Trip Ref #8768
DURATION
3 nights
LOCATION
Canary Islands
ANNUAL LEAVE
2 days off work
SEASON
Oct—May
GROUP SIZE
Up to 6 people
MEETING POINT
Tenerife South Airport
ACCOMMODATION
Classic
Hotel
DIFFICULTY
Moderate
You’ll need a moderate level of fitness to enjoy the hikes to the full, but your guide will adjust the pace to suit the group's abilities.
Explore El Hierro - the smallest and most remote of the Canary Islands and a UNESCO protected biosphere – perfect if you’re looking for adventure off the beaten track
Rugged cliffs, volcanoes, lava tubes, swimming holes – you’ll explore every corner of this beautiful island, from sea to summit
Featured in The Local, 'How to spend a weekend at the end of the world'
Day 1
Things get remote
Fly to Tenerife and then take the evening ferry to the remote island of El Hierro.
Check into your hotel, gawk at the gorgeous sea views and then enjoy dinner with the rest of your team.
Day 2
The Forest of Sabinas
Hiking
4hrs · 8km
Start the day with a morning hike through the island’s famous juniper forest. These ancient trees have been bent and sculpted by the powerful trade winds and now look like mysterious works of art. Photo-ops abound!
Reach the summit of El Golfo and enjoy a picnic lunch with a serious view.
Descend via a charming church and head to the remarkable Acantilado volcanic cave with a view that was once considered the end of the world.
Day 3
Climb a volcano
Hiking
4hrs · 10km
Take a scenic drive across the island to El Piñar and hike past terraced vineyards to the summit of Montaña del Juan, a volcano with dual craters.
Drop back down to Tacorón Bay for a swim and then drive to La Restinga, the southernmost village in Spain, before returning to your hotel for a last night in this remote and peaceful paradise.
Day 4
The Garoe Holy Tree and home
Hiking
4hrs · 9km
Linger over a seaside breakfast and then visit the famous La Maceta pools and La Peña viewpoint, perched 700m above the ocean.
Stop for a picnic at the Garoé Holy Tree, the exclusive source of water for the island’s indigenous Bimbache people.
Finish in Valverde, the island’s tiny capital, before heading back to the seaport and home.
Included
Guides
Professional, English-speaking guides
Accommodation
3 nights in a 3-star family-run hotel
Meals
Munch on tasty food throughout
Transfers
To and from the seaport and everything in-between
Permits
All taxes and fees
Not Included
Flights to and from the meeting point
Travel to and from the start point
Travel insurance
Tips for your guides
Visas where required
Day 1
Hotel · Twin share
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 2 – Day 3
Hotel · Twin share
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 4
Departure day
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
What is the food like?
Visitors to the Canary Islands are often surprised by the quality of the food. Most of the ingredients used are produced locally, including vegetables grown in the island's rich volcanic soil and fish and shellfish caught in the surrounding waters.
You’re sure to encounter papas arrugadas - small potatoes served in a sauce of garlic, olive oil, vinegar, herbs and spices. Thick vegetable and meat soups are also common. Main courses include grilled fish, calamari, prawns, and a variety of meats served roasted or stewed. The islands also produce award-winning wines.
Most dietary requirements can be accommodated, just let your host know beforehand.
What is the accommodation like?
El Hierro
You’ll stay in a twin room with en-suite bathroom at the Hotel Balneario Pozo de La Salud, perched on the cliffs on the northwest side of the island. There’s no town, but the hotel provides everything you’ll need, including a bar, sun terrace, sea views, WiFi, and an on-site restaurant that serves local and international food.
Upgrades
For travellers looking for their own space, you can upgrade to a private room for £75 per person.
The Area
Logistics
Starts
Valverde Seaport, El Hierro
When you arrive on the 20:15 ferry
Ends
Valverde Seaport, El Hierro
In time to catch the 15:30 ferry back to Tenerife
Transfers
Your host will pick you up on arrival and drop you off in time for departure.
Travel options
There are regular flights to Tenerife from airports across the UK and Europe. Given its remote location, El Hierro takes a few connections to get to, but it’s well worth the effort! See the travel FAQ for more details.
What about all the carbon?
We've crunched the numbers to work out the total carbon footprint of this trip, and plant enough trees to suck 2x as much back out the atmosphere.
Enjoy 12.5% Off Outdoor Gear
In need of a few more items? All bookings receive a 12.5% discount to use at Cotswold Outdoor, Snow + Rock and Runner's Need.
What do I need to bring?
Bags
- A small rucksack for carrying personal items
Clothing
- Sturdy, broken-in hiking shoes or boots
- Rain/windproof jacket
- Lightweight, breathable hiking shirts and trousers
- Mid-/heavy-layer clothes for colder days
- Light jacket for evenings
Other
- Reusable Water bottle
- Swimsuit and towel
- Sun protection (hat, sunglasses and sunblock)
Single Occupancy
Payable Before Departure
Single Occupancy
…
The first thing to say is thank you to Paulo for sharing his Island with us. His knowledge and enthusiasm for El Hierro is incredible. Every day was different and the terrain and ecosystems changes at every corner, this is something you have to witness to believe! Paulo looks after you from the moment you get off the ferry until he drops you off. And if you want to be away from tourist and civilisation for most of the day this is the trip for you. On the walks, we were the only people for miles around not forgetting the occasional juniper or heather tree!! This was a fantastic little break to stretch the legs and get up close to nature and feel as though you are on the edge of the world, with nothing but volcanoes and ocean between you and reality.
This was my first trip with much better adventures and I had a great time. Although 3 days was short, I still got to see and experienced the whole island. Paulo is an amazing guide - he really knows and loves this island, which makes this trip a truly memorable one! The hikes were varied and you do need to be fit especially going uphill towards the craters. However, you can get the poles from Paulo. Overall, a fantastic weekend.
Would definitely recommend this trip. 3 great days of walking in different areas of El Hierro with completely different landscapes and scenery followed by swimming opportunities and a surprise caving experience. Paulo was amazing. You could tell he was in love with the island, was so enthusiastic and had a wealth of knowledge which he shared with us. The added bonus of waking up in the morning with sunshine and sea views. This was more than just a simple walking trip
The welcome, walks and information were great.
Paolo was excellent, looked after us really well and was very knowledgeable about the entire island. The hikes were well thought out and very varied.
The trips were beautiful and very varied and not overwhelming for unseasoned hikers. But the highlight was without a doubt the guide, Paulo. There wasn't a question he couldn't answer about the island and was constantly explaining the history, geology, fauna, wildlife, politics and anything else. He was friendly and engaging with everyone and included lovely extras we weren't expecting, like a beer on the beach, a coffee in the morning. Plus, he wanted to help an injured cat we saw, just because he's a lovely guy. We felt he really brought us into his world and his passion couldn't have come across more. The hotel was lovely and clean with a sea view and comfortable beds. The landscapes oh the hikes were so incredibly varied and beautiful and we felt that we saw the whole island.
I thoroughly enjoyed the tour, it was a great group of people and a fascinating island. Paolo’s enthusiasm is contagious and his knowledge and insights mean that we got so much more out of the experience. Would recommend.
Pollock was an excellent host and guide, could not fault in his enthusiasm and knowledge. We look forward to returning.
Pretty much everything was great - Paulo is a great host, El Hierro is beautiful, everything amazing.
The fantastic, well-informed programme. We saw so much of this stunning island with its varied landscapes and microclimates.
A moderate level of fitness is needed to enjoy the hikes to the full, however, your guide will adjust the pace according to the group abilities, and of course there are a few swimming stops!
Sure can! Over 50% of our travellers travel solo, it’s a great way to meet like-minded people.
El Hierro has a subtropical desert climate, meaning it’s hot and dry all year round. From April to October temperatures average 16 – 29 °C, with record highs exceeding 40 °C. Rain is almost unheard of in the summer. From November to March temperatures average 14 – 24 °C, and it rains a few days per month.
Any excess luggage can be safely stored in your hotel room.
We recommend checking out the country specific information here and also talking to a travel nurse.
For current advice about travelling in Spain, have a read of the UK Foreign Office pages here.
Our group adventures are adult only however if you would like to bring children along this can be arranged by requesting a private trip with the host. This trip is suitable for children from age 10 only.
Step 1 - Fly to Tenerife: Tenerife South Airport (TFS) is served by regular flights from mainland Europe. Schedule your flight to arrive by 15:30 so that you don't miss the ferry to El Hierro.
Step 2 - Transfer to Cristianos: Catch a cab from the front of the airport and get dropped off right by the ferry at the port of Cristianos (20 minutes, EUR 20-30).
Step 3 - Ferry to El Hierro: The ferry operator is Naviera Armas (www.navieraarmas.com). Tickets cost approximately EUR 99 for a round trip. The ferry leaves Thursdays at 17:30, arriving in El Hierro at 20:15 (2 hours 45 minutes).
Returning to Tenerife on Sunday - the ferry leaves El Hierro at 15:30 and arrives in Cristianos at 18:00, so schedule your return flight to depart no earlier than 20:00. You can get any flights that suit you, but make sure they fit the times above so that you don’t miss any connections. We will contact you before you depart to check on your arrival and departure plans.
Our recommended travel insurance provider is Campbell Irvine.
Travel insurance is compulsory for all of our adventures and you are required to provide your policy information before departing.
Your insurance should include adequate protection for overseas medical treatment, evacuation/repatriation, your baggage and equipment and the specific activities involved on your adventure. We also strongly recommend it includes cancellation and curtailment insurance, should you be unable to join your trip for specific reasons such as illness.
We fully endorse Campbell Irvine as their insurance offers all of the above, so get in touch with them or call on 020 7938 1734 to get your insurance sorted. We suggest that you book travel insurance as soon as you book your adventure, just to cover you for any last-minute life changes. We know you’re an active lot and injuries do happen!
We automatically convert prices from the local currency that a host receives to your chosen currency. We update our exchange rates on a daily basis so this does mean that prices displayed on the site are subject to currency fluctuations, which is why you may see them change over time.
If you wish to change the currency you pay in, head to the bottom of the page.
All of our group adventures are specially designed for adults to enjoy (18+) as we want these adventures to bring together outdoorsy people who are truly like-minded. Children can be accommodated on some private departures.
You're in good company. Our adventures are typically made up of a mix of solo travellers and small groups of two or three friends who simply love adventure, pushing themselves and meeting awesome like-minded people. See here for more info about our lovely bunch of Much Better Adventurers.
Want to book a private trip? Just tap ‘Private Group’ in the dates and prices tab.
Your trip is led by carefully curated local hosts and expert guides. See here for more info about the guides we work with.
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