Las Casas offers two distinctive starting points for a stay in rural El Pinar: the Fiesta de la Cruz and Stage 5 of the Camino Natural, which passes through the village. The cultural programme and the route answer different questions; check the festival dates for your year of travel and the trail access notices before setting out on a hike.

Fiesta de la Cruz: procession and tradition

The Fiesta de la Cruz in El Pinar is protected as a Bien de Interés Cultural (BIC) in the category of local traditional knowledge and local traditional activities. The Fiestas de La Cruz culminate on 3 May with the procession of the crosses of Las Casas and Taibique through the streets of El Pinar. In Las Casas, the procession stops at the church; afterwards, the procession accompanies the cross of Las Casas back to the place where it is decorated.

The crosses are designed and decorated by unmarried women. A 2018 account mentions only the decorated crosses of Taibique and Las Casas. The festival tradition also includes the Meda, a traditional herreño agricultural song: accompanied by a drum and pipe, verses are traded in an improvised contest to produce the best and wittiest improvisation. The 2018 account also notes that everyone who wishes to may take part in the dancing and music-making. Check the dates and programme for the year of your visit.

Stage 5 through Las Casas

Stage 5, “El Pinar – Las Casas – Las Playas,” passes through Las Casas. There, it follows the waymarkers along various streets to the cultivated fields south of the village. The stage also reaches the upper area of the Las Playas Natural Monument (Monumento Natural de Las Playas), at an elevation of around 900 metres above sea level. During the descent, the stage offers views of the coast and the natural monument.

An important caveat for planning your hike: some sections may be inaccessible because the route does not meet the required maintenance standards. Check the latest trail access notice before setting out. This will help you understand the route through Las Casas and the described landscape sections without treating the route description as a guarantee that the trail is passable.

Rural landscape of El Pinar

Las Casas is one of the rural settlements of El Pinar and lies within its rural landscape. This includes small cultivated plots with fig and almond trees, extensive pine forests and, at lower elevations, volcanic malpaís landscapes. Traditional life in El Pinar is based on agriculture, livestock farming and crafts. The streets of Las Casas also invite you to explore the rural surroundings of El Pinar.

Accommodation in a rural setting

Many houses in El Pinar have been carefully restored and converted into rural accommodation. Check the availability of your chosen accommodation for your travel dates.

Discover more destinations: La Restinga

Return to the main travel overview: El Pinar De El Hierro.