Top 5 Things To See And Do In La Palma

The most unknown Canary Island truly amazes by its natural diversity. A world away from its neighbours, La Palma is the perfect place for disconnecting and replenishing yourself. Its deep ravines, dramatic coastlines patterned with volcanic rocks, unspoiled and well-preserved nature make it an island full of surprises. Its beauty extends beyond the forests to the star-filled skies.

With picturesque hikes, black-sand beaches or enchanted forests there are many beautiful things to do in ‘La Isla Bonita’. We’ve put together our favourite activities and sites to visit.

1 – Enjoy lovely clean black-sand beaches in Santa Cruz de La Palma

Take a walk or relax on the iconic black sand of Santa Cruz, capital of La Palma. Empty and very unique, the black-sand beaches were created from the island’s volcanic past, contrasting with the Azure Sea of the Atlantic. Be careful as the sand can get very hot. From the beach, the view inland facing the colourful and picturesque city is fascinating.

2 – Hiking and walking in La Palma

La Palma is the dream destination for walkers of all levels. The hiking trails here will take you through a breathtaking, untouched vegetation, to cascades or pine forest in the national park.

With around 1,000 km of walking trails, the island offers a very contrasted scenery and climatic diversity.

Here are some of our favourite routes:

▪ Caldera de Taburiente National Park

The Caldera de Taburiente is one of the largest erosion craters in the world. Located right in the centre of the island, the park is covered by dense Canarian pines, offering hundreds of kilometres of signposted pathways. The park has trails for all levels of hikers. We picked the loop from Mirador de la Cumbrecita to Loma las Chozas. And what a view there was!

▪ Volcan de San Antonio

The visitor centre about La Palma’s volcanism is accessible by car, where it is only a short stroll up to the Volcan San Antonio summit. The last eruption was recorded in 1677. The views are stunning, overlooking the ocean. In the distance there is a view of Teneguia, which last erupted in 1971.

▪ Dragos de Buracas hike

This is a walk through a small paradise. The walk was full of flowers, succulents, big old dragon trees, almond trees, small houses and caves.

3 – Cascada De Los Tilos

Just off the road, visit Los Tilos Forest for a unique experience. The forest is an explosion of greenness. The walking trail leads through a tunnel to the hidden cascade and the stunning waterfall comes down strongly. Feel the mist and spray, perfect on a hot day!

4 – Go stargazing

La Palma is considered one of the best places on earth to observe the sky, thanks to its exceptional conditions. The quality of the sky is such that it is protected by the Law for the Astronomical Quality. Having a passionate person explaining you how to spot constellations is terrific. Just remember to take some warm clothes!

5 – Visit the Salt Gardens of Fuencaliente

If you’re touring the south of the island stop by Fuencaliente, at the southernmost tip of the island, where you can visit salt gardens, where the contrasts of the white of the salt, the sea and the black volcanic background are breathtaking. There’s an interesting self-guided route around Las Salinas with info boards. It is a lovely stroll finishing by a gift shop where you can buy the salt which is collected by hand and formed into small pyramids and then dried by the sun.

For more information visit http://www.visitlapalma.es/en/

EasyJet has regular direct flights to La Palma from London Gatwick Tuesdays and Saturdays from October to March