in the westernmost section, together with the atmospheric conditions, are the reason this shady mountain area is populated with a dense mass of humid forest, more typical of northern Europe than of the Mediterranean basin.

The Spanish fir is the main reason why thousands of people come to visit this beautiful area every year. However, the forests in Yunquera are also home to a wide variety of other tree species, like pines, ash trees and gall oaks, some of them centuries old. Vegetation that during the hottest days of summer provides shelter and cool shade for both people and fauna.

The area is also home to elusive animals, such as mountain goats, wild boars, foxes, as well as numerous birds of prey, which hover over the icy skies above the mountains.

In Yunquera, as well as in Tolox there are a number of trails available for hikers and walkers. The trail starts at the Puerto del Saucillo lookout point, where you get fabulous views of the nearby hills and mountains, and leads to the Peñón de los Enamorados before returning via the Luis Ceballos lookout point.

And very near here stands the majestic emblem of the municipality: the Candelabro. This sixteen-metre Spanish fir has four horizontal branches that rise towards the sky and imitate the figure from which it takes its name. An authentic living natural monument whose strange morphology made it worthy of being classified as one of the most "'unique trees in Andalusia". By the way, just a stone's throw away, in Parauta, you will find another of these botanical jewels and an extraordinary natural monument, the Spanish Fir of Las Escaleretas. Almost 500 years old, quite a feat!