Trails of La Palma: La Isla Bonita

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

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.

• 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.