Description
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La Palma at Your Own Pace – Individual Hiking Tour with Rental Car
Experience a unique hiking adventure on La Palma – the greenest and most mysterious island of the Canary Islands. During this 8-day self-guided hiking holiday, you’ll explore La Palma at your own pace with a rental car and carefully selected routes through volcanic landscapes, laurel forests, and rugged coastlines.
Known as La Isla Bonita, La Palma is famous for its pristine nature and authentic charm. No mass tourism here, just spectacular trails, deep ravines, active volcanoes, and historic villages. You’ll stay in two distinctive accommodations: the elegant Parador Hotel La Palma and a tranquil apartment with sea views in the island’s southwest.
Highlights of this active La Palma holiday:
🌋 Guided excursion to Tajogaite & Cumbre Vieja
Walk across the recently active volcano and witness how nature reshaped the island.
🌄 Guided hike to Roque de Los Muchachos (2426 m)
Reach the island’s highest point and enjoy breathtaking views over Caldera de Taburiente.
🌿 Self-guided walk through the botanical north
Explore La Palma’s greenest area along peaceful routes through misty laurel forests.
🏴☠️ The Wild North: Pirate Bay & Dragon Tree Forest
An adventurous hike along rocky bays and mysterious dragon trees with GPX guidance.
🔥 Self-guided volcano route
Trek past ancient craters and lava fields through the volcanic heart of the island.
🌈 Cascade de Colores – Caldera de Taburiente
A short, colorful walk to one of La Palma’s most photogenic spots.
With the included travel guidebook featuring daily programs, routes, and insider tips, you can explore worry-free and discover the real La Palma: pure, peaceful, and full of contrasts.
- Diverse Landscapes in One Day
- Discover La Palma – The Greenest Canary Island
- Endless Trails for Nature Lovers
- Hike Through Lush Forests and Deep Gorges
- Enjoy Sunshine and Tranquility
- Authentic Island Culture
- Freedom with Your Own Rental Car
- Stay in Charming Local Accommodations
1 | Arrival in La Palma
When you arrive at La Palma Airport, a rental car will be waiting for you. In just under half an hour, you’ll reach your beautiful super deluxe accommodation, where you’ll stay for the first few days.
2 | North Tour
With your own car, you’ll visit San Andres, La Aldea Rum, Charco Azul, and the Los Silos waterfall, where floral enthusiasts will be in heaven. Start your journey with a breathtaking view of green slopes and steep cliffs from the Mirador de La Montaña. Then, drive to the Los Tilos nature reserve, known for its rainforest-like appearance with ferns and laurel trees. From the picturesque San Andres, take a walk and head towards Puerto Espindola and Charco Azul with its natural swimming pools. You’ll also visit the Ron Aldea distillery, where rum is traditionally made from sugarcane.
We’ll provide you with all the information you need for this self-guided tour.
3 | Los Muchachos Excursion with Guide
Roque de Los Muchachos, the highest point on La Palma, offers a breathtaking panoramic view over an endless sea of clouds. Before reaching the summit, we’ll take a bus tour around various communities of the island, discovering the diversity of La Palma.
Our journey begins at Plaza de Tajuya, a location that became a significant viewpoint during the recent eruption of Cumbre Vieja. From here, we overlook the volcanic cone and the solidified lava flows that shaped the landscape and forever changed life on the island.
We continue our route to El Time, a spectacular viewpoint at 594 meters above sea level. From here, we enjoy an unrivaled panorama of the impressive Aridane Valley and the Caldera de Taburiente National Park, one of the most special nature reserves in La Palma. Next, we reach the charming village of Puntagorda, where we visit the local farmers’ market. This is where farmers, craftsmen, and bakers gather to sell their fresh and artisanal products, providing an authentic introduction to the flavors of La Palma.
After a winding climb, we reach the natural balcony of Roque de Los Muchachos. This area is globally known as one of the best locations for astronomical observations, thanks to the exceptional quality of its night sky. As a result, some of the world’s most advanced telescopes are located here. From the summit, we have an unmatched view: below us lies the Caldera de Taburiente, one of the largest erosion craters and geological treasures in the world. On clear days, we can even see the silhouettes of the nearby islands of El Hierro, La Gomera, and Tenerife. Scattered along the ridge are several viewpoints that offer us majestic panoramas. Recently, the visitor center was opened here, where we can learn more about astronomy and the significance of this unique observation site.
During the descent on the eastern side of the island, we’ll witness the landscapes gradually change, from rugged high plains to lush vegetation zones that bloom in spring, adding an extra dimension to the landscape. At the Mirador de los Andenes, we get an almost complete view of the impressive Barranco de Las Angustias gorge.
Our tour wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the Sanctuary of Nuestra Señora de las Nieves, the island’s patron saint. Finally, we stop at the La Concepción viewpoint, where we enjoy a stunning view over Santa Cruz de La Palma, Las Breñas, and the island’s eastern coast.
La Palma, you are so beautiful! You are and will always be much more than just a volcano!
Day 4 | Cumbre Vieja – Tajogaite Excursion with Guide (Transition Day)
The eruption of the Cumbre Vieja – Tajogaite volcano marks the most recent eruption in the series of historic volcanoes on the island of La Palma. This volcano has caused quite an impact. After the pandemic, La Palma faced a volcanic eruption that lasted for 80 days. This hike to the Cumbre Vieja – Tajogaite volcano will leave a lasting impression!
The trail along this route is new and has been specially designed to allow both tourists and locals to visit the Cumbre Vieja volcano, exclusively with local companies. They must always be accompanied by guides specially trained for this route, as it lies within the exclusion zone. You’ll join our group and visit the CUMBRE VIEJA CRATER, an easy 7 km hike that will take us within approximately 300 meters of the new volcano.
Distance: 7 km – Duration: 3.5 hours
Typically, this is the transition day. However, due to the scheduling of excursions, it may be necessary to adjust this day based on the tour days.
Day 5 | Cascade de Colores
With your car, you’ll head to one of the key spots in the National Park, “La Cascada de Colores”, the colorful waterfall. As you hike, the scenery constantly changes — the rock formations, views, and vegetation vary along the way.
Several times, you’ll balance with a walking stick across the stones in the riverbed. Due to erosion, the water has exposed impressive basalt formations here, with pillow lava in various shades that were pushed up from the Earth’s interior millions of years ago. You’ll follow the stream until it merges with the Taburiente river at a place called Dos Aguas (Two Waters), where the two rivers meet. Here, we will have reached the Barranco de las Angustias.
Distance: 11.7 km – Up 932 m / Down 932 m
Day 6 | Free Day
Optionally, you can choose to have a free day. If you’re an active explorer, a great option is to visit Faro Fuencaliente, where you’ll find the beautiful colored salt pans. Alternatively, you can take a circular hike among the volcanoes.
Day 7 | Pirate Bay and the Dragon Tree
On your own, you’ll drive to the northwest of La Palma. Today’s adventure takes you to Pirate Bay, a must-see spot on La Palma. Drive until you can’t go any further and park your car. From there, take a walk down to the bay, where old pirate huts are nestled in the rock walls. The incline is too steep to walk up, but the descent is worth it.
Next, head a little further north to experience a walk like no other. A forest with Dragon Trees, where a hippie culture has taken root in the caves. The circular walk is included in your information package.
Distance: 4 km – Up 237 m / Down 237 m
Day 8 | Departure
You’ll return the car at the airport and take home wonderful memories from your unforgettable experience.
Included
- Two accommodations: Luxury Parador and apartment
- 8-day trip
- Car rental (Class A)
- Self-guided tour to Cascade de Colores
- Guided excursion day to Los Muchachos
- Guided excursion day to Cumbre Vieja – Tajogaite
- Self-guided tour of the Botanical North with route and description
- Self-guided tour of the Wild North, Pirate Bay, and Dragon Forest with GPX
- Self-guided Volcano Route Walk with GPX
- Itinerary with program
- WhatsApp support
- STO Guarantee
Excluded
- Outbound and return travel
- Travel and cancellation insurance
- All meals and drinks outside the program
- Booking fee
Stay in Our Unique Accommodations
As we use unique accommodations, the photos may differ. However, we always ensure that equivalent accommodations are provided.
Parador on a Bed & Breakfast basis
Apartment on a Self-Catering basis
Frequently Asked Questions
What is included in this walking tour on La Palma?
The trip includes a class A rental car, overnight stays at the Parador Hotel and an apartment, two guided excursion days, extensive walking routes with GPX files, and a complete script.
How difficult are the walks?
The walks vary from easy to challenging. Thanks to the self-guided routes and guidance by experienced guides, you choose your own pace and walks that suit you. Make sure you wear good walking shoes.
When is the best time to travel to La Palma?
La Palma is suitable for hiking all year round thanks to its mild climate, but spring and autumn are ideal because of the pleasant temperatures and green landscapes.
In winter, there can be snow on the top of Los Muchachos.
Are guided excursions mandatory?
No, the guided excursions are included but not mandatory. You can also choose to go on your own with the self-guided routes. To get a better insight into La Palma, it is definitely worth doing the excursions.
Can I extend or adjust the trip?
Yes, this trip is flexible and can be customized, for example with extra nights or other activities.
What is the weather like in La Palma?
La Palma has a mild subtropical climate with pleasant temperatures between 18°C and 26°C all year round. The best times to travel for hiking are spring and autumn, when the weather is mild and nature is at its greenest. The island has several microclimates: the north is slightly wetter with cloud forests, the south is drier and sunnier. It can be cool in the higher areas, so layers of clothing are recommended.
Do I need to have experience hiking in volcanic terrain?
No, the routes are suitable for walkers with basic experience. The paths are well marked and you will receive all the necessary information to walk safely.
What about transportation during the guided excursion days?
The guided excursions include transportation by bus, so you can discover the highlights of La Palma without having to drive yourself. You will be picked up near your hotel. During the transition day to Tajogaite it is possible to drive to the starting point yourself.
How does the self-guided part of the walking tour work?
You will receive detailed route descriptions, GPX files and a script in advance. This way you can decide for yourself where and when you walk, with complete freedom and certainty about the routes.
