Trails of La Palma: La Isla Bonita
- 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
Gallery
Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive Santa CruzUpon 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.
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Hotel El Galeon is ideally located just a few minutes from the port and city centre. Soak up the sea and mountain views from the sun terrace.

Located on the beachfront in Santa Cruz de la Palma and featuring a bar, Hotel Emblemático Holiday Time has free WiFi. The accommodation provides a 24-hour front desk, room service and currency exchange for guests.
At the hotel, every room is equipped with a desk, a flat-screen TV and a private bathroom. All units at Hotel Emblemático Holiday Time include air conditioning and a wardrobe.
Today you’ll explore the north east of La Palma, filled with banana plantations, citrus groves, small vineyards and orchards of avocado and mango.Â
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.Â
+835m Ascent / -690m Descent
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Hotel El Galeon is ideally located just a few minutes from the port and city centre. Soak up the sea and mountain views from the sun terrace.

Located on the beachfront in Santa Cruz de la Palma and featuring a bar, Hotel Emblemático Holiday Time has free WiFi. The accommodation provides a 24-hour front desk, room service and currency exchange for guests.
At the hotel, every room is equipped with a desk, a flat-screen TV and a private bathroom. All units at Hotel Emblemático Holiday Time include air conditioning and a wardrobe.
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. Â
+650m Ascent / -570m Descent

La Palma Romantica has 40 rooms and extensive facilities, including a restaurant, internet corner, sun terrace, outdoor and indoor pools, tennis court, table tennis, steam room, sauna and gymnasium.
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.Â
+647m Ascent / -860m Descent
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La Palma Romantica has 40 rooms and extensive facilities, including a restaurant, internet corner, sun terrace, outdoor and indoor pools, tennis court, table tennis, steam room, sauna and gymnasium.
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

La Palma Romantica has 40 rooms and extensive facilities, including a restaurant, internet corner, sun terrace, outdoor and indoor pools, tennis court, table tennis, steam room, sauna and gymnasium.
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. Â
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

Located on the beachfront in Santa Cruz de la Palma and featuring a bar, Hotel Emblemático Holiday Time has free WiFi. The accommodation provides a 24-hour front desk, room service and currency exchange for guests.
At the hotel, every room is equipped with a desk, a flat-screen TV and a private bathroom. All units at Hotel Emblemático Holiday Time include air conditioning and a wardrobe.

Hotel El Galeon is ideally located just a few minutes from the port and city centre. Soak up the sea and mountain views from the sun terrace.
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.Â
+660m Ascent / -1400m Descent

Located on the beachfront in Santa Cruz de la Palma and featuring a bar, Hotel Emblemático Holiday Time has free WiFi. The accommodation provides a 24-hour front desk, room service and currency exchange for guests.
At the hotel, every room is equipped with a desk, a flat-screen TV and a private bathroom. All units at Hotel Emblemático Holiday Time include air conditioning and a wardrobe.

Hotel El Galeon is ideally located just a few minutes from the port and city centre. Soak up the sea and mountain views from the sun terrace.
After breakfast and checkout you will be transferred to Santa Cruz airport to catch your flight home.Â
Other Information
Is it for me?La Palma’s spring-like climate is perfect for walking at any time of the year. Combining pleasantly warm weather with superb trails, La Palma will appeal to any avid walker. If you’re itching to escape to warmer climes, like the idea of contrasting coastal, forest and volcanic scenery, then you can’t beat this unspoilt and authentic Canary Island.
Classic Routes | If you’re the active, outdoorsy type, who’s interested in taking on the great routes of the world or looking for a challenge, then our Classic Routes are for you. We’re talking the West Highland Way, Tour Du Mont Blanc and the Passau to Vienna Danube Cycle Path, to name but a few!
Inn to Inn Walking | Walk from place-to-place changing accommodations each night. Generally staying in B&B’s, inns, and guesthouses.
Solo Travellers
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 just over 17km. When walking between hotels the most elevation gain is 1140m and the biggest descent 1400m. You’ll be walking for around 3.5 – 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.
7 nights accommodation in small 3* hotels is included. 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. Â
You can add extra nights at any point during your stay —please contact us for details.Â
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. Â
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
- 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 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
- Local buses on Days 2, 4, 5 and 7
- Lunches
- Dinners
- Drinks and snacks
- Personal equipment
- Travel insurance (required)
- Additional nights before, during or after the walk.
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!
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.
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 transfers are included on this tour, as per the itinerary, so you only walk with a small back-pack.
The distances and ascent/descents are approximations of the recommended routes.
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.
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.
You can use public transport where available, or a local taxi to continue to your next overnight stop.
We suggest you book as soon as your plans are finalised; La Palma is a small island and good accommodation is limited.
This trip 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.
Your bags will be transferred between your accommodations as per your itinerary. We ask you to limit your luggage to one bag of up to 20kg per person.
You will need good walking shoes/boots, comfortable walking clothes, waterproof jacket and trousers, a daypack, warm clothing in the early/late part of the year and hats etc during the summer. We supply a detailed packing list with your information pack.
La Palma enjoys good weather year-round with comfortable temperatures and a spring-like climate. The summer months are hotter, which is June, July and August. Â
By Air: Santa Cruz on La Palma is the best airport for the start and end of the tour. From the UK you can find several low-cost airlines that fly into Santa Cruz.To get from the airport to Santa Cruz it is just 8km by road, and you either pre-book a private transfer (at a supplement) or buses depart every 30 mins. Details will be given in your pre-departure information pack.Â
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