About El Hierro, Spain

Escape the crowds on El Hierro, the smallest, least visited and most westerly of the Canary Islands – once considered the edge of the known world (until Columbus sailed to the Americas).

Things to do and see

The UNESCO-listed biosphere reserve of El Hierro is best explored on foot: hike through banana plantations and fig trees in the verdant Frontera Valley, along the Camino de Jinama, through the peaceful El Pinar pine forest and the vineyards around Echedo. Then cool off with a dip in the nature-sculpted pools of Charco Manso, located on the rugged south coast amid lava arches and blowholes.

Go swimming at the red-sand beach of Playa de la Verodal and scuba diving in the pristine waters of the Mar de las Calmas, an underwater maritime park near the south coast town of La Restinga.

Getting there By air, El Hierro can be reached from Cran Canaria, Tenerife and La Palma. By ferry, El Hierro is a two-hour boat ride from Los Cristianos on Tenerife.