Walking routes	More information Our Hiking section offers further details about these and other trails.
1,000 kilometres of choices
La Palma has more than a thousand kilometers of marked paths. As a sort of appetizer, we have included here just four of them.
PR LP1 - Santa Cruz de La Palma - Puerto de Tazacorte (The Harbours Route)
This trail, opened after the conquest of the island in 1492, has been the one with the greatest economic and social importance. The reason is that it joins the two main trade centres, East and West of the Cumbre Nueva. The main source of wealth in the island during the 16th and 17th centuries was related to the sugar mills, mainly in the Valle de Aridane. And its sugar was exported using this trail through the port of Santa Cruz. It was also an important route for the livestock grouped in the Llano de las Cuevas (El Paso). From Plaza de España in Santa Cruz, the path starts a continous climb, side to side with the GR 130 up to Buenavista de Arriba. Here it crosses the road for the last time and continues its ascent through the Camino de Las Vueltas as far as Cumbre Nueva (1,450 mt.), where it reaches its peak. As you gain height, you will notice the transit from an area of farmlands and pastures, where chestnuts abound, to heath and myrtle forests and laurel woods. In the leeward slope, much drier, the route goes down quickly through the pine woods at Cumbre Nueva as far as the Virgen del Pino hermitage (900 mt.). The descent is much slower from El Paso onwards (600 mt.), leading to Los Llanos de Aridane (370 mt.) and Tazacorte (250 mt.). The end of the route is right on the harbour, which leans out of the western coast.
PR LP6 - Reserva de la Biosfera (Marcos y Cordero springs)
This route begins up a path located on the right side of the valley. After 45', it is left behind and hikers will have to cross the river across a wooden bridge. From here on, you may choose a different path. For a short while, the route goes along the river, along a very narrow area. A last ascent will lead us to Corderos spring, from where hikers can start going down as far as Marcos spring. That is the point where they can follow the water canal which leads as far as Casa del Monte, through a very flat trail. At the Casa del Monte, hikers will find another path which allows to go down to Las Lomadas. WARNING Be extremely careful: This path leads to Marcos and Cordero springs, across the border of a canal. The route is considered as very dangerous, because there are many parts which border deep ravines. If you happen to slip and fall, you will certainly find yourself in a very dangerous situation. Besides, it is essential to carry a torch, since you will have to cross many tunnels. Please be aware that the responsibility of using the trail lies entirely on the hiker. Keep the canal clean: Contrary to popular belief, La Palma is an islad scarce in drinkable water. Please note that the canal carries drinkable water which will reach households. Therefore, we suggest you neither throw rubbish nor swim there.
GR 131 - The Walking Crane Trail (Crest Route + Volcanoes Route)
GR 131 used to be a path which allowed to go to the farthest villages, as well as to take goats from one point to another. Nowadays it is the result of linking the two main routes of the island: The Volcanoes Route and The Crest Route, which converge at the Refugio de El Pilar. The GR 131 route takes a path across Cumbre Nueva, located near Puerto del Reventón (1,350 m). From that point, the path goes up across the border of Caldera de Taburiente as far as its highest point: Roque de los Muchachos (2,436 m). From there, the route goes down as far as the port of Tazacorte.
THE WALKING CANE TRAIL (I): THE CREST ROUTE At first, this path was used to communicate the towns farthest from each other, because you would rather climb through a radial trail to the present GR 131 and then follow it as far as the next descending radial trail to your destination. It has also been the main seasonal way of livestock migration from the peaks to the coast. The greatest part of the path, from Punta de los Roques in the East to Lomada Alta in the West, is over 2,000 metres in height. The route passes next to some of the most important peaks of the island, like Pico de la Nieve (2,247 m.), Pico de La Cruz (2,351 m) and Roque de los Muchachos (2,436 m). From there the route goes down dizzily to the sea, right to the harbour at Tazacorte.
THE WALKING CANE TRAIL (II): THE VOLCANOES ROUTE The route starts in Refugio del Pilar recreational area, next to the Birigoyo peak (1,808 m). From this point, always towards the South, it passes next to some of the most important volcanic craters in the island (Hoyo Negro, El Duraznero, El Cabrito, Montaña de Fuego, etc.). The fantastic landscape of Cumbre Vieja National Park, allow us to contemplate the two slopes of the island (Mazo and Breña Baja to the East, El Paso and Fuencaliente to the west). After the Martin Volcano (1,597 m.), the path lies entirely within this municipality. A thick pine wood forest and the detour to Fuente de los Roques recreational area take it to Los Canarios city centre (a bit under 800 mt. a.s.l.). After crossing it, the path leaves back the San Antonio Volcano Visitors Centre until its final destination in Fuencaliente lighthouse.
TEXTS: Unidad Insular de Medio Ambiente / Tourlapalma MAPS: Óscar Pedrianes (Tourlapalma) / Unidad Insular de Medio Ambiente