El Hierro might be the smallest of the Canary Islands, it doesn’t lack sights or things to do. Don’t let its size fool you, this super diverse island is one of my favorites. El Hierro is a magical place that’s definitely worth visiting.
From hiking through the twisted juniper forest to swimming in natural pools formed by lava and admiring the coastline from the best viewpoints: these are the very best things to do in El Hierro.
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Table of Contents - El Hierro: The Best Things to Do on the Canary Islands’ Best-Kept Secret
- Where is El Hierro
- How to get to El Hierro
- What is the best time of year to visit El Hierro
- Getting around El Hierro
- Where to stay in El Hierro
- The best things to do in El Hierro
- Finishing thoughts on the best things to do in El Hierro
- FAQ about El Hierro
Where is El Hierro
El Hierro is the westernmost island of the Canary Islands archipelago, which lies just off the coast of Morocco. While the islands are geographically part of Africa, they belong to Spain politically. El Hierro is the most remote of the group and that isolation is part of what makes it so special.
How to get to El Hierro
The easiest way to get to El Hierro is via one of the bigger Canarian Islands, like Tenerife or Gran Canaria. Both have direct flights↗ to and from El Hierro and there is a ferry between Tenerife (Los Cristianos) and El Hierro too.
If you’re traveling from mainland Spain, you’ll most likely have to make a stop in Tenerife.
What is the best time of year to visit El Hierro
My favorite time of year in the Canary Islands is spring. Temperatures are pleasant, visitor numbers are relatively low and the islands are at their most colorful when wildflowers bloom across the greener areas.
El Hierro is no exception. While this island sees relatively few visitors in general, it can feel very crowded in high season when the limited infrastructure gets saturated. Spring offers the perfect balance: fewer tourists, mild temperatures and lush landscapes. Much of the island is surprisingly green, and when the flowers bloom, it’s even more magical.
Getting around El Hierro
The one and only way to really explore El Hierro is by renting a car. While there are some buses on the island, the routes and timetables are too limited to be able to visit all the best things to do in El Hierro on public transport. Unlike the bigger islands Tenerife and Gran Canaria where this is certainly possible (see my guide about how to travel Gran Canaria by bus for example), El Hierro is simply too small for this kind of infrastructure.
Where to stay in El Hierro
Once again I’ll stress just how small El Hierro is, and there is not really a strategic place to stay. It’s easy to get to just about everywhere, from just about everywhere.
We stayed at El Sitio, in La Frontera which we loved! It is a little pricier compared to other options, but the place is lovely. The lava stones and plants in the common outside spaces allow you to really connect to the very core of the island. The rooms feature a kitchen as well, so you can save money by cooking and some have a private patio.
The best things to do in El Hierro
From hiking to swimming in natural pools to admiring the views, the best thing to do in El Hierro is to immerse yourself in the beautiful nature and connect to it.
| Category | Top Spots |
|---|---|
| 🥾 Hikes | El Sabinar, Ruta del Agua, Llanía, Arenas Blancas to Arco de la Tosca |
| 🔭 Viewpoints | Mirador de Isora, Mirador de las Playas, Mirador de Malpaso, Llanía |
| 💦 Natural Pools | Charco Azul, Charco de los Sargos, Pozo de las Calcosas, Tacorón |
✅ Iconic hikes & viewpoints | 💦 Lava-formed natural pools | 🌿 Off-the-beaten-path nature highlights
The best hikes in El Hierro
El Hierro offers a lot of different hikes, from barren volcanic land, to forests to coastal hikes. These were my favorites from our stay on the island.
El Sabinar: The Iconic Twisted Juniper Trees
This one was my favorite hike, because the trees are just so special. The bent juniper trees are the most iconic feature of El Hierro, like Tenerife has Teide and Gran Canaria the sand dunes and Roque Nublo. Since a picture says more than a thousand words, just have a look at the picture below to see what I meant with “twisted, bent over trees”. The trade wind in this area are so strong, they literally bend the trees over as they are growing. But the trees are resilient and don’t break, but just bend with the result being a very unique and spectacular forest which leaves you thinking “isn’t nature just amazing?”.
If you just want to see the trees and set as little steps as possible, it is possible to just drive to the viewpoint. But I think that would be a shame. We did the PR-EH 9 circular hike from the Santuario Nuestra Señora de los Reyes which I enjoyed a lot. It’s a very pleasant hike, going through the grass fields where cows and sheep graze and which are full of flowers in spring. The odd cow might think that the grass is greener on the other side and end up at the trail. The ones we crossed on the trail were super docile and even let us pet them.
Besides farm land, you will also cross different types of forest and be able to enjoy views over the coastline and volcano craters, and of course the juniper forest. I recommend doing the hike anti-clockwise. It seems a bit easier with the elevation difference and this way you’ll save the highlight (the iconic juniper trees) for the second half of your hike.
Route Overview PR-EH 9
| Starting Point | Santuario de Nuestra Señora de los Reyes |
| Endpoint | Circular route (same as start) |
| Distance | Approx. 8.4 km loop |
| Elevation Gain | Approx. 400 m |
Arenas Blancas to Tosca Arch - Roughed coastline
Another hike on El Hierro that I loved is the trail from Arenas Blancas to the Tosca Arch. It’s a very easy hike along the roughed coastline. Admire the different shapes and colors of the volcanic rock and watch the waves crashing into the coastline, forming coastal caves. The contrasting colors of the clear blue water and the black volcanic rock is just spectacular.
You can hike the trail each way, there is not really an upside or a downside about hiking it one way or another. The trail is one-way, but you can hike back via the small road, making the way back shorter than following the windy coastal trail back again. Although the views are spectacular and you might want to walk the same way back again.
Route Overview SL‑EH 2
| Starting Point | Parking at Playa Arenas Blancas |
| Endpoint | Return to Arenas Blancas (circular or out‑&‑back option) |
| Distance | Approx. 4.9 km circular (about 5.9 km out-&-back) |
| Elevation Gain/Loss | Approx. 54 m |
The diverse Ruta del Agua
Another beautiful hike on El Hierro is the Ruta del Agua. There are several variations of this trail you can choose from. The official trail is a circular trail starting in San Andrés, but I found this version on Komoot↗ and decided to follow that one. Since we were passing through Valverde earlier that day, it made sense to start from there and opt for a slightly shorter loop with less elevation gain.
The route goes through varied terrain, from grasslands and rural areas to dense laurel forest, and passes the Garoé Tree: The sacred tree of the native Bimbache people, famous for its water-harvesting capabilities and the reason this route is called “La Ruta del Agua” (the water route).
Now, some important side notes about the Garoé tree. The original, sacred til tree was destroyed in a storm in the early 17th century and the “Garoé” you see now is a symbolic replacement Lime tree. The tree is fenced off and can be visited from 10:00 - 14:00 & 14:30 - 18:00 after paying the entrance fee of € 2.50 (non-resident adults, includes a visit to the small interpretation center). While €2.50 isn’t much, it felt like a tourist trap to me, so I decided not to go. I believe the surrounding laurel forest tells the story much better than a replacement tree which isn’t even the same type of tree. And I’m a firm believer that nature should be open to all.
Route Overview variation La Ruta del Agua
| Starting Point | Valverde (near parking lot) |
| Endpoint | Valverde (circular route) |
| Distance | Approx. 10.6 km (loop) |
| Elevation Gain | Approx. 510 m |
Foggy Sendero de La Llanía
Sendero de La Llanía is one of the most popular hikes on the island, and I’m sure it’s a beautiful hike when it’s not misty. But unfortunately most days it is misty and you won’t be able to enjoy the views. You can still enjoy a hike through the laurel forest of course. We kept postponing the hike due to mist, and on our last day it was still too cloudy to enjoy the views, so we skipped it and opted for clearer viewpoints instead. We had done several hikes in Laurel forest already, so seeing something different made more sense to us.
Route Overview: Sendero de la Llanía
| Starting Point | Llanía parking area |
| Endpoint | Llanía (circular route) |
| Distance | • Short Loop: approx. 4 km • Medium Loop: approx. 6 km • Long Loop / Out and Back: approx. 8 km |
| Elevation Gain | Approx. 200-350 m depending on route |
Best Natural Pools on El Hierro
What better way to recharge after a day of hiking than by relaxing in a gorgeous natural pool? Whether it’s to enjoy a full day, or spend a few hours in the morning or afternoon, El Hierro offers several stunning natural pools worth visiting.
Charco Azul - La Frontera
El Charco Azul was the first natural pool we visited on El Hierro, and my personal favorite. I might be a little biased, since it’s the closest pool to where we stayed and the one we visited most often. But it’s truly spectacular with its entrance through a cave and striking blue color. Right next to this pool, is another part of Charco Azul, which is in a more open area and while it lacks the visual impact as the blue pool, its waters are warmer since it’s more exposed to the sun.
Charco de los Sargos - La Frontera
Very close to El Charco Azul is Charco de los Sargos. This area is bigger than Charco Azul, with several smaller pools, and a big one. The color of the water is not as impressive as at Charco Azul, but the volcanic rock formations are, and the area is bigger with space for more people. Plus, you can swim into some caves which is very cool.
Tacorón - El Pinar
Tacorón is located on the other side of the island, within the Punta de la Restinga Marine Reserve. Here you won’t find the same black lava stone and cave-like structures as El Charco Azul and Charco de los Sargos, the area has a more reddish tone overall. Another difference is that the pool is more open to the ocean, which makes it a great place for snorkeling.
Tacorón is a great balance between nature and comfort and offers some simple shelters with tables where you can barbecue. Perfect to spend an afternoon.
Pozo de las Calcosas - Valverde
Pozo de las Calcosas is the least natural of the natural pools, but is cool for another reason. It’s a coastal “village” featuring traditional stone houses with straw roofs. These structures were built by fishermen from nearby El Mocanal and used as summer residences during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The settlement is simple and people don’t live here fulltime, but it remains a weekend- and holiday retreat for locals who like to stay close to the pools.
We didn’t visit the pools or village itself, since it was very windy, so we didn’t want to go for a swim and it’s a steep way down. But we enjoyed seeing it from above. The lava flows are super clearly visible from the viewpoint and had the weather been more inviting for a swim, I would have definitely gone for a dip here.
Top Viewpoints on El Hierro
What better way to admire El Hierro’s diverse landscape than heading to some of the viewpoints? From coastal views, to views over volcanic craters and even views over some of the other Canary Islands. Here are the best viewpoints on El Hierro.
Mirador de Isora
Mirador de Isora is often named as the best viewpoint on El Hierro, and the one I enjoyed the most as well. From here you have very nice views over the stunning coastline and some of El Hierro’s beaches. While the beaches aren’t great to visit, they are mostly rocky and/or hard to get to, you can admire them from this viewpoint. You can even see the iconic Roque de La Bonanza, the loose standing arch in the water, from here.
Mirador de Las Playas
Thsi viewpoint is very similar to Mirador de Isora, just higher up. So you get a slightly wider view at a different angle, but of the same area. As this viewpoint is higher up, it’s more likely to be up in the clouds compared to Mirador de Isora, which is normally clear.
We got clear views from both viewpoints and personally I prefer Mirador de Isora, but they are close, so why not visit both and decide for yourself. If the weather allows at least.
Malpaso - The Island’s Highest Point
On a clear day, Malpaso must be absolutely spectacular! Unfortunately these days are rare, and we kept postponing our visit hoping that we would catch a clear day, but we weren’t that lucky. On our last day on El Hierro, we decided to go there anyway, since we were driving around the area anyway and we had no luck at La Llanía.
While we didn’t get the views of El Hierro we hoped for, we were able to see La Palma, La Gomera and Tenerife sticking out of the surrounding clouds. So that was pretty cool. Especially since El Hierro was the last of the Canary Islands we had visited, it was really cool to see the other islands we had been to and put our trip in perspective. Seeing how close these islands actually are to each other, makes it even more mindblowing how these islands are all so different from each other.
Mirador La Llanía
Mirador de La Llanía is also often named one of the best viewpoints on El Hierro. But, there is a catch. It is almost always cloudy here, and on this side of the island. So even if the clouds on the viewpoint itself clear, they are likely hanging out just below still preventing you from seeing the views.
So if it’s just the views you’re after, make sure to pick the right day to visit this viewpoint. Hiking enthusiasts will likely enjoy the La Llanía hike regardless.
Finishing thoughts on the best things to do in El Hierro
El Hierro is the perfect island for those seeking tranquillity and nature and I hope this El Hierro travel guide showed you why it is one of my favorite Canary Islands.
Did you notice I always refer to El Hierro as one of my favorites in this article? Well that’s because it’s right up there with Lanzarote on my list of the best Canary Islands to visit! Want to know more about Lanzarote? Check out my guide with the best free things to do in Lanzarote.
Have you visited El Hierro and did you love it as much as I did? Tell us about your favorite part!
| Guide | What You'll Find |
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| Which Canary Island Is Best to Visit? | Not sure which island to choose? This guide compares all the Canary Islands to help you find your perfect match. |
| Best Things to Do in La Palma | Discover the natural beauty of La Palma, from its volcanic landscapes and stargazing spots to lush forests and charming villages. |
| The Best Things to Do in La Gomera | Explore La Gomera's ancient laurel forests, dramatic cliffs, and unique whistling language in this guide to the island's top experiences. |
| The Best Free Things to Do in Lanzarote | Experience Lanzarote's volcanic wonders, stunning beaches, and unique landscapes without spending a euro with this budget-friendly guide. |
| 25 Amazing Things to Do in Gran Canaria | From sand dunes to mountain villages, this comprehensive guide covers all the best activities and attractions across Gran Canaria. |
| How to Visit Mount Teide | Plan your trip to Spain's highest peak with this complete guide covering permits, cable car tickets, hiking routes, and timing tips. |
FAQ about El Hierro
Absolutely. If you’re looking for rugged nature, authentic villages, and uncrowded hiking trails, El Hierro might just be the perfect Canarian island for you. It’s not a place for partygoers or luxury resorts, but for slow travel and nature lovers, it’s a fan-favorite.
Yes and no. A car isn’t strictly necessary, but it makes things a lot easier and allows you to explore more of El Hierro in less time. Public transport exists but is limited, especially on weekends. But it’s possible to do the Ruta del Agua hike from Valverde by public transport and to visit Charo Azul and Charco de los Sargos by bus for example.
Sendero de la Llanía is a great pick. It offers three route options (from 2 to 7 km), and even the shortest one goes through some amazing scenery. Perfect if you’re looking for big rewards for little effort. Provided that the weather cooperates at least, but even if not, you can still enjoy the Laurel forest.
Yes, it is! It might look abandoned or private from above, but it’s actually a summer hamlet with restored stone houses and access down a steep path. Just note: there’s no lifeguard or facilities, so go prepared and be respectful of the place.
Surprisingly, yes! At least most of the time. Even in forested or remote parts of the island, we often had signal (though not always 4G). We had way better coverage here than on La Palma which was a surprise to me. Still, don’t rely on it for safety. Download offline maps beforehand just in case.
El Hierro has a surprisingly varied climate for such a small island. The weather can change quickly, especially when hiking. You might start out under sunny skies and end up in thick mist, particularly in higher areas like El Pinar or the forests. Coastal areas tend to be sunnier and drier. Always bring layers, even if the day starts off warm and clear.