Where to stay in El Hierro to make the most of the island? Which village to choose? On the coast or inland?
Here’s our guide comparing the best places to stay in El Hierro:
- Map with villages to stay in,
- The advantages and disadvantages of each,
- The best places to stay in El Hierro, from rural houses to small hotels and apartments,
This opinion is completely independent, based on our experiences. We visited the region anonymously, making our own choices and paying our bills in full.
Where to stay in El Hierro – map and summary
Map of villages to stay in El Hierro
El Hierro is the smallest of the inhabited Canary Islands. It is divided into several distinct zones: the north coast, the south coast, the El Golfo valley to the west, and the inland area around Valverde. To help you locate all the places mentioned in this article, here’s a map:
The main places to stay
If you don’t want to read the whole article, here are the essential points to remember.
El Hierro is unlike any other Canary Island. There are no large seaside resorts or hotel complexes here. Accommodation consists mainly of rural houses, small hotels and self-catering apartments. This is precisely what makes the island so attractive: its calm, isolation and unspoilt nature, classified as a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 2000.
Our three favorite zones are:
- Las Puntas
Close to La Frontera and its stores, but in a small area at the foot of the cliffs with a magnificent seafront.
See the best rated accommodations. - Tamaduste
A protected natural lagoon on the northeast coast, popular for swimming in calm waters. Surrounded by colorful cliffs.
See the best rated accommodations. - La Restinga
The divers’ village, on the south side of the island, but ideal for everyone with the lava field next door. But requires more road to explore the island.
See the best rated accommodations.
Where to stay in El Hierro without a car
We strongly recommend renting a car in El Hierro. Public transport is available but limited, with infrequent timetables. If you don’t have a car, we recommend staying in Valverde or Tamaduste, the two towns with the best transport links and closest to the airport.
There’s so much to discover: be sure to rent a car.
It’s not a very touristy island, so book early for the best choice.
Where to stay in El Hierro to explore the whole island
Valverde, the capital, is the most central location for access to all areas of the island. Less than a 30-minute drive takes you to the north and south coasts.
But remember that the island is not large, so you’re never more than 1H15 from your accommodation, wherever you stay.
Where to stay in El Hierro for diving
La Restinga, without hesitation. This is the starting point for all diving trips on the island.
Where to stay in El Hierro with children
Tamaduste, with its natural lagoon and calm, shallow waters, is particularly suitable for families with young children.
La Restinga also has a beach and a family-friendly atmosphere. Children will love imagining shapes in the lava field.
Where to sleep in El Hierro: best accommodations
The island of El Hierro has no large hotel complexes. The offer includes rural houses, small independent hotels and apartments, often managed by local residents. It’s one of the features we particularly appreciate here!
Beware, many people close their doors in winter. Book early.
If you’re looking for a small hotel with a pool, you have two main options:
Hotel Balneario Pozo de la Salud
Pozo de la Salud, the island’s only spa on the west coast. Ideal for a stay focused on well-being.
See photos and availability
Hotel Parador de El Hierro
In Las Playas, perched overlooking the sea on the east coast, it offers the comfort of a quality establishment in an unspoilt natural setting. In our opinion, this is the most beautiful bay on the island. But know that you’re far from it all.
See photos and availability
Otherwise, among our favorites:
Hotel Puntagrande
In Las Puntas, a small, iconic hotel on a rocky promontory, the waves at your feet.
See photos and availability
And lots of charming little houses.
Criteria to consider:
- sight!
- quiet
- road access
- private or communal pool
- typical or modern architecture
For example: La Candia y el Mar
The photos speak for themselves.
It’s time to book your ferry crossings!
Compare everything: companies, prices, schedules and availability.
Location 1 – Las Puntas
Why stay at Las Puntas
Las Puntas is a hamlet of a few houses on the edge of the El Golfo valley, facing the ocean. We were struck by the absolute tranquillity that reigns here, especially outside the summer season. And we love the impression of a cocoon of nature with the mountains behind and the sea in front.
The sunsets over El Golfo from here are among the most beautiful on the island.
Please note: the village has no permanent shops or restaurants. A car is essential for refuelling and accessing the valley’s beaches. But you’ll soon be at aucœurr de La Frontera with all its shops.
Attractions
The advantage of Las Puntas is that you can easily go and enjoy the trail along the lava cliffs with arches and splashing waves. The views are spectacular.
The nearest bathing spot is Maceta with its natural pools.
Where to sleep in Las Puntas – Accommodation
- Charming hotel: Hotel Puntagrande, directly above the rocks, an emblematic address on the island.
- Self-catering cottages: several self-catering cottages available in the hamlet
See the best rated accommodations.
Location 2 – Tamaduste
Why stay at Tamaduste
Tamaduste is a small village on the northeast coast, about 5km from the airport and Valverde. It’s organized around a natural lagoon formed in an ancient lava flow, giving it a very special setting. We recommend it primarily to families and those looking for a quiet, safe swim. It’s also one of the island’s few coastal villages with a few restaurants and a small service infrastructure.
Attractions
The Tamaduste lagoon is the village’s main seaside attraction. The waters are protected, shallow in places and crystal clear.
But we also loved the coastal path with its views of colorful colvanic mountains and lava cliffs.
Where to sleep in Tamaduste – Accommodation
- Apartments and houses for rent: mainly self-contained units, often well located facing the lagoon.
See the best rated accommodations.
Location 3 – La Restinga
Why stay at La Restinga
La Restinga is the island’s southernmost village, perched at the end of a solidified lava flow that slopes down to the sea. It’s an old fishing village whose reputation extends far beyond the island’s borders: the La Restinga Marine Reserve is considered one of the best diving areas in the Atlantic.
The village itself is modest, with a few restaurants specializing in fresh fish and seafood. The atmosphere is relaxed and sea-facing.
Note that the road to La Restinga from Valverde is long (around 45min), so you’ll need to allow more time to explore the rest of the island, and a car is essential.
Attractions
La Restinga beach is a fairly narrow beach of pebbles and volcanic black sand. It’s not the most suitable for prolonged tanning sessions, but it’s an ideal entry point.
From the town you can hike through the impressive lava field and climb craters.
The nearest natural pools are Playa de Tacaron.
Where to sleep in La Restinga – Accommodation
- Apartments: the bulk of the offer is made up of independent rentals, often offered by local fishermen or families.
- Small hotels: a few simple establishments well placed for divers wishing to start early in the morning.
See the best rated accommodations.
Location 4 – La Frontera
Why stay at La Frontera
La Frontera is El Hierro’s most densely populated municipality, spread over several hamlets in the El Golfo valley. This is where much of the island’s agricultural and viticultural life is concentrated. We love this area for its diversity of landscapes: on one side, the towering cliffs that frame the valley; on the other, the cultivated fields and vineyards that slope down to the sea. The atmosphere is livelier.
The municipality of La Frontera also includes the villages of Tigaday (the main center), Sabinosa and Guinea.
Attractions
In El Golfo bay, you’ll find several natrel pools, including La Maceta and Charco Azul.
There’s also the Ecomuseo de Guinea, dedicated to traditional architecture and El Hierro’s giant lizard.
Don’t miss a walk along the waterfront and up to the church and its Campanario.
Where to sleep in La Frontera – Accommodation
- Rural homes: several addresses in the hamlets of Tigaday, Guinea and Sabinosa
- Apartments: some rentals available near the center of Tigaday
See the best rated accommodations.
Location 5 – Villa de Valverde
Why stay in Valverde
Valverde is the only island capital in the Canaries that is not by the sea. It’s perched around 600m inland, surrounded by forests and frequent clouds. This detail says a lot about its character: Valverde is a functional, discreet town, not very touristy. All essential services – supermarkets, pharmacies, tourist offices and a few restaurants – are located here, making it the island’s most convenient logistics base.
We recommend Valverde for those wishing to explore the whole island without settling on a particular coastline. Its central location means you can reach Tamaduste (5min), La Restinga (45min) or Las Puntas (40min).
Attractions
Valverde has no direct access to the sea. But the Tamaduste natural pool is only 5km away. And La Caleta is not far away either.
Here you’ll find a 16th-century church, d the Museo de la Naturaleza y el Hombre, which presents the geological and natural history of El Hierro and some surprising scupltures just below the island.
Where to sleep in Valverde – Accommodation
- Hotels: a few simple, well-kept establishments in the city center
- Rural homes: several addresses in the wooded hills around the capital
- Apartments: available for medium-term stays
See the best rated accommodations.
Location 6 – Las Playas
Why stay at Las Playas
Las Playas is an area on the east coast of El Hierro, isolated at the foot of impressive lava cliffs that plunge straight into the Atlantic. It’s a place with very few buildings and spectacular nature.
But know that you’re far from it all!
Attractions
Las Playas is a beach of black and brown pebbles, framed by cliffs. It’s not ideal for family bathing because of its exposure to the waves, but it’s visually stunning.
The Parador has a swimming pool, which compensates for limited access to the sea in bad weather.
At the other end of the bay is the famous Roque de Bonanza, our favorite view of the island.
Where to sleep in Las Playas – Accommodation
Hotel Parador de El Hierro
At the end of the road, it offers the comfort of a quality establishment in an unspoilt natural setting.
See photos and availability
Location 7 – La Caleta
Why stay in La Caleta
La Caleta is a tiny coastal hamlet on the northeast coast, close to the airport. It is best known for its landscaped pools, which are less dangerous than natural pools.
Where to sleep in La Caleta – Accommodation
Accommodation is rare. La Caleta offers a number of rural houses and apartments for rent.
See top-rated options
Location 8 – Pozo de la Salud
Pozo de la Salud is a hamlet in the west coast municipality of Frontera. The waters that gush out here are of volcanic origin and have a particular mineral composition.
The hamlet is very small.
It is best known for its thermal spa, the Hotel Balneario Pozo de la Salud. It’s an ideal address for a wellness-oriented break away from it all.
In the wild, isolated houses
This is probably the formula that best captures the spirit of El Hierro. The island owes much of its reputation to its silence, its laurisilva forests (a primary subtropical forest listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site), its lunar lava landscapes and its night sky, one of the least polluted in Europe. We believe that staying in an isolated rural house allows you to experience El Hierro at its most authentic.
A car is of course essential for this type of holiday.
Where to find these accommodations
The Mocanal, Tiñor, Las Montañetas and Taibique areas account for most of the supply. You’ll have to look a little harder. You can use the filters or look at the map: See the best-rated accommodations on the island
3 other villages to consider
Mocanal
Mocanal is a small farming village in the north of the island, perched in dense vegetation. It is particularly well located for access to the laurisilve forests of the Parque Rural de Frontera and the hiking trails to the north. A number of rural houses offer quality accommodation, often run by local families.
It’s a very convenient location for exploring the whole island.
Taibique
Taibique is a village in the south-east of the island, in the hills between Valverde and La Restinga. It’s an in-between area, neither quite coastal nor quite isolated in the forest, offering a good compromise for those who want easy access to both the southern beaches and the higher trails. Some rural houses offer accommodation with views of the Atlantic. The atmosphere is calm and the village is sparsely populated by tourists.
San Andres / Isora
San Andrés and Isora are two villages in the center of the island, nestled inland between Valverde and the coast of El Golfo. Surrounded by terraced fields and dense forests, they are one of El Hierro’s most discreet villages – few tourists spend the night here. A number of rural houses offer accommodation in green surroundings.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a car in El Hierro?
Yes, in almost all cases. Buses do exist, but frequency is very limited, especially in the evenings and at weekends. Renting a car as soon as you arrive at the airport is highly recommended if you want to enjoy the island to the full. Roads are well-maintained but often winding: expect longer journey times than the distance in kilometers suggests.
There’s so much to discover: be sure to rent a car.
It’s not a very touristy island, so book early for the best choice.
What’s the best time of year to visit El Hierro?
El Hierro can be visited all year round thanks to its mild climate. Spring (April-May) and autumn (September-October) offer the best conditions: pleasant temperatures, calm seas and few crowds. In summer, the island remains cool compared to the other Canaries, but the July-August period attracts more visitors, especially from the other islands. In winter, some highland areas can be wet and foggy.
Is El Hierro suitable for families with children?
El Hierro is not a “vacation club” destination and does not offer the infrastructure of the major Canary Islands resorts. On the other hand, it’s ideal for families looking for an active holiday in the heart of nature.
PLAN YOUR TRIP TO El Hierro
- Best of
Why visit El Hierro
Best attractions in El Hierro
Hiking (coming soon)
Arches (coming soon)
Natural pools (coming soon)
- Practical advice
How to get to El Hierro
Getting around (coming soon)
Rent a car and drive (coming soon)
When to visit (coming soon)
How long
