Trekking in the Canary Islands
The GR131 island-hopping route
Trekking in the Canary Islands
The GR131 island-hopping route
Guidebook to the GR131, an island-hopping trail that runs coast to coast across each of the 7 Canary Islands, a sub-tropical Spanish archipelago. Described over 32 stages, the route begins on Lanzarote, finishes on El Hierro, measures 560km (348 miles) and would take an average trekker about 1 month to complete.Experience the ultimate island-hopping adventure on the celebrated GR131, a 560km (348 mile) long-distance trail traversing the dramatic volcanic landscapes of the Canary Islands. Linking Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Tenerife, La Gomera, La Palma, and El Hierro, this epic month-long trek reveals the archipelago’s wild scenery, from lava fields to cloud forests.
For those seeking shorter escapes, the GR131 can be tackled in sections or on individual islands, with flexible itineraries to suit every trekker’s ambitions.
Ideal for walkers with a taste for discovery and remote adventure, this comprehensive Cicerone guide describes the GR131 in 32 graded stages (7–30km each), beginning at Órzola on Lanzarote and culminating at the legendary ‘edge of the world’, the remote Embarcadero de Orchilla on El Hierro. An optional ascent of El Teide, Spain’s highest peak, offers an unforgettable highlight on Tenerife.
- Follow the GR131 route across the Canary Islands along quiet roads, historic mule tracks, and waymarked paths, linking traditional villages and vibrant towns, while scaling the highest ground on each island.
- Plan your Canary Islands trek for the ideal season, with guidance on local weather and trail conditions showing why March to May is best for wildflowers and comfortable walking temperatures.
- Benefit from clear stage gradings and descriptions, reliable waymarking, and daily information boxes that cover start and finish points, distances, walking times, elevation changes, terrain, and available facilities along the GR131 in the Canary Islands.
- Find practical advice on accommodation throughout the Canary Islands, from village pensiones and rural guesthouses to refuges and hotels, plus comprehensive notes on services, shops, bar-restaurants, water sources, and public transport for every stage. The guide also includes information on ferry transfers and local buses for seamless logistics between the islands.
- Navigate the GR131 across the Canary Islands with confidence using clear 1:50,000 mapping, downloadable GPX files, and step-by-step route descriptions provided for each stage.
- Expand your knowledge of the Canary Islands with sections on geology, history, flora and fauna, travel, language, money, food, and the unique culture of the archipelago.
Plan your island-hopping trek with confidence using the definitive Cicerone guidebook, and immerse yourself in the striking natural beauty, history, and diversity of the Canary Islands’ GR131, Europe’s trail to the edge of the world.
Trekking in the Canary Islands – Quick Facts
Guide name: Trekking in the Canary Islands – The GR131 island-hopping route
Location: Canary Islands – Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Tenerife, La Gomera, La Palma & El Hierro
Route covered: GR131 (approx. 560 km) across all seven main Canary Islands, east–west island-hopping from Órzola (Lanzarote) to Embarcadero de Orchilla (El Hierro) in 32 stages
Typical duration: Around one month for the full route; shorter itineraries are possible by island or section
Difficulty: Demanding but non-technical trekking; remote stretches and some steep, rocky paths; suitable for fit, self-reliant walkers
Terrain: Quiet roads, old mule tracks, waymarked paths, volcanic features, forests, and mountain ridges
Navigation/mapping: 1:50,000 mapping, downloadable GPX files, and detailed stage descriptions included
Accommodation & logistics: Comprehensive notes on accommodation, services, water sources, and ferry/bus transfers between and across islands
Author Highlight
“The Canary Islands comprise seven subtropical islands with enviable weather and a great variety of scenery. Who wouldn’t want to trek all the way across them, one after another? There are rugged coastlines and occasional sandy beaches, arid slopes of aromatic scrub, steep and rugged mountains clothed in extensive pine forests and curious laurisilva ‘cloud forests’, with the possibility of snow-capped peaks rising even higher in the winter months."
- Paddy Dillon, author of Trekking in the Canary Islands
Printed book
A guidebook with detailed route descriptions, stage breakdowns, accommodation listings, profiles and maps - everything you need on the trail.
ISBN
9781852847654
Availability
Published
Published
7 Jan 2020
Edition
First
Pages
272
Size
17.20 x 11.60 x 1.55cm
Weight
300g
eBook
The complete digital edition of the guidebook, with full route descriptions, accommodation listings, profiles and maps, ready to use on any device. To access your eBook, you will need an eReader app. For more details, visit the eBook FAQs.
Map key
Overview map of the Canary Islands
Route summary table
Introduction
Location
Geology
Brief history of the Canary Islands
Plants and animals
Travel to the Canary Islands
Travel around the Canary Islands
When to go
Accommodation
Language
Money
Food and drink
Trekking the GR131
Using this guide
Emergencies
Lanzarote
Stage 1 Órzola to Haría
Stage 2 Haría to Teguise
Stage 3 Teguise to Montaña Blanca
Stage 4 Montaña Blanca to Yaiza
Stage 5 Yaiza to Playa Blanca
Fuerteventura
Stage 6 Islote de Lobos
Stage 7 Corralejo to La Oliva
Stage 8 La Oliva to Tefía
Stage 9 Tefía to Betancuria
Stage 10 Betancuria to Pájara
Stage 11 Pájara to La Pared
Stage 12 La Pared to Barranco de Pecenescal
Stage 13 Barranco de Pecenescal to Morro Jable
Stage 14 Morro Jable to Faro de Jandía
Gran Canaria
Stage 15 Faro de Maspalomas to Ayagaures
Stage 16 Ayagaures to Tunte
Stage 17 Tunte to Cruz de Tejeda
Stage 18 Cruz de Tejeda to Tamadaba
Stage 19 Tamadaba to Puerto de las Nieves
Tenerife
Stage 20 La Esperanza to La Caldera
Stage 21 La Caldera to El Portillo
Optional route Ascent of El Teide
Stage 22 El Portillo to Parador
Stage 23 Parador to Vilaflor
Stage 24 Vilaflor to Arona
La Gomera
Stage 25 San Sebastián to Chipude
Stage 26 Chipude to Playa de Vallehermoso
La Palma
Stage 27 Faro de Fuencaliente to Fuencaliente
Stage 28 Fuencaliente to Refugio El Pilar
Stage 29 Refugio El Pilar to Roque de los Muchachos
Stage 30 Roque de los Muchachos to Puerto de Tazacorte
El Hierro
Stage 31 Puerto de la Estaca or Tamaduste to Fuente de La Llanía
Stage 32 Fuente de La Llanía to Embarcadero de Orchilla
Appendix A Language notes
Appendix B Useful contacts
Seasons
Can be walked any time, but summers are very hot and there might be snow in winter on the highest parts of the route on Tenerife and La Palma. Spring is ideal.
Centres
Lanzarote: Órzola, Teguise, San Bartolomé, Yaiza, Playa Blanca; Fuerteventure: Corralejo, Lajares, La Oliva, Tindaya, La Pared, Morro Jable; Gran Canaria: Maspalomas, Tunte, Agaete; Tenerife: La Esperanza, Vilaflor, Arona; La Gomera: San Sebastián, Chipude, Vallehermosa; La Palma: Fuencaliente, Puerto de Tazacorte; El Hierro: Tamaduste, Valverde
Difficulty
Most of the route uses quiet roads, tracks and old mule paths from village to village, but there are some remote stretches, as well as occasional steep and rocky mountain paths that need care. The route is well marked, but some navigational skills are required. Accommodation is unevenly spread.
Must See
National parks, volcanic landscapes, coastal views and Spain's highest mountain, El Teide
December 2024
Tenerife - Optional Route - Ascent of El Teide
Following the rescue of 130 people from El Teide over a three-day period in November 2024, new regulations are now in place for those wishing to climb the mountain.
Permits always had to be obtained for the final short climb from the cablecar station to the 3718m summit, but now permits are also required for the popular ascent path from Montaña Blanca and the more rugged descent path from Pico Viejo.
Permits are provided free of charge through the Tenerife ON app or website www.tenerifeon.es/en/. Three time slots are available each day and there is a limit of 300 visitors per day. If there is adverse weather, no-one will be permitted to climb the mountain.
Anyone not in possession of a permit risks a fine of €600, and national park staff will be stationed at points along the approaches to check permits, and there are particular kit requirements for all who climb the mountain. Anyone attempting the ascent of El Teide without a permit, who ends up needing to be rescued, could be charged anything from €2,000 to €12,000.
February 2024
Forest fire
Tenerife – Stages 20 & 21
Due to an extensive forest fire, these stages are blocked in many places and will take time to clear.
February 2024
The GR131
Gran Canaria
For many years, Gran Canaria was the only island that hadn’t designated its stretch of the GR131. In a sudden burst of activity, the island council has signposted and waymarked the GR131, and it runs at variance to what is currently described in the guidebook.
Instead of starting at Faro de Maspalomas, the route now starts at Playa del Burrero near the airport. The new route doesn’t join the route in the guidebook until the middle of Stage 17, so the whole of Stages 15 & 16 are no longer part of the trail.
There are also changes to the route onwards to Puerto de las Nieves, and the GR131 now runs concurrent with two new trails, the GR138 and GR139, in the middle of Gran Canaria.
The new course of the GR131 will be marked on the latest edition of the Alpina maps of Gran Canaria, but it will take a while before the route is checked and described for the guidebook. Either follow the route in the guidebook, or use the latest Alpina maps to follow the new route. The following website is useful https://canarias-maps.info/GR%20gc%20ing.htm
February 2023
Stage 24 distance
Stage 24 should read 18km, not 8km. The route summary table is correct.
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