The GR131 is a long-distance hiking route that connects the Canary Islands. The route runs across the different islands of the archipelago and consists of separate stages on each island. The GR131 is not a continuous hiking trail that you can follow from one island to the next. Each island has its own section, and between the islands you travel by ferry or plane. Together, these different sections offer a unique way to discover the Canary Islands on foot.
The letters GR stand for Gran Recorrido, which is Spanish for a long-distance hiking route. GR routes are recognisable by their red-and-white markings. The GR131 is different on each island. The distance, terrain and elevation changes vary considerably from one section to another. This means you can choose to hike one island, combine several islands or follow the GR131 across a large part of the archipelago.
The GR131 runs across the main islands of the Canary archipelago. Each individual section has its own character. On Lanzarote and Fuerteventura, you will often hike through open volcanic landscapes and along the coast. On Gran Canaria and Tenerife, you will encounter greater elevation changes and more mountainous stages. La Gomera and La Palma are known for their mountainous hiking routes, where you regularly have significant climbs and descents. On El Hierro, you hike a smaller and quieter section of the GR131. The conditions and level of difficulty therefore vary from one island to another.
When all the sections of the GR131 across the Canary Islands are added together, the total is approximately 620 kilometres. Of course, you do not have to hike this distance in one go. The route is particularly suitable for discovering one island at a time or exploring different sections over several trips. At Canary-Hiking, you can book different sections of the GR131 as individual hiking holidays.
You can start with one island and hike another section of the GR131 at a later stage. If you have more time, you can also combine several islands. This creates a longer hiking holiday where you not only hike different routes but also get to experience several islands. This island hopping makes it possible to combine several sections of the GR131. When combining islands, we plan the trip so that the hiking stages and travel between the islands fit together smoothly.
Many of our GR131 hiking holidays can be undertaken independently. Before your trip, you receive the route information and GPX files. During the stages, you follow the route independently and decide your own walking pace and when to take breaks. Depending on the hiking holiday you choose, the accommodation, transfers and luggage transfer are arranged for you in advance. This allows you to hike the GR131 independently without having to organise all the practical aspects of the trip yourself.
An important difference compared with many long-distance hiking routes on the European mainland is that the GR131 consists of separate sections on different islands. You therefore do not have one long, continuous route with the same type of terrain every day. Each island has its own landscape, elevation changes and hiking character. That is precisely what makes it interesting to combine different sections of the GR131.
How demanding the GR131 is depends largely on the island and the stages you choose. Some sections are relatively open and less technical, while others involve significant amounts of climbing and descending. For each hiking holiday, we provide information about the distances, elevation changes and hiking grade. This allows you to decide in advance which section of the GR131 suits you best.
Canary-Hiking organises hiking holidays on different sections of the GR131. You can choose a hiking holiday on one island, or combine several islands. The duration and hiking grade vary from one trip to another. Because we arrange the practical aspects of the trip for you, you can focus mainly on the hiking during your holiday.
If you want to hike the GR131, do not look only at the total number of kilometres. First decide which island or combination of islands interests you most. Then look at the distances, elevation changes and hiking grade of the stages. This will help you choose a GR131 hiking holiday that fits the time you have available and the way you like to hike.
V.O.F Canary-Hiking
Zonmanshoeve 13
5708 TX Helmond
KvK 94997535
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