La Isla Verde (the green island). La Palma is a beautiful green Canary Island. The island is ideal for a challenging mountain biking or walking holiday. The island has many hiking trails, single tracks, elevation gain and beautiful nature.
The island
La Palma is the westernmost island of the Canary Islands. The island differs from the other Canary Islands by the absence of mass tourism. Partly because of this, the island is perfect for hikers and mountain bikers who want to explore the island without ending up in the crowd. La Palma has an area of 729 square kilometers and is approximately 42 by 24 kilometers. This may not seem ideal for hikers and mountain bikers, but the height differences make tough and long tours possible. The highest point on La Palma is called Roque de los Muchachos and is 2426 meters high. In order not to be dependent on an excursion, it is advisable to rent a car on the island yourself.
To walk
Hiking trails on La Palma are plentiful. With more than a thousand kilometers of marked hiking trails through a great diversity of landscapes, you will never get tired of La Palma. Walking on La Palma can be done alone or in groups. For novice hikers it is advisable to go with a group at least for the first hike. This way you know what to expect on any subsequent walks. These types of walking excursions can usually be booked at the hotel, or else there are plenty of options in the village. For people with a GPS system, there are many GPS routes available on the internet in La Palma. For people who do not have this, it is advisable to purchase a walking route book in advance (for example from the ANWB). Some beautiful places to walk.
Caldera de Taburiente
Hiking in one of the largest craters in the world! The diameter of the crater is eight kilometers with a depth of 1500 to 2000 meters. There are various (both difficult and easy) walks in and around this crater. The toughest tours go to the highest point on the island, which is also part of the crater.
Laurel forests
Laurel forests can also be found in La Palma. In the north and northeast of the island, these forests were created by a constant supply of moist air. Here too there are various options for walks.
Mountain biking
Mountain biking is a wonderful experience on La Palma. If you are not an experienced mountain biker, it is advisable to go with a guide. Such a tour costs an average of 60 euros per person per day, including lunch and bicycle rental (and other accessories such as helmet, water bottle, etc.). The guide tells you how to anticipate on different surfaces and also teaches you about cycling technique. In addition, the guide often tells you something about the flora and fauna in the area. Mountain biking on La Palma mainly takes place on hiking trails. If you decide to go out yourself, it is wise to request the technical condition of the paths. This is possible at one of the bicycle companies below, but also at many other excursion offices. The German route booklet Bike Guide is also recommended. 19 tours are described in detail.
Rent
You can rent a mountain bike at various points on the island. A fully (bike with front and rear suspension) is very nice on the island.
Bike ‘n’ Fun
This bicycle shop is located in Llos Llanos, which is in the west of the island. It’s a German company. The company has several disciplines (tour, DownHill, Freeride) and also different bicycles. The cheapest tour fully (Bergamont Contrail 5.2) costs 132 euros for 6 days. Organized tours are also possible with this company.
Magic Bike
This bicycle shop is also a German company. Magic bike, like Bike nFun, is located in Llos Llanos. The company offers two types of fullys (Cube AMS 150mm/Nicolai Helius 150mm) that cost 185 euros for 6 days. This company also organizes guided tours.
Bike Station
This bicycle shop is again a German company. Bike station is located in Puerto Naos (also in the west of La Palma). The simplest fully (Scott Spark 50) costs 132 euros for 6 days (including helmet, SPD, gloves, pump, lock, drinking bottle). This company also organizes guided tours.