Cheap flights to El Hierro
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Quick summary
Country
Spain
Continent
Europe
Airport
VDE
Currency
Euro (EUR)
Time zone
UTC+0 (UTC+1 during daylight saving time)
Deals already spotted to El Hierro
Real flight examples detected by SniperAir, with their reference price.
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Why watch El Hierro prices with SniperAir
The smallest and most remote of the Canaries, reached by one short regional hop
Tell us where you fly from
El Hierro has no direct flight from mainland Europe: VDE airport is served from Tenerife North and Gran Canaria. Enter your departure airport and a maximum budget for a flight to one of those islands, or to VDE if a connection is offered.
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Every new price is compared with the real price history of the route. SniperAir monitors prices and alerts you: it does not sell or book plane or ferry tickets.
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Airport and getting there
A tiny island airport linked to Tenerife and Gran Canaria
El Hierro Airport, Los Cangrejos (VDE)
El Hierro Airport lies about 9 km northeast of Valverde, the island capital, according to English Wikipedia. It opened in December 1972 and has a short 1,250 m runway that suits regional turboprops. Scheduled flights are domestic, from Tenerife North and Gran Canaria. English Wikivoyage gives about 40 minutes from Tenerife North and 55 minutes from Gran Canaria. We name no airline, timetable or fare: these change and could not be confirmed from an open official source.
Cautious information: connections, timetables and fares change with the season; check them with the carriers before you travel. SniperAir monitors flight prices but sells nothing.
From mainland Europe the trip has two legs: a flight to Tenerife or Gran Canaria, then the regional hop to VDE. Wikivoyage points out that Tenerife North mostly handles domestic flights, so many travellers arrive through Tenerife South or Gran Canaria; the latter lets you stay in the same airport for the onward flight. Compare several routings, including via Madrid or Barcelona, and leave a comfortable margin for the connection.
The alternative is the ferry from Los Cristianos in southern Tenerife to the port of La Estaca, about seven kilometres from Valverde; both English and German Wikivoyage put the crossing at roughly two and a half hours. Operators and prices change, so we do not quote them. Entry rules follow Spain and depend on your nationality: check official sources.
Landmarks and highlights
Bent junipers, a lighthouse at the end of the world and the El Golfo cliffs
El Hierro is the youngest of the Canary Islands and a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve since 2000. It is a shield volcano whose north-western flank collapsed to form the El Golfo valley. Called the Meridian Island, it was long thought to be the edge of the known world and Ferro served as the zero meridian on old maps until Greenwich took over in 1884. The places below are illustrated; others are described in text.
El Sabinar and its wind-sculpted junipers
At the far western tip, El Sabinar shelters sabinas, Phoenician junipers laid down and twisted by the trade winds into arches of pale wood. Spanish Wikivoyage suggests going on a misty day for an eerie landscape. The sabina and the giant lizard are the island's two natural symbols.
Orchilla lighthouse
At the south-western corner, Orchilla lighthouse, completed in 1933 according to English Wikivoyage, stands on a field of black lava close to the spot that once marked the zero meridian. It is reached by a rough gravel track through a moon-like landscape: allow for a suitable vehicle and check the state of the track.
Roque de la Bonanza and the El Golfo valley
At the foot of a green cliff more than a thousand metres high, a rock arch rises from the bay: the Roque de la Bonanza, off the El Golfo coast. The valley, carved by a giant collapse, can be seen from several viewpoints, among them Mirador de la Peña, designed by César Manrique, which has a restaurant with a view.
Pozo de las Calcosas
A former fishing hamlet of low lava-stone houses tucks beneath El Mocanal beside a large solidified lava flow and a natural pool. English Wikivoyage lists it among the bathing spots. As with every pool closed off by lava barriers, the sea can turn dangerous in winter.
Natural pools along the coast
With few real beaches, swimmers use pools built into the lava: La Maceta, Los Sargos, Charco Azul, Tamaduste or La Caleta, according to English Wikivoyage and Hello Canary Islands. When the Atlantic is rough, waves can break into the pools: check the weather, respect the signs and stay out in heavy seas.
Among places not illustrated, the Garoé, the sacred water tree of the Bimbaches that gathered water from the fog and appears on the island's coat of arms, disappeared around 1610 according to French Wikipedia; trees were replanted in the 20th century. The Mirador de Jinama and the trail of the same name, a little over three kilometres, are among the classic walks.
Museums and culture
Stone hamlets, rock engravings and Virgin festivals
Poblado de Guinea and the Lagartario
The Poblado de Guinea is a museum hamlet that shows how islanders lived until around the 1960s, according to English Wikivoyage. Nearby are a volcanic tube and the Lagartario, devoted to the El Hierro giant lizard. We give no opening hours or prices: check them before you go.
Los Letreros and El Julan
At El Julan, the rock engravings of Los Letreros recall the Bimbaches, the first inhabitants. English Wikivoyage says the visitor centre can be reached by car but the sites themselves are visited on a guided tour booked in advance.
Church of the Conception and festivals
In Valverde the church of Nuestra Señora de la Concepción, in classicist Baroque style, was built between 1767 and 1820 and keeps a Mudéjar pine ceiling, according to Spanish Wikipedia. Every four years the Bajada de la Virgen de los Reyes brings the statue of the island's patron from her sanctuary down to Valverde to the sound of pito flutes and drums.
Food and drink
Fresh fish, island cheese and quesadilla
What to eat
Fresh fish, fried, stewed or grilled, is the star, served with wrinkled potatoes (papas arrugadas) and red and green mojo sauces. Rabbit, kid, limpets and gofio, a toasted-grain flour, round out the table, according to Spanish Wikipedia and Hello Canary Islands.
The signature dessert
The quesadilla herreña is the island's dessert par excellence: island cheese, eggs, aniseed, lemon zest, sugar and cinnamon, says Hello Canary Islands. The cheese and the wines, made under a designation of origin, make good edible souvenirs; the island pineapples surprise visitors with their quality.
Where to eat
We do not name restaurants or prices because they were not cross-checked. Fish restaurants in La Restinga and the coastal villages have a good reputation; ask the tourist office in Valverde.
Getting around
Car, bus and thumb on a small island
By car
A hire car is the best way to reach the remotest areas according to English Wikivoyage; you can rent one at the airport, in Valverde or in Frontera. The Los Roquillos tunnel, opened in 2003, links Valverde with the El Golfo valley and is only for licensed motor vehicles.
By bus and taxi
Island buses called guaguas serve the port, the airport and Valverde, but frequencies are limited, especially on Sundays. Taxis run day and night, say English and German Wikivoyage.
On foot
The island is a hiking paradise: pine trails, cloud forest and viewpoint paths. Bring good shoes and water and check the weather: sudden changes make outings risky, according to English Wikivoyage.
Budget and precautions
Harder to reach than to live on
Price level
El Hierro favours quality over quantity and has limited accommodation. We give no figures for meals, rooms or entry fees because they could not be cross-checked on two independent sources.
Transport
Access is the most variable cost: a flight to Tenerife or Gran Canaria, then a regional hop or the ferry. SniperAir monitors flight prices and compares them with the route history; it does not sell or book tickets.
Sea, weather and entry rules
The Atlantic can be very rough in winter and some beaches have currents, according to English Wikivoyage: do not swim in heavy seas. Entry rules for Spain depend on your nationality: check official sources before booking.
When to go
A spring-like climate, greenest in winter and spring
Winter (December to February)
The ideal season for walking: the island is green and not too hot according to English Wikivoyage. Cloud and fog are common in the north and the ocean can be very rough.
Spring (March to May)
Good conditions for hikes, pine and cloud forests, junipers and viewpoints.
Summer (June to August)
The south coast is drier and warmer; natural pools, coves and diving are at their best.
Autumn (September to November)
The sea is still pleasant and there are fewer people; keep an eye on forecasts and weather alerts before you go.
The climate varies a lot for such a small island: subtropical Mediterranean inland, semi-arid to desert on the coasts, with trade winds bringing cloud and fog to the north, says English Wikipedia. Hello Canary Islands speaks of a spring-like climate all year round. The water stays mild; check forecasts before booking.
By length of stay
What to do on El Hierro depending on how long you stay
The essentials
El Sabinar, a viewpoint over El Golfo, a natural pool and a fresh-fish dinner.
Lighthouse and lava
Orchilla lighthouse, the Pozo de las Calcosas and the lava landscapes, with a lunch of island produce.
At your own pace
A forest hike, diving in the marine reserve, the Poblado de Guinea and Los Letreros.
In pictures
El Hierro in pictures
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FAQ
Frequently asked questions about flights to El Hierro
How do I get to El Hierro?
In two steps: a flight to Tenerife or Gran Canaria, then a regional flight to VDE airport, or the ferry from Los Cristianos on Tenerife. Check connections before booking.
Which airport serves El Hierro?
El Hierro Airport, code VDE, at Los Cangrejos northeast of Valverde. It handles domestic flights from Tenerife North and Gran Canaria.
When is the best time to visit El Hierro?
All year round, with a spring-like climate. Winter and spring are greenest for hiking; summer suits natural pools and diving.
Can you swim on El Hierro?
Yes, mainly in natural pools, because there are few beaches. Respect the signs: waves and currents can be dangerous, especially in winter.
What is there to see on El Hierro?
El Sabinar, Orchilla lighthouse, the El Golfo valley and its viewpoints, the Pozo de las Calcosas, natural pools and the Poblado de Guinea.
What should I eat on El Hierro?
Fresh fish, papas arrugadas with mojo sauce, rabbit or kid, island cheese and quesadilla herreña for dessert.
How much does a trip to El Hierro usually cost?
The price depends mostly on your departure city, the period and the connection. The opportunities section above shows real examples of prices SniperAir has already detected to this destination, when there are any.
How do I get an alert when a flight to El Hierro drops below my budget?
Create an alert profile with your departure airport, the destination and your maximum budget. You are notified automatically as soon as a matching price is detected.
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