Valverde, El Hierro's beautiful capital and seat of local government, is a township of 1800 inhabitants with white houses, gardens and fields. It is situated on a mountainside between 600 and 700 metres above sea-level, and thus is the only Canary island capital which is not on the coast. Before the Spanish occupation, this was the site of the Bimbache settlement of Amoco.

Valverde is divided into three: Tesine, the uphill part, the centre, and the downhill area, El Cabo. Two main roads cross the town, the rest is steep streets. Here you find a hospital, primary and secondary schools, the courts, two small museums, a cultural centre with a cinema and theatre, banks, guest-houses, restaurants, two discotheques and numerous bars.

The parish church of Santa María de la Concepción was built in the 18thC and the Madonna to be found inside dates from the same period.

Interesting places in the village of Valverde:

- Mocanal is located in the fertile north of the island, surrounded by meadows and fields, at around the same altitude as Valverde. The atmosphere tends to be damp, and mist is frequent.

- On the coast below Mocanal there are two natural swimmimg-pools next to which there is an ancient hamlet, preserved just as it was: El Pozo de las Calcosas. The houses, with their dry-stone walls and thatched roofs, have been carefully restored by their present owners.
This place is only lived in at weekends and in the summer. and to reach it requires a ten-minute walk along a narrow track downthe cliff.

- Guarazoca is a couple of kilometres to the north, and enjoys a very similar landscape and climate. Its inhabitants live mainly from farming and several ancient, impressive wine-presses can still be seen.

- From the restaurant at the La Peña viewpoint you can enjoy a magnificent view and a meal at the same time. The design is the work of Cesar Manrique and mainly local materials were employed in its construction. Through its large windows you can admire the fantastic panorama of El Golfo, the Rocks of Salmor and La Cumbre. The view-point is an intelligent combination of traditional construction and modern architecture.

- A little above Guarazoca and Mocanal you come across one of the oldest villages on El Hierro: Las Montañetas. The dampness of its climate made its inhabitants finally abandon it, but most of its fields are still kept under cultivation. A few of its houses have been restored at considerable effort by their owners and are let out as holiday homes.

- San Andrés lies on a plateau at 1100 metres above sea-level and enjoys a continental climate: searing heat in summer cold, damp and mist in winter. The mist can last all day, or more often, all night. As you can see by the goats, sheep and cows grazing in the nearby fields, the people here live mainly from herding.

- The Jinama viewpoint is to the northwest of the village and is worth a visit for the impressive view it offers over El Golfo.
Albarrada Near San Andrés are to be found the ruins of Albarrada, one of the first settlements on the island. The roofs disappeared long ago, and the main walls are almost covered with brush and weeds.
Crossing the road takes you to the Garoé, already mentioned, the rain tree of the Bimbaches.

- Isora is a village which stretches along both sides of the main road, with gracious white-washed houses, tranquil interior patios, gardens and vines. At the end of the village a viewpoint is being built from where you can see Las Playas, the Roque de la Bonanza, and the National Tourist Hotel.

- The few houses which make up Tiñor are completely hidden from view on a hillside and cannot be seen from the road. Photographers are recommended to visit when the tree-heathers are in bloom. This little village is in an ideal spot for vegetable and fruit-growing and livestock-keeping.

- Echedo lies in an important wine-growing area and its gracious houses are surrounded by the typical vines with volcanic ash. From here departs the track which leads to the "Charco Manso", fantastic natural swimming-pools set in a rugged coast, with lava arches and blow-holes.

- Tamaduste has gone from being a fishing village to a place for the people from Valverde to spend their holidays. Its small, natural harbour invites you to bath in its waters. Near the airport, its white houses and apartments contrast sharply with the black volcanic ash of its surroundings.

- La Caleta, too, is near the airport and has some holiday flats and two bars, as well as a place for swimming. On the rocks along the shore, many rock-canvings, said to have been made by the aboriginals, have been discovered.

In the Timijiraque bay, near the port of La Estaca, you find one of the few sandy beaches on the whole island. It is usually frequented by surfers and families with children. There are two cars offering wine and snacks.

Eight kilometres further to the south, where the bay of Las Playas starts, the imposing shape of the Roque de la Bonanza comes into view, a rocky formation which rises 200 metres straight up from the ocean bed. It is one of the most-photographed sights on the island, appearing in a multitude of books, guides and post-cards.

At the other end of the bay, in a most peaceful spot and away from it all, stands the Parador (National Tourist Hotel). This is a well looked-after, comfortable 3-Star hotel, belonging to the Stats-run chain.