A Tale of Two Canary Islands: Tenerife and El Hierro

After a good night’s sleep and a long lie in (you’re on island time now) meet with a member of our clued-up Concierge on the ground. Our local team have lived on the island for years and can share all of their top tips and favourite things to do with you. You have the next four days to soak in the wild landscapes of the north coast, with its mountains, beaches and wonderful hiking trails. One of our favourite things to do on the island is a hike in the Teide National Park, which you can embark on with one of our local guides. Soaring out of rich and diverse volcanic landscapes are two huge stratovolcanoes, Teide and Pico Viejo. The park is a UNESCO World Heritage site and an outstanding example of a relatively old and geologically complex volcanic system that is slowly evolving. The lava flows form an extraordinary palette of colours and shapes, and support an exceptional array of flora (including the Teide broom, Descurainia and knapweed) as well as over 700 species of insects, reptiles and birds of prey. We can also whisk you off to a banana plantation to learn about the unique properties of the Canary Islands banana.

The time has come to bid farewell to Garachico and swap the largest island of the Canaries for its most secret: El Hierro. After fuelling up on a tasty breakfast, hop into your rental car and drive one hour back to the south of the island, to the port of Los Cristianos. Here you will climb aboard a ferry and enjoy a leisurely two-and-a-half-hour journey across the azure waters of the archipelago to El Hierro. Your home for the next three nights is a beautiful hotel nestled between volcanic mountains and the ocean. The rest of today is yours to enjoy at leisure. Enjoy a cooling dip in the pool before tucking into a delicious dinner at the hotel’s restaurant.

You have two full days ahead of you to discover the wild natural beauty of El Hierro. The island is a bit of a lone wolf in the archipelago: the local’s have a have a radical switch to renewable energy with the hope of becoming completely autonomous. El Hierro is also free from mass tourism and crowded beaches, with nothing but lush emerald vegetation and charming villages from north to south, east to west. The island’s UNESCO-protected biosphere reserve reveals dramatic landscapes of steep cliffs, strange lava formations and lush greenery. The natural spectacle continues underwater with numerous diving spots. Beyond are endless hikes throughout the island, and ample opportunities to soak in some culture. You can visit the lovely Frontera flea market or head to the tiny village of Tiñor to admire rows of traditional houses blackened by volcanic rock. Other natural sites include the natural pools of Charco Azul and La Maceta, as well as the spectacular views on the footpath that links Las Playas to Timijiraque.

Today you will leave the wilderness of El Hierro behind and head back across to Tenerife. Once you’re on dry land, head to the ancient capital of the island: San Cristóbal de la Laguna. Your home for the last two nights of your island adventure in the Canaries is a beautifully-renovated hotel in the heart of the historic centre. To wind down after a day of travelling, we recommend making use of the soothing spa before settling in for a delicious organic evening meal at the restaurant.

Your last full day in the Canaries is all about soaking in some culture in San Cristóbal de La Laguna – or just simply ‘Laguna’ – a pocket-sized city known for its ancient beauty. With its cobbled streets, colourful properties, old buildings and historic monuments (including the oldest university in the Canaries), it’s not hard to see why UNESCO awarded Laguna status as a word heritage site way back in 1999. But as this getaway is all about nature, you’ll also have the opportunity to enjoy one last hiking adventure before packing your bags and heading home. For this, you will head to the Anaga massif in the northeast of the island, a mountain range that reaches an altitude of over 3,000ft at the Cruz de Taborno. Your private guide will lead you on a walk through a luscious vegetation, winding through laurels, ferns and tree heathers. This also gives you the opportunity to do a final bit of bird watching in the valley, before reaching a collection of isolated hamlets that practice traditional agriculture.