El Hierro

El Hierro is the smallest of the seven main Canary Islands, at 269 km², and the least populated, with 12,040 residents on 1 January 2025. It is also the westernmost: Punta de la Orchilla is the westernmost point of Spain. The island rises to 1,501 m at Malpaso. Go for scuba diving and snorkelling in clear, calm water off La Restinga, volcanic coastlines with natural swimming pools, upland walks through pine and juniper woodland, and a slower pace than anywhere else in the archipelago.

Why is El Hierro special?

El Hierro has been a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve since 2000 and a UNESCO Global Geopark since 2014, both covering the whole island. Its landscape is young and volcanic: in October 2011 a submarine eruption began a few kilometres off the southern tip, near La Restinga, building a new underwater volcano now called Tagoro; residents of La Restinga were temporarily evacuated and the eruption ended in March 2012. Historically, the island marked the edge of the known world: Ptolemy placed the prime meridian in the Canaries, and the "Ferro meridian" through El Hierro was used on many maps until Greenwich replaced it from 1884.

The island is also known for its energy project. Gorona del Viento, a wind farm combined with a pumped-storage hydroelectric system, began operating in 2014 and now supplies roughly half of the island's electricity, with fossil-fuel generators still covering the rest.

What are the main sights?

• El Golfo: a huge semicircular valley on the north-west coast, the remains of a giant landslide, framed by cliffs over 1,000 m high. Viewpoints on the rim, such as the Mirador de la Peña, look down over the whole valley.
• Charco Azul: a natural pool in the lava rock on the El Golfo coast, sheltered from the open sea by a rock arch. Swim only when the sea is calm; on swell days waves can break into coastal pools.
• El Sabinar: an upland area in the west where Canary junipers (sabinas) have been bent almost horizontal by the wind; the sabina has been an official natural symbol of the island since 1991.
• La Restinga: the southern fishing village and the base for diving at La Restinga, in the sheltered waters of the Mar de las Calmas, a protected marine reserve.

Is El Hierro good for beaches?

Not in the conventional sense. There are few sandy beaches; most bathing is in natural rock pools and small coves with ladders and platforms, such as Charco Azul, La Maceta or Tamaduste. These are lovely when the sea is calm but can be dangerous in swell, so check conditions and local warnings. The south, especially around La Restinga, is usually calmer.

How do you get around El Hierro?

A car is the practical option. Roads are steep and winding, and the island looks smaller on the map than it feels when driving: from Valverde to La Restinga or to El Golfo takes longer than the distances suggest. Buses connect the main villages but with limited frequency. Fog and low cloud are common on the upland roads, especially in winter, so drive carefully and allow time.

How many days do you need?

Because sailings and flights are limited and roads are slow, El Hierro rewards longer stays. Three or four days allow one day for El Golfo and its pools, one for the western uplands (El Sabinar and the Orchilla lighthouse area), one for La Restinga and the sea, and a spare day for weather. Divers usually plan a week.

Who is El Hierro for?

It suits divers and snorkellers, walkers, and travellers looking for quiet, rural stays and very limited mass tourism. It is not a nightlife or big-resort destination, and services are more limited, particularly outside Valverde and Frontera. Many visitors combine it with La Gomera or La Palma on a western-islands trip, starting from Tenerife.

When should you go?

The coast is mild all year. Calm seas for diving are most frequent from late summer to autumn, while the uplands are cooler and often misty in winter. Ferries and small planes can be affected by strong wind or swell, so build a buffer day into tight itineraries, especially when connecting with international flights.