Frequently Asked Questions

Canary Islands

Independent hiking

What is independent trekking?

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.

What kind of independent trekking does NATOUR offer me?

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.

What physical condition should I be in to be able to hike independently?

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.

DIFFICULTY LEVELS

     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

Niveau 2      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

Niveau 3      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

Niveau 4      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

What services are included in the independent hiking programmes?

  • 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

What services are NOT included in the independent hiking programmes?

  • Lunches, dinners and picnics

In the case of independent trekking, who is responsible in the event of any incident occurring during a route?

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.

Escorted hiking

What is escorted hiking?

This is understood as the practice of hiking routes within a specific group, with an accompanying guide.

What kind of escorted hiking is offered by NATOUR?

NATOUR offers you different types of escorted hiking tours:

  • Hiking groups on fixed dates. The participant will be part of a specific group, within a range of dates and with a schedule that can be for a single island or cover different islands. The participants in this type of group are always the same and the group is guided by a NATOUR instructor.
  • Regularly scheduled hiking groups on daily departures. The participant takes part in a regularly scheduled hiking route on a specific day of their choice. The group will consist of diverse participants of different nationalities and will be guided by an instructor from NATOUR or another partner company.

What services are included in the hiking group programmes on fixed dates?

  • Luggage and people transfers
  • Reservation of accommodation
  • Maps and descriptions of each route
  • Guide on each route
  • Accident and RC insurance
  • Help in case of emergency

What services are NOT included in the hiking group programmes on fixed dates?

  • Lunches, dinners and picnics

What services are included in the regularly scheduled hiking group tours - daily departures?

  • Transfers from/to each hotel
  • Guide on each route
  • Accident and liability insurance
  • Help in case of emergency

What services are NOT included in the regularly scheduled hiking group programmes - daily departures?

  • Lunches, dinners and picnics

Hiking in the Canary Islands

What is the relief and orography of the Canary Islands like?

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.

Sightseeing bus tours

How long do these excursions last?

Sightseeing bus tours are full day tours. Departure time is in the morning and depends on the location of your accommodation. The return time, also depending on where your accommodation is, will be between 17:00 and 18:00.

Is lunch included in the price?

Normally, sightseeing bus tours do not include lunch, unless otherwise indicated in the description. Between 13:00 h / 14:00 h the guide will suggest a stop at local places where you can have a snack. The cost of these snacks will always be at the participant’s own expense.

What type of clothing do I need to bring?

Comfortable clothes and sports shoes are best. It is also advisable to bring some light warm clothing.

Is the whole excursion inside the bus?

Each sightseeing bus tours includes a certain amount of easy walks in unique locations. These walks can last up to 1 hour. The participant can choose to stay on the bus without going on these walks.

Does the guide speak English?

All the guides speak perfect English and, apart from other languages, English is a compulsory language during any sightseeing bus tour.

Sea excursions

How long do these excursions last?

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

Is lunch included in the price?

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

What type of clothing do I need to bring?

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.

Starsgazing

How long does the observation last?

Stargazing usually takes place from 21:00 h onwards, and has a maximum duration of 1.5 / 2 hours.

What type of telescope is used?

The telescopes used are field telescopes and are mounted outdoors in areas where the sky is wider.

What temperatures should I expect?

This depends on the time of year. However, observations are usually made at high altitudes (between 1000 and 1500 metres above sea level). Even in summer, nights at this altitude are very cold at this altitude.

Between November and March, during the night and at this altitude, we can expect temperatures close to 0º C. Between April and October, temperatures will range between 5 and 10ºC.

What happens at Full Moon?

The reflection of the light produced by the full moon does not allow the stars to be observed. Therefore, as a general rule, observations will be cancelled within 3 days before and after each moon phase.

What kind of clothes should I wear?

Since the observations are outdoors, at night and at high altitude, we strongly recommend that you bring all the warm clothes you have.

Does the guide speak English?

All the guides speak perfect English and, apart from being able to speak to each other in other languages, English is a compulsory language for stargazing.

Climate

What kind of weather can I expect on my trip to the Canary Islands?

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.

What is calima?

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.

Are there tropical storms?

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.

What temperatures can we expect during the hiking routes?

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.

Luggage

What luggage should I take with me?

For the flight, check with the airline to find out the number of pieces/kilos allowed as baggage at no extra cost. Our recommendation is: 1 piece of luggage (suitcase) and 1 piece of hand luggage.

Sharp items such as knives or scissors (including nail scissors, etc.) are not permitted in carry-on baggage on flights. Liquids in hand baggage must be packed in a transparent bag. This also includes drinks, soups and syrups, gels, sprays, shampoos, sun lotion, oils, creams and toothpaste. A single container must not contain more than 100 ml.

For touring, a 10-litre rucksack may be adequate, with enough compartments to distribute water, picnics, windbreaker, sunscreen, etc.

Footwear should be sturdy-soled and high-soled, in order to better protect the joints in case of sprains. We also recommend having a cap for sun protection, as well as trekking trousers. Also, additional warm clothing (fleece, softshell) and a small first aid kit (plasters, disinfectant gel, bandage).

Payments and cancellations

What payment formats are available?

Payments made by credit card on our website are encrypted. The credit card details are secured and are only visible to the bank making the transaction. It is also possible to pay by transfer to our bank account.

How far in advance can I cancel my trip free of charge?

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 trips

– Up to 14 days before the arrival date, 100% refund without justification.

– 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 or change of date free of charge.

– 48 hours before the arrival date, 0% refund or change of date with a penalty of 20% of the total.

 

  • 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.

If a specific alert is declared, what happens to my trip?

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.

Gift vouchers

What is a Gift Voucher?

Surprise your guests with a Natour voucher. Select the value you want to give and proceed with the payment. Enter the recipient’s details (name, email). He/she will receive a beautiful downloadable voucher that can be exchanged for any of our services for the corresponding value. In the event that a part of the value is not consumed, we will proceed to return it to the holder of the payment.

Can the recipient subsequently choose which excursion he/she would like to take?

Yes, of course. You can choose any of our proposals, adjusting the choice to the value of the voucher.

Can the recipient redeem the value of a voucher for the partial amount of a journey?

Yes, if the chosen trip is worth more than the value of the voucher, the recipient of the voucher can redeem the corresponding part and pay NATOUR the remaining part.

Does the voucher expire after a certain period of time?

The gift voucher does not expire.

COVID

What are the regulations for travel in the COVID era?

Although the regulations vary as the pandemic evolves, it is necessary to have an identity document (EU and Swiss citizens) or passport (non-EU citizens), as well as a negative PCR test for COVID or a certificate of vaccination with the two complete vaccination schedules.

Is it necessary to wear face masks during walking tours?

No, there is no obligation to wear a facemask during walking routes in the open air.

Masks are only required inside enclosed premises, public places and on means of transport such as taxis, buses, etc. Also in public buildings, hotels, supermarkets, restaurants, souvenir shops, etc.

In addition, general hygiene rules apply when entering the premises.

I am vaccinated, what regulations apply to me?

As regulations are changing as the pandemic evolves, it is impossible to answer this question exactly. At the moment, the Canary Islands require a COVID certificate for access to the interior of restaurants, bars and entertainment venues.