Varied Geography and Favorable Climate of El Hierro
El Hierro is the southern smallest island of Canary islands. With its stunning marine life, boasting one of the best ocean floors on the planet, and crystal clear, turquoise waters, this is a paradise destination for scuba divers. El Hierro is a perfect place to chill out and relax, or discover the biosphere reserve with its lush valleys, volcanoes, lava fields and dramatic breathtaking cliff landscape.
El Hierro is a perfect destination for nature and eco-tourism and is classified by UNESCO as a biosphere reserve. El Hierro has a variety of landscapes, from the volcanic formations and dry lava fields, to the laurisilva and dense pine woods in the center of the island and the fertile plains of the El Golfo Valley. The coastal scenery of the island is harsh and rugged, with inaccessible cliffs soaring three hundred feet up to the sky, amazing rock pools and natural bays, which provide the perfect setting for scuba diving and swimming.
El Hierro is divided into 3 municipalities: Frontera, Valverde, and El Pinar. Frontera includes the villages of Sabinosa, El Golfo, La Restinga, and El Pinar. There are also fruit orchard valleys and the Joapira Mountain. The area is also home to the village of Sabinosa, which is one of the most charming places El Hierro. The village of Valverde is the capital of El Hierro. There are no high rise buildings in the village, which is also characterized by very little traffic.
The history of the island is presented by many wonderful cultural attractions. The local villages of the municipality are made up of agricultural centers and tiny fishing bays. The municipality of El Pinar is one of the highest in El Hierro and is characterized by pine woods, conifer woods, and agricultural lands. El Hierro is a perfect place for those seeking a diving holiday or an outdoor pursuits. Here everybody can enjoy some spectacular walking routes, diving, paragliding, sailing and much more.
El Hierro features a pleasant all year round sub-tropical climate with trade winds. The best time of the year to visit the island is the spring and autumn months, but those who visit El Hierro anytime of the year are guaranteed of good weather, as well. The island is very mountainous. This island is less visited by tourists than other islands in this archipelago, remaining the less spoilt holiday destination.
The climate on the island is influenced by the Canary Gulf Stream. El Hierro is known for its foggy weather swallowing up entire villages. The mild temperatures on the island are caused by a constant sea breeze, which is probably the reason why the island is not that popular with sunseekers. Most tourists visit the island for its quiet and peace, as well as its pleasant climate.
Outdoor activities on the island of El Hierro
Do you like diving? If so, then there is something that you should know. With its almost transparent waters around the island, El Hierro is a perfect place for scuba diving. The waters to the south of El Hierro have been announced to be a marine reserve “Mar de las Calmas.” The best diving is found off the southern coast of El Hierro around La Restinga where excellent visibility and high water temperatures allow for a great experience – look out for groupers, stingrays, the elusive hawksbill turtle, and zebra bream, as well as fascinating rock formations, including platforms, towers, shelves, and walls.
On the island of El Hierro, there is an abundance of dive centers offering both the experienced and beginners an opportunity to get out into the water and enjoy this dazzling seascape for themselves. Thanks to the transparency of the water, snorkellers are also able to see plenty of marine life.
The forests of the islands house a number of plant species which are exclusive to the island itself and endemic to the Canary Islands, making this area a perfect spot for nature-lovers. In the highlands, there is Bosque de Laurisilva with its magnificent laurel trees, mosses, and ferns being the main attraction.
The extensive coniferous forests are believed to be the most scenery and beautiful in the archipelago where the majestic Canary pines stand over a dense carpet of needles, affecting the growth of other plant species. In the north-eastern part of El Hierro, El Sabinar can be found. The forest of savin junipers has been changed for many years by violent weather and winds, making for a unique and interesting landscape of twisted trees.
El Hierro is widely known for its wide range of reptiles in the Canary Islands, as well as a large variety of spiders, butterflies, and birds. Have your eyes on the bright blue sky and you could see ravens, kestrels, owls, and even the beautiful wild canary. When it comes to fauna, the main attraction of the island is the giant lizard which lives exclusively on El Hierro. The Giant Lizard of El Hierro, or the Galliotia Simonyi, is brown and black in color, weighs in at more than 400 grams, and is up to 70 cm long. The lizard is now protected by law.
Culture and Gastronomy of El Hierro
Following the footsteps of their ancestors for generations, the local people of the island are very rich culturally. Till date, they have preserved their traditional customs alive. The handicrafts they excel in are quite usable and very simple. The products they make will be useful in day-to-day life.
Blankets, shoulder and saddle bags, colorful woven rag rugs, and bedspreads are created by them using the simple wooden looms. Moreover, they put pine, chestnut, beech, and mulberry wood to use to carve things like bowls, spoons, barrels, and pincers. On the island, women are seen being involved hours after hours in making superb earthenware. The reed flutes, huge leather and wooden drums, and big castanets are also immensely interesting.
The island of El Hierro has a great reputation in the Canary Islands for wrestling sports, which is a part of all the local festivals. The festivals revolve around dances, religious processions, and cultural events. Being religious, their festivals bear a traditional rural simplicity.
The island is characterized by simple cooking style. El Hierro is essentially rural in nature and the food on the island is prepared from whatever products are grown in the area. However, the cuisine of El Hierro has been greatly influenced by the cuisine from the world around. The local people consume a lot of cheese, which is a mix of goat, cow, and sheep and extremely rich in quality and taste.
Cheese is the base of many recipes in the cuisine of the island. It is used in the preparation of their popular cheese soup. Besides, mojo sauce is served widely with many delicacies, The toasted corn flour called gofio is a permanent ingredient of any menu. Apart from these dishes, you will surely delight upon their seafood, caught fresh from the water and grilled or cooked at the right temperature. Do not forget to taste from the list of their finest local wines. Sumptuous and hearty in all ways!
The restaurant Mirador De La Peña offers its visitors an overly impeccable service and matchless beauty. Hearty local food served with a dash of international presentation makes its experience very rich. Looking like a small Spanish bar from outside, Restaurante Don Din is something totally different inside. An absolute culinary delight awaits everybody here. The innovative combinations and superb Canarian staples make the food very delicious.
Do not miss baby squid wrapped in bacon and the large portions of salads. The bistro La Mirada Profunda offers its visitors everything from heartwarming soups and fresh fish delicacies to a number of local and international cuisines. Another restaurant is Casa Juan, which is a customer-friendly place wherein everybody have much food to select from. Everything from fresh salads and soups to grilled potatoes and meat are presented in the most palatable way.