Valverde

Located in Guarazoca, very close to the capital of El Hierro, Valverde, is the Mirador de la Peña, specifically in the extreme Eastern of the Risco de Tibaje. This place is essential to enjoy one of the most beautiful views of the whole island. From El Mirador de la Peña you can have a perfect panoramic view of the El Gofio valley and see with perspective the brutal landslide that you made millions of years ago that shaped this part of the island. It is possible to see the enormous dentellada of 15 kilometers wide and between 500 and 700 meters high that to make it more beautiful is covered with lush native vegetation. At the foot you can see a huge volcanic plain with vines and fruit trees that ends where the Atlantic Ocean begins to hit the coast of El Hierro. From the Mirador de la Peña it is also possible to see the virgins Roques de Salmor one of the places where one of the symbols of the island is located, giant lizards that are only found in El Hierro. The building of the mirador is an architectural jewel designed by the Canarian architect Cesar Manrique at the beginning of the 80s. The famous artist was characterized for creating organic spaces, specifically in the Mirador de la Peña, Manrique, used numerous plants, large windows and masonry ceilings to create a fresh and cozy atmosphere. The gardens around the building were also designed by the architect and as he usually does in his works he took great care that the entire complex was perfectly integrated into the environment. The viewpoint itself is also a restaurant where the best of the cuisine of El Hierro is offered, without a doubt one of the most recommended points in the area. In the first decade of 2000 the viewpoint was declared Asset of Cultural Interest.

Timijiraque is located to the south-east of El Hierro, it is a large protected landscape of almost 400 hectares, very close to the capital Valverde, declared Protected Natural Area of the Canary Islands in 1994. In this place you can see some impressive ravines that have hardly been touched by human action, being one of the places with the most complete cardonal populations (a cactus species) of the island. There are also plant oddities such as Centidonia or commonly known as bird language among other species that makes this place rich in flora. The area of the Timijiraque also has a black sand beach of about 150 meters adjoining a small population center that has the same name. The beach of Timijiraque is a small quiet cove where you can spend a wonderful day, when the sea is choppy is a place of pilgrimage for surfers. If you want to enjoy a full day at the beach, it is possible to use picnic areas nearby. In the area of Timijiraque beach, it is very interesting to see how there are remains of the old salinas that once were working and that nowadays are no more than stone walls. You can see the remains of the cocedero where the process was initiated by which the salt was extracted. As the dominant tonic on the island of El Hierro, it is an area that is not very busy which invites visitors to be able to disconnect, relax, enjoy the sun, the pleasant ones temperatures and plunge into the crystal clear waters that bathe these pleasant beaches. Timijiraque is 9 kilometers from Valverde, in just 10 minutes you can get there by car. Also very close is the port of La Estaca or Punta del Bajío.

Among the most beautiful beaches on the island of El Hierro is the Playa de Tamaduste which is located in the town of Valverde As most of the beaches of this minor island is not extensive, with calm and transparent waters and black sands of volcanic origin. The beach is sheltered and the waves do not hit with virulence, so it is ideal to go as a family. The bottoms of Playa de Tamaduste also have an impressive wealth, ideal for diving lovers. The flora and fauna that inhabit the bottoms attract every year hundreds of thousands of tourists who want to immerse themselves and admire this surreptitious beauty. The beach is surrounded by a small urban nucleus of the same name, a cozy and quiet place, a place to completely disconnect and relax. Tamaduste is under the protection of volcanic rocks and small cliffs that protect the shore from strong waves. It has a length of about 60 meters by 5 or 6 wide, although in certain occasions it can be quite busy it is not usually a place with an excess of visitors. Close to the beach of Tamaduste is the Puerto de la Estaca. It is enchanting to see that Beach of Tamaduste is the Cueva de las Barcas, which is a kind of refuge for small boats. The beach is also perfectly equipped to enjoy the day, on the one hand is the black sand, but also has walkways and access stairs to small landings where you can throw in the towel.

Among the numerous natural pools that can be enjoyed in El Hierro is the Pozo de las Calcosas. This swimming area is located in the northern part of the island, next to the village of El Mocanal, about 5 kilometers from the capital Valverde, in a small natural bay which is closed by a cliff. The pools have dimensions of 20 meters long by six wide. Around the wells there are some constructions that are part of a coastal town that maintains the type of ancestral construction: high roofs, plant material, etc. These houses were built by local fishermen to spend the summer months. In the area of the Pozo de las Calcosas can be seen perfectly as a language of solidified lava and its whimsical shape give rise to the formation natural pools. They perfectly distinguish the folds of volcanic material that slid through the rugged area, a spectacular way to discover how this natural space was formed. Access to the wells must be done on foot along a path that runs along the cliff and down several flights of stairs from the nearby parking area. The path that descends to the natural pools is an easy and short trail, also allows you to enjoy spectacular views of the ocean and the rugged coasts of the island of El Hierro. It is also curious the sculpture in honor of the god Neptune, that was made in 2007 with recycled materials and brings much more symbolism to this curious place. The situation of the swimming pools, the small nearby village of El Mocanal, the peace and serenity that is breathed, the sound of the waves or the clean and transparent waters of the coast They make this corner a practically magical place and a must visit.

Guarazoca is a rural area that is located just 2 kilometers from El Mocanal, it is named after an ancient bimbache princess, who according to legend, for love a Castilian soldier betrayed his people. This area of the island of El Hierro offers visitors wine presses and typical cube-shaped houses. Very close to Guarazoca is the Mirador de la Peña, also other points from where you can see a spectacular view of the ocean and the entire coastline. El Hierro, despite being the smallest of the 7 islands of the archipelago, is a natural paradise that nature lovers can enjoy in all its dimensions. Just 8 kilometers from the capital Valverde, is this small town that, as mentioned, preserves some old cube-shaped buildings with perfectly preserved thatched roofs. What you can most enjoy in Guarazoca is rural tourism, the trail routes that extend through this area can reach the Valle del Gofio

As it does not happen with the capitals of the rest of the Canary Islands, the capital of El Hierro, Valverde, is not at sea level. Puerto de la Estaca, the main one of the Island, is located in a neighborhood-parish on the coast about 7 kilometers from the center of the municipality of Valverde. The population that surrounds the port is between 120 and 140 inhabitants, in spite of it is the only port of El Hierro in which ships dock with passengers. The commercial and sports port of the stake is in the northern part of the island, has a berthing line of 250 meters in length and has up to 120 moorings available. It also has an interior dock for small boats other than passengers. Since 1888, the port of La Estaca has been declared of General Interest and is the main connection between El Hierro and the other islands of the Canary archipelago. Near the port of La Estaca is the beach of the same name, like the rest of the beaches on the island, it is usually not very crowded which makes it a perfect place to enjoy the serenity of the sea and a relaxing sunny day. A few meters from the port of La Estaca you can also visit the Hermitage of San Telmo that every September hosts the celebration in honor of the patron with many activities for all ages, contests of fishing, cucaña or procession to the caleta are some of the activities that can be enjoyed. The port of La Estaca also starts hiking routes to different points of the island, one of them passes through the Cueva del Diablo, in the area of La Mojara from where you can enjoy views of the coast and which is more easily accessed at low tide.

Perfectly integrated with the natural landscape are the pools of La Caleta, on the coast of Valverde, in El Hierro. It is a natural swimming area, in fully conditioned pools and areas where you can sunbathe.

The Nisdafe Plateau is an extensive green plain that offers an overwhelming landscape of the upper part of the island of El Hierro.

Un lugar imprescindible para poder conocer todas las costumbres de la isla de El Hierro, es visitar el Centro Etnográfico Casa de Las Quinteras, en Valverde. Al reconocer las instalaciones, los visitantes podrán conocer en profundidad los usos y costumbres de los habitantes de esta isla menor canaria. El museo se encuentra dividido en cuatro salas, cada una de ellas destinada a un tipo de artesanía: Taller, herrería y telar, artesanía textil, de madera y de barro. Ropajes típicos, herramientas, piezas de cerámica como vasijas, jarrones, ánforas, artes de pesca y muchos otros objetos forma parte de la colección que se expone en el museo. También el centro cuenta entre sus piezas con parte importante de la colección que componen los fondos etnográficos del Cabildo de El Hierro.Gracias a la Casa de las Quinteras se puede conocer muchos de los oficios que sustentaron la economía de la isla, muchos de estos oficios están prácticamente extinguidos, por lo que este lugar honra la memoria de esos trabajos que a día de hoy se realizan de manera mecanizada y la mano del artesano ya es totalmente prescindible.El museo de Las Quinteras pretende divulgar la importancia que tuvieron estos oficios para el desarrollo de la isla, y muestra a los turistas como subsistían los habitantes de El Hierro. Junto al centro también hay una tienda donde es posible adquirir piezas elaboradas por los artesanos de la isla, a aún a día de hoy realizan trabajos, aunque no con la intensidad que se realizaban antiguamente. Para conocer mucho mejor la cultura local no existe un lugar más completo en El Hierro.