La Palma Guided Trekking Tour to El Roque De Los Muchachos: A Review
La Palma, often talked about as “La Isla Bonita” – the beautiful island – lives up to its reputation, more or less, it’s a spot packed with volcanic landscapes, lush forests, plus seriously impressive stargazing locations. A trip to Roque de los Muchachos, which is the highest point, is quite essential. This particular trek isn’t just some kind of walk; that’s an experience that gives you both insane views plus also some really cool natural history, arguably, it’s a must for anybody that visits the island.
Booking the Trek and What to Consider
So, planning this out correctly will have an enormous effect on what you experience on this walk. First, checking weather is quite important; the summit can be surprisingly cooler compared to the coasts. I would argue that layering clothing might be a really solid strategy, in fact, bringing waterproofs if the forecast looks iffy could make quite a huge impact, very. There are several ways, that is, different choices for booking guided trips; various companies provide excursions that include things like transport, permits, a guide that’s experienced, arguably even perhaps lunch.
You should look at how experienced they are in the highlands. Many hikes are around three to seven hours. The booking process can often easily happen over the internet, too it’s almost that you may want to compare various offerings on spots like TripAdvisor, or even local tourism sites for an option which is suitable for what you would like. Confirmations usually show up via email that include all relevant meeting information. Getting that process arranged makes the total thing go pretty smoothly and decreases issues if done way in advance.
Getting To The Starting Point
Actually, this bit will swing enormously depending if you arranged transport, for example. Renting a car might be a quite solid strategy, still, given the often twisting roads on La Palma. If driving there by youself, use good sat-nav or a GPS to confirm you’re going the proper way, too it’s almost you may want to note that there can sometimes be poor signal, and also try downloading offline maps. Starting at the Roque de los Muchachos Visitor Center is fairly normal. On the flipside, in that instance when a tour involves transportation, they usually organize pick-ups from, by the way, specific hotel locations throughout popular zones. Be on time!
What to Expect During the Trek
As a matter of fact, you’re able to look forward to various terrains and a degree of difficulty which shifts according to a trail picked. Trails begin reasonably smooth, but fairly quick, some stretches turn sharper, more or less, this does need certain degree of physical health and fitness. So you’ll trek beside some remarkable rock formations (like Los Muchachos themselves) where local guides may drop knowledge on volcanic origins. If lucky, keep eyes open; spotting some of La Palma’s bird species or local plant life could just occur too.
It’s always a grand thought to have hiking boots on you, basically with quite good ankle protection and tread for slick pieces. Taking pauses isn’t uncommon, yet make time enough, seriously, to breathe deeply as the altitude may be influential, therefore drink small quantities of fluids so one is always well hydrated.
The Views from Roque de los Muchachos
Finally, what actually turns the trip into something special are insane panoramic views provided right from Roque de los Muchachos. The telescope domes dot this view like little golf balls, I mean they are truly magnificent engineering samples contrary to rugged surrounding area – pictures really never give it justice here!. With clear weather, the panorama grows substantially outward; that might feature neighboring islands such as Tenerife along with the volcano Teide observable somewhere distant to horizon’s rim.
Having lunch at such elevation becomes, actually, an incredible event, where most tour groups find selected scenic stops here with places suited to capturing beautiful images. Do respect directions of location when, honestly, snapping since safety stays a high priority by sides with cliffs etc.
What to Bring With You
Okay, setting out for a trek similar to one needs several considerations regarding items one must carry. Backpack, for example; pick comfy, with water tight covers to ensure all stuff kept nicely regardless the changing conditions of surrounding atmosphere too, arguably, this ensures electronic things (if carrying many types) survive unharmed.
So, for drink one has two point water liters-minimum (considerably greater depending by physical degree strength combined climatic trends on time selected). Energy foods matter such examples includes power snack bars as things maintain you filled minus becoming bulky on packs that do increase weariness quite considerably throughout climbing parts; in a way choose goods full with energy content with lighter weight to avoid this additional fatigue during physical challenge sections particularly, okay? Bring sunblock regardless of day’s visible sunlight amount alongside brimmed headwear sunglasses since elevation brings UV intensities quite powerful, honestly!
Other Activities Near Roque de los Muchachos
You could just find it cool enough combining additional outings either close on where trek happens; observing stars through night (given low lighting levels present here). Because that specific zone holds recognized starlight preserve recognition making, more or less, observations rather special, by the way. Many will stay after their hiking day only so everyone gets better opportunities towards celestial watching and stargazing times if local guidance/knowledge given, yet think appropriately warmth plus suitable devices ready beforehand too, arguably it boosts potential benefits taken from such cosmic interactions later!
- Visit the Gran Telescopio Canarias (GTC).
- Explore nearby hiking trails, in short, ones inside Caldera de Taburiente National Park,
Final Thoughts
Finally, touring this particular stretch which holds a beautiful area of La Palma leaves those very, very strong reminders just how strikingly beautiful terrain across this isI hope those bits enable, that might let you realize that those views were indeed worth having and just what one stands away afterward: this particular summit delivers just insane opportunities throughout the hours that pass!