MUSEUMS OF EL HIERRO
Museums of El Hierro are quite small and therefore, they are more for those travellers who are not the first time on El Hierro, or who has some specific interests in nature, culture or anthropology.
If you decide to visit all the museums, then we would recommend you to buy the El Hierro passport. It is a pretty little paperbook for 17,95€ that allows you to enter all places of interests on the island whenever you want (it has no expiration date) and as many times as you want. In each place you get a stamp for visiting.
Cultural Park El Julan
EL Julan is a centre near ancient engravings of first inhabitants of the island - a tribe called Bimbache. They used to live on the island before the Spanish conquest. In the centre you’ll learn about their culture and their connection to Guanches from Tenerife. You also will be able to see the vestiges and some household staff left from that times.
Website: www.meridianosau.es
Address: Carretera general de El Julan (HI-400), without number, El Pinar
Tel.: +34 922 558 423
Mon - Sun/ 8 am - 4 pm
Ethnographic Center Casa de las Quinteras
This museum exhibits different ethnographic pieces of the island such as blacksmithing and looms, textile crafts, things made from wood and clay. The museum also has a store that promotes artisan production on the island.
Website: www.meridianosau.es
Address: Calle Armas Martel, without number, Valverde
Tel.: +34 922 552 026
Mon - Sat / 10 am - 6 pm
Ecomuseum of Guinea
This centre offers you several exhibitions.
The first one is Lagartorio. It is about a giant lizard of El Hierro that is endemic to the island. These species are currently in danger of extinction. That’s why you’ll see the breeding station. Remember, that giant lizard is one of the symbols of El Hierro.
Another one is Ecomuseum itself. A journey into a settlement of Bimbache. This tribe used to make homes in volcanic tubes that protected them. On exhibition you’ll see how it looked like as some of the ancient houses were preserved.
Address: Carretera General de Las Puntas, withount number, Las Puntas
Tel.: +34 922 55 50 56
El Garoe Interpretation Centre
In this centre there is a possibility to learn more about processes of water consumption and distillation by El Garoe tree as well as get more into the phenomen of horizontal rain.
Centre of the Biosphere Reserve
This centre was built after the island was granted the status of Biosphere Reserve. Inside you will find an interactive exhibition that will explain you reasons for which why nature of El Hierro is so valuable.
Website: www.meridianosau.es
Address: Antiguo Casino de Isora, Calle Ferinto, 32
Tel.: +34 922 55 41 09
All days / 10 am - 6 pm
Geological centre
This interpretation center shows us through its panels, how the formation and geological stages of the island have been developed.
Website: www.meridianosau.es
Address: Calle Traversio del Pino, 5, Taibique
Tel.: +34 922 55 84 23
Tue - Sun / 10 am - 6 pm
Website: www.meridianosau.es
Address: Sendero Pre H-11 Km 8, Carr. Autovìa, San Andrès
Tel.: +34 922 55 41 09
All days / 10 am - 6 pm
Volcanological Centre
This interpretation center is located on the southern head of the island, surrounded by volcanoes and different types of lava. It consists of two buildings, in which it is shown visually and through digital screens how and what is the evolution of volcanoes.
Through a small interpretive path, you access the second building where we observe how the events of the last volcanic eruption on the island, in 2011, were experienced.
Website: www.meridianosau.es
Address: HI-4, 8, El Pinar
Tel.: +34 922 55 41 09
Tue - Sun / 10 am - 6 pm
OTHER...
Orchilla Lighthouse
Ferro Meridian
Near Orchilla lighthouse you will find the monument to Ferro (name of El Hierro) Meridian. From the 1634, the longitude that runs through the island was considered to be the most western position of the Old World and therefore, the zero meridian. From 1884 the name "zero meridian" belongs to the Greenwich one, but, nevertheless, it is a bit of a history that you can touch.
A picturesque lighthouse that was first lit in 1933 and works until nowadays. The name was given to it because of Orchil lichen that grows on the rocks nearby. It is not only a historical place, but also a great site to enjoy sunset. If you are more adventurous, you can enjoy view to the lighthouse from water while having a boat trip.
Pozo de la Salud
Pozo de la Salud is translated as the well of health. It was drilled in the beginning of the 18th century in the basaltic rocks and soon was discovered that it has a healing effect. It was approved by doctor Leandro Pérez and now it is even being exported sometimes to other countries.
In the middle of 20th century, retired military engineer José Rodrigo-Vallabriga Brito built a spa near the well. Unfortunately, it became abandoned after the death of its founder, but now that still works.
Restaurant made by Cesar Manrique
Nuestra Señora de los Reyes Sanctuary
In the middle of the natural area known as "La Dehesa" you will find a white building that is a temple of El Hierro’s patron Virgen de los Reyes, figure of whom you’ll find inside. This figure was given to herreños in 1546 by American ship that was saved by local shepherds.
El Mirador de La Peña is both a viewpoint and a restaurant made by famous in Canary Islands architecture César Manrique. It is located at about 700 m above the Ocean and in 2001 it was declared a Site of Cultural Interest by the Canary Islands Government.