CONTENTS
Map key
Overview Map
Introduction
Location
Geology
Wildlife
National parks
The Fortunate Isles
Getting there
When to go
Accommodation
Health and safety
Food and drink
Language
Money
Communications
Walking on La Palma
Getting there
Getting around
What to take
Waymarking and access
Maps
Food and drink
Tourist information offices
Emergencies
Using this guide
The Walks
1 Santa Cruz and Lomo de las Nieves
2 Fuentes de Las Breñas
3 Buenavista and Pico de las Ovejas
4 Santa Cruz and Montaña de Tagoja
5 Pico de la Nieve to Santa Cruz
6 Santa Cruz to Puerto de Tazacorte
7 El Paso to Refugio del Pilar
8 Refugio del Pilar to Santa Cruz
9 Refugio del Pilar to Playa del Hoyo
10 Refugio del Pilar to Playa del Hoyo or La Salemera
11 Refugio del Pilar and Pico Nambroque
12 Jedey to Tigalate
13 San Nicolás and Coladas de San Juan
14 Llanos del Jable and Coladas de San Juan
Caldera de Taburiente
15 Pico Bejenado
16 La Cumbrecita to La Cancelita and Los Llanos
17 Barranco de las Angustias and Caldera de Taburiente
18 La Cumbrecita to Caldera de Taburiente
19 Caldera de Taburiente and Hoya Verde
20 Tijarafe and Porís de Candelaria
21 Tinizara to Piedras Altas and Tijarafe
22 La Traviesa: El Time to Briesta
23 La Traviesa: Briesta to Barlovento
24 La Zarza and Don Pedro
25 Roque del Faro to Garafía
26 Roque del Faro and Franceses
27 Roque del Faro to Roque de los Muchachos
28 Roque de los Muchachos to Puntagorda or Tijarafe
29 Pico de la Cruz to Barlovento
30 Pico de la Cruz to Los Sauces or Barlovento
31 Los Sauces and Los Tilos
32 Fuente de Olén to Las Lomadas
33 Fuente Vizcaína to La Galga
34 Pico de la Nieve to Puntallana or Tenagua
35 GR130: Santa Cruz de La Palma to Mazo
36 GR130: Mazo to Fuencaliente
37 GR130: Fuencaliente to Los Llanos
38 GR130: Los Llanos to Puntagorda
39 GR130: Puntagorda to Garafía
40 GR130: Garafía to Franceses
41 GR130: Franceses to Los Sauces
42 GR130: Los Sauces to Santa Cruz de La Palma
43 GR131: Puerto de Tazacorte to Roque de los Muchachos
44 GR131: Roque de los Muchachos to Refugio del Pilar
45 GR131: Refugio del Pilar to Faro de Fuencaliente
Appendix A Route summary table
Appendix B Topographical glossary
Appendix C Useful contacts
Maps
The best map of La Palma is the two-sheet 1:25,000 scale La Palma Norte and La Palma Sur, published by Editorial Alpina, www.editorialalpina.com. The maps show all the waymarked trails in excellent detail. The next best map is published by the Cabildo Insular (island council), the 1:40,000 La Palma Hiking Map.
The Instituto Geográfico Nacional (IGN), www.cnig.es, publishes maps of the Canary Islands at scales of 1:50,000 and 1:25,000. These are part of the Mapa Topográfico Nacional (MTN) series. To avoid disappointment, please check the style and quality of these maps before making a purchase, since they don’t show the sort of details that walkers require.
Maps can be ordered in advance from British suppliers such as: Stanfords (12–14 Long Acre, London, WC2E 9BR, tel 0207 8361321, www.stanfords.co.uk), The Map Shop (15 High Street, Upton-upon-Severn, WR8 0HJ, tel 01684 593146, www.themapshop.co.uk) or Cordee (www.cordee.co.uk).
Route maps included in this book are all at roughly 1:50,000 scale and all maps are aligned with north at the top of the page.