Frequently Asked Questions

This is understood as the practice of hiking routes in a self-guided way, without being part of a specific group or having a guide to accompany you.

NATOUR offers you the most praised trekking routes on different islands of the Canary Islands, helping you to organise the necessary transfers, adjusting them to your prerogatives and physical demands and proposing the appropriate accommodation. NATOUR takes care of checking availability and booking the necessary accommodation for you, both for programmes with a single hotel and for those where it would be better to move from hotel to hotel.

A healthy state of health and physical fitness are prerequisites, as well absence of vertigo. People who do not practise sports or have limited mobility should refrain from booking this type of trip.

     EASY LEVEL

• Land with few slopes
• Short distances (between 3 and 5 km)
• Routes with approximate max. ascents of up to +150 m
• Routes with max. descents of up to approximately -250 m

     MODERATE LEVEL

• Stony terrain with moderate slopes
• Average distances (between 6 and 9 km)
• Routes with approximate max. ascents of up to +350 m
• Routes with max. descents of up to approximately -450 m

     HIGH LEVEL

• Stony ground with high gradients
• Possibility of aerial routes over steep areas
• Average distances (between 10 and 15 km)
• Routes with approximate max. ascents of up to +750 ms
• Routes with max. descents of up to approximately -1200 m

     DEMANDING LEVEL

• Stony ground with steep slopes
• Possibility of aerial routes over steep areas
• Average distances (between 14 and 20 km)
• Routes with approximate max. ascents of up to+1300 m
• Routes with max. descents of up to approximately -1600 m

     VERY DEMANDING LEVEL

• Rocky terrain with extreme gradients
• Possibility of aerial routes over very steep areas
• Average distances (between 18 and 26 km)
• Routes with approximate max. ascents of up to +1900 m
• Routes with max. descents of up to approximately -2450 m

• Luggage and people transfers
• Reservation of accommodation
• Maps and descriptions of each route
• GPX files to follow the routes on your mobile phone
• Accident and liability insurance
• 24/7 telephone support and assistance in case of emergencies

• Lunches, dinners and picnics

NATOUR acts as a facilitator of the necessary services so that the user can successfully undertake the programming of independent routes, organising transfers and accommodation bookings and advising on itineraries to follow. However, it is the participant who assumes his or her own responsibility in complying or not with the legal indications that may occur.

The western islands are the most rugged: the island of La Palma is the steepest, followed by La Gomera, El Hierro and Tenerife. Gran Canaria also has considerable unevenness. Moreover, due to their volcanic origin, the terrain on all these islands is made up of slag and crumbly terrain. Some passes can be overhead and there are paths that run along cliffs with huge vertical drops. This forces the hiker to be careful while walking on paths that are not very stable in nature. It is advisable to have hiking poles to reduce the strain on the knees during descents and to improve stability.

Sea excursions can range from 2 hours to a full day. Prices depend on the duration of the excursion.

In some cases a light snack is included. Participants are free to bring their own picnic.

Comfortable clothes and sports shoes are best. It is also advisable to bring some light warm clothing. A high level of sun protection is important.

Thanks to the trade winds, the Canary Islands have a spring-like climate almost all year round. During the winter months temperatures range between 18 and 22 ºC and in the central summer months temperatures rarely exceed 28 ºC.

However, temperature peaks (above or below) and torrential rains can occur, depending on certain weather phenomena such as “Calima”, southerly weather or northern fronts.

This is a rare weather phenomenon, with sand-laden winds from the Sahara. The temperature rises significantly, visibility is reduced and the air we breathe is rarefied by suspended particles.

Depending on the time of year, when the trade winds are very weak (November-December), “southern weather” may arrive in the Canary Islands. These are cyclones from the tropics that can potentially bring very heavy or torrential rains.

Depending on the time of year, when the trade winds are very weak (November-December), “southern weather” may arrive in the Canary Islands. These are cyclones from the tropics that can potentially bring very heavy or torrential rains.

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CANCELLATION POLICY

1- ONE-DAY ACTIVITIES

• Excursions, visits, trekking routes and transfers.

In general, we accept cancellations with the right to reimbursement and without justification, up to 24 hours before the departure time.

2- TOURS AND HIKING TRIPS INCLUDING OVERNIGHT STAYS 

• Self-guided walking holidays

– Depending on the specific conditions of each destination, 100% refund without justification between 30 and 15 days before the arrival date.

– Between 13 and 7 days before the arrival date, 50% refund or free change of date.

– Between 6 and 2 days before the arrival date, 25% refund, change of dates not accepted.

– 48 hours before the arrival date, 0% refund.

• Group trips with guide

– Up to 30 days before the arrival date, 100% refund without justification.

– Between 29 and 15 days before the arrival date, 50% refund or change of date free of charge.

– Between 14 and 3 days before the arrival date, 0% refund or change of date free of charge.

– 48 hours before the arrival date, 0% refund or change of date with a penalty of 50% of the total.

PAYMENT POLICY FOR SELF-GUIDED HIKING TRIPS

1^st payment

– A deposit is required to formalise the booking at the time of confirmation. This payment can be made by credit card (a payment link will be sent to the applicant’s email address) or by bank transfer to the specified bank details. This first deposit is refundable in the event of cancellation within the established period.

Final payment

– On the date on which the free cancellation period expires, the final payment for the trip will be requested. After this payment has been made, we will proceed to send the travel documentation.

DOCUMENTATION, MAPS, AND GPX TRACKS

By email (priority)

– After final payment, you will receive an email with information and access details for our app. In it, you will find route notes for each stage or tour and GPX tracks for reliable navigation. You will also receive the briefing in PDF format and other additional information. This app allows you to download it once (to a single mobile device). With it, you can navigate your routes without needing a mobile or Wi-Fi connection (offline). If you require a second download for another mobile device, an additional charge of €20 will apply.

By postal delivery (optional)

– If you prefer an analog format, upon arrival at your first accommodation, you will receive an envelope addressed to you containing a detailed map of trails for your destination, a printed briefing, and other useful documentation.

No. We send all travel documentation only after final payment has been made, at which point cancellation would incur possible penalties.

Yes, it is possible, although the cancellation policy will be modified as follows:

– After final payment, 50% refund or free date change.

– Between 6 and 2 days before the arrival date, 25% refund, with no possibility of changing the date.

– 48 hours before the arrival date, 0% refund.

Generally, an alert declaration is not a travel ban. Consideration should be given to the requirements for arrival and return to the country of origin, possible quarantine and valid travel insurance.

If for any reason you need to change your travel dates, this may incur an additional cost that will vary depending on the destination, the number of accommodations, and the complexity of the trip. Costs can range from €45 to €85, as this involves a significant amount of additional work which, depending on the case, may even require booking new accommodations. See below for the exact cost for each itinerary.

▸LA PALMA   ……………….   €45                  ▸EL HIERRO  ……………….   €45

▸LA GOMERA  …………….   €45                  ▸TENERIFE  ………………..   €45

▸GRAN CANARIA  ……….   €45                  ▸LANZAROTE  …………….   €45

▸FUERTEVENTURA  …..   €45                   ▸MALLORCA  ……………….   €45

▸MENORCA

• • • Cami de Cavalls – 6 stages  ………..   €65
    • Cami de Cavalls – 10 stages  ………..  €85

▸AZORES

• • • São Miguel  ………..   €65
    • Santa Maria  ………   €65

▸PORTUGAL

• • • Rota Vicentina – 6 stages ……….. €65
    • Rota Vicentina – 10 stages ……… €85