Top 4 hiking trails in El Hierro

El Hierro is the westernmost island of the Canary archipelago and also one of the most amazing destinations for hiking. Its beautiful forests, wild beaches and breathtaking cliffs await you, so pack your suitcase and…let's go!

Discover the 4 best hiking routes in El Hierro, walk through enchanted forests, visit the crater of a volcano and get to know the island on foot.

The impressive path of Jinama in El Hierro

Jinama trail

The Jinama trail is one of the most spectacular paths on the island. The most impressive thing about this hike is the amazing views over El Golfo valley. Bear in mind though that it’s a difficult route, only suitable for advanced hikers.

The trail begins near the church of La Candelaria and runs for 8 km with an elevation of 885 meters. The path consists of 2 well-differentiated sections, the first one goes up the cliff of El Golfo while the second is quite flat and crosses a meadow.

This path is also known as “las mudadas” since it was used by the inhabitants of the interior of the island to move to the valley of El Golfo at certain times of the year. Don’t forget to wear suitable footwear and bring enough water.

Tip: if you are a beginner, don't worry! We got your back. Alternatively, you can take the Punta Grande - La Maceta coastal trail, which is much easier but equally incredible. 

La Llanía path

If you are vacationing on the island just for a short while but still want a taste of the hiking life, this route is perfect for you. Visit the greenest and wildest nature of El Hierro and get lost in a fairytale forest.

The route begins in the car park of La Llanía, in the municipality of Valverde. There are 3 variants ordered by length. The green one is just over 4 km and 2 hours long. The orange one is a little longer, with about 5.5 km of distance and 3 hours of duration. The longest one, which is marked blue, is 7 km and 4 hours long.

Whichever option you choose, you will enter an enchanted forest full of heather, ferns, and flowers, a dream place for botany lovers. After passing through the Fireba and La Llanía viewpoints, both equally spectacular, you will arrive at a mythical black sand caldera.

Tip: part of the path runs through a humid forest, so it is recommended to wear a waterproof jacket .

Route of El Sabinar

This route passes through some of the most emblematic places on the island, such as the famous Sabina del Hierro. Due to its circular design and its low difficulty it’s perfect for an excursion with the whole family.

The path is perfectly signposted and runs for about 10 km. We recommend that you save a little time at the beginning of the trip to visit the chapel of Ermita de Los Reyes, the patron saint of the island. Afterwards, you will get to see the Piedra de los Regidores stone and the Bascos viewpoint from which you can observe the steep cliffs of El Golfo.

Undoubtedly, the most impressive part of this trail is the route through Sabinosa, the island's Sabina forest. These magnificent trees have been shaped over hundreds of years by the strong winds in the area and now exhibit the gentle curves that make them so attractive and special.

The famous Sabina of El Hierro, curved by the wind

Water trail

The water route takes us back to pre-hispanic times when Bimbaches, aborigines from El Hierro, roamed the island. It will take us past an ancient settlement, a sacred tree and a humid forest among other beautiful landscapes.

The path begins in the town of San Andrés, the highest on the island, and runs for about 16 km. Regardless of the time of year, the initial section is usually covered in a mist that’s  characteristic of the place, so it is advisable to bring a raincoat. Continuing the path we will pass by a volcanic cone and by "la Albarrada", one of the first original settlements.

A little further on, we will be able to visit the Garoé tree, considered holy since it trapped ambient humidity, turning it into water for the population to drink. Before entering a beautiful humid forest, we will find ancient ponds that the aborigines used to store water for times of drought.

Despite being one of the longest routes on the list, its difficulty is low and it can be done in about 4 hours.

Tips for your hiking adventures in El Hierro

• Make sure you wear comfortable and suitable footwear. Hiking boots are ideal, but routes of medium-low difficulty can be done with sports shoes.
• Find out about the routes before doing them and make sure they are suitable for your physical condition and experience, as many trails lack mobile signal.
• Always carry a bag to collect your garbage and do not leave any waste behind you.
• Respect the flora and fauna and avoid disturbing wild animals or playing music at a high volume.
• Make sure you bring enough water and food and pack something that contains sugar in case you get low on energy.
• Start the routes early to avoid the hottest hours and do not go hiking if there is rain forecast.

Put on your hiking shoes and come visit El Hierro with us! You can check all the available routes on our Map of ferries and book your ferry tickets online with no hidden fees.