What to see in El Hierro
Introduction to El Hierro
El Hierro is one of the Canary Islands located in the Atlantic. It was considered the smallest and least populated island of the archipelago, until 2018 when La Graciosa was renamed the eighth island, making El Hierro the second smallest.
This small territory stands out for having become the first island in the world to be completely supplied by renewable energies, which allowed it to be declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in the year 2000.
El Hierro has also become the world's first smart island, thanks to its wifi access in almost every corner of the island.
Therefore, if you are looking to get away from the tourist crowds, but at the same time want to benefit from the sun and the sea, enjoy the best local cuisine, discover the seabed that surrounds us, stroll through natural landscapes, and appreciate views like no other, El Hierro is the perfect destination that will leave you wanting more.
In this article we will recommend our favourite places on the island so that you can get to know it in depth, no matter how many days you decide to stay.
However, it should be noted that one of the reasons why the island of El Hierro is known is due to the wonders found on its seabed, so if you are thinking of coming to enjoy the dives, we recommend that you plan to stay two or three days longer so that you can get to know the rest of the island without any problems.
DISCLAIMERS
Connectivity & Transport
However, before introducing you to these emblematic and characteristic places of our island, it is important to make a few small clarifications that may help you when booking your trip.
Among them, we would like to mention that one of the few disadvantages of this island is its poor connectivity.
There are no direct flights to El Hierro from mainland Spain, but you have to go via the airports of Gran Canaria or Tenerife to get there. You have the option of travelling by boat or plane, each of which has its own advantages and disadvantages.
The plane will get you to Valverde, the island's capital, in just 43 minutes from Tenerife, and about 55 minutes from Gran Canaria. The price of the flight will depend more on the airline you choose to travel with than on the date.
In this case, we recommend the low cost airline, Canaryfly, with which you will get flights for much less than half the price of other airlines.
Despite the speed of the flight, the disadvantage is that it deprives you of a car. El Hierro is a small island, but it will take you at least three days to cover it as a whole, and the car is always the quickest and most convenient way.
Although there is the option of renting one on arrival, the island has bus lines that will allow you to travel between the different municipalities, with access to them regardless of whether you dock at the port or land at the airport.
Busdeparture times vary between 15-40 minutes, and there are some lines that have different timetables depending on the months in which you choose to travel, for example, Route 4, which runs along the Circunvalación de la Frontera, has a different timetable during the summer months (July to September).
Still, catching the bus is a fairly affordable option for everyone, and there are a number of vouchers available so you can choose the best option to suit your travel plans.
The other option to get to El Hierro is by boat from the port of Los Cristianos in the south of Tenerife, with the company Naviera Armas. It has 6 trips a day at different times with a duration of about 3 hours, and offers the option of travelling by car.
It is important to remember that although travelling by car is the most convenient, public transport will always be the best way to reduce the impact of our ecological footprint at the destination.
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Now we're talking! Now that we've made our explanations clear, we'll go on to highlight our favourite spots in this beautiful corner of the Canary Islands. All of them have their own peculiarities that will make you feel how special this incredible island can be.
The Orchilla Lighthouse.
We begin with the Orchilla Lighthouse because it deserves the first special mention. Everyone who visits it agrees that it is the best place on the island to contemplate the sky, thanks to the tranquillity of being in front of the Atlantic Ocean.
It is also officially consideredone of the 10 best places in Spain to watch the sunset, which makes it an essential visit if you travel to this island.
Geográficamente, el faro está ubicado al oeste de la isla, pero es un expresión común de la zona decir que está <en medio de la nada>, pues para llegar a él hay que atravesar una carretera diminuta, que en el último trecho del recorrido deja de estar asfaltada.
It is easy to reach by car, but on the unpaved part you have to drive slowly, which is a good thing because you can enjoy the views more this way.
La Dehesa de Sabinosa.
The entrance to this placeis through the Sanctuary of the Virgen de los Reyes, patron saint of the island, and as with the route to the Faro de la Orchilla lighthouse, it is easily accessible by car.
However, it is worth noting that this route is best done on foot, as it is much more beautiful and you will enjoy the trails and views much more than you would by car.
From La Dehesa, you can access El Sabinar, and because of the history of this place, it has become one of the favourite places to visit. Here, you can find several junipers bent by the force of the wind that represents to this island the adaptation to adverse conditions.
It is important to bear in mind that these monuments are highly prized and loved because of the rarity of their composition, so, due to the treatment they received from tourists, it has been decided to protect their specimens.
The most famous of these is already protected by ropes to prevent us from approaching and damaging it.
On the other hand, it is very interesting to note that the aforementioned Sabina Herreña was featured on the album of former Queen guitarist Brian May, who also expressed his frustration at the treatment he was receiving from tourists.
The Garoé tree.
The Garoé tree is also known as the sacred tree of El Hierro. On El Hierro, there are no fountains, springs or rivers, which makes the history of this emblematic tree even more special.
Itwas worshipped by the Bimbache, the ancient inhabitants of the island, because of its leaves, which were capable of collecting enough water to supply the entire population.
Sadly, in the 17th century it was blown down by a hurricane, and it was not until 1949 that it was replaced by the one we can see today.
This place has an interpretation centre where we can find all the information related to its historical and archaeological importance.
If you like hiking, this is the place to enjoy a trip back in time, travelling through the marvellous history of this sacred place, as the Herreños were so fond of it that they created a 16-kilometre trail in its honour, called La Ruta del Agua, which begins and ends in San Andrés, with the aim of informing the population and tourists about the history of water on the island.
El Mirador de La Peña.
The viewpoint of La Peña is the most visited viewpoint on the island because of the spectacular views it offers at any time of the day, but above all, because of the unique sunset that we can see, which cannot be appreciated in the same way from almost any other point on the island.
Its 700 metres of altitude offer marvellous views of the valley of El Golfo, as well as the Roques de Salmor, and the vineyards and fruit trees that extend to the coast.
This viewpoint is located in the north of El Hierro, in a village called Guarazoca. It goes hand in hand with a restaurant called "Restaurante mirador de César Manrique", and both were built by the aforementioned architect.
Thanks to its construction based on natural materials such as stone and wood, as well as its location surrounded by gardens, this place has a peculiar charm that, if you have already travelled to Lanzarote, you will notice immediately, as it is the native island of this architect.
In addition, it is exclusively designed so that those who visit the La Peña viewpoint can taste the best local food, as well as the most diverse cocktails on the island.
El Mirador de Jinama.
The viewpoint of Jinama is another incredible work that César Manrique left us, which from the beginning, gives us to understand how its location is completely integrated in nature.
Like the viewpoint of La Peña, this one also offers a wonderful view of the area of El Golfo, but the most special thing about this viewpoint is that at1,230 metres above sea level, it gives us a view of La Palma like nowhere else on the island.
It is located in the centre-east of the island, and begins one of the oldest trails on El Hierro, the Camino de Jinama, whose paths lead to La Frontera.
El Mirador de Las Playas.
Located in the north of the island and a 20-minute drive from Valverde, this viewpoint provides views of the sea from over 1,000 metres above sea level.
From here, you can see some of the few beaches that make up the island of El Hierro. In the distance, you can also see the Parador de Turismo de El Hierro, as well as the incredible Roque de La Bonanza.
The special thing about this viewpoint is that, if we are lucky and catch a day without fog, we can also catch a glimpse of the marvellous curves of Tenerife and La Gomera, which will leave us speechless.
to follow on your holidays?
Don't miss the HikingExperience along the Volcano Route
Enjoy a special route through the volcanic lava of the island of El Hierro that will allow us to admire a unique landscape of the Canary Islands.
If you want to live a unique and environmentally friendly experience, and also get to know one of the most significant natural landscapes of the youngest island of the archipelago with a guide, book your place for a guided tour.
Tacorón Cove.
Puddles with crystal clear water are one of the best things El Hierro has to offer, but a calm sea to relax in on this beautiful island like the Tacorón is also worth a visit.
El Hierro is the island with the fewest beaches compared to the rest of the Canary archipelago, but Cala de Tacorón is undoubtedly one of the best.
It is located in the southwest of the island, and its charm lies in the fact that it has the calmest sea all year round.
It is a small beach that will dazzle you with its contrasting colours, thanks to the blue of the sea mixed with the black of the sand.
This beach is easily accessible by road, to the point where you can plan a route that starts or ends here.
La Restinga.
Having mentioned Tacorón, it is essential that we also mention the village of La Restinga.
Here, you can enjoy the freshest fish you've ever tasted, as well as enjoy a day of relaxation at the nearby beaches and natural pools.
La Restinga is the southernmost point, not only of El Hierro, but also of the whole of Spain. It is the perfect place if you are looking to dive the seabed that surrounds us, as there will be numerous diving clubs here that will allow you to explore the famous Mar de Las Calmas.
What's more, not only will you get away from the big tourist centres, but the harbour breakwater makes this area the ideal place to enjoy a day at the beach with the family.
The blue puddle.
It must be said that the blue pool is one of the island's bathing areas that can hardly be described in words.
Its name gives away the wonders it has to offer and it is NECESSARY to travel here and admire the beauty of this place, considered one of the most spectacular in the whole archipelago.
Located in El Golfo, it represents one of the many forms left by the lava, giving the island its turquoise waters, protected by a rocky outcrop sculpted by the sea itself.
It is easily accessible on foot, but it has the disadvantage that, being the best-known puddle on the island, it is difficult to find peace and quiet there.
However, it is absolutely essential that you take a dip in its crystal-clear waters, as you won't find such a place born of nature itself in many places.
La Maceta.
Along with Charco Azul, La Maceta is probably the most popular natural pool on the island. Located in the north, it is a space formed by a large natural pool that is the ideal place to enjoy a day alone, with friends or with the family, as it also has a smaller pool for the little ones to enjoy themselves and not have to worry about the intimacy of the ocean.
Unlike Charco Azul, where comfortable sunbathing is not one of its qualities, La Maceta has a picnic area and barbecue facilities, as well as an easily accessible car park.
They have been adapted with stairs and handrails to allow greater access, as well as to ensure the safety of visitors.
In short, it is a corner sculpted by nature that not only satisfies the greatest of whims for a sunny day but is also the best plan to disconnect thanks to the soothing sound of the waves, as well as the emblematic landscape that surrounds it.
El Roque de La Bonanza.
El Roque de la Bonanza is another essential place to visit and is known for being one of the natural icons of El Hierro.
It is a rock formation 200 metres above the sea that has been eroded and shaped by water and wind.
It is obvious that it does not have an easily interpretable figure, so it has become a tradition that anyone passing by can spend some time playing at making sense of it.
It is located in the southwest of the island, in the bay known as the Natural Monument of Las Playas, and its peculiar birth as a result of the eruptive activity of the Tiñor volcano became part of the Canary Islands Network of Protected Natural Spaces in the year 2000.
Los Roques del Salmor.
Once again, if what we are looking for is to appreciate the small peculiarities that this volcanic island has left us, Los Roques del Salmor is one of your guaranteed stops.
The location of its rocks makes you think that they look like basins detached from a necklace at the edge of the cliff, which has turned this area into a natural treasure that serves as protection for sea birds and the famous giant lizard of El Hierro.
It is located between the municipalities of Frontera and Valverde and has been catalogued as a Special Protection Area for birds, as it is home to some endangered species that use these small rocks for nesting.
La Caleta.
La Caleta is a small village located on the east coast, which offers the opportunity to spend the day in its three artificial pools of different depths so that anyone can enjoy the one they fancy the most.
It also has access to the open sea so that diving enthusiasts can dive into the depths of a little-known corner of the Atlantic Ocean, and for fishing enthusiasts to enjoy a sunny day in the best Herreño style.
Of course, the tide plays an important role, because even if the pools are artificial, they are filled with sea water. Moreover, if the tide is too high, it will not be possible to dive to the seabed.
Despite this, it is in a good location surrounded by archaeological sites that make the visit all the more interesting.
El Tamaduste.
El Tamaduste is a small Herreño village in Valverde, which has another natural pool that once again brings us back to the endearing beauty that makes up the island.
It is one of the most attractive bathing areas that El Hierro has to offer, protected from the sea and with small sandy areas that are key to enjoying a day of relaxation.
It is a beautiful, welcoming and peaceful village, where you will find yourself surrounded by a natural environment barely touched by technology and machines.
In addition, we also highlight the Route with the same name, which begins at the Mirador de la Peña and ends in this wonderful place, where you will not be deprived of the incredible sea views that only this path can offer.
El Charco Manso.
El Hierro is an island that stands out for the charm of its puddles, and certainly, thanks to the volcanic arc that forms the Charco Manso, as well as its different bathing areas, this is probably one of the most essential of the visit.
This pool is not very frequented, which gives us the advantage of enjoying it in its entirety and in peace and quiet.
We can choose to swim in one of the larger pools if we are with the family, or even in a more private pool for one or two people.
It is one of the places that will enchant you as soon as you see it, as its crystal-clear waters and calm sea will provide you with a moment of peace and relaxation that you will hardly find anywhere else.
