Making the most of El Hierro Island
Use these notes to shape a realistic day ashore, then confirm any time-sensitive information for the date of your call.
Arriving at the port
Cruise ships berth at Puerto de la Estaca, roughly 10 km from Valverde, the island’s capital. The infrequent bus costs €1, or a taxi costs €10.
Take a printable map with you.
Puerto de la Estaca is tiny and offers little in itself. El Hierro, the smallest of the Canary archipelago, has a surface area of only 278 square kilometers.
Getting around
A rental car is the strongest choice for exploring the remote wilderness areas.
Make time for the Miradors, overlooks found across the island.
Nearby places
UNESCO designated El Hierro a Biosphere Reserve in 2000, and 60% of its territory is protected for its natural and cultural diversity.
Valverde stands on a slope 600 meters above sea-level. The only Canary Islands capital away from the coastline, it is a village of 1,700 inhabitants and home to the Island Council headquarters.
Valverde has three districts: Tesine at the top, La Calle in the center and El Cabo at the bottom. Apart from the main road, Calle Doctor Quintero Magdaleno, known as La Calle, the town consists of steep alleys.
Food and shopping
Valverde is the place to go for decent shopping.
Money
The currency is the euro.
Staying connected
Spanish is the official language throughout the national territory. It coexists with Catalan in Catalonia, Galician in Galicia, Euskera/Basque in the Basque Country, Valencian in the Valencia Region and a particular Catalan variety on the Balearic Islands.
For emergencies, dial 112 free of charge anywhere in Spain. In some tourist areas, the service is available in Spanish as well as English, French and German.
Opening Hours and
Most shops and businesses open Monday through Saturday from 9.30 h to 13.30 h, then from 16.30 to 20.00 h.
Large shopping centers and department stores trade continuously from 10.00 h until 21.00 or 22.00 h. These larger stores sometimes open on Sunday.
During high season in coastal cities, shops are generally open past 22.00 h.
Pharmacies typically open 9.30 to 13.30 h and 16.30 to 20.00 h. Every major city has pharmacies open 24 hours; a rolling late-hour rota is published in newspapers and displayed at all pharmacies.
Museums are generally shut on Mondays.
National information.