Starlight Skywatching Spot at El Charco Azul

El Hierro

Starlight Viewpoint of El Charco Azul

Contemplating the stars with the waves in the background At the foot of the El Golfo valley, very close to Los Llanillos, lies El Charco Azul, one of the most beautiful natural pools in the entire Canary Islands and the first astronomical viewpoint of El Hierro. This natural balcony, located just a few meters above the pool, was historically used by locals to observe the Perseids, a meteor shower that occurs between July and August. Today, it has become an observatory equipped with two backlit informational panels powered by solar energy, useful for clearly locating and identifying stars like Polaris and constellations such as the Little Bear without the need for telescopes or powerful lenses.

Immerse yourself in a Starlight destination

El Hierro is a true ode to nature. An ecological and sustainable island that is entirely a Biosphere Reserve and UNESCO Global Geopark. Throughout its territory, you can visit various protected areas, including a large Marine Reserve and, of course, its night sky, protected under the Sky Law. In addition to the unique atmospheric conditions that make the Canary Islands archipelago an excellent place for star observation, El Hierro has very low light pollution, allowing for even clearer viewing across the island. La Frontera, in the northwest of the island, is the best example, as in October 2023, it became the first municipality on El Hierro to be designated a Starlight Destination, an accolade that certifies the optimal qualities of the environment for activities related to astrotourism.

Altitude

64 m

Protected sky

Starlight Reserve

Information panels

Parking

Los Llanillos

Go to web site

Map of Starlight Skywatching Spot at El Charco Azul

Sustainability

Never leave waste of any type lying around, including cigarette butts. Leftover food leads to a proliferation of rats and wild cats, which pose a serious threat to the fauna.
Respect the animals. Do not bother them or feed them. If you see an injured specimen, you can call the emergency number: 112. Do not pick flowers or plants.
Do not pick up or take away stones or any other item from the natural environment. And do not move them to pile them up into sadly famous 'towers'.
Turn off car headlights and do not use torches. That will help minimise the light pollution of the sky.
If you are at an astronomical viewpoint, respect and look after the different items of public furniture (information panels, railings, seats, lighting, binoculars and telescopes, etc.).
Try and be silent or talk quietly. The experience will be more enjoyable.