Walking the Island of La Palma

• Five days of walking; one free day
• Altitude maximum: 7,959ft (2,426m); average: 2,625ft (800m)
• Group normally 6 to 16, plus local leader. Minimum age: 16
• Seven nights between a three-star hotel and aparthotel
• All breakfasts and four dinners included

La Palma has a relatively balanced climate year-round due to the trade winds that affect all the Canary Islands. These winds from the northeast carry moisture and can mean that two sides of the island can be experiencing completely different weather patterns simultaneously. The winds provide a natural cooling system, which is perfect for hiking. However, you should be prepared for rain at any time – La Palma is a lush island and the weather systems can be quite unpredictable. We offer this trip year-round, but there can be significant increases in temperature in July and August and this may lead to cancellation of some walking days if the weather is too hot. The best time to trek is from October to May, when the island is a little cooler.

This trip has been rated Activity Level 4 (Moderate/Challenging).

It is an eight-day walking adventure based out of two hotels with daily transfers to the walk start/end points. The transfers are not far in terms of distance but the roads are steep and windy in parts; the longest transfers are the return from Roque de Los Muchachos on Day 4 and the transfer to Los Brecitos on Day 6.

Average altitude is 2,625ft (800m), maximum is 7,959ft (2,426m) on Day 6 (the Caldera de Taburiente walk).

The walks vary between Moderate and Challenging levels and each day involves a fair amount of ascent and descent (for more details please see the daily itinerary). The trip requires a reasonable amount of fitness, ideally with previous trekking experience. The most challenging walks are on days 6 and 7.

The terrain and path type vary but many can be rocky and steep, especially on the gorge walks on days 4 and 6. Good walking boots and poles are highly recommended. All paths we take are approved and monitored by the Federación Española de Montañismo and are well signposted.

Due to the nature of some of the walks, we would not recommend this trip to anyone who suffers from severe vertigo. Some of the walks traverse steep-sided slopes on relatively narrow paths cut into the hillsides, particularly the morning of the Caldera de Taburiente National Park walk on Day 6. There is also a section of the walk around the caldera rim on Day 4 that may not be suitable for vertigo sufferers.