In Frontera, different travel interests meet distinctive features: historic trails and forests, coastlines shaped by volcanic and shell sand, and places with a history of their own. When looking for accommodation, it is worth first considering which of these aspects you want to shape your stay. This lets you plan around your own interests without combining very different destinations into a single tour.
Hiking historic trails
The Camino de Jinama follows a historic access route to El Golfo and passes through the botanically significant Monteverde forest on El Hierro. The trail network of Parque Rural de Frontera offers a different perspective on the hiking landscape: it includes sections of the PR-EH 1 through the laurel forests of Mencáfete and to the gulfs of Las Playas and Frontera. The Camino focuses on the historic connection to El Golfo; the trail network is guided by the named forest sections and destinations. Check local conditions before hiking.
Coastlines with different forms
Charco de los Sargos is a bathing area in the municipality of Frontera. A high cliff defines its distinctive shape, while the sea has formed several areas equipped for bathing. El Verodal is a volcanic beach in the municipality of La Frontera, with reddish volcanic sand, large lava flows and imposing cliffs nearby. These descriptions show two different sides of the coast: shaped bathing areas on the one hand, and a landscape of sand, lava and cliffs on the other.
Arenas Blancas is a 50-metre-long cove in Parque Rural de Frontera. Its light-coloured sand comes from shells carried in by ocean currents and eroded by the waves. Access is important when planning a visit: there is no direct public transport; a walk from the car park is required, or you can travel by off-road vehicle. Check local access conditions before your trip.
Churches, settlement history and tradition
Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de Candelaria is the parish church of the municipality of La Frontera. It was built in 1818 on the site of an earlier chapel. Campanario de Joapira is a freestanding bell tower on the volcanic cone of Montaña Joapira and forms part of the church’s processional and sacred ensemble. Its freestanding design and location on the volcanic cone clearly distinguish it from a bell tower incorporated directly into a church building.
Ecomuseo de Guinea offers a tour of about 30 minutes, featuring a Juaclo, a dwelling of the island’s Indigenous inhabitants, and four houses furnished with objects and household items from different centuries. Check the programme locally before planning your visit. The Ecomuseo presents Guinea as the oldest settlement in the El Golfo valley. Guinea is now completely abandoned and has been reconstructed as a tourist attraction and as a cultural and artistic expression of life on El Hierro in the past. You can also visit Centro de Recuperación del Lagarto Gigante de El Hierro, which focuses on the island’s endangered endemic giant lizard.
Other cultural sites have their own distinctive character: Ermita de San Juan Bautista in Las Puntas was designed by Canarian architect Alejandro Beautell and has been recognised through international architecture prizes and awards. The Bajada de la Virgen de los Reyes starts at Ermita de los Reyes and takes place every four years on the first Saturday in July. Check the exact future dates before your trip. Sabinosa is also associated with the production of artisanal wines.
Landscape and night sky
El Sabinar is a juniper grove on the La Dehesa plateau. There, the trade winds have shaped the sabinas; some of the trees are up to a thousand years old. The formation of the El Golfo valley also reflects the forces that shape the landscape: it formed through erosion after a ground collapse that triggered a major tsunami.
La Frontera is certified as a Starlight Municipality for the quality of its night sky and its commitment to astrotourism. The certification was awarded on 7 December 2023. At Mirador Astronómico Charco Azul, a sign shows the constellations visible from there; a post points towards Polaris to help with observation. Clouds can interfere with viewing.
Choose accommodation to suit your interests
The destinations differ in their themes and in the visitor conditions mentioned. Choose accommodation to match the experiences you want to prioritise, and plan for the tour, the Bajada and access to Arenas Blancas, taking their respective guidance into account.
Discover more destinations: Los Llanillos, Taibique, Mocanal, Valverde, El Pinar De El Hierro, Sabinosa.
Back to the main travel overview: El Hierro.
