
How long is HI-500 road?
Spain, europe
18 km
N/A
hard
Year-round
Okay, picture this: you're on El Hierro, the tiny, super remote Canary Island way out in the Atlantic. You HAVE to drive HI-500! It's only about 11 miles long, but get ready for a wild ride.
The road hugs the coast and it’s paved, but seriously narrow. Think rollercoaster—up, down, around crazy hairpin turns, all while climbing from sea level to some pretty significant heights. The views are incredible, but be warned: there are some serious drop-offs with no guardrails! Not for the faint of heart, or new drivers. Oh, and since this is a volcanic area, be aware that things can change quickly and the road might close without much warning. Worth it for the scenery, though!
Road Details
- Country
- Spain
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 18 km
- Difficulty
- hard
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