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Trekking in the Canary Islands

The GR131 island-hopping route

ISBN

9781852847654

Availability

Published

7 Jan 2020

Edition

First

Pages

272

Size

17.20 x 11.60 x 1.55cm

Weight

300g

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Guidebook to the GR131, an island-hopping trail that runs coast to coast across each of the 7 Canary Islands, a sub-tropical Spanish archipelago. Described over 32 stages, the route begins on Lanzarote, finishes on El Hierro, measures 560km (348 miles) and would take an average trekker about 1 month to complete.

Seasons

Can be walked any time, but summers are very hot and there might be snow in winter on the highest parts of the route on Tenerife and La Palma. Spring is ideal.

Centres

Lanzarote: Órzola, Teguise, San Bartolomé, Yaiza, Playa Blanca; Fuerteventure: Corralejo, Lajares, La Oliva, Tindaya, La Pared, Morro Jable; Gran Canaria: Maspalomas, Tunte, Agaete; Tenerife: La Esperanza, Vilaflor, Arona; La Gomera: San Sebastián, Chipude, Vallehermosa; La Palma: Fuencaliente, Puerto de Tazacorte; El Hierro: Tamaduste, Valverde

Difficulty

Most of the route uses quiet roads, tracks and old mule paths from village to village, but there are some remote stretches, as well as occasional steep and rocky mountain paths that need care. The route is well marked, but some navigational skills are required. Accommodation is unevenly spread.

Must See

National parks, volcanic landscapes, coastal views and Spain's highest mountain, El Teide

ISBN

9781852847654

Availability

Published

7 Jan 2020

Edition

First

Pages

272

Size

17.20 x 11.60 x 1.55cm

Weight

300g

Overview

A guidebook to trekking the 560km (348 mile) GR131 across the Canary Islands. The island-hopping long-distance trail crosses Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Tenerife, La Gomera, La Palma and El Hierro and can be hiked in around a month, or split into shorter sections. Most of the route uses quiet roads, tracks and old mule paths, but there are some remote stretches, as well as occasional steep and rocky mountain paths.

The route is presented in 32 stages of between 7 and 30km (4–18 miles). Also included is an optional ascent of Spain’s highest peak, El Teide on Tenerife.

Clear route description illustrated with 1:50,000 mapping
GPX files available to download
Notes on accommodation, refreshments and local transport
Information on ferry transfers between the islands
Sized to easily fit in a jacket pocket

Table of Contents

Map key
Overview map of the Canary Islands
Route summary table

Introduction
Location
Geology
Brief history of the Canary Islands
Plants and animals
Travel to the Canary Islands
Travel around the Canary Islands
When to go
Accommodation
Language
Money
Food and drink
Trekking the GR131
Using this guide
Emergencies

Lanzarote
Stage 1 Órzola to Haría
Stage 2 Haría to Teguise
Stage 3 Teguise to Montaña Blanca
Stage 4 Montaña Blanca to Yaiza
Stage 5 Yaiza to Playa Blanca

Fuerteventura
Stage 6 Islote de Lobos
Stage 7 Corralejo to La Oliva
Stage 8 La Oliva to Tefía
Stage 9 Tefía to Betancuria
Stage 10 Betancuria to Pájara
Stage 11 Pájara to La Pared
Stage 12 La Pared to Barranco de Pecenescal
Stage 13 Barranco de Pecenescal to Morro Jable
Stage 14 Morro Jable to Faro de Jandía

Gran Canaria
Stage 15 Faro de Maspalomas to Ayagaures
Stage 16 Ayagaures to Tunte
Stage 17 Tunte to Cruz de Tejeda
Stage 18 Cruz de Tejeda to Tamadaba
Stage 19 Tamadaba to Puerto de las Nieves

Tenerife
Stage 20 La Esperanza to La Caldera
Stage 21 La Caldera to El Portillo
Optional route Ascent of El Teide
Stage 22 El Portillo to Parador
Stage 23 Parador to Vilaflor
Stage 24 Vilaflor to Arona

La Gomera
Stage 25 San Sebastián to Chipude
Stage 26 Chipude to Playa de Vallehermoso

La Palma
Stage 27 Faro de Fuencaliente to Fuencaliente
Stage 28 Fuencaliente to Refugio El Pilar
Stage 29 Refugio El Pilar to Roque de los Muchachos
Stage 30 Roque de los Muchachos to Puerto de Tazacorte

El Hierro
Stage 31 Puerto de la Estaca or Tamaduste to Fuente de La Llanía
Stage 32 Fuente de La Llanía to Embarcadero de Orchilla

Appendix A Language notes
Appendix B Useful contacts

Updates

December 2024

Tenerife - Optional Route - Ascent of El Teide

Following the rescue of 130 people from El Teide over a three-day period in November 2024, new regulations are now in place for those wishing to climb the mountain.

Permits always had to be obtained for the final short climb from the cablecar station to the 3718m summit, but now permits are also required for the popular ascent path from Montaña Blanca and the more rugged descent path from Pico Viejo.

Permits are provided free of charge through the Tenerife ON app or website www.tenerifeon.es/en/. Three time slots are available each day and there is a limit of 300 visitors per day. If there is adverse weather, no-one will be permitted to climb the mountain.

Anyone not in possession of a permit risks a fine of €600, and national park staff will be stationed at points along the approaches to check permits, and there are particular kit requirements for all who climb the mountain. Anyone attempting the ascent of El Teide without a permit, who ends up needing to be rescued, could be charged anything from €2,000 to €12,000.

February 2024

Forest fire

Tenerife – Stages 20 & 21

Due to an extensive forest fire, these stages are blocked in many places and will take time to clear.

February 2024

The GR131

Gran Canaria

For many years, Gran Canaria was the only island that hadn’t designated its stretch of the GR131. In a sudden burst of activity, the island council has signposted and waymarked the GR131, and it runs at variance to what is currently described in the guidebook.

Instead of starting at Faro de Maspalomas, the route now starts at Playa del Burrero near the airport. The new route doesn’t join the route in the guidebook until the middle of Stage 17, so the whole of Stages 15 & 16 are no longer part of the trail.

There are also changes to the route onwards to Puerto de las Nieves, and the GR131 now runs concurrent with two new trails, the GR138 and GR139, in the middle of Gran Canaria.

The new course of the GR131 will be marked on the latest edition of the Alpina maps of Gran Canaria, but it will take a while before the route is checked and described for the guidebook. Either follow the route in the guidebook, or use the latest Alpina maps to follow the new route. The following website is useful https://canarias-maps.info/GR%20gc%20ing.htm

February 2023

Stage 24 distance

Stage 24 should read 18km, not 8km. The route summary table is correct.

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Downloads

Trekking in the Canary Islands - GPX File

By Paddy Dillon

Paddy Dillon is a prolific walker and guidebook writer, with over 100 guidebooks to his name and contributions to 40 other titles. He has written for several outdoor magazines and other publications and has appeared on radio and television.Paddy uses a tablet computer to write as he walks. His descriptions are therefore precise, having been written at the very point at which the reader uses them.Paddy is an indefatigable long-distance walker who has walked all of Britain's National Trails and several European trails. He has also walked in Nepal, Tibet, Korea and the Rocky Mountains of Canada and the US.

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