Walking on La Palma

Including the GR130 and GR131 long-distance trails

By Paddy Dillon

ISBN

9781852848538

Availability

Published

11 Jan 2019

Edition

Second

Pages

240

Size

17.20 x 11.60 x 1.40cm

Weight

270g

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Guidebook to 45 walks and scrambles on La Palma in the Canary Islands, ranging from 7 to 31km. Some walks combine to complete the GR130 long-distance trail (8 days) and GR131 trail (3 days). Areas explored include Santa Cruz and Buenavista. Contains a Spanish-English glossary.

Seasons

best between November and May, as the summer months are too hot, but it can sometimes snow on the higher parts; spring is especially colourful

Centres

Santa Cruz de La Palma, Los Llanos, Fuencaliente, Refugio del Pilar, Tijarafe, Puntagorda, Garafía, Barlovento, Los Sauces, Puntallana and the mountain road

Difficulty

routes vary from short and easy to long, steep and strenuous; all are waymarked and signposted, and no special equipment is required beyond ordinary walking gear, except when snow lies on the highest mountains

Must See

Caldera de Taburiente national park, Roque de los Muchachos, Canary pine forest, laurisilva 'cloud forest', deep and rugged barrancos, GR130 around La Palma, GR131 over the highest mountains

ISBN

9781852848538

Availability

Published

11 Jan 2019

Edition

Second

Pages

240

Size

17.20 x 11.60 x 1.40cm

Weight

270g

Overview

Guide to walking on La Palma. In total 45 day walks are described ranging from 7 to 32km in length, and covering a wide variety of terrain. Although La Palma is one of the smaller Canary Islands, there are routes of all types from easy strolls to hands-on scrambling, from simple day walks to long-distance treks on rocky mountain paths, including the GR130, which circumnavigates the island, and the island-hopping GR131.

With full route descriptions, including custom-made maps, refreshment options and transport for each walk, accommodation, useful contacts and a Spanish-English glossary. The book also includes lots of background information on geology, wildlife, plants and flowers.

The circular GR130 trail takes about a week to complete and can be started and finished at any point around the island. The GR131 trail is exclusively high level and mountainous, requiring careful planning. The dramatic volcanic landscape of La Palma, reputed to be one of the steepest islands in the world, is little-known outside the Canaries, but offers an ideal winter walking destination for walkers of most abilities, featuring rocky treks and mountain paths.

Table of Contents

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

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.

Updates

November 2022

Volcán Tajogaite

Following the eruption of Volcán Tajogaite on the Cumbre Vieja on La Palma, almost half of the island's trails were closed as a precautionary measure. The situation is now much improved, with only a handful of trails close to the volcano still being closed. For full details of closures see the website www.senderosdelapalma.es/senderos/estado-de-los-senderos

The lava from Tajogaite severed the long-distance GR130, on Walk 37 in the guidebook, around Los Campitos. This remains closed.

When walkers reach Las Manchas, or San Nicolás, they should catch bus number 5 across the lava flow to La Laguna. This bus runs three times a day in each direction, Monday to Friday. However, by walking 5km downhill on roads to a restaurant at Las Norias, bus number 24 can be used to cross the lava to La Laguna, and this operates over a dozen times in both directions, every day of the week.

Please note that it is forbidden to walk or cycle along the road between Las Norias and La Laguna. The lava is still hot and vents toxic gases, so only buses and cars are allowed to use the road, without stopping. See the map, provided courtesy of Editorial Alpina, for the location of the new road.

As a bonus, a new trail has been created, allowing walkers to reach safe viewpoints close to Tajogaite. See the map, provided courtesy of Editorial Alpina, for the location of the new trail.

Please note that it is necessary to join an authorised guided walk in order to use this trail. Go to the national park visitor centre above the town of El Paso and ask for details of any trips due to take place. The photo of Tajogaite from the new trail is used by kind permission of Jaume Tort.

The Editorial Alpina 1:25,000 map of La Palma is the most detailed map for walkers on La Palma. It shows all the waymarked trails and has been updated to show the extent of the lava flow from Tajogaite. Donations from the sale of this map are used to assist with ongoing relief on La Palma. www.editorialalpina.com/en/alpina-maps/canary-islands/

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Paddy Dillon

Paddy Dillon is a prolific walker and guidebook writer, with over 100 guidebooks to his name and contributions to 40 other titles. He has written for several outdoor magazines and other publications and has appeared on radio and television.Paddy uses a tablet computer to write as he walks. His descriptions are therefore precise, having been written at the very point at which the reader uses them.Paddy is an indefatigable long-distance walker who has walked all of Britain's National Trails and several European trails. He has also walked in Nepal, Tibet, Korea and the Rocky Mountains of Canada and the US. Paddy is a member of the Outdoor Writers and Photographers Guild and President of the Backpackers Club.

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