El Hierro: tips for the smallest Canary Island

In short: El Hierro is the westernmost and smallest of the seven main Canary Islands, with no big hotel blocks and no sandy beaches. You come for diving, natural pools, hiking trails and silence. Plan three to five days, get a rental car and book your accommodation early.

At a glance

Must-sees: La Restinga, Charco Azul, El Sabinar, Mirador de la Peña
Time needed: 3 to 5 days
Getting there: ferry from Los Cristianos (Tenerife), 140 minutes according to Fred. Olsen (as of October 2026), or inter-island flight
Getting around: rental car needed
Who it’s for: divers, hikers, people seeking peace and quiet
Best time: all year round, late summer and autumn for diving

What is there to see on El Hierro?

The island is small, but steep and very varied: pine forest and pastures up top, a huge valley in the north, black lava in the south. You can see the most important places in three days.

La Restinga and Mar de las Calmas: a fishing village at the southern tip, with a marine reserve offshore. The Sea of Calm lies in the wind shadow and is one of the best diving areas in Europe.
Charco Azul: a natural pool beneath a rock arch in the El Golfo valley, with deep blue water.
El Sabinar: juniper trees that the wind has bent almost to the ground over centuries. The island’s landmark, reachable via a dirt track in the west.
Mirador de la Peña: a viewpoint with a restaurant, designed by César Manrique, overlooking the whole El Golfo valley.
El Golfo: an enormous semicircle with a cliff face over a thousand metres high, created by a landslide.
Faro de Orchilla: a lighthouse at the western end. For a long time the prime meridian ran through here, before Greenwich took it over.

Where can you swim and dive?

There are hardly any sandy beaches. People swim in natural pools (charcos), either built into the lava coast or shaped by the sea.

La Maceta: several pools in the El Golfo valley, good for families when the sea is calm.
Tamaduste: a sheltered bay near the airport with mostly calm water.
Diving: There are several dive schools in La Restinga. An underwater volcano erupted off the coast in 2011, and its lava formations are now among the dive sites.

Watch out: The north coast is open to the Atlantic. When the surf is up, the waves crash over the walls of the pools. Only swim when the sea is calm and pay attention to closure signs, there are no lifeguards in many places.

Which hikes are worth it?

El Hierro has a dense network of old connecting paths. They are well marked.

Camino de Jinama: a paved path from the plateau steeply down into the El Golfo valley, with views over the whole bay. For the way back you need stamina or a taxi.
La Llanía: short circular trails through cloud forest of laurel and tree heath on the island’s ridge.

On the ridge it is often misty and cool while the sun shines down below. Take a jacket and plan the high-level paths for the morning. If you are looking for more hiking islands, you will find them in La Palma and in the tips for La Gomera.

Why is El Hierro considered a model for electricity?

The whole island is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and Geopark. It became known for the Gorona del Viento power plant: wind turbines generate electricity, and the surplus is used to pump water into a reservoir high up. When the wind drops, the water flows back down through turbines. That way the island covers a large part of its needs from renewable sources.

How do you get to El Hierro?

There are no direct flights from Germany or Austria. You travel via Tenerife or Gran Canaria.

Ferry: from Los Cristianos in the south of Tenerife to the port of Puerto de la Estaca. From Gran Canaria, Fred. Olsen states 3 hours 40 minutes (as of October 2026).
Flight: Binter flies from the neighbouring islands to the small airport in the northeast.
On the island: The capital, Valverde, is the only island capital in the Canaries that is not by the sea. Buses run rarely, and without a car you cannot reach most destinations.

How to combine El Hierro with other islands is shown in Island hopping.

Local tips

El Hierro is not set up for many visitors. That is its charm, but it requires a bit of planning.

Accommodation: There are few beds. Book early, especially in summer and during festivals.
Fuel and shopping: Petrol stations and larger shops exist in only a few places. Fill up before you drive to the west.
Food: Try the quesadilla herreña, a small cheesecake, more in Canarian food.

If you are wondering which island might suit you for longer, you will find the comparison in Where in Spain should you move?

Frequently asked questions

Are there beaches on El Hierro?

Hardly any sandy beaches. Instead there are many natural pools and sheltered bays with clear water.

How long should I stay?

Three to five days. Divers and hikers often stay a week.

Do I need a car?

Yes. Without a rental car you cannot get to El Sabinar, the lighthouse or most of the pools.

Is El Hierro good for children?

For children who love nature, yes, at sheltered pools like Tamaduste. There is no entertainment programme and no shallow sandy beaches, alternatives are in Canary Islands with kids.

Sources

As of: October 2026

As of October 2026. Opening hours, prices and entry rules change. Check them on the official websites before your visit.

Cover image: Jose Mesa · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0

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