Magical island
El Hierro is the smallest island in the Canarian archipelago. But don’t let its size fool anyone... The scenery and the charming village of Valverde (which comes from the words meaning ‘green valley’), in the east of the island, offer more activities than you might imagine. The friendly islanders and unhurried atmosphere are also aspects you will encounter both in Valverde and in the rest of the island. Another thing to bear in mind is that, because of the size of the village, everything is nearby (except for the port).
Port of La Estaca
One of the peculiarities of Valverde is the fact that the port is not close to the village. Quite the contrary. It lies nearly 8.5 kilometres from the town. Valverde can be reached by bus, however. You can take either the number 07 or the 11. Both the journey up to the village from the port and the return trip down to the port from the village takes over 20-25 minutes. The port has a ferry terminal, a waiting room and bathrooms. A visit to the little shrine of San Telmo is also recommended.
Walk around the chapel of Santiago
The best idea is to go to Valverde. Since time is limited, we advise you to stay around the area of the chapel of Santiago. This small church was built in the 17th century (and replaced a previous one). Around it are two parks. In one of them, a street market is held every Saturday morning. To visit it, get off at the stop by the park. Take a little time to see the small park and then go down the street called Calle La Lajita until you reach the chapel.
Route around the centre of Valverde
After finishing our tour, we can head off for a walk round the town centre. Here, we can take the opportunity to do some shopping before leaving, as well as taking some refreshment in the bars and restaurants. To do this, go back down Calle La Lajita, turn left and continue straight on down Calle de la Constitución, until coming to the centre of the village of Valverde. This is the best area for doing some shopping before returning to the port.
Bus station
We are out of time now. All that remains is to take a bus to the port. To reach the station from the centre of Valverde, go along Calle de San Francisco as far as the beginning of Calle Juan de Tamaduste (the BBVA bank in this area serves as a reference). Enter via an alleyway (which is still Calle de San Francisco) and then go up the steps. Cross the road and carry straight on along Calle Azofa. At the first crossroads, turn right to reach the bus station.