La Restinga

Introducing La Restinga

Quickly becoming El Hierro’s tourist hot spot, the once-sleepy fishing village of La Restinga is now a busy resort thanks to the dozens of scuba-diving outfitters that have set up shop here. All take advantage of the underwater marvels provided by the Mar de las Calmas (Sea of Calm), the warm, still waters that surround the island’s southwestern shore. For nondivers, there are two volcanic beaches right on the port, where the ocean is as still as bath water, if none too clean. The town itself is a hodgepodge of apartment buildings, with several good seafood restaurants and a slew of diving outfitters, but not much activity.

The road down to La Restinga rambles through volcanic badlands. Take time to look at the funny lava shapes, ranging from pahoehoe or lajial, smooth rock that looks like twisted taffy, to hard, crumbling rock that looks like wet oatmeal. The gleaming sea stretches out before you as you descend into the town, and you can clearly make out the line between the glassy Mar de las Calmas and the windblown open ocean to the west, which is rough and choppy. Part of the sea is a marine reserve, and both fishing and diving are restricted in an effort to provide fish with a safe place to breed.

Last updated: 17-Feb-2009