Trekking in the Canary Islands : The GR131 island-hopping route

Experience the ultimate island-hopping adventure on the celebrated GR131, a 560km (348 mile) long-distance trail traversing the dramatic volcanic landscapes of the Canary Islands.Linking Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Tenerife, La Gomera, La Palma, and El Hierro, this epic month-long trek reveals the archipelago’s wild scenery, from lava fields to cloud forests. For those seeking shorter escapes, the GR131 can be tackled in sections or on individual islands, with flexible itineraries to suit every trekker’s ambitions. Ideal for walkers with a taste for discovery and remote adventure, this comprehensive Cicerone guide describes the GR131 in 32 graded stages (7–30km each), beginning at Órzola on Lanzarote and culminating at the legendary ‘edge of the world’, the remote Embarcadero de Orchilla on El Hierro. An optional ascent of El Teide, Spain’s highest peak, offers an unforgettable highlight on Tenerife. Follow the GR131 route across the Canary Islands along quiet roads, historic mule tracks, and waymarked paths, linking traditional villages and vibrant towns, while scaling the highest ground on each island. Plan your Canary Islands trek for the ideal season, with guidance on local weather and trail conditions showing why March to May is best for wildflowers and comfortable walking temperatures. Benefit from clear stage gradings and descriptions, reliable waymarking, and daily information boxes that cover start and finish points, distances, walking times, elevation changes, terrain, and available facilities along the GR131 in the Canary Islands. Find practical advice on accommodation throughout the Canary Islands, from village pensiones and rural guesthouses to refuges and hotels, plus comprehensive notes on services, shops, bar-restaurants, water sources, and public transport for every stage.The guide also includes information on ferry transfers and local buses for seamless logistics between the islands. Navigate the GR131 across the Canary Islands with confidence using clear 1:50,000 mapping, downloadable GPX files, and step-by-step route descriptions provided for each stage. Expand your knowledge of the Canary Islands with sections on geology, history, flora and fauna, travel, language, money, food, and the unique culture of the archipelago. Plan your island-hopping trek with confidence using the definitive Cicerone guidebook, and immerse yourself in the striking natural beauty, history, and diversity of the Canary Islands’ GR131, Europe’s trail to the edge of the world.