What to see in El Hierro. 15 essential things to visit and where to eat

In this post we want to share with you what to see in El Hierro and places to eat. As you may know, El Hierro is the southernmost island of the Canary Islands and one of the smallest in surface area. This does not mean that there are few places to visit, on the contrary. The island has a lot to offer and we are going to tell you about it below.

In this article you will find the following contents about what places to visit on the island of El Hierro and some other information that will help you plan your trip.

What to see in El Hierro

Iron is divided into three municipalities: El Pinar, Frontera and Valverde. The capital of the island is Valverde. Although don't expect Manhattan, it is a town with less than 2000 inhabitants. The island boasts of being a benchmark in sustainability with a clear commitment to renewable energy, being practically self-sufficient. On the other hand, you should know that The best way to visit El Hierro is by car. En RentalCars You will be able to compare the prices of all car rental companies, including local ones.

Below, we make a list of all the essential things to see in El Hierro and what you can't miss in our opinion. Let's go by municipality so you don't go around too many times, do you think?

1. La Restinga, El Pinar

The Restinga is a fishing village and a diving paradise. Here you can try a diving baptism in El Hierro or a boat trip with snorkel to discover the spectacular seabed of the area. La Restinga is one of the best places to eat good fresh fish. At the end of the post we mention some restaurants.

Don't miss the places we recommend to eat in La Restinga at the end of the post.

2. Cala de Tacorón, one of the best places to see in El Hierro

A few kilometers from La Restinga we have the Tacorón cove or beach. A little swim with a view and off to the next stop!

3. Orchilla Lighthouse, places to see in El Hierro

The Orchilla Lighthouse is one of the southernmost points of El Hierro. All the landscape surrounding the lighthouse is volcanic and, therefore, virgin. From here you can see a beautiful sunset.

4. Meridian 0, El Pinar

If by any chance you have a 4×4 or trail motorcycle like us, we encourage you to visit the point that for hundreds of years It was considered the 0th meridian of the planet (until it was moved to Greenwich). The road is dirt, so we recommend not doing the road if you do not have a suitable vehicle.

If you like the roads offroad, take a look at this article on El Hierro on Moto trail to tour the island by motorcycle on dirt tracks.

5. Hoya del Morcillo, El Pinar. One of the best things to do in El Hierro

Although it may not seem like it, such a small island has a beautiful pine forest in its highest part. If you like camping, we recommend the Hoya del Morcillo campsite. It is the only place where you can camp in El Hierro. It has bathrooms and showers, cabins, although you can also camp in your own cabin. It can be cool here.

It must be taken into account that you must apply for a camping permit and pay a small fee at the campsite to the rangers.

6. Natural Monument of Las Playas, Valverde and El Pinar

It is a quite beautiful and photographable volcanic formation. It is in the direction of the Parador de El Hierro.

7. Tamaduste, beaches to see in El Hierro

The Tamaduste is a kind of natural pool that goes into the town of the same name. Here you can take a salty bath and enjoy the good local atmosphere. It is located in the municipality of Valeverde.

8. Mirador de La Peña, one of the viewpoints to visit in El Hierro

Possibly it is one of the most beautiful viewpoints in El Hierro, although there are many other spectacular ones. This is also known because It was designed by the Canarian architect César Manrique. Inside it has a Canarian haute cuisine restaurant that we will tell you about a few paragraphs later.

9. The Garoé Tree, Valverde

The Garoé tree was capable of collecting water to supply the ancestors of El Hierro or bimbaches. That is why they considered it a sacred or holy tree and today it is a symbol and emblem of the island. Apparently a hurricane knocked it down and it was replaced by the one that can currently be visited (there is an interpretation center). It is a very enigmatic and energetic place, see for yourself!

10. Pozo de Las Calcosas, places to see in El Hierro

Another enigmatic and different site to visit in El Hierro is the Well of Las Calcosas. Here you can appreciate the architecture of the houses from El Hierro or also known as “casas pajeras”«. That is, volcanic stone walls and a roof finished with rye or straw straw. To access you must go down some long stairs, although from above you can see the farmhouse and natural pools.

11. El Verodal Beach, unique beaches to see in El Hierro

It is a red or copper-colored volcanic sand beach. It is a totally virgin site and recommended to visit in the municipality of Frontera. The sea may be rough, but at least you can stop by to see it.

12. La Sabina, what to see in El Hierro nature

Here you will find vestiges of this famous Canarian tree. The peculiarity of the Sabina of El Hierro is that Due to the wind, the trees here are completely twisted. Bring a coat, it's cool here!

13. Charco Azul, Frontera

Located in the El Golfo area, it is one of the most famous puddles in the Canary Islands. It stands out for its turquoise waters that contrast with the volcanic stone. To access there are long stairs and it has wooden tatami mats to sunbathe or enjoy the views.

14. La Maceta, puddles to see in El Hierro

Another of the best-known bathing areas in El Hierro and the municipality of Frontera is La Maceta. A large natural pool where you can take a dip with views of the immense Atlantic.

15. Nuestra Señora de Los Reyes, a hermitage to see in El Hierro

El Hierro is full of symbols and this hermitage represents the most important festival on the island that is celebrated every four years: the descent of the Virgin of Los Reyes. It is located within the La Dehesa de La Sabinosa Natural Park, so it is surrounded by nature.

Restaurants in El Hierro

In case you did not know, El Hierro is the paradise of fresh fish, quesadillas, wine, figs and tropical pineapple. Below, we provide you with a list of places to eat in El Hierro that you have to try on the island.

✔ Casa Juan and El Refugio, La Restinga

A trip to El Hierro without enjoying good fish in La Restinga is not complete. Here we recommend El Refugio and Casa Juan. The price is ridiculous compared to the quality and quantity of food you can enjoy. The next photo was at the El Refugio restaurant, a portion of shrimp.

✔ The Deep Look, Valverde

It is one of the best places to eat in Valverde. They have a little bit of everything, fish, meat, salads, etc. Of course, all with a Excellent treatment and pampered cuisine by its owner and chef.

✔ Grandma's Fig Tree

This restaurant Located in the town of Echedo, it is a classic for lovers of this island. Here they try to include local raw materials such as pineapple from El Hierro, figs, cheese, shrimp, etc. in all their dishes. You should keep in mind that it is only open for 6 months a year (from June to November).

✔ Mirador de La Peña Restaurant

Is one of the most spectacular places to eat in El Hierro, although you also pay for it. We already talked to you about this viewpoint before, it has a restaurant where you can simply have something if you are on a tighter budget.

✔ La Maceta Restaurant

This place is also one of the poshest places to eat in El Hierro, although perhaps not as expensive as La Peña. The views of the natural pool of La Maceta are very beautiful. Likewise, the restaurant is very beautiful with volcanic stone and details of all kinds.

✔ Bar Chachi, El Pinar

If you simply want have breakfast or eat a good sandwich, here they make them rich. If I remember correctly, they had shredded beef sandwiches and Herreño cheese.

Where to buy Herreñas quesadillas?

If you come to El Hierro you have to try the Herreñas quesadillas. They are made with Herreño cheese, egg, Matalahúva anise, flour and sugar. A delicacy, believe us. If you want to know where to buy herreñas quesadillas, you can get them in Valverde. In Quesadillas Adrián Gutiérrez They prepare a box for you to take away. What a vice!

Hotels in El Hierro

In El Hierro there are practically no hotels, you only have the option of National Parador and a little more. However, there are several rural houses, many of them even preserve the El Hierro architecture with volcanic stone like the one we show you below. Then we leave you a link where you can see all the accommodation offers in El Hierro, including holiday homes and apartments.

How to get to El Hierro

To travel to El Hierro you must take a plane from Tenerife North airport or Gran Canaria airport. The airline that operates between the islands is Binter. On the other hand, if you want to go by car or motorcycle, You can also go by boat with Naviera Armas from the Port of Los Cristianos, south of Tenerife. The duration of the boat trip is almost 3 hours. The flight is less than an hour.

5% discount on your travel insurance

If you need a travel insurance that includes flight delays, damage to luggage, medical expenses, accidents in active tourism activities, among others, we have a 5% discount for you on all IATI insurance. In addition, this discount helps you visit El Hierro and any other destination in the world.

Ruth González

Hello! I am Ruth, Canarian with a traveling soul. With training and experience in the tourism and digital marketing sector. In this blog I tell you all the tips you need to get to know the most authentic side of Gran Canaria on your own. I also share my travel guides to all the places in the world that I am visiting so that you can discover the destinations like a local and save time planning. In addition to traveling, I love gastronomy and sports. I run and hike in the mountains with my “dog-children” (Silver and Plata). In all these adventures my partner accompanies me, Jorge, which you will also see a lot on this blog.