La Palma GR131 hike

La Palma GR131: on the Route of the Stick – Ruta del Bastón

Populary known as the “Ruta del Bastón”, the route on the La Palma GR131 runs on the whole edge of the summits of the island. The route have a distance of 66 km and it is recomendable to make it in different stages. Natour suggest a program which includes accomodations and transfers for each of the 3 stages. You will stay in a little, nice hotel in Santa Cruz de La Palma. And from there, in the morning we will bring you to the starting point of each stage and will pick you up at the end. Furthermore you will get detailed information of the whole tour and the help you may need during your stay. To walk on the track La Palma GR131 is not for everyone. It´s about a demanding tour and requires a great physical condition. Therefore it is recomendable to include some rest day between one and another stage.

The stages

On your arrival day we will meet and give you all necessary informations and suggestions. And also graphic material and GPX tracks for following the route on your mobile phone

1. day – Lighthouse of Fuencaliente

On the second day our driver will bring you to the lighthouse of Fuencaliente, in the faraway south of La Palma. Your tour on the GR131 La Palma starts close to the sea and follows in a permanent ascent until reaching the village of Fuencaliente. In this section you will pass the volcanoes Teneguía (eruption 1971) and San Antonio (eruption 1677). Fuencaliente is situated at an altitude of 650 meters. And from there your stage follows ascending towards the north La Palma.
Now the tour continues on the so called Volcanoe Route (“Ruta de Los Volcanes”), ascending to the Volcano Martin (on 1500 meters) and reaching the top of the “Las Deseadas” (on 1949 meters). At this point, the highest one of the today´s trip, you can enjoy fantastic panoramic views before you will start the soft descent to the “Refugio del Pilar” (on 1450 meters). Here ends the today´s trip. And our driver will wait for you to bring you back to the hotel in Santa Cruz de La Palma.
At night, if you still have energy, you can enjoy the pleasant atmosphere of the capital, Santa Cruz de La Palma, with its nice outdoor terraces and squares.

2. day – Refugio del Pilar

On the third day the stage which awaits you starts in the Refugio del Pilar. Our driver will bring you in the morning to this starting point and from there you will walk on the edge of the Cumbre Nueva. The first part of the way is on a track on 1500 meters, without greater difference in levels. But reaching the “Reventón” begins a vertiginous ascent bordering the enormous crater of the Caldera de Taburiente.
The trail follows ascending towards the western part and comes to the first of seven peaks: “Pico de Las Ovejas”, on 1854 meters. Following on the ridge you will reach the “Refugio Punta de Los Roques” on 2040 meters. Then you will arrive to the “Pico de La Nieve” on 2239 meters. And a bit more later you will leave behind the “Pico de La Cruz” on 2351 meters. Now you will cross the wall of Roberto (“Pared de Roberto”), a spectacular basaltic dam which indicates the proximity to the top of the island. The next landmark are the observatories and the very same Roque de Los Muchachos, with its 2426 meters the highest point of the island.
The path offers continously spectacular panoramic views to the inside of the Caldera de Taburiente and also to the whole island of La Palma. At the Roque de Los Muchachos our driver will wait for you and bring you back again to your hotel in Santa Cruz de La Palma.

3. day – Roque de Los Muchachos

The last stage of the GR131 La Palma starts on the Roque de Los Muchachos and follows in a permanent descent towards the sea. The distance will be shorter than the first two stages, but unevenness is superior. With our driver you will ascend to the highest point of La Palma and start your last stage. Spectacular views to the Caldera de Taburiente as to the other canary islands will join your way. Now the path immerses into the extensive pine forests of the West. And runs on the ridge of the impressive ravine, “Barranco de Las Angustias” until crossing the Time Tower (“Torre del Time”) on 1160 meters. From there you will enjoy an amazing aerial perspective of the whole valley “Valle de Aridane” and the pass which is forming the Barranco de Las Angustias. But your trip on the GR131 La Palma follows continously descending, passing the viewing point “Mirador del Time” and descending steeply until reaching the port “Puerto de Tazacorte”. There a fresh bath in the sea awaits you before you will return with our driver to Santa Cruz de La Palma.

On the route GR131 La Palma

It´s also possible to use the GPX tracks to follow the route of the stick on your own.
We also offers independent programs as for example GO NORTH. With this video we will offer a little appetizer: