El Hierro

The next island we visited is the smallest of the seven, and the farthest south and west. The population of the whole island is about 11,000. It was really rural and laid back, and we thoroughly enjoyed exploring the topography.

That picture above was taken from a viewpoint near the NE corner of the island, and when you turned and looked down the north coast you saw:

The village we stayed in, La Frontera, was tucked in against the base of the ridge near the upper left edge of the above picture.

After we left that viewpoint, we checked in on Pozo de Las Calcoses -

Pozo means “well”, and this area was used by fisherman during the summer, and the houses had volcanic stone walls and thatched roofs. The natural pool has been reinforced with concrete, and has steps leading down to the water. (we didn’t get in)

Natural pools are a big deal in these islands, but I think even in summer the water temp is chilly. [I just looked it up - Aug. water temp is 75 and air temp is 86.]

I loved this coast -

We rounded the north end of the island and drove down the east coast about as far as the road will take you. Our goal was Roque de La Bonanza -

At first I was a little underwhelmed, but then as we walked up the abandoned road, we marveled at the geology -

Talk about secluded beaches!

We then headed back up into the interior of the island…

(this reminded me of Ireland!)

… to the Mirador de Las Playas, overlooking where we had been at the Roque. Do you see it down near the point on the right?

I just loved the colorful layers in the rock wall.

Down near the southern end of the island, we drove past a lava field with cool formations…

… on our way to Tacoron…

… and its very rustic “pool” -

The colors in the rock walls were spectacular, especially in contrast to the water and pine covered hills in the distance -

The next day we headed across the north coast, passing through Sabinosa…

… along roads that were fun for Steve to drive (no comment from the passenger) -

La Laja natural pool…

… was another unique iteration of a “swimming hole”…

… with interesting denizens -

Continuing further to the NW end of the island…

… we visited Arco de La Tosca…

… on our way to Playa del Verodal -

I was mesmerized by the designs formed by the water and the black sand -

We ended that day looking for examples of the windblown junipers that El Hierro is known for…

… and the best one I found by scrambling up a hillside. :)

The morning we left, we hiked in La Llania, which is a nature reserve “just up the hill” from La Frontera. We started in a moist laurel forest…

… with shaggy trees…

… before passing by a mini-caldera…

… and ending in a pine forest!

That single 3 mile walk had nearly all the types of flora we had seen over the entire island.

I want to close with one of my favorite pictures from this island -