Join us on our Solos Canary Island walking adventure and discover the walker’s paradise of La Palma. Known as the ‘La Isla Bonita’, this pretty island, with its stunning views, dramatic landscapes, spectacular gorges and lush green vegetation, is a popular walking haven for our groups of solo ramblers.
What’s Extra
Arrive in La Palma and transfer to the Holiday Time Hotel in Santa Cruz de La Palma . In the evening, we meet for our welcome meeting, followed by dinner.
La Palma is the most active volcanic island in the Canary Islands, featuring the last eruption in late2021. Today, we discover the latter volcanoes of La Palma. We walk the last section of the south spine of the island from the pretty village of Los Canarios to the candy-striped lighthouse of Fuencaliente on the coast. We head down through the lava fields of San Antonio (1676) and
Teneguía (1971) volcanoes where vines flourish in the rich black soil. Many bodegas can be found in this region, producing the famous sweet malmsey wine. Old rocks not covered by the last eruptions depict original indigenous carvings.
Today we travel to the rugged northeast of the island. Here, the Alisios trade winds meet the high mountains of La Palma and carve deep gorges. We follow a shaded path up though a rich Laurisilva rainforest that benefits from countless springs. Giant ferns and mossy rocks cover the ground. Water canals and aqueducts show the human efforts to collect water for the extensive banana plantations on the lower sunny areas and also to send it to the drier south.
Today we can take time out to rest and explore the town at our own pace until dinner time. Delight with the Canary Islands’ wooden balconies, visit the market or enjoy some museums. Enjoy some food and a drink near the beach. And stroll the lovely paved pedestrian streets of Santa Cruz de La Palma.
Today we head to Caldera de Taburiente National Park, protected since 1954. From Los Llanos de Aridane, we drive a scenic road to Los Brecitos. From there, we plunge into the Canarian pine woods and cross spectacular deep ravines over wooden bridges until we reach the stream of Taburiente. Here we can enjoy a paddle and a picnic lunch before moving on. The second part of the walk takes us down to the bottom of the impressive Las Angustias Canyon. On our way, we can admire the iconic Roque Idafe and the colourful Cascada de Colores. Then, it’s a walk along the riverbed and a playful jump across the stream. Along the way, we also discover how locals collect precious water to irrigate the Valley of Aridane.
Once back at the hotel, we head out to a local restaurant for dinner.
After breakfast its free time until dinner. You can relax in Santa Cruz de La Palma or get to know a bit more of the island. Perhaps go on your own to Los Llanos de Aridane, walk its pedestrian streets and learn more about the aboriginal population at the Archaeological Museum. Maybe take an optional excursion: get close to the last volcano of the island with a walk to Tajogaite, visit Los Llanos with our guide and explore a lava tunnel on the west of the island.
Breakfast & Dinner Included
Last walk in La Isla Bonita driving up to the highest point of La Palma, to the spectacular Roque de Los Muchachos viewpoint, 2,426 metres over the sea level. We enter the Roque de Los Muchachos Visitor Centre and pass the shining white buildings of the Astrophysical Observatory, including the world’s largest telescope. From there, we follow the highest path on the island until Pico de la Nieve, usually above the clouds level. We walk along the edge of the jaw-dropping Caldera de Taburiente with its dramatic views and sheer drops.
We say goodbye to La Palma and transfer to the airport for our flight home.
Situated in a lovely position in between the city’s beach and the pretty square of Plaza de Vandale is our comfortable venue offering a prefect base for our walking week. The hotel is split between two blocks. The superior larger rooms are located within the main block where the main reception is located along with the café/bar where we take breakfast. The standard rooms are located a in an annex block a short two minutes walk away.
Facilities in the main block include reception, cafe/bar and free wi-fi and tea making area in each block
The Superior rooms located in the main building are larger rooms and include ensuite bathroom, wardrobe, desk, luggage rack, safe, hairdryer, air-conditioning, flat screen TV, complimentary bottle of water, tea/herbal bags and free Wi-Fi.
Superior Room Supplement £121 per stay
Situated in a lovely position in between the city’s beach and the pretty square of Plaza de Vandale is our comfortable venue offering a prefect base for our walking week. The hotel is split between two blocks. The standard rooms are located in an annex block a short two minutes walk away from the main block where the main reception is located along with the café/bar where we take breakfast
Facilities located in the main block include reception, cafe/bar and free wi-fi and tea making area in each block
The comfortable standard rooms situated in the hotels secondary building two minutes walk from the main hotel include ensuite bathroom, wardrobe, desk, luggage rack, safe, hairdryer, air-conditioning, flat screen TV, complimentary bottle of water, tea/herbal bags and free Wi-Fi.
Frequently Asked Questions
The transfer time from La Palma Airport to hotel is approximately 10 minutes.
Medium – Hard Grade and will involve ascents & descents
Four guided walks are included in the programme. Your walking guide will advise you in resort of the daily programme. The walking programme is graded as Medium to Hard and you can expect to walk between 7 – 14 km per day, with ascents/descents, rough underfoot terrain and high altitudes involved. Below are the distances for each walk, however please bear in mind these are approximate and subject to change due to local conditions.
El Cubo de La Galga
Roque de Los Muchachos (2,426m)
Length: 11,2 km (7.0 miles)
Walking Time: 5 hours
Ascent: +450m (1,475 ft)
Descent: -1.000m (3,280 ft)
Transfer Time: 75 min + 80 min
Caldera de Taburiente National Park
Volcano Island
Length: 7,8 km (4.9 miles) Walking Time: 3 hours
Ascent: +50m (165 ft)
Descent: -700m (2,300 ft)
Transfer Time: 35 min + 80 min
It is your responsibility to ensure that you are fit and well enough to take part in your chosen activity holiday. This holiday is graded as Medium to Hard. If you are unsure as to whether the walks are within your capabilities, please contact the office to discuss this matter, thus making sure you appreciate the terrain that you will be walking.
You could be walking across uneven ground in some areas and extreme care must be taken, especially if wet. If used to using a pole/stick, it is advisable to bring it. Please appreciate the route and content of the holiday may change at the time and at the discretion of the guide/organiser, should conditions require. Solos Holidays cannot be held responsible for personal injury, accident or damage to property whilst on these walks other than incidents arising out of the company’s negligence. The guide has the right to refuse to guide a walk with anyone not properly attired.
It is of paramount importance that you have the correct footwear. It is essential to wear walking boots that are comfortable and preferably lightweight, with some ankle support and a good grip. If you already have a pair of boots that you are happy walking in (including during hot/wet weather and on hard ground), then bring these along. Experience has shown that wearing 2 pairs of woollen socks adds to comfort.
The weather, even in summer, is unpredictable – particularly in mountainous areas. We would therefore recommend you travel with clothing suitable for all conditions, and suggest you use the following checklist as a guideline of what to take:
Walking boots with good ankle support
Waterproofs – jacket and trousers
Walking poles – recommended as they provide good support for the knees, particularly on downhill sections of walks and when conditions are wet/slippery
Lightweight trousers and shorts with pockets
Walking socks – several pairs
Lightweight fleece or jumper
Hat & gloves
Daysack/rucksack for walking
Umbrella – it can be used also for protection from the sun as well as rain
Lightweight drinking bottle to carry water whilst walking
Small first aid kit – plasters, insect repellant, etc
Good, high factor sunscreen, sunhat and sunglasses – the sun’s strength is often multiplied in mountainous areas.
We suggest a Group Collection to cover transfer drivers, and hotel staff of €25.00 per person. Your Tour Leader will collect this on your behalf and distribute it accordingly, thus relieving you of the burden of who, when and how much to tip. The tipping of housekeeping will be left to your individual discretion (a small amount left in your room on departure should cover this and would be much appreciated). As is customary, ‘the hat’ will be passed around for the driver and guide on all optional excursions. For any meals that are not included in your itinerary, or taxi fares, your Tour Leader can advise of an appropriate % to add on.
To enter the Canary Islands your passport must meet 2 requirements. It must be:
less than 10 years old on the day you enter (check the ‘date of issue’)
valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave (check the ‘expiry date’)
Check both the issue date and the expiry date in your passport. If you renewed your passport early, extra months may have been added to its expiry date. This could affect the requirement for your passport to be less than 10 years old.
A visa is not required by holders of passports endorsed “British Citizen” for stays of upto 90 days in any 180-day period. Please note that stays in other EU countries counts towards this 90 day period.
It is your responsibility to ensure that you have the correct visa, a valid passport and any other travel documents for your holiday. All information provided relates to British citizens who hold or are entitled to apply for a British passport. For the most up-to-date visa information please visit; Spain Foreign Advice
If you are not a British citizen and do not hold a British passport, you must make your own enquiries as to the applicable requirements.
Compulsory vaccinations: None.
All clients are responsible for acquainting themselves with up to date health information of the countries being visited and where necessary take the required precautions. We recommend that you check with your doctor prior to departure as this information can change. You can also visit the travel health website for more information; Travel Health Spain
Euro
Average Temperatures
| Month(s) | Highest temperature | Lowest temperature |
|---|---|---|
| January - February | 21 °C | 15 °C |
| March | 22 °C | 16 °C |
| April | 23 °C | 16 °C |
| May | 24 °C | 17 °C |
| June | 26 °C | 19 °C |
| July | 27 °C | 21 °C |
| August - September | 28 °C | 21 °C |
| October | 26 °C | 20 °C |
| November | 24 °C | 22 °C |
| December | 22 °C | 16 °C |
“I’m sure you will enjoy it, I have been on three solos holidays to date and the people I’ve met have been great.”
“I’ve been travelling with Solos for nearly 20 years, on and off. The reason is for exactly what you want – you meet like minded people… and have loads of fun!”
“I’ve been on loads of trips with Solos over the years and can honestly say you will not regret booking your 1st one!”
“The feeling you have once you go away on your own is worth all the nerves before! I was so very anxious the first time but now having done it 4 times, I love it!”
