Self-Guided La Palma

On arrival at the La Palma airport (SPC) an included taxi transfer takes you to the colonial town of Santa Cruz de la Palma.

If you arrive early, you'll have plenty of time to admire the beautiful architecture and Canarian pine balconies of the island's capital. Walk along the cobbled Calle Real and colourful narrow side streets, with every house painted a different shade.

Today starts with an included taxi transfer to one of the hidden corners of the island: Los Franceses. Walk along a breathtaking route with impressive views along the Camino Real or 'royal roads', a network of trails used by the inhabitants of the island until the middle of the last century to pass through difficult areas to transit, usually with animals laden in supplies. Today you walk along the coast and from ravine to ravine. This is a very green part of the island with much vegetation. Going past the hamlet of La Tosca with its magnificent dragon trees, the route ends at the hotel in Barlovento, your base for the next two nights.

Today's 12km walk is expected to take about 4 to 4.5 hours and you will ascend 750m and descend 550m.

This morning's included taxi transfer takes you to the north of the island and the cloud forest of Los Tilos. Here you walk in the UNESCO nature reserve. This sub-tropical rain forest contains hundreds of plant species some of which are not found anywhere else in the world. Walk through the beautiful laurel forest where the clouds hang from the tips of branches and giant ferns. Follow narrow tunnels to the springs of Marcos and Cordero. This wild biosphere reserve covers 5% of the island. Today's walk ends in Los Sauces from where you will be driven back to the hotel. There is the option to end the walk in Los Tilos, shortening today's route by 5km.

Today's 18km walk is expected to take about 7 hours and you will ascend 300m and descend 1300m.

After an included taxi ride to the foot of Pico de La Nieve (2039m) today's walk begins. Hike along the edge of the deep Caldera de Taburiente, the largest erosion crater in the world. Following well-marked trails, a long descent begins through pine forests and the so-called Reventon trail until you reach the Virgen del Pino chapel. From here you will be driven to Los Llanos de Aridane where you spend the next two nights. This modern town is on the west side of the Island and surrounded by farmland. Nearby it has beautiful coves, beaches and a town centre worth exploring, particularly the church of Nuestra Senora de Los Remedios which contains a 16th century image of the Virgin Mary.

Today's 16km walk is expected to take about 6 hours and you will ascend 300m and descend 1250m.

Starting with an included taxi ride to Los Brecitos, at the heart of the Caldera de Taburiente National Park, you begin your descent to the bed of the Taburiente River. Then you walk toward the Roque Idafe, a natural stone pillar and with a special meaning for the inhabitants of the island as it was once worshiped as the Tree of Life. Today you will also see a colourful waterfall, dyed by the sulphur generated by the Caldera. A taxi will be arranged to take you back to Los Llanos de Aridane at the end of the route.

Today's 16.5km walk is expected to take about 6 hours and you will ascend 250m and descend 900m.

Once again we start with an included taxi transfer to the foot of the Pico Birigoyo, the El Pilar recreational area. Here begins a walk through the pine forest then a dusty trail along the many volcanoes of Cumbre Vieja, with impressive views, weather permitting. The route ends in Fuencaliente (also known as Los Canarios) right off the beaten track with a landscape of volcanoes, vineyards and empty beaches; you will find very few tourists here.

Today's 17km walk is expected to take about 6 hours and you will ascend 550m and descend 1200m.

From the village of Fuencaliente you walk first to the volcano of San Antonio (there is an entrance fee of 3.50 euros to be paid locally). From the top you can see the youngest of the volcanoes on La Palma: TeneguIa, 'born' in 1971. The route goes past the TeneguIa volcano following one of the lava flows which brings you to the lighthouse, at the southernmost point of the island. Walking 1km further to the west, you arrive at the beach, where you can have a refreshing dip in the natural crystal-clear rock pools originated, a lovely way to relax and mark the end of your walking holiday. An included taxi transfer will take you back to Santa Cruz de La Palma.

Today's 9km walk is expected to take about 3 hours and you will ascend 300m and descend 1025m.

After breakfast you will have an included taxi to La Palma airport (SPC). If you do not require this transfer, please do let our self-guided team know.