Trails of La Palma: La Isla Bonita
8 Days & 7 Nights 4.9 Read 15 reviews- Exploring the lush northern gorges and central volcanoes of La Palma on foot
- 360° views from above the clouds over the ’Island Bonita’
- Feasting on local ingredients— almonds, bananas, citrus fruits and avocados
- Staying in sea view properties with a relaxed and rural authentic charm
- The famed ‘Ruta de los Volcanes’ and exploring the Caldera de Taburiente Park
What To Expect
Trip Style:
Self Guided | Go at your own pace on an independent holiday.
Activity:
Multi Centre Walking | You will spend multiple nights in one or more of the locations on this walking holiday
Ideal if you have an interest in:
Coastal & Island, National Parks & Trails
Grade & Terrain
As this is a self-guided walk you will be responsible for navigation, decision making, and safety during your trip. It is graded moderate, and the longest day is 18.5km. When walking between hotels the most elevation gain is 750m and the biggest descent 1300m. You’ll be walking for around 3h30– 6 hours, so you should have a good level of walking fitness.
The walks involve sections that are rough underfoot and steep and so you should have a good head for heights and sure footing, and be comfortable walking on cobbled trails and around rocky obstacles, although the walk is not technically too difficult.
The crater edges demand a head for heights but can be avoided if necessary.
Navigation
There is good way-marking on this walk, and we will provide you with detailed maps, GPX tracks, and comprehensive route notes so you can easily find your way. As this is a self-guided walk you will be responsible for navigation, decision making, and safety during your trip.
Accommodation Information
7 nights accommodation is included in your trip, staying 4 nights in 3* hotels, 1 night in an apartment, and 2 nights in an authentic Finca guesthouse. All rooms have private bathrooms, some have sun terraces and some have a swimming pool.
We carefully select small friendly properties that offer great value, food, and warm welcomes. The accommodation we normally use is detailed in the itinerary, however, if unavailable we may need to offer alternative hotels, and we will inform you on booking if this is the case.
You can add extra nights at any point during your stay —please contact us for details.
Solo Walkers & Single Rooms
This trip is available to solo walkers and there is a supplement as some of the costs are then not shared. Single rooms are available and again a supplement is payable.
Meals
7 Breakfasts are included. Packed lunches* are available from your accommodation (order the night before) or you can stop and buy a picnic on the way. Please be aware that the food offerings at Pension Finca Franceses are very basic. Should you wish to be taken to a nearby restaurant for food then this can be arranged at your welcome meeting. Drinks* are not included but normally available at all overnight accommodations. The *Exception is the apartment accommodation—drinks and food are available nearby.
- 7 Nights in 3* hotels and a finca
- 7 Breakfasts
- Transfer from Santa Cruz airport to first hotel
- Transfer from last hotel to Santa Cruz airport
- Luggage transfers as per itinerary
- Route notes, daily maps, GPX tracks on the Macs App and detailed information pack
- All necessary transfers as per itinerary to the start/end of the walks
- 24/7 telephone support from our UK office and local partner
- Travel to and from La Palma and Santa Cruz
- Lunches
- Dinners
- Drinks and snacks
- Personal equipment
- Travel insurance (required)
- Additional nights before, during or after the walk.
When To Go
You can start your La Palma hiking trip on any day of the week, year-round, as the weather is very pleasant and ‘spring-like’ at any time of the year. The summer months of June, July, August are hottest and if you are walking at this time of year it is important to keep hydrated and wear plenty of sunscreen!
NOTE: At the moment our La Palma tour is only available to book from January 2022 onwards due to the uncertainty surrounding the current volcanic eruption.
Getting to the Start
By Air: Santa Cruz on La Palma is the best airport for the start of the tour. From the UK, you can fly direct (seasonal) with charter airline Thomson into Santa Cruz, or fly indirect via Madrid or Tenerife. Find airlines serving Santa Cruz, La Palma here.
Return airport transfers on La Palma are included in your arrangements. Details will be given in your pre-departure information pack.
Getting from the End
By Air: Santa Cruz on La Palma is the best airport for the end of the tour. To the UK, you can fly direct (seasonal) with charter airline Thomson into Santa Cruz, or fly indirect via Madrid or Tenerife. Find airlines serving Santa Cruz, La Palma here.
Return airport transfers on La Palma are included in your arrangements. Details will be given in your pre-departure information pack.
Baggage Transfer
Baggage transfers are included on this tour, as per the itinerary, so you only walk with a small back-pack.
General Information
The distances and ascent/descents are approximations of the recommended routes.
Volcanic Eruption Autumn 2021
In September 2021, the Cumbre Viejo volcano erupted, which caused many flight cancellations but luckily not any serious injuries to local residents. The volcanic eruption is mainly affecting the south-western fringe of the island and the entire northern part where most of our walks are remains safe and fine for walking. As a consequence of this, we do currently have an alternative route in place to the Ruta de los Volcanoes on Day 7 which you can read about in the itinerary tab. We are monitoring the situation carefully and in regular contact with our local partners in La Palma in case any further changes to the programme are required. For the moment our La Palma programme is only available to book from January 2022 onwards.
Equipment
Please be prepared by packing all necessary items, for example, proper rain gear (jacket and pants), sun hat, sunscreen. Your information pack has a detailed equipment list which includes standard walking gear such as good walking boots or shoes, warm and waterproof clothes for the cooler months and lightweight clothing for summer, and a day pack.
Travel Insurance
It is a requirement of booking this tour with Macs Adventure that you have suitable travel insurance which covers you for the activity and emergency evacuation and hospital care.