Things to See and Do in El Hierro
Listed below are some of the things to see and do in El Hierro. We have picked our "Top 10" but will change these from time-to-time.
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1 ... EL GOLFOThis is one of the places which you should not miss on your holiday to El Hierro. The viewing points from La Peña [also a restaurant] and Jinama offer a breath-taking view of El Golfo which is a depression - a broad semi-circle that drops off into the sea from a height of 700m in places. The gulf is over 14km long and extends from les Roques de Salmor to the look-out point at El Rincon [also known as Bascos].
2 ... ERMITA DE LOS REYESLocated in Valverde this is the place where La Virgen de los Reyes, mother of El Hierro, rests.
Ermita de los Reyes is situated in the western part of El Hierro, known as La Dehesa. This is a small chapel and the main destination for local Herrenos pilgrimages as the statue of the Virgen de los Reyes – the patron saint of the island. In her honour the famous Bajada Virgen de los Reyes takes place every 4 years. During the pilgrimage of the Virgen is moved from the sanctuary in La Dehesa to the church of Iglesia de la Concepción in Valverde.
3 ... SMALLEST HOTEL IN THE WORLDPunta Grande Hotel appears in the Guinness Book of World Records as the smallest hotel in the world! It has an area of 600 square meters and is only 9meters high and has just 4 double bedrooms. The hotel sits on a pier which is hit by the waves. The decor has a maritime theme with charts, compasses, parts of boats and wrecks and a diving suit is on show in the dining room. The rooms are basic - but unique. No phone, no TV, no minibar.
4 ... SABINOSAWith its ancient and well preserved houses built in the typical Herreño style, Sabinosa is undoubtedly the most picturesque village on the island. The roads leading to Sabinosa run between terraces of vineyards and you can still find traditional presses in the village. Near Sabinosa you can find the "Well of Health" [Pozo de la Salud] where visitors go to take advantage of the medicinal waters and the very peaceful atmosphere.
5 ... EL TAMADUSTEA large, natural swimming pool or lake of clear and calm water which is open to the sea. This is a truly unique spot and is formed in a hollow of the slope which is protected from adverse weather conditions.
6 ... EL JULANLocated in Valverde, this is the place where the best preserved Bimbache scribblings can be found. This is the most important archeological zone on El Hierro as this was one of its main settlements. To visit here is like a trip back in time [you may be required to produce some form of identification when visiting].
7 ... GUINEA ECO-MUSEUMThis is an open air museum located in Frontera where you can visit the houses which were inhabited by past colonizers of El Hierro. Each house is decorated as it was during the period. You can also visit a volcanic tube which was inhabited by the Bimbache people.
8 ... FARO DE ORCHILLA - ZERO MERIDIAN“Monumento al Antiguo Meridiano Cero” is located on the westernmost point of El Hierro, called the Punta de Orchilla, and in the area of the lighthouse of Faro de Orchilla.
Since the 2nd century AD it was considered the most western point of Europe, and in 1634 the Prime Meridian was set there until 1884, when it was replaced by the one in Greenwich, London [GMT]. In 1989 a monument was erected to commemorate El Hierro having Prime Meridian as El Hierro was, for the majority of European countries, the base for the geographic calculations and cartography.
9 ... ARTESANIA DE VALVERDE
Located in Valverde, this is an exhibition and sale of all types of handcrafted objects such as wicker-work, open-work or ceramics done by the Herreños [people from El Hierro]
10 ... CENTRE FOR RECUPERATION OF GIANT LIZARDSLocated in Frontera, The Department of the Environment is encharged with the animals located here as well as breeding and maintenance of the young ones born year year. These animals can be seen in the homes specially built for them. The giant lizard was in danger of extinction as it was a source of food for the local people and therefore this Centre has worked towards putting the species back into nature.
The lizards are about 0.6m long and are thickset with a broad head. Adults are dark grey to brown in colour with 2 rows of pale orange patches running on its sides. Older El Hierro lizards are mainly black with some grey and the males are larger than the females.
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