Trails of La Palma: La Isla Bonita

Upon arrival on ‘La Isla Bonita’ you will be transferred from the airport to your first hotel in the island’s capital, Santa Cruz. This fascinating town attracted Flemish merchants whose impressive town palaces now house museums and boutiques. Explore the cobbled streets and ‘Calle Real’, leafy squares and the tempting food market.

Today you’ll explore the north east of La Palma, filled with banana plantations, citrus groves, small vineyards and orchards of avocado and mango. 

A short transfer in the morning brings you to Los Sauces, the agricultural centre of the island. As you walk, enjoy dramatic cliffs offering impressive coastal views, interspersed with lush deep barrancos (ravines).  Arrive at the idyllic San Andrés, one of the island’s first colonial towns. Wander the steep cobbled roads traditional buildings, then, before continuing to Puntallana, where you can refresh yourself with a cold beer before returning by bus to Santa Cruz. 

+835m Ascent / -690m Descent

A short transfer brings you to Los Tilos forest this morning, where a spectacular 40m high waterfall is surrounded by lush vegetation. We recommend heading to the visitor centre first to learn more about the flora and fauna of the forest before starting your walk. Ascend a steep trail to the Las Barandas viewpoint, and continue across the dramatic ravine of La Herradura before descending on an old cobbled trail through prehistoric laurel forest and small villages to Barlovento, enjoying exhilarating sea views.  

+650m Ascent / -570m Descent

Today you’ll stride out on undulating coastline through the green gorges of the north. This area contrasts beautifully with the volcanic centre which you’ll encounter  in the following days.

Pass by clusters of remarkable ancient dragontrees, through rural villages and along the steep but fertile coastline to Los Gallegos. Cross the spectacular deep gorge of Barranco de Franceses. Your final ascent rewards you with panoramic ocean views as you reach the pretty hamlet of Las Tieras, Franceses. Pause to enjoy before catching the bus back to Barlovento. 

+647m Ascent / -860m Descent

A quick 20 minute transfer will bring you to point of Franceses. From here walk on a centuries-old trail crossing lush green landscapes as you enter the nature reserve of the Barranco de Los Hombres.

With cliffs reaching up to 200m high, here you’ll find deep ravines abundant in endemic and varied plant and birdlife. Ascend via El Tablado to another tiny hamlet—Roque del Faro. Here you will find the legendary tasca Casa Reyes, where the exquisite goat stew allows you to regain your strength after the steep climb. Return by bus to your hotel in Barlovento.

+1140m Ascent / -626m Descent

Get ready for another spectacular day of hiking as you explore the ‘roof’ of La Palma. Transfer by taxi to Roque de los Muchachos, home to one of the world’s premier astronomical observatories, then follow a mountain path with twists and turns around the rim of the crater Caldera de Taburiente.   

As you reach Pico de las Nieves, one of the highest points on the island, you’ll be rewarded with an outstanding 360° view from above the clouds of La Palma, and perhaps even neighbouring Tenerife’s Mt. Teide. Descend to the road before being transferred by taxi to Santa Cruz.

+598m Ascent / -1086m Descent

Your final walk is a fitting end to your La Palma walking tour.  A memorable hike along the ’Ruta de Los Volcanes’; a chain of volcanoes towards the south of the island.

A morning transfer takes you to Refugio El Pilar, before you enjoy a fascinating walk through a succession of contemporary eruptions and ancient volcanic cones from remote times. This includes observing from the heights the smoking crater of the recent eruption in September 2021.  The crater edges demand a head for heights (and can be avoided if necessary). Finish in Fuencaliente before returning by bus to your hotel in Santa Cruz. 

+660m Ascent / -1400m Descent

After breakfast and checkout you will be transferred to Santa Cruz airport to catch your flight home.