Car Hire in El Hierro

About El Hierro

El Hierro is the smallest and most southerly of the Canary Islands and the youngest. It has an area of 431 square kilometres (about 166 square miles) and a population of 10,000. There are three towns on El Hierro: Valverde, the capital, Frontera and La Restinga. The coast has many volcanic formations.

The history of El Hierro is like that of the other Canary Islands. There was a prehistoric settlement from around 2000 BC, and around 100 AD there was a Phoenician-Punic culture. The island then became Carthaginian, Greek and finally Roman again. In the 8th century, after the Moorish conquest, El Hierro had to endure tribal wars and Moorish raids.

Basic info and car hire in El Hierro

• Location: Canary Islands
• Population: 11.154 (2019)
• Official language: Spanish
• Currency: Euro (€) 
• Weather: El Hierro is one of the wettest Canary Islands with an annual rainfall of more than 3500 mm. The rainfall in La Frontera, the capital, is between 1,500 and 2,000 mm. Rainfall on El Hierro shows a bimodal pattern: there are two maxima throughout the year, in spring and autumn, and a minimum in summer. In autumn, when hurricanes or tropical storms move from Africa to Europe, precipitation is at its highest. 
• Internet coverage: Most hotels, bars, restaurants and cafés offer Wi-Fi.
• Road conditions:  Road conditions in El Hierro are in general very good and well maintained.
• Car hire in El Hierro: The most common pick-up point for vehicles in El Hierro is at the airport. There are many different car rental companies available and they all offer competitive prices, so it's best to book a car three or eight weeks ahead of time - this will ensure you get an affordable rate!

 Driving in El Hierro

Driving on El Hierro is not for the faint-hearted, as the roads are unsystematic and lack signage. There are only two main roads, but they are not well signposted and local drivers are likely to take you in the wrong direction. Many roads in Valverde and San Andres have no names or numbers and most roads are single lanes. Slow down and be prepared to stop frequently to wait for oncoming traffic, as the road is often just enough for two cars.

It takes about 60 minutes to drive around the island without stopping. There is an excellent bus service that you can board in any of the major towns. The most popular tourist destination is the Mirador del Río.

There is a zero drink-driving policy in El Hierro. The maximum alcohol level in the blood can be 0.05% (BAC) which is lower than in the UK. And the police do have regular checks so it's good to keep in mind. 

• Age limits: The minimum age to hire a car in El Hierro is 21 years of age. The driver must also have held the license for a minimum of 1 year. 
• International Driving Permit: If you have a driving license outside the EU and UK, you will need International Driving Permit. 
• Additional papers: Identification(passport), a valid driving licence, and valid proof of insurance. (It is advisable to buy insurance with Orbit Car Hire in case your policy doesn't cover you while driving in El Hierro) 
• Additional requirements: Warning triangle. First aid kit (not compulsory, but we strongly recommend you have it with you, just in case).
• Children in the car: All occupants must wear seat belts. Children under 18KG in weight must be in child seats and those who are 135CM tall or shorter should stay behind the driver on a booster cushion for safety's sake!
• Driving side of the road: Right Side. 
• Lights:  When it rains and during nighttime.
• General speed limits: 100km/h on motorways and 40km/h in residential areas. 
• Parking suggestions: 

What to see in El Hierro

The island of El Hierro is the smallest of all the Canary Islands and is known for its ecological value. Everywhere on the island, you can see unique plants that exist nowhere else in the world, such as the "Romero de las Indias" (Erio moschata).

The island has several white-sand beaches, like "Las Salinas" in the south of the island or "Playa de la Laja" in Valverde. Moreover, many people come to El Hierro to practise sports such as snorkelling and diving thanks to the beautiful coasts.

The island is a tourist destination, but it has kept its "Canarian" authenticity. Therefore, the people who live there are incredibly friendly and you will easily be able to get in touch with them.

Places like Valverde, the town of Morro Jable, are very touristy areas of the island because of their restaurants and hotels.

Another great thing about El Hierro is that there is a lot of cultural heritage, like the windmills in Frontera or the Celtic cave paintings in Boca de Jaruco.

Where to eat, drink, and party in El Hierro

El Hierro, the smallest of the Canary Islands, is not known for its gastronomy. Its cuisine is based on seasonal products and traditional recipes that have been passed down from generation to generation. The island has just over 10,000 inhabitants who live from agriculture, fishing and tourism. It is worth mentioning that it is one of the few places in Europe where you can still eat wild boar and mountain goat.