Luggage-transported Walking Holiday, La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain

Starting in the north east of La Palma and finishing in the mid-west of the island, our luggage-transported walking holiday will take you through the laurisilva forest of Los Tilos and along the the ancient route of El Camino Real.  With five different lodgings along the way, your luggage is transported for you so that you can enjoy the freedom of trail. 

Day One - Arrival

Arrival at Santa Cruz de la Palma (SPC) Airport and travel to your accommodation. The rest of the day/evening is yours to explore the beautiful and historic capital city of Santa Cruz de La Palma, to spend time sauntering along the cobbled streets, admiring the mansions with wooden balconies and enjoying a drink at one of the plaza cafes. Or you might wish to swim or laze on the beach in readiness for walking.

Day Two –  Los Tilos to Barlovento 

Now the walking begins.  A taxi will collect you from your accommodation and take you to Los Tilos from where you will walk through the UNESCO laurel forest. The first part of the walk takes you through a sub-tropical rain forest with its magnificent laurels and giant ferns - it is an experience in itself!
Climbing on the path above of the forest, you reach impressive views over Barlovento – your eventual destination where your accommodation for the night is at a small country hotel.

Day Three - Barlovento to Franceses, El Camino Real GR130

Your walk begins directly from the hotel and from where you join El Camino Real.  Descending into an almost forgotten hamlet, you will see a large group of ancient dragon trees - one of the best representations on La Palma.  Now on the coastal path with impressive cliff-top views all the way, you arrive at a picturesque mountain-top hamlet, after which you descend into a small valley with a colony of caves, three storeys high.  Passing through a lively village with little houses jammed in against the narrow street, the path heads towards the sea and a Mexican ravine with cowboy cactus. The final part of your walk takes you into the French Quarter of the island and through a magical dell with natural springs, caves and wooden-roofed dwellings.
Your accommodation for two nights at a rural bed and breakfast is reached on foot.  

Day Four - Franceses to Santo Domingo, El Camino Real GR130

Directly from your accommodation, the route continues along El Camino Real and a descent into the impressive Barranco de los Hombres with its magnificent views over the sea. Crossing the ravine, the zigzag path leads up to the most remote village on La Palma with its curious old houses and huge dragon tree - the subject of many picture postcards!  Walking down a cobbled path towards the sea, the route descends into the beautiful ravine of Barranco Fagundo before rising again and into wooded dells and glades before emerging into the plains of the north.  After a small valley with resident goats and chickens, Santo Domingo with its historic houses and cobbled streets is reached. 
Bus back to accommodation in Franceses (30 minutes). 
(This walk, the hardest on the route, can be changed for a circular walk, a rest day or cultural day with short walk.)

Day Five - Santo Domingo to Puntagorda, El Camino Real GR130

Returning by taxi to your start point in Santo Domingo, the walk continues along El Camino Real, passing the old village laundry with its stone basins and further along an original windmill. Now walking along undulating country paths with old stone houses seemingly appearing from nowhere, you arrive in the village of Las Tricias.  Here the cobbled path leads you right past the doors of old houses in this beautiful area which benefits from a favourable micro-climate.  Palm trees give way to pine trees and after a rocky barranco is traversed, the area of Puntagorda is reached.  A forest track of red dust is followed before the route wends its way through the small town and to the next accommodation, a stylish bed and breakfast with all amenities close by.
 

Day Six - Puntagorda to Tijarafe, El Camino Real GR130

Walking directly from your accommodation, and continuing along El Camino Real the route takes you through a small settlement with its miniature cobbled street.  With just a very short detour, you can see one of La Palma's famous landmarks - a place where the trees grow sideways.  Back on the route again,   
there are impressive views from the elevated path from where the pine-covered ridges of the Caldera feel like a moment away.  A gently sloping path goes down into the lovely ravine where the rocky bed is followed before ascending along a pretty path, lined with wild flowers from early in the year until late summer.
On arrival in Tijarafe, a bus is taken to the final accommodation, an apartment by the beach in Tazacorte.

Day Seven: Tijarafe to Tazacorte, El Camino Real, GR130

Returning by bus to Tijarafe, the route passes by a cluster of decorated crosses before going into a shallow, pine needle covered barranco. The path ascends along a zigzag route and reaches a rustic bbq area before rising above the road along a country path.  Now deep in the country, old stone houses are passed right by their front door and further along walkers can enjoy a commanding view over the west coast and the ‘sea’ of banana plantations below.  Here, the GR130 route is left and the GR131 is taken to Mirador El Time (a popular look-out point) with its stunning view over Tazacorte, Los Llanos, the Caldera and the south of La Palma.
The path passes several caves, some lived in at least part-time, and at the bottom lies Tazacorte and the accommodation.  

Day Eight: Taxi to airport.   Hasta la proxima, La Palma.  Until the next time!

Price:

From 396 euros per person (based on two person rate) 

Includes:

7 x accommodation in twin/double room
4 x breakfasts
4 x picnics

Taxi transfers (except taxi from airport to first accommodation)
Luggage transfers between accommodation
Walking map
Full walking notes 

Not included:

Flights
Taxi from airport to first accommodation (approx. cost 10€)
Bus journeys
Evening meals
Travel Insurance

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