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 dock in Puerto de la Estaca, about 10 km from Valverde, the island capital. €1 on the bus(infrequent) or €10 in a taxi.
Printable map to take along.
Puerto de la Estaca is very small and has little to offer. El Hierro is the smallest island in the Canary archipelago, with only 278 square kilometers of surface.
Getting around
A rental car is the best option for discovering the remote wilderness regions.
Do visit the Miradors which are overlooks located all over the island.
Nearby places
In 2000, El Hierro was designated by UNESCO as a Biosphere Reserve, with 60% of its territory protected to preserve its natural and cultural diversity.
Valverde is on a slope, 600 meters above sea-level and is the only capital in the Canary Islands which is not on the coastline. It is a village of 1,700 inhabitants and the site of the Island Council headquarters.
Valverde is divided into three districts: Tesine (in the upper part), La Calle (in the center) and El Cabo (in the lower part). Except for the main road, the Calle Doctor Quintero Magdaleno (known as La Calle), the rest of the town is made up of steep alleys.
Food and shopping
For decent shopping visit Valverde.
Money
The euro
Staying connected
Spanish is the official language in the entire national territory. However, other languages coexist with Spanish in certain regions of Spain. These are: Catalan in Catalonia, Galician in Galicia, Euskera/Basque in the Basque Country, Valencian in the Valencia Region and a particular variety of Catalan spoken on the Balearic Islands.
Emergency number: Dial 112 free of charge (valid throughout Spain). Service is given in Spanish, and also in English, French and German in some tourist areas.
Opening Hours and
The most common business for shops and businesses hours are Monday through Saturday, from 9.30 h to 13.30 h, and from 16.30 to 20.00 h.
Big shopping centers and department stores open from 10.00 h to 21.00 or 22.00 h uninterruptedly. These big stores open sometimes on Sunday.
In coastal cities, in high season, shops are usually open passed 22.00 h.
Pharmacies open from 9.30 to 13.30 h, and from 16.30 to 20.00 h. In all major cities you can find pharmacies that open 24 hours. Pharmacies follow a rolling late-hour schedule, which is published in the newspapers, and is posted at all pharmacies.
Museums are in general closed on Mondays.
National