Walking in La Palma

La Palma is a great place for walkers and hikers and offers a vast array of unspoilt and varied scenery across the whole of the island. Volcanic landscapes, calderas, lush green rainforests, coastal routes, villages and steep mountain hikes are on offer to name but a few.

Whether you venture out on your own or use a knowledgeable tour guide, you'll find a good variety of routes with regards difficulty, length and scenery. If you are comfortable doing so, you can find your own way around or there are a number of local companies who offer organised walking tours.

We tried a mixture of both which allowed us to see the highlights with a guide and other areas using our feet and the local buses which allowed us more time to explore. Our experiences included two organised trips with Natour Trekking, plus venturing to the top of the Southern volcanoes and walking around towns, villages and coastlines on our own. Full details of our featured walks can be found by following the links on the right.

Despite research before arrival, what we didn't realise was that due to the steepness of the island, it is generally not possible to stroll out of your hotel and find a trail just up the road which you can do on some holidays. However, after some revised investigation and a number of somewhat exciting bus rides, we had some great walks, saw some fantastic scenery and experienced the culture and beauty of the island of La Palma.

Walking with a Guide

Joining an organised walking tour is a great experience and provides all you need for the day without any worry. The most interesting areas are covered and the coach will pick you up, the guides will take care of you and you will then be returned to your pick-up point again at the end of the trip. The guide's knowledge of the flora, fauna and the island itself adds to the experience and they are generally happy to share what they know. Some areas of La Palma can be a bit hazardous, especially in the Caldera with falling rocks, so travelling with a guide ensures your safety and guides you along the correct paths and routes without any worry. You generally need to take a packed lunch on the tour and some areas can be steep so know what you are letting yourself in for.

The coach trips involved can be a little long depending on your starting point but it's a great way to see the island and travel in comfort whilst you do so.

If you are hoping to do the Caldera tour which is the highlight of the island, book the trip as soon as you arrive and for the early part of your holiday. Despite two dates during two weeks in February, we were unable to go due to weather conditions which caused the Caldera to close. If your trip is cancelled for any reason, they should be able to put you on the next available trip but it is popular and rain can stop play so bear this in mind!

We used Natour Trekking for all three tours that we booked and found them to be very professional, knowledgeable and interesting and would highly recommend them. We will be adding details and photos of the two walks that we took with Natours shortly.

Walking Under Your Own Steam

Much of La Palma can be explored on your own if you set out with adequate footwear, equipment and a good deal of energy for some of those steep hills!

We saw many people using walking poles and after experiencing the island, this is probably advisable but is not a necessity. As keen photographers, we carry a monopod that can also be used as a pole too when really needed although I'm not sure if it does the monopod any good.

Although we enjoyed the organised tours, we do like the freedom of walking in our own time and can set the pace, stop to take photos when the opportunity arises, and just generally relax a bit more and know that you don't have a set timetable to stick to. We also think that you can see a great deal this way and there is always something just around the corner to explore.

It's always best to walk with someone rather than venture out on your own for obvious reasons and always carry plenty of water with you to avoid dehydration. Our Los Llanos & Tazacorte round trip was in February and it was sweltering that day!

Featured Walks Under Our Own Steam :

The walks below describe our personal experiences during February 2008 and the list offers just a small selection of the walking routes available. Our walks have been published for use by website visitors on the understanding that Outdoors Views are not held responsible for the safety or well-being of those following the routes that we describe. Routes and footpaths were correct at time of publication but may have changed since then.

Recommended Walking Equipment

• Sturdy, comfortable walking boots that you are used to wearing
• Lightweight waterproof jacket & trousers
• Water bottle
• Map & compass (for your own walks)
• Sunscreen
• Hat
• Small backpack for carrying water, snacks and other items
• Camera