VOLCANOES AND CLOUDFOREST OF LA PALMA

Transcription

1 HOLIDAY CODE LPW Beautiful cloud-forests and dramatic volcanic landscapes on this walking holiday to La Palma in the Canary Islands Walk the superb Ruta de los Volcanes and up into magnificent cloudforests Explore the charming capital of Santa Cruz and hike up Roque de Los Muchachos Visit Winston Churchill's favourite tobacco plantation and Fuencaliente saltpans Spectacular volcanic scenery in the The Caldera de Taburiente National Park Spain, Canary Islands, Trek & Walk, 8 Days 7 nights apartment, 7 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 7 dinners, max group size: 14, 6 days walking and sightseeing, max. altitude metres VIEW DATES, PRICES & BOOK YOUR HOLIDAY HERE

2 PAGE 2 Introduction Home to cloud forest, towering pines, hidden deserts, quaint architecture and an incredible volcanic landscape, the island of La Palma is known as La Isla Bonita the Pretty Island. The greenest of the Canaries, La Palma is perfect for walkers who are looking for timeless villages, whitewashed towns, dramatic volcanoes and rich forest which the island is famed for. During this centre-based walking holiday we stay in traditional apartments with a relaxing garden, pool and terrace. La Palma sits in the Atlantic Ocean with views across to its neighbouring islands and is a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve due to a wide diversity of flora and fauna. Walking holiday highlights include the Parque Nacional de la Caldera de Taburiente home to an incredible volcanic cauldron, Roque de Los Muchachos (2426m) the highest point on the island, the Taburiente National Park, a visit to Winston Churchill s favourite cigar farm, strolls out to lighthouses and salt farms plus time to explore the picturesque capital of Santa Cruz. The La Palma Traditional Apartment Experience A highlight of the La Palma walking holiday experience is the family-run accommodation. During the week we stay in light and airy traditional apartments surrounded by a shady Canarian garden and pool. Each studio is spacious with a bathroom, living room area and kitchen facilities plus a large balcony or terrace. Using this style of accommodation ensures a more spacious style of accommodation and if you decide to take a day off walking, you have a lot more than just a hotel room to relax in. The accommodation is located in a peaceful area and the garden has views of the sea. Is this holiday for you? This excellent holiday is centre-based and includes a variety of walks which follow a mix of rural tracks between villages, smaller footpaths and forest trails. The majority of the trails we use are well-maintained, but you may encounter sections of loose rock and volcanic terrain which can be muddy or slippery in wet weather. Walking days are between 4-6 hours with regular ascents and descents meaning this holiday is perfect for regular, active walkers. La Palma is a volcanic island and hilly so we've planned a number of the days to include more downhill than uphill. The holiday is centre-based so each day you can opt in or out of the walk and enjoy a relaxing day at the accommodation if you decide to have a day off walking. Due to the high trails and occasional narrow paths we don t feel this holiday is suitable for vertigo sufferers. Holiday Itinerary Day 1: Meet at the group accommodation in Brena Alta. Meet at the group accommodation in Brena Alta. After arriving at La Palma Airport you'll need to take a taxi to the group accommodation which is a short 15min ride away and costs a maximum of 20 euro. Our wonderful apartment accommodation for the week is in a quiet area with views of the mountains and the sea. With a traditional garden and pool in relaxing surroundings it's the perfect place to unwind after a day of walking. If you want to stroll down to the nearest beach, Los Cancajos is an attractive 25min walk away. In the evening and after settling in we'll meet up for dinner. MEALS D Day 2: The Caldera de Taburiente National Park and gorge of Las Angustias We start the walking week with a major highlight on the island, the Caldera de Taburiente National Park. After breakfast we take a short transfer (30mins) to the start of the national park before boarding 4 WD vehicles for a further 20mins. We leave the vehicles at Mirador de Los Brecitos, the most famous viewpoint in the park which

3 PAGE 3 gives us a wonderful panorama of the park and towards the mountain of Pico Bejenado (1844m). The peak is not the highest on the island but because of its solitary location it often gets called the only mountain on the island and has a remarkable north face which drops down into the crater by an impressive 900m. The Caldera de Taburiente National Park was declared a national park in 1954 and contains the incredible Caldera de Taburiente. At an impressive 10km across, the caldera has walls that tower over 2000m. Today's walk is mainly downhill and after leaving the mirador we follow a hidden path through rich pine forest. The trail is good underfoot but can be narrow in places. The footpath snakes through forest and we are now on the slopes of the caldera surrounded by excellent views. Our descent of 6kms brings us initially down to a secluded camping area in the middle of the national park. There is an information centre here which has details of walks in the park and its natural resources. Next we follow the Barranco de Las Angustias, a wonderful gorge which brings us all the way down to the park's entrance. A brief transfer of 30min has us back at our accommodation after an excellent first day of walking. DESCENT 900M ASCENT 100M TIME 5 HOURS WALKING HOURS DISTANCE 13KM Day 3: The springs, waterfalls and water channels of Marcos y Cordero. Today we are guaranteed a refreshing shower as we walk and follow canals and water channels to the springs of Marcos y Cordero. After breakfast we start with a drive of approximately 30 mins to the Los Tilos Visitor Centre in the north of the island and the municipality of San Andrés y Sauces which is situated 14km north of the capital Santa Cruz.. This unique area was declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1983 and in 2002 the reserve was extended to include the whole island. Next we take a 4WD taxi (20 mins) to Casa del Monte and the start of our walk. The footpath we follow today runs parallel to a superb water channel which collects water from springs and flows along the crater of Marcos y Cordero. The walking trail is good underfoot as it descends steeply through an almost tropical landscape filled with rich ferns and lush laurel trees. This enchanted landscape makes you feel as if you are in a rain forest and holds one of the most important laurel forests in the Canary Island archipelago. This ecosystem is home to some of the islands most important flora including giant ferns. We can also look out for the colourful Bolle's Pigeon and White-tailed Laurel Pigeon which are both endemic to the Canary Islands. At the end of the walk we'll transfer (60 mins) back to our accommodation. DESCENT 1000M ASCENT 100M TIME 5 HOURS WALKING HOURS DISTANCE 13KM Day 4: San Antonio and Teneguia volcanoes plus tobacco plantations and salt farms. This morning we drive towards the south of the island and along the way we'll stop off and visit the only tobacco farm on the island. Over 300 years ago tobacco seeds were brought across from Cuba and the plant is still farmed in exactly the same way. Winston Churchiill was a huge fan of the cigars guaranteeing La Palma the status of one the most exclusive islands in the world for cigars. After learning the art of cigar rolling we head to Fuencaliente, the most southern municipality on the island. Here there will be time to visit the visitor's centre of Los Volcanes the perfect place to discover the history of volcanism on La Palma. Next we set off on footpaths and explore the two nearby volcanoes of San Antonio and Teneguia, the youngest volcanoes of the Canary Islands. We'll walk from the visitors centre on a lovely walk that takes us down to a lighthouse on the coast before visiting the salt farm of Fuencaliente. The saltpans of Fuencaliente are built on one of the most charming corners of the island and represent the efforts of the Hernández Villalba family who ensured the survival of traditional salt production.

4 PAGE 4 ASCENT 200M DISTANCE 7KM DESCENT 500M TIME 3 HOURS WALKING HOURS Day 5: A spectacular day walking the famed Ruta de los Volcanes. After breakfast we start with a brief 20min transfer to the refuge of El Pilar. Situated between the Cumbre Nueva and Cumbre Vieja mountain ranges, the refugio is hidden in the heart of a pine forest and is located almost in the centre of the island. As we leave the vehicle we are now at the foot of Pico Birigoyo (1,811 metres). This perfectly conical volcano has no history of eruptions and no known crater. El Pilar is one of the oldest recreational areas on the island and is very popular among local families over the weekends and is the starting point for the famous Volcano Route. After leaving El Pilar we head south and today's walk takes us over the lava fields scattered with volcanic craters and rich pine forest. Although the majority of the footpath leads us downhill today, it is good underfoot and an easy descent. Plus starting up high ensures we don't spend a full day ascending. This mountain range is called "cumber vieja" (old peak) which is quite ironic as these mountains are some of the youngest on the island. Fingers crossed the weather is clear as on a good day we'll be able to see the neighboring islands of Tenerife, La Gonera and El Hierro. DESCENT 1000M ASCENT 800M TIME 6 HOURS WALKING HOURS DISTANCE 18KM Day 6: Explore the charming centre and architecture of Santa Cruz. Today we take a break from walking and actively explore Santa Cruz the capital of La Palma. Home to pretty buildings with carved wooden balconies which overlook cobbled streets, Santa Cruz is a little gem of a town with a compact centre and green hilly backdrop. The city also has a kilometre long promenade and extravagant churches making it a great pace to wander and explore. The church of Iglesia del Salvador may look unimpressive from the outside but it has a superb interior and one of the best Mudejar wooden ceilings in the Canaries. The Calle Real runs parallel to the coast and houses polished cobblestone streets and beautiful houses which tell the history of island's capital. Today the street is the main meeting place for the local people of La Palma but in the past wealthy Spanish, Portuguese, Flemish and Genoese families built their residences here between the XVI and XVIII centuries. These elaborate buildings with their open hallways, attractive doorknockers and large windows represented past civil and religious powers. The ancient Avenida Marítima passes alongside the ocean and is one of the most photographed streets with its row of balconies and green shutters. La Palma has many plazas where secluded footpaths hide a shrine or a fountain. Plaza de España is where you'll find the town hall and the parish church of El Salvador. Day 7: Hiking the crest of the Caldera de Taburiente. Today we drive to the highest point of the island the Roque de Los Muchachos (2426m). This is the start of our descent to Pico de Las Nieves, meaning we'll be walking on the on the crest of the Caldera de Taburiente which is an unforgettable experience as we're surrounded by wonderful views. Today's walk takes us through a rich variety of scenery and is the perfect way to end the week. Tonight we'll round off the week with a final group dinner and celebrate a great week of walking on La Palma.

5 PAGE 5 ASCENT 560M DISTANCE 18KM DESCENT 1500M TIME 6 HOURS WALKING HOURS Day 8: Departure day. Depending on your departure time there may be time to enjoy a final walk in the local surroundings or relax by the pool. KE Land Only package ends after breakfast. The leader can assist in arranging a taxi for your return transfer. The drive time is around 15 minutes and the cost a maximum of 25 Euros. MEALS B Holiday Information What's Included Professional local leader All accommodation as described in the trip notes All meals from dinner on Day 1 to breakfast on Day 8 All land transport involved in the itinerary What's Not Included Travel insurance Tips for support staff and guide Miscellaneous expenses drinks souvenirs etc Airport transfers Meal Plan All meals are included in the holiday price from dinner on day 1 to breakfast on day 8. Food Breakfasts each day will be more of a continental style, consisting of tea and coffee, bread, toast, butter, jam, honey and fruit juice. Lunches will be picnic style which we ll carry with us to enjoy during the day. During evenings we'll eat in local eateries and the evening meal is a social affair on La Palma. Some restaurants offer a fixed menu of 2 or 3 courses whilst others offer a tapas style menu. Tapas is a great way of sampling different local dishes and as a group we ll order a selection of items that we ll share. La Palma produces its own wine and the island has an excellent selection of local wines with the most popular being Malvasia. Originally a honey coloured medium to sweet variety which was highly praised by William Shakespeare today the grape produces a variety of quality white, red and rose wines from very sweet to very dry so something for everyone. Worth sampling is the ron miel or local honey rum served over ice and don t forget summer Sangria is widely available. Joining Arrangements & Transfers Due to the close proximity of the airport, wide range of flights arriving and ease of using public transport, airport transfers are not included in the holiday price. We recommend that you take a taxi from La Palma Airport to the

6 PAGE 6 apartments. The taxi rank is located directly outside the arrivals hall and the journey takes approximately 10 to 15 minutes and costs around 25 euros. The apartments are a more "independent" style of accommodation so please inform the KE office of your flight and arrival time which we'll pass onto the leader. Accommodation check-in on Day 1 is possible from 1pm and check-out on Day 8 is 11am. Luggage can be stored at the apartments if you are leaving later and the pool can be used until your departure time. During the week the KE leader can assist you in reserving a taxi for your departure transfer to the airport. Accommodation During this centre-based holiday we stay in traditional apartments set in a Canarian garden with a pool. The relaxing family run accommodation is small and friendly with only 8 apartments. Each twin en-suite apartment has a good sized terrace and kitchen facilities, perfect for enjoying a pre-dinner drink. Apartments are on a twin-share basis. If you are travelling by yourself you will be paired up with another single client of the same sex. Please contact the KE office for single supplement costs and availability. Group Leader & Support Staff The group will be accompanied throughout the holiday by a local tour leader. Spending Money Approximately Euros should be sufficient for miscellaneous expenses, including a reasonable amount of wine with meals. If you are intending to buy souvenirs you should budget accordingly. ATMs are available at the airport and in Santa Cruz. Credit cards can be used on the island. Free KE Gift We give you a free gift as a way to thank all our clients who book a KE holiday. Choose from KE T-shirts, buffs, KE trek bags* (where available) plus many more. Alternatively you can choose to make a 10 donation to the Juniper Trust Charity. You can make your selection in your My KE account after booking. Baggage Allowance For this holiday you should take one piece of luggage and a daypack. Luggage with wheels is useful for this holiday. For international flights please check your baggage allowance with your airline. Group Size & Holiday Status For each holiday there is a minimum number of participants required to enable it to go ahead. Once the minimum number is reached, the trip status will change from 'Available' to 'Guaranteed to run'. You can check the trip status for each departure in Dates and Prices table. Other than in exceptional circumstances, we will not cancel a trip once it has achieved this guaranteed to run status and so you are free to proceed with your international flight booking and other travel arrangements. Recommended Outdoor Retailers Many of the Equipment items listed above are available from Cotswold Outdoor - our 'Official Recommended Outdoor Retailer'. When you book a holiday with KE you will receive 15% discount voucher from Cotswold Outdoor and other retailers. >> Find out more

7 PAGE 7 General Information Passport & Visas A passport with 6 months remaining validity at the end of your stay is generally required for visits to countries outside the EU. The information that we provide is for UK passport holders. Please check the relevant embassy or consulate for other nationalities. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have the correct travel documents and visas for your holiday. Visa requirements and charges are subject to change without notice. If you are travelling outside the EU you should have at least 2 blank pages in your passport for each country that you visit. Electricity Supply & Plug We recommend you check if you require an adaptor for your electrical items at: Preparing For Your Holiday This is a moderately-paced walking holiday which includes a fair amount of ascent and descent and it makes a lot of sense to spend some time before coming on any active holiday, getting some additional exercise. The fitter you are the more enjoyable you will find the holiday. While regular hiking is the best preparation, any weekly form of exercise (running, cycling and swimming) is good for developing cardio-vascular fitness. Before setting off we recommend that you make time to fit in a number of 5 6 hour walks in the hills. Travel Aware As a reputable tour operator, KE supports the British Foreign & Commonwealth Offices' Travel Aware campaign to enable British citizens to prepare for their journeys overseas. The 'Travel Aware' website provides a single, authoritative source of advice for all kinds of travellers and we recommend that prior to travel, all KE clients visit the official UK Government website at travelaware.campaign.gov.uk and read the FCO Travel Advice for their chosen destination. North Americans can also check out the U.S. Department of State website: for essential travel advice and tips. KE treat the safety and security of all clients as the most important aspect of any trip we organise. We would not run any trip that we did not consider reasonably safe. Should the FCO advise against travel for any reason, we will contact everyone booked to travel to discuss the situation. We receive regular updates direct from the FCO and are in constant touch with our contacts on the ground. If you have any questions about government travel advice, please call our office. Climate The islands of the Canaries are a year-round holiday destination with what is often described as eternal spring conditions with temperatures ranging between 16 in the winter to 25 in the summer. La Palma has its own microclimate with the north being slightly cloudier whilst the south is drier and warmer. During the period from September to March, we can expect daytime temperatures ranging from 16 to 24 degrees Centigrade, becoming progressively cooler as we gain height in the mountains. When walking in the forests temperatures can be even lower than this so some warmer clothing than traditionally required for the Canary Islands is appropriate for this holiday. In April and May it will be a few degrees warmer than the above figures but still pleasant for walking in the mountains. Evenings can be chilly so you should remember to bring a few warmer items of clothing. Books Bananas about La Palma - David M. Addison

8 PAGE 8 Canary Islands - Lonely Planet Sandwiches in the Sun: The Extrodinary Truth about Life on a Spanish Island - Chris Herman Lanzarote & Fuerteventura Pocket Guide - Berlitz Pocket Guides Flight Information Flight Inclusive Or Land Only? On our website we display a UK Flight inclusive package price and Land only package price for the majority of our holidays. Land Only Notes We sell this holiday on a Land Only basis and recommend that you book your flights to Santa Cruz La Palma Airport. Please refer to Joining Arrangements and Transfers for further details. You SHOULD NOT book your flights until you have received your booking confirmation and the departure is showing 'Guaranteed to Run' or 'Limited'. If flying from the UK, TUI Airways have direct flights from Gatwick & Manchester. If you would prefer to book a 'flight inclusive package' using scheduled airlines from the UK please contact our flights department for a quote. Whilst flight prices are likely to be more expensive you will benefit from full financial protection. Why Choose KE Adventure Travel? Why Choose KE Adventure Travel? Experience KE has 34 years experience of adventure travel worldwide. All of our holidays are accompanied by an experienced leader, some of whom have worked with KE groups for many years. Many are professional guides and instructors with an unrivalled knowledge of the areas in which they work. In many parts of the world, we recruit local guides with appropriate training and experience. In addition to having the technical skills to ensure your safety, KE expects its leaders to be active members of the group. A leader should be fun to travel with and ready to share with you their enthusiasm for adventure travel and their knowledge of the area. Alongside the group leader, there will be a local support crew, which could be just a driver, or a complete team of guides, drivers, porters, muleherders and cooks. The hard work of our support crews, along with the fascinating insight they can offer into their local culture, is integral to providing you with the very best adventure travel experience. The team of KE office staff is amongst the most experienced in the business, with the proven ability to set up and operate a worldwide programme of adventures. Every one has adventure travel at heart and joins at least one trip a year. It is this depth of experience that makes KE stand out from other adventure travel operators. When you contact KE, by phone or , or visit our office, you will find the help and advice you need, from someone who has actually done the trip and can give you the benefit of their first-hand experience. KE can guarantee the very best in trek support, excellent food, a good standard of hotel and camp accommodation, plus the back up of one of the most respected companies in the business. Client satisfaction is at

9 PAGE 9 the top of our agenda and almost 50% of our bookings each year come from repeat business. If you are looking for adventure then look no further than KE. RESPONSIBLE TOURISM AND AWARDS Responsible Tourism has always fitted naturally with KEs travel ethic. It is important to us that our clients are not the only beneficiaries of the travel experience, but that we share a two-way relationship with the areas that we visit. We make sure that our local staff are well treated and well paid, we respect indigenous cultures, take care to protect the environment and make the most of every opportunity to make a positive contribution wherever we travel. In addition to holding an AITO 5-star Sustainable Tourism rating, we are recipients of AITO s Achievement in Sustainable Tourism Award in recognition of the work carried out over the past 20 years, giving back to the communities and areas we visit. We have been awarded Highly Commended status in the Best Tour Operator category of the Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards, and were named Best Trekking Operator on Earth by National Geographic Magazine, whose criteria included commitment to responsible tourism. We continue to travel responsibly, and more information on our policy, practice, and specific projects can be found at and on the website of our partner charity the Juniper Trust: KEs Mountain Code is issued to our staff, trek leaders and overseas agents, and we recommend it to our clients, too! Your Complete Financial Protection KE Adventure Travel is a fully licensed and bonded tour operator. We are a member of the Association of Independent Tour Operators (AITO), bonded with the CAA (ATOL 2808) and ABTA licensed (W4341). You can book your trip with KE Adventure Travel in complete confidence that all monies you pay for a trip are fully protected. BOOKING YOUR HOLIDAY Making a Booking The easiest way to make your booking is online. You will need to pay a deposit at the time of booking. This is normally 200 but for some holidays with special permit fees or internal flights, this may be more. The amount of deposit required for an individual holiday is given on the dates and prices page of the holiday. Late bookings will require full payment. We cannot confirm any booking until we receive your fully completed booking form. Adventure Travel Insurance IMPORTANT - It is a condition of joining any of our trips that you are insured against medical and personal accident risks (to include repatriation costs, air ambulance and helicopter rescue services). We also strongly recommend that you take out holiday cancellation insurance, as all deposits paid are non-refundable. Please ensure that your insurer is aware of your KE Adventure itinerary and can agree to cover the activities being undertaken. You will then need to advise us of your policy details and complete an Insurance Declaration Form. CAMPBELL IRVINE DIRECT travel insurance is available to EU residents and will cover the majority of KE Adventure holidays. It has been designed to provide cover for activities normally excluded by other insurers such as trekking, mountain biking and climbing. Please note that certain activities may attract a higher premium. In addition Campbell Irvine Direct cannot provide cover for KE climbing trips above 6000m. Cover for these can be obtained through either the British Mountaineering Council (BMC) or Snowcard. TRAVELEX is a USA based insurer offering travel insurance, which can be used by US citizens and US residents only. KE recommends the "Travelex Select" package for our holidays. If your holiday involves using mountaineering

10 PAGE 10 equipment (ropes, harness or crampons), for climbing or glacial travel, you should consider the "Adventure Plus Pak" optional upgrade on the Travelex Select Plan. Please refer to the 'Description of Coverage' for a summary of the terms, conditions, exclusions and limitations of the applicable Protection Plan. This policy will also cover KE climbing trips above 6000m. We hope that this trip notes has answered most of your questions. Please feel free to contact us and speak to one of our experts.

11 PAGE 11 Equipment List The following checklist should help you with your packing. As a general rule, you should always try to keep the weight of your equipment to a minimum. Please be aware that you will be required to carry your bag to your room which in some cases may involve flights of stairs. Although this is the Canary Islands it can be quite chilly in the evening so it's a good idea to bring some warm clothing. You Should Bring The Following Items: Hiking boots (these should be sturdy with a good tread on the sole and with ankle support) Socks Walking trousers Lightweight waterproof overtrousers Underwear T-shirts and/or casual shirts Fleece jacket or similar Waterproof jacket Lightweight thermal gloves Warm hat Sunhat Swimwear Eyewear - sunglasses Daypack c litres Sun protection (including for lips) Water bottles 1 Litre (x2) Washbag and toiletries Antibacterial handwash Basic First Aid Kit including: Antiseptic cream, throat lozenges, diarrhoea treatment (Imodium), painkillers, plasters (band-aids) and blister treatment, insect repellent, and re-hydration salts (Dioralite).?The Following Items Are Optional: Trekking poles (highly recommended) Trainers or sandals Shorts Camera and batteries Penknife (for picnic lunches) Please note: This document was downloaded on 16 Aug 2018, and the trip is subject to change.