Volcanoes of La Palma

Itinerary

• Day 1

  Welcome to La Palma

  Arrival at La Palma Airport (SPC). A member of the Kandoo Adventures team will be at the airport to meet you and we transfer to our hotel in Santa Cruz where we will be staying for 3 nights. We meet our guide and the rest of the group at the hotel. Depending on your arrival time there may be a chance to get out and explore the area. Our pre-trek briefing will be held this evening.

  • Accomodation: Hotel
• Day 2

  The Forest of los Tilos

  We start our exploration of La Palma with a circular hike through the primary forest of Los Tilos, a UNESCO biosphere reserve. The forest is an explosion of biodiversity and one of the last remaining strong holds of Laurisilver, a broadleaved tree which dominated the planet millions of years ago.

  • Hiking time: 7 - 8 hours
  • Ascent: 1485 m
  • Descent: 1485 m
  • Accomodation: Hotel
  • Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
• Day 3

  Roque de los Muchachos

  This morning we leave our accommodation early, around 5.30am. Our hike begins in Canarian pine forest but we quickly rise above the tree line as we head for the summit of the island, the Roque de los Muchachos. Home to the most important astronomical observatory in the northern hemisphere, the Rock of the Children stands at 2426m above sea level. We walk along volcanic ridge lines, following the famous GR131 trail along the northern border of the Caldera de Taburiente National Park. High on the ridges we are treated to incredible 360 degree views of the cloud sea to the east and the vast Atlantic to the west. After taking some time at the summit to relax and take photos we descend back into the forest and return to our hotel.

  • Hiking time: 7 - 8 hours
  • Ascent: 800 m
  • Descent: 530 m
  • Accomodation: Hotel
  • Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
• Day 4

  Puntagorda and Buracas

  After two days of strenuous walking, today we will take it easy. Our hike starts from Puntagorda on the western side of the island. We follow the ravine known as barranco de Izcagua to the village of Tricias, passing between dragon trees and almond trees. In the afternoon we descend to Buracas, where we can view ancient troglodyte caves and the beautiful dragon tree gardens. There is time for a swim in the sea at Poris de Puntagorda before we reach our hotel.

  • Hiking time: 3 - 4 hours
  • Ascent: 566 m
  • Descent: 605 m
  • Accomodation: Hotel
  • Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
• Day 5

  La Caldera del Agua

  Today we will be exploring the Caldera del Agua, home to the most beautiful laurel forests on the island. We start from the cultural centre of Zarza, passing through an incredibly diverse range of vegetation typical of the north of the island. At Don Pedro we meet the GR130, the old Camino Real (Royal Road) which goes around the entire island. Here on the northern side of La Palma we will see the most isolated villages, pristine forest and deepest gorges the island has to offer.

  • Hiking time: 4 - 5 hours
  • Ascent: 430 m
  • Descent: 1040 m
  • Accomodation: Hotel
  • Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
• Day 6

  La Caldera de Taburiente

  We set off to explore the National Park of Caldera de Taburiente. From los Brecitos, the path leads us through the Canarian pine forest, at the foot of the vertiginous cliffs of the caldera, a volcanic basin 8km in diameter. We follow the trail to the famous barranco de las Angustias, where we will make a detour through waterfalls with incredible colours thanks to the presence of iron and sulfur in the rock. We continue along the river bed and discover the cushion lavas, similar to giant turtle shells! In the afternoon we return to our hotel in Tazacorte.
  
  NOTE: In the afternoon there will be transport available to Tazarcorte where you can take a PCR test for Covid19 before your return flight. The cost for a test is €90 which must be paid locally.

  • Hiking time: 5 - 6 hours
  • Ascent: 160 m
  • Descent: 950 m
  • Accomodation: Hotel
  • Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
• Day 7

  The Volcano Trail

  An early start (6.30am) is required today as we have a long distance to cover. After a short transfer to El Pilar, we begin climbing the volcanic ridge of Cumbre Vieja on the magnificent Volcano Trail. We will be walking over the last craters to have erupted on the island many years ago. We reach the first crater of Hoyo Negro (last eruption 1949) and enter a volcanic desert of craters and cones. This crossing of more than 20km offers remarkable views of the entire island of La Palma. We climb Teneguia, the location of the last eruption on the Canary Islands in 1971. Finally we reach the southern tip of the island with its salt marshes an iconic lighthouse (the last in use on the island). A truly dramatic hike to mark the end of our adventure on La Palma.

  • Hiking time: 5 - 6 hours
  • Ascent: 750 m
  • Descent: 1500 m
  • Accomodation: Hotel
  • Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch
• Day 8

  Departure

  Depending on your flight time there may be an opportunity to wonder the streets of Sant Cruz and pick up some souvenirs before transferring to the airport for your flight home.
• See more

See the map