The Cabildo of La Palma and Sodepal have opened registrations for the eighteenth edition of the International Hiking and Mountain Festival, which will take place from September 18 to 20 with sixteen itineraries ranging from the Tajogaite volcano to the laurisilva forests.
Hiking enthusiasts have an unmissable date in La Palma starting today. The XVIII International Hiking and Mountain Festival of La Palma Island has opened its registrations, featuring a programme of sixteen guided routes that explore the island's most emblematic landscapes, from the Tajogaite volcano to the northern cliffs. The event, organised by Sodepal and the Cabildo, with the collaboration of the Santa Cruz de La Palma City Council, will be held from September 18 to 20.
Sixteen itineraries for all levels
The proposal includes routes of varying difficulty and duration. The longest and most demanding is “Volcanoes of Cumbre Vieja”, covering 20.5 kilometres along the GR-131 between El Pilar and Fuencaliente. At the opposite end, the shortest is “Camino de Fuente Banamas”, a 5.2-kilometre circuit in Puntallana that combines history and legends linked to water. In between, walkers can choose from routes through the Caldera de Taburiente, the Cubo de La Galga, the century-old coffee plantations, or a night route with astronomical observation among volcanoes.
The programme also includes an itinerary focused on the geothermal energy of Niquiomo and another that traverses the rural landscapes of Garafía, in the north of the island. According to the Cabildo's Economic Promotion Councillor and Sodepal's CEO, Miriam Perestelo, the festival “contributes to energising the local economy, promoting sustainable tourism, and showcasing the essence of the island through hiking and human exchange”.
An event that grows year after year
The festival, now in its eighteenth year, has established itself as one of the reference hiking events in the Canary Islands. The last edition gathered over 300 participants, according to Sodepal's data. The Sports Councillor, Yurguen Hernández, highlighted that the event demonstrates how physical activity can become a way to get to know the territory and promote healthy lifestyle habits.
The International Hiking and Mountain Festival is one of the initiatives that best reflects La Palma's identity as a tourist destination. It perfectly showcases the model that identifies us: one that values our natural spaces and energises the local economy
This was expressed by the president of the Cabildo of La Palma, Sergio Rodríguez, who emphasised the festival's value as a tourist and economic driver for the island.
How to register and practical information
Registrations are now open on the official festival website, walkingfestivallapalma.net, where you can also consult the technical details of each route: schedules, difficulty levels, starting and ending points. The festival is organised by Sodepal and the Cabildo of La Palma, with the collaboration of the Santa Cruz de La Palma City Council.
For residents of La Palma, this is an opportunity to rediscover corners of the island they may not know, such as the northern cliffs or the paths among coffee plantations. For visitors, it is a way to experience the island actively and sustainably, away from mass tourism. Spaces are limited, so it is advisable to hurry if you want to secure a spot on some of the most sought-after routes, such as the night one or the volcano route.
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