A Haven For Birdwatchers And Hikers Alike

La Palma

La Palma is the north-westernmost of the Canary Island Archipelago and is known as the “Pretty Isle” due to its outstanding natural beauty. It has the most precipitation out of all the Canary Islands and is one of the world's most mountainous Islands. Roque de los Muchachos is its highest peak and stands at 2,426 metres. The island is volcanic in origin and has numerous cones, lava flows and dykes which make a dramatic disparity to its spectacular floral riches.

The striking landscape of this little island is dominated by the Caldera in the north with its steeply sloping sides, both on the interior and exterior of this enormous crater. The south-west part of the Caldera has collapsed and has eroded leaving a deep ravine that runs down to the sea at Tazacorte. The central and southern parts of La Palma are dominated by the central ridge which extends from the Caldera in the north to the southern point of the island and divides the island into two parts.

La Palma’s climate is separated into the two parts of the island, the north-east attract the trade winds which bring in precipitation, whereas the south-west is a lot drier and sunnier. The temperatures along the coast average around 20ºC up to an elevation of 200m, with temperatures dropping at higher elevations – and capable of reaching freezing point at heights over 2,000m.

The airport on La Palma is located between the municipalities of Brena Baja and Villa de Mazo, offers daily connections with the other Canary Islands, mainland Spain and the main European destinations.

The capital of La Palma is Santa Cruz de la Palma located on the east coast on the slope of the mountain and on the rim of the caldera. There is a Museum of Natural History that exhibits wonderful zoological examples and traces of the original population and a large library. The road that edges the sea is a blend of old traditional Canarian houses with large balconies and new buildings. The Sanctuary of Nuestra Senora de las Nieves, the patron saint of the island is sited close to the town.

Some of the island's main attractions include: the Caldera de Taburiente National Park, the Roque de los Muchachos Astrophysics Observatory, the El Canal y Los Tiles forests and a range of archaeological sites.

With over a thousand kilometres of marked paths, La Palma has walks to suit a range of abilities. This is pretty good considering that La Palma is only 50km long and just 25km across at its widest point. For cycling fans there are a number of routes ranging from easy one hour rides to all day trips for the very fit as this entails some steep uphill riding.

La Gomera

La Gomera is a rich, thickly wooded island with a large massif in the centre known as Alto de Garajonary, another National Park 1,487m above sea level. Its coastline is rugged and packed with cliffs; the island has a mountainous interior. The island is full of natural beauty and comparatively untouched by tourism. Most of the inhabitants speak only Spanish with the exception of maybe a few at the bigger hotels having command of the English language.

A whistle language known as “Silbo Gomero” is a well-known characteristic that is used by the inhabitants of La Gomera to communicate with each other from mountain to mountain.

The airport at La Gomera has some inter island connections with the other Canary Islands and some European connections. In addition, a regular catamaran service links the island with Los Cristianos in southern Tenerife.

The charming village of San Sebastian is the capital of La Gomera and is the place where the Conde de la Gomera Parador is sited. Christopher Columbus stopped here and prepared for his voyage to America.

Playa de Santiago offers some of the best beaches on La Gomera, albeit sand and pebble. The harbour here gives protection for swimmers against the ocean and the sparkling waters are a joy for snorkeller’s as the brightly coloured tropical fish swim into the shallow waters.

Other good beaches include San Sebastian and Valle Gran Rey has several small beaches that are popular with surfers. Hermigua and La Caleta on the east coast also have some good beaches. Playa de Vallehermoso in the north has a good beach popular with wind surfers and where the magnificent cliffs of Los Organos are located.

La Gomera attracts walkers of all levels of capabilities and many different routes. There are some exceptional walking guides and information available to help you to decide on which route is best for you. Scuba diving for both the experienced divers and beginners is attainable on the island. If you prefer to relax and take in the scenic beauty of La Gomera or go dolphin watching, boat trips can be taken. If you are a keen fisherman, you can hire a boat to take out.

Mountain biking is another popular leisure activity on the island and the local hire companies can even arrange to transport you to the higher parts of La Gomera from which you can make your own way back. This is perfect for those who enjoy mountain biking but not the steep uphill rides.

If you are looking for a lively nightlife you won’t find it all over La Gomera. The nightlife here mainly consists of dining and a quiet drink in a relaxing atmosphere. The exceptions are the capital - San Sebastian which offers some vibrant bars with live music and the Gran Rey Valley.

El Hierro

Triangular shaped El Hierro is the smallest island (around 50km in length) of the Canaries archipelago with a plateau in the middle being its highest point (Malpaso) at 1,501m. The rugged terrain is dominated by mountains and pine forests and its nearly 100km of coastline has sheer cliffs stretching down into the sea. It has been designated as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

The airport is located just a few kilometres from the capital Valverde with daily flights to and from Tenerife and Gran Canaria. There are also scheduled ferry services to and from Tenerife and La Gomera.

The island has a clement climate created by the interaction of the sea currents off the banks of the Sahara and the continuous and gentle trade winds. The temperatures on the coast vary between 19°C and 23°C, though, in the Valverde area, temperatures are cooler due to its altitude and northerly location, the winds are moderate to strong throughout most of the year. Nights are invariably cooler by a few degrees necessitating a sweater or jacket.

El Hierro is famous for the giant lizard measuring around 60cms and weights of 400gms or more and is exclusive to the island. The giant lizard generally resides in the Fuga de Gorreta and is a protected species, although, some can be seen in the specifically designed terrariums in Guinea at the Centro de Recuperacion del Lagarto de Salmor (Salmor Lizard Recuperation Centre).

Picturesque Valverde is the capital of El Hierro and is located at an altitude of 600 metres and it is the only capital of the whole of the Canary Islands that is not on the coast. It has the typical Canarian architecture with a beautiful square – from which fantastic panoramic views of the sea and the other islands can be seen.

Scuba diving trips is attainable from centres on La Restinga, a town on the south coast and within the marine park. Dive sites are accessed by small boat. Mar de las Calmas is a haven for scuba divers and is located between La Restinga and Punta Orchilla. Its inviting calm clear waters hold a variety of marine life in its underwater shelves, caves, summits and drops, occasionally sharks can also be seen. There are also opportunities for Para-gliding, surfing, mountain-biking, walking, caving and lots of other water and adventure sports.

El Golfo is a panoramic valley located in the north of El Hierro and is an awe-inspiring site shaped in a broad semi circle it drops off into the sea from a great height of 700m at certain points. Many swimming areas are located here such as El Charco and El Verodal beach. All sorts of activities whether underwater or on dry land take place at this location.

Frontera Rural is the largest park on the island and there are an extensive range of ecosystems are present here. Some fascinating places include; El Julan, where you can see some captivating rock engravings and aboriginal ruins; and La Restinga, where the latest volcanic activity took place.

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