Walking on La Palma

Including the GR130 and GR131 long-distance trails

By Paddy Dillon

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
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.
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Paddy Dillon Cicerone author DILLON

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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