The crest trail section from Pico de la Nieve (2,239 m) to Pico de la Cruz (2,351 m) is a classic section of the GR-131 and one of the most impressive high mountain trails in La Palma. At about 6 km and about 200 m ascent you hike on the caldera ridge — on the left the view into the national park, on the right the view of the Aridane valley and the Cumbre Vieja.
The hike from the Roque de los Muchachos (2,426 m) to the Mirador El Time (513 m) is one of the most extreme descents in La Palma: 14.2 km, approx. 2,287 m of descent, 350 m of ascent, difficult, 5:00–6:00 hours. From the highest point on the island, the trail continues downhill through several vegetation zones to the El Time viewpoint above Tazacorte.
The hike from the Roque de los Muchachos (2,426 m) to the Roque Palmero (2,310 m) leads through the mountain landscape of the national park with spectacular caldera views: 6.4 km, 274 m, moderate, 2:30–3:00 hours. The colourful mountain slopes in red, orange and brown tones are another highlight in this majestic high mountain landscape.
The PR-LP 12 connects the highest point of La Palma with the West Coast municipality of Tijarafe:12.8 km, approx. 133 m ascent, 1,921 m descent, difficult, approx. 4.30–5.00 hours. The path leads from the area of the Roque de los Muchachos (about 2,400 m) over the ridge path southwards, through clear pine forests and the characteristic vineyard terraces of the northwest, to the village of Tijarafe (about 660 m).
The Tajogaite is the youngest volcano in the Canary Islands - formed in the eruption from September 19th to December 13th, 2021, the longest known eruption on La Palma. The new volcano is 1,122 m high and formed on the western slope of Cumbre Vieja. Hikes on your own are not yet possible - only with a certified hiking guide and official permission.
The shortest walk from the highest point of La Palma leads from the car park at Roque de los Muchachos to Espigón del Roque - a rocky outcrop with brick viewing platforms: 1.2 km, 90 m, easy, 0:45-1:00 hours. Anyone reaching the summit area of Roque de los Muchachos with 45 minutes to spare can easily complete this short walk. It shows the Caldera de Taburiente from a different angle than the well-known summit car park.
The Camino de Gordian is the hiking alternative to La Cumbrecita that doesn't require a permit: 7 km, 568 m ascent, 177 m descent, moderate, 2:30–3:15 hours. The route follows the PR LP 1 through sparse pine forest on the edge of the Riachuelo Valley, past galerías carved into the rock and striking barrancos, to the Cumbrecita with its spectacular caldera panorama.
Santa Cruz de La Palma is one of the best-preserved colonial towns in Spain - and one of the few old towns in the Canary Islands that deserves a self-guided walking tour. The history of the island's capital unfolds across a 2-3 km route taking roughly 1.5 to 2.5 hours: Plaza de España, Church of El Salvador, Balcones Típicos, Calle O'Daly, Museo Naval, forts, La Recova market and the island museum.
The PR-LP 3 is one of the most extreme descent routes in La Palma: 13.6 km, 196 m ascent, 2,395 m descent, moderate, 4:30–5:30 hours. From the 2,234 m high Pico de la Nieve, the path leads through forest areas almost at sea level to the island's capital Santa Cruz de La Palma - a complete vertical cross-section through La Palma's climatic zones.
The hiking trail from Mirador El Time to Puerto de Tazacorte is one of the most visited and best-known hiking trails in La Palma - the only trail on the island to be awarded the Sendero Azul environmental award for exemplary environmental management. 3 km, 510 m descent, moderate, approx. 1:00–1:30 h downhill (ascent approx. 1:30 h).
The Piscinas de La Fajana are the most beautiful natural swimming pools on the north coast of La Palma - carved into black lava rocks, overlooking the open Atlantic, 550 meters below Barlovento. The descent takes approx. 45-60 minutes, the ascent approx. 60-90 minutes. At the pool: a restaurant, showers and a view of the surf.
The hike from the Los Brecitos hiking trail to the Cascada de la Fondada and the springs of Hoyo Verde is the most impressive and demanding detour in the Caldera de Taburiente National Park: approx. 3 km extra (easy), 713 m ascent, difficult, 1:30 - 2:30 h (in addition to the basic hike). Sunhikes expressly recommends this detour only for hikers who are in good shape and who start the tour early.
The shortest and most accessible walk in Los Tilos leads through two short, lit tunnels along an old water channel to the Cascada de los Tilos waterfall: just 0.5 km, 10 metres of elevation gain, easy, family-friendly, around 20–30 minutes. The path runs mostly level along the floor of the Barranco del Agua gorge — surrounded by laurel forest, damp rock faces and the sound of flowing water.
Los Tilos is the most significant laurel forest area on La Palma and one of the best-preserved laurel forests in the entire Macaronesia region. Nestled in the heart of Los Tilos, the Barranco del Agua is an absolute must-visit for nature lovers on La Palma: lush vegetation, moist gorge atmosphere, the Cascada de los Tilos waterfall and the starting point for the legendary Marcos y Cordero tunnel hike.
Playa de Taburiente is the heart of the Caldera de Taburiente National Park - a wide gravel and stone bed of the Taburiente River, which flows year-round. The shortest route there is downhill from Los Brecitos: 5.2 km, 204-metre descent, moderate, taking approx. 1:30–2:00 hrs. The return route is identical (with a 204-metre ascent).
The SL-FU 111 is a short, local hiking trail in the Cumbre Vieja Natural Park: 1.6 km, 338 m descent, easy, 0:20–0:40 h downhill (return uphill approx. 1 hour). The path runs as a linear trail from the foot of Volcán Martín downhill to the junction with the SL-FU 110 at Fuente del Tión.
The circular hike around the volcanoes of San Antonio and Teneguía from the Faro de Fuencaliente lighthouse leads through the youngest volcanic landscape of La Palma: 13.7 km, 727 m, moderate to difficult, 5:30–7:00 hours. The barren, reddish-black lava landscape in the south of the island is characterized by direct volcanic history - the Teneguía last erupted in 1971.
The third and final stage of the GR-131 El Bastón is the most famous hike in La Palma: the Ruta de los Volcanes from Refugio El Pilar to Faro de Fuencaliente. 22.8 km, difficult, 8:30 – 10:30 hours. The route runs along the summit ridge of the Cumbre Vieja — a history book of lava and ash — past the island's most striking volcanoes.
The second stage of the GR-131 El Bastón follows the Ruta de la Crestería - La Palma's spectacular ridge trail: 26.1 km, 707 m ascent, 1,655 m descent, difficult, 9:00-11:30 hours. From the highest point on the island (Roque de los Muchachos, 2,426 m) via the Caldera ridge path through the national park, the Cumbre Nueva and the Cumbre Vieja to the Refugio El Pilar.
The circular walk to the Cuevas de Buracas is one of the most rewarding easy routes in Garafía: 6.5 km, 479 m ascent, family-friendly, 2:30–3:00 hours. Often called the Buracas Dragon Tree Trail, this area is home to, as this area is said to have the highest concentration of century-old dragon trees in the Canary Islands.
The hike from El Tablado to Santo Domingo de Garafía is one of the most demanding and impressive GR-130 stages: 13.2 km, 1,084-metre ascent, 1,090-metre descent, difficult, taking 5:00–6:00 hrs. The route leads through the municipality of Garafía through impressive, deep gorges - in the Guelguén nature reserve, with rare plant and bird species in different vegetation zones.
The Barranco Fagundo is one of the most impressive gorges in La Palma: deep ravines, sheer rock faces, erosion formations in various shades of brown and vegetation that alternates between spurge plants on the dry slopes and laurel forest vegetation in the moist gorge depths. El Tablado is right on the edge of this gorge and offers the ideal starting point.
The hike from Franceses via La Fajana to El Tablado follows the GR-130, the Camino Real de la Costa, La Palma's historic coastal path. The tour leads through the impressive Barranco de los Hombres gorge to the remote coastal town of La Fajana - in the Guelguén nature reserve with lush vegetation and rare plant species.
The GR-131 El Bastón is La Palma's major long-distance hiking trail: 87 kilometers from the Atlantic in Puerto de Tazacorte to the Faro de Fuencaliente in the south, via the highest point on the island. The first stage leads from the sea to the summit - from Puerto de Tazacorte at 2,426 meters to the Roque de los Muchachos. A climb through all climate zones and vegetation levels of La Palma in a single day.
Volcán Martín de Tigalate (1,591 m) is the first proper summit on the Ruta de los Volcanes when approached from the south. Its red cone glows like a flame against the black lapilli fields. This circular walk from the Fuente de los Roques picnic area follows the GR-131, SL-LP 110 and SL-LP 111 to the crater rim: 10.2 km, 552 m ascent, moderate, 4:30–5:30 hours.
Pico Nambroque (1,922 m) is the second-highest peak in the Cumbre Vieja - and the most unusual. While most neighboring volcanoes consist mainly of scoria, Nambroque is based on a massive basalt structure and has rocky phonolite domes. At the summit, deep lava and degassing vents lead directly into the interior of the mountain. The hike from Llano de las Moscas on the SL-LP 125 is 9 km, 454 m, moderate, 3:00–3:30 hours.
The large circular hike Cruz del Llano is the complete version of the Jieque tours: 14.5 km, 1,375-metre ascent, difficult, taking 4:30–6:00 hrs. It combines the well-known outward route of the PR-LP 10 through gorges and vineyards with a steep ridge climb over the PR-LP 12 and the return route on the SL-LP 70 - three route markers, three different characters.
The PR-LP 12.1 from Tinizara to Lomo de las Piedras Altas is a continuous uphill route: 5.3 km, 1,011 m, difficult, 2:15–3:15 hours. From 867 meters in Tinizara to 1,857 meters at Lomo de las Piedras Altas - almost continuously uphill, through pine forest, vineyards and open, high terrain. Breathtaking views over the west of La Palma to the Atlantic reward the effort.
Playa de la Veta is one of the strangest places in La Palma: a black sand beach right at the foot of a huge cliff, with a seaside hamlet of around 50 colorful houses, which can only be reached on foot through a rock tunnel or by boat. The hike there is short but impressive: 1.7 km, 242 m, easy, 1:00–1:30 hours.
A pleasant circular hike in the shady pine forest through numerous gorges in the medium altitudes of the west side of La Palma: 8.1 km, 617 m, moderate, 2:30–3:00 hours. Accompanied by wonderful views of the Atlantic, you hike through old cultural landscapes and cultivated vineyards. Trail popularity: moderate.
The hike from Monte El Canal through Los Tilos to Mirador Espigón Atravesado is one of the most beautiful easy tours in the northeast of La Palma: 5.1 km, 279 m, easy, child-friendly, 1:30–2:15 hours. The path begins on a closed forest road, leads through a 100-metre tunnel directly into the dense laurel forest and climbs gently uphill in the shade to the viewpoint.
The PR-LP 9 is one of the largest descent routes in La Palma: 18.3 kilometers, 2,121 m descent, 356 m ascent - difficult, 6:30–7:30 hours. The path leads from Mirador de Los Andenes at an altitude of over 2,200 meters through several levels of vegetation to Santo Domingo de Garafía at 368 meters. Utilization: moderate.
If you want to go straight into the heart of the gorge and to the Pirate Bay, start at the Mirador del Barranco Jurado. From here it's 5.5 km there and back - with 682 meters of elevation gain in just 5.5 km and an average gradient of over 25 percent. Sunhikes classifies the tour as difficult, with alpine terrain, a good head for heights, sure-footedness and good baseline level of fitness as requirements. Trail traffic: moderate.
The Pirate Bay - officially Porís de Candelaria - is one of the most impressive and strange destinations in La Palma: a community of cave dwellings built into the bulge of a rocky head right on the sea. Access is only possible on foot. The hike through the Barranco del Jurado gorge on the PR-LP 12.2 from El Jesús is 4.8 kilometers long, 247 m ascent, 772 m descent - moderate, but with a long, steep descent into the gorge.
The Ruta de la Crestería is one of the most beautiful hiking trails in La Palma: 20.5 km, 1,240 m, difficult, 7:30–8:30 hours. The ridge route from Pico de la Nieve (2,239 m) to Roque de los Muchachos (2,426 m) runs continuously over 2,000 meters above sea level on the caldera ridge - with views of the national park and the coast, over the sea of clouds of the trade winds and to the neighboring islands.
This hike leads along the peak chain of the Caldera de Taburiente National Park from Pico de la Cruz (2,351 m) to Roque de los Muchachos (2,426 m) - the highest point in La Palma - and on to the Espigón del Roque viewpoint. 10.1 km, 598 m, moderate, there and back.
Pico Bejenado (1,854 m) is a striking peak on the southern edge of the Caldera de Taburiente National Park - a free-standing cone with a spectacular 360° panorama over the caldera, the Aridane Valley and the neighboring islands. The circular hike from the Pista de Valencia leads over the PR-LP 13.3: 12.3 km, 860 m, 4:00–5:00 hours.
The walk from La Cancelita viewpoint to Mirador del Morro de los Gatos follows the foot of Pico Bejenado deep into the national park. 7.1 km, 771 m elevation gain, out-and-back — sure-footedness and a good head for heights required. The Mirador is located halfway between Lomo de las Chozas and La Cancelita and offers wonderful views of the north side of the park and Playa de Taburiente.
This hike is one of the most complete Caldera ridge routes in La Palma: 13.0 kilometers, 494 m ascent, 1,609 m descent, difficult. The path leads from the car park at the Pista del Pico de la Nieve over three waymarks - PR-LP 3, GR-131 and PR-LP 1 - along the ridge of the Caldera de Taburiente, past the petroglyph site Erita de los Guanches, over Punta de los Roques (2,085 m) with the Refugio refuge, continue via Pico de Corralejo and Pico Ovejas to the Reventón Pass and through pine forest downhill to the Ermita de la Virgen del Pino.
The hike from Mirador de la Tosca to Gallegos follows the GR-130 Camino Real de la Costa - the historic coastal path of La Palma - over almost 10 km through four gorges with constant ups and downs: 9.8 km, 445 m, moderate, 3:30-4:00 hours. The route is considered the most accessible of the north coast stages and still offers the typical dynamics: dragon trees on the mountain ridges, laurel forest vegetation in the gorge depths, wide coastal panoramas.
La Cumbrecita is the most popular access to the Caldera de Taburiente National Park for day tourists - and the starting point for this small, impressive circular hike: 3 km, 185 m, easy, 1:00 - 1:30 hours. Two viewpoints, a pine forest descent, magnificent caldera views. The tour connects the Mirador de los Roques (view of the Roques de la Cumbrecita and the Pico Bejenado) with the Mirador Lomo de las Chozas (fantastic deep view of the caldera).
The PR-LP 8 is one of the most impressive descent routes in La Palma: 11.9 km, 26 m ascent, 1,799 m descent, difficult, 4:00–4:45 hours. The path begins at Pico de la Cruz - one of the highest mountains in La Palma on the LP-4 - with a fantastic view of the impressive Caldera de Taburiente National Park, and leads downhill to Barlovento. Shortly before the destination: the Laguna de Barlovento reservoir in an old volcanic crater.
Almost 2,200 meters downhill - the PR-LP 7 from Pico de la Cruz to Los Sauces is one of the major descent routes in La Palma. 14.4 kilometers, 145 m ascent, 2,178 m descent, difficult. The path begins at 2,351 meters on the caldera rim with panoramic views over the Caldera de Taburiente National Park - and ends at 274 meters at Avenida de Los Sauces, where restaurants and cafés await those arriving.
The Cascada de Colores is one of the most famous natural wonders in the Caldera de Taburiente National Park: a small waterfall whose rock face glows in green, yellow, orange and red — created by iron minerals, algae and mosses. The out-and-back walk from the car park in the Barranco de las Angustias is 11.0 km long, 466 m ascent, moderate.
The hike from El Tablado to Gallegos on the GR-130 leads through the wildest gorge area on the north coast of La Palma: 9.4 km, 897 m ascent, 933 m descent, difficult, approx. 4:00-5:00 hours. The route crosses four gorges - including the mighty Barranco de los Hombres - passes the hamlet of Franceses and ends in Gallegos with the opportunity to stop for a break at the bar Víveres Gallegos.
The Pico de la Nieve (2,232 m) is one of the highest viewpoints on the southern chain of the Caldera de Taburiente National Park. The circular hike combines the ascent to the summit with a visit to the Erita de los Guanches - one of the most important archaeological sites in La Palma. 5.0 km, 327 m, moderate.
The Cubo de la Galga circular hike on the PR-LP 5.1 is one of the most beautiful entry routes into the laurel forest landscape of La Palma. 8.4 kilometers, 513 m, moderate. The path begins on the country road LP-1 at the information point between two tunnels just after km 16 and leads through the Barranco de la Galga gorge up into the Cubo de la Galga basin - a quiet, damp forest area with laurel trees, lianas, ferns and moss-covered rock formations.
The circular hike Pico Birigoyo and Pico Nambroque is one of the most varied tours in the Cumbre Vieja Natural Park: 15.8 km, 733 m, difficult, 4:30–5:30 hours. The route crosses four peaks — Pico Birigoyo, Montaña la Barquita, Montaña Pelada, Montaña de los Charcos — and finally to Pico Nambroque (1,922 m) with three different trail markers: GR-131, SL-LP 125 and PR-LP 16.
From Mirador de Los Andenes - also called Mirador de Franceses - at 2,250 metres to Roque de los Muchachos at 2,426 meters: 7.1 kilometers, moderate, there and back. The GR-131 leads with sensational views along the peak chain of the Caldera de Taburiente National Park - always on the side facing the caldera, with deep views over gorges and steep walls that drop vertically up to 800 meters.
Thirteen tunnels carved into the rock, La Palma's green springs, a wild descent through the Barranco del Agua and the densest laurel forest on the island - the tunnel hike from the Casa del Monte via the Nacientes de Marcos y Cordero to Los Tilos is one of the most spectacular routes on La Palma. 11.1 km · 580 m ascent · 1,406 m descent · Demanding.
The Ruta de los Volcanes is an 18.7 kilometer long high-altitude hiking trail over the mountain ridge of the Cumbre Vieja. It leads from the rest and camping area Refugio El Pilar at 1,455 meters on the long-distance hiking trail GR-131 over all the important volcanic cones of the southern ridge: Pico Birigoyo, Hoyo Negro, Nambroque, Duraznero, Deseada and Vulkán Martín - until the descent through dense pine forest to Fuencaliente. At the end point there is a taxi rank and a bus stop.
The hike from Los Brecitos through the Caldera de Taburiente is one of the most impressive routes on La Palma. 13.9 km · 381m ascent · 1,156m descent · Strenuous. The path leads from the Mirador de Los Brecitos on the PR-LP 13 through the heart of the national park: over gorge passages with wooden bridges, past the rock pinnacles of Los Agujeritos and the Roque Idafe, to the Playa de Taburiente, through the steep section of El Reventón (literally "the lung-burster"), along the Cascada de Colores and finally through the Barranco de las Angustias to the hiking car park in the Barranco.