Which routes does the 2026 hiking festival offer?

The 18th International Hiking and Mountain Festival of La Palma has been announced for 2026 with 16 guided themed walks. The routes mentioned include "Del Tajogaite a Caños de Fuego", "Pico Bejenado", "Estrellas entre Volcanes" and "Volcanes de Cumbre Vieja".

Other announced trails lead through the Caldera de Taburiente National Park, to "Los Campanarios" and along the "Camino de Fuente Banamas". According to the Cabildo, the longest and most demanding route is "Volcanes de Cumbre Vieja" at 20.5 km on the GR-131 between El Pilar and Fuencaliente.

The shortest route mentioned is "Camino de Fuente Banamas". The source calls it the shortest route, but I did not verify 5.2 km, the loop or Puntallana. Technical details, difficulty levels, start and finish points and times are to be published on the official festival website.

What do hikers need to bear in mind in the Caldera de Taburiente National Park?

The Caldera de Taburiente National Park protects 4,690 hectares of pine forest, waterfalls and archaeological sites. Not checked against primary sources. The park currently has twelve signposted trails, one of them with three variants. Not checked against primary sources. Before setting off, visitors must check the weather situation and possible closures.

The key requirements include: follow the instructions of park staff, do not bring dogs or non-native plants, and use only designated trails. For certain activities such as camping, a permit or reservation must be obtained in advance.

A reservation is required for the La Cumbrecita viewpoint between 08:30 and 16:00. Not checked against primary sources. Arriving late, failing to show up without cancelling or exceeding the reserved parking time can result in exclusion from making a new reservation for one year. Breaches of the protection rules can be punished under Canarian law with fines of 150 to 600 euros. Not checked against primary sources.

What costs are involved in hiking on La Palma?

For hiking itself, the national park authority does not state any general entrance fee. The available official information for 2026 confirms that the park handles certain reservation and permit procedures online or on site. The Cumbrecita reservation is primarily an access control measure, not a designated hiking fee.

Costs can nevertheless arise for transport, taxis or organised transfers to the starting point, as well as for private guided tours. Municipal or private car parks outside the national park may also charge fees.

For professional photo, film and video recordings, a deposit of 300 to 3,000 euros may additionally be required. Not checked against primary sources. Specific taxi, bus and provider prices should be checked for the relevant travel year, as the official national park sources mainly publish rules and reservations.

What is the climate like for hiking on La Palma?

AEMET publishes climate normals in the publication "Valores climatológicos normales y estadísticos de estaciones principales". It contains monthly mean temperatures, averages of maximum and minimum temperatures and further statistical values for the La Palma (aer.) station. The normals refer to the 1981–2010 period.

Individual monthly AEMET climate reports for the Canary Islands describe current deviations from the 1981–2010 and 1991–2020 reference periods. However, they are not a complete monthly climate normal table specifically for La Palma.

Current values and warnings: CITA weather (cita.news/de/wetter.html) and AEMET. The national park authority expressly points out landslides and temporary trail closures. The weather forecast should therefore be checked on the same day.

What alternatives are there if trails are closed or too difficult?

If trails are closed or too demanding, short viewpoint walks are a good alternative to long Caldera crossings. Marked coastal paths are an option in stable weather, as are forest trails with less elevation gain, provided they are officially open.

Guided tours with local providers as well as visits to visitor centres, viewpoints and cultural sites are suitable substitutes in stormy, hot or rainy conditions. The national park authority points out landslides and temporary trail closures.

Common mistakes made by visitors include: setting off without checking the weather, ignoring closures, bringing dogs or exotic plants into the national park and driving to Cumbrecita without a reservation. Underestimating short kilometre figures when there are large elevation differences is also a known problem.

How does La Palma compare with other Canary Islands?

La Palma is particularly strong for multi-day, nature-focused routes, high-altitude trails, volcanic landscapes and humid forest ecosystems. Tenerife offers a more spectacular high-mountain landscape around Teide, but is more concentrated on individual viewpoints and heavily frequented destinations.

Gran Canaria has a greater variety of ravines, cultural landscapes and dry mountain trails, although many paths are more fragmented by settlements and roads. La Gomera is especially known for dense laurel forest hiking and steep ravines.

Fuerteventura and Lanzarote offer dry volcanic and coastal walks, but significantly less forest and less shade all year round. La Palma is not automatically the "easiest" hiking island: many trails have major elevation differences, unstable terrain and changeable weather conditions.