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La Palma Travel Guide

Thirty places that make La Palma the ‚Isla Bonita‘

From the Caldera de Taburiente and the observatories on Roque de los Muchachos to the black sand of Puerto de Tazacorte and the laurel forest of Los Tilos, a photo tour of the western Canary Island.
Johannes Bornewasser
6 min read
La Palma, Canary Islands: Highlights - Mirador La Cumbrecita 01 Photo: Klaus Trenz
By the time they reach the Mirador La Cumbrecita, visitors will understand why La Palma is also known as 'La Isla Verde', the green island. Around 40 per cent of the Canary Islands are covered in forest.
La Palma, Canary Islands: Highlights - Mirador El Time 02 Photo: Klaus Trenz
From the Mirador El Time viewpoint, the view stretches across the entire Aridane Valley - and over the town of Los Llanos de Aridane. The clouds of the north-easterly trade winds 'flow' over the Cumbre Nueva ridge and dissipate in the sun.
La Palma, Canary Islands: Highlights - Lava Landscape, Canary Island Pine 03 Photo: Klaus Trenz
Black lava landscapes and bright green Canary Islands pines near El Pilar create a landscape that seems almost unreal. The Canary Islands pine is a symbol of La Palma's natural heritage.
La Palma, Canary Islands: Highlights - Caldera de Tamburiente National Park, Roque de los Muchachos 04-02 Photo: Klaus Trenz
The view into the erosion crater and across the Caldera de Tamburiente National Park from the island's highest point, the Roque de los Muchachos, at 2,426 metres, is breathtaking.
La Palma, Canary Islands: Highlights - Observatory 04-03 Photo: Klaus Trenz
There are several observatories situated below the Roque de los Muchachos. A number of European observatories are based there, observing the starry skies above La Palma.
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La Palma, Canary Islands: Highlights of the Caldera 04 Photo: Klaus Trenz
Another view of the caldera from a different vantage point. The trade wind clouds are drifting from east to west.
La Palma, Canary Islands: Highlights - Sunset 05 Photo: Klaus Trenz
The sun sets to the west of La Palma. The palm trees provide the perfect backdrop.
La Palma, Canary Islands: Highlights - Hiking in Los Lanos de Aridane 06-02 Photo: Klaus Trenz
You can also hike up to the caldera from Los Lanos de Aridane. It's an unforgettable adventure.
La Palma, Canary Islands: Highlights - Caldera Stream 06 Photo: Klaus Trenz
When hiking up the caldera, you should always keep an eye on the weather. If it rains in the mountains, the small stream can turn into a raging river that rushes down towards the sea.
La Palma, Canary Islands: Highlights - Puerto de Tazacorte Beach 07 Photo: Klaus Trenz
Puerto de Tazacorte, in the west of the island, has one of the island's most beautiful black lava beaches. As you might expect, it's a very popular spot. However, depending on the time of year, there's always a spot for every visitor.
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La Palma, Canary Islands: Highlights - Plaza de España in Los Llanos 08 Photo: Klaus Trenz
The Plaza de España in Los Llanos is almost deserted here. That changes in the evening, when young and old gather beneath the old Indian laurel trees. The square next to the church is one of the most beautiful on La Palma.
La Palma, Canary Islands: Highlights - Playa Bombilla 10-02 Photo: Klaus Trenz
A natural sunshade near Playa Bombilla, close to Puerto Naos, the tourist centre in the west of the island.
La Palma, Canary Islands: Highlights - Basalt Cliffs at Playa Bombilla 10 Photo: Klaus Trenz
An impressive basalt rock at Playa Bombilla. The modern lighthouse can be seen in the background.
La Palma, Canary Islands: Highlights - Santo Domingo de Garafia 11 Photo: Klaus Trenz
A view over Santo Domingo de Garafia in the rugged north-west of La Palma. There, the trade winds often sweep unchecked across the countryside.
La Palma, Canary Islands: Highlights - Punta El Lajio 12 Photo: Klaus Trenz
Holiday cottages seem to spring up right out of the black lava rock at Punta El Lajio in the east of the island. When the sea is calm, you can even go for a swim there.
La Palma, Canary Islands: Highlights of the East Coast - Tiguerorte 13 Photo: Klaus Trenz
The east coast below Tiguerorte in the east is often virtually deserted. Although the sea can be treacherous, there are several hidden beaches in the area. As is the case everywhere in the Canary Islands, the same advice applies here: take care in high waves and watch out for dangerous undercurrents.
La Palma, Canary Islands: Highlights - Los Canarios Pine Forest 14 Photo: Klaus Trenz
From Los Canarios, the route first takes you through pine forest along what is probably the best-known hiking trail, the Volcano Trail, up to the Cumbre Vieja. Like the Cumbra Nueva that follows it, this mountain ridge divides the island into eastern and western halves.
La Palma, Canary Islands: Highlights - Canary Island Pine 15 Photo: Klaus Trenz
The evergreen Canary Island pine is an endemic species. It is found only in the Canary Islands. As a result of recurring forest fires, it has developed a distinctive feature: its thick bark enables it to survive fires.
La Palma, Canary Islands: Highlights - Los Canarios, Fuencaliente municipality, 16 Photo: Klaus Trenz
Los Canarios, in the municipality of Fuencaliente, is the small town in the south of La Palma. It is a small, cosy town with a few restaurants, bars and shops.
La Palma, Canary Islands: Highlights - San Antonio Volcano near Los Canarios 17 Photo: Klaus Trenz
There is a visitor centre at the foot of the crater of the extinct San Antonio volcano near Los Canarios. It is a must-see for anyone holidaying on La Palma.
La Palma, Canary Islands: Highlights - Lizards 18 Photo: Klaus Trenz
Lizards are everywhere. When the sun is shining, they peek out from behind the stone walls. When danger threatens, they vanish back into their hiding places in a flash.
La Palma, Canary Islands: Highlights - Los Tilos Laurel Forest 19 Photo: Klaus Trenz
The ancient laurel forest of Los Tilos in the north-east of La Palma is a highlight for walkers and ramblers. The unique vegetation, which dates back to before the Ice Age, is something no visitor to La Palma should miss.
La Palma, Canary Islands: Highlights - Los Canarios Beach, lunar landscape, 20 February Photo: Klaus Trenz
Along the coast of the volcanic landscape - to the west of Los Canarios - there are a few hidden beaches.
La Palma, Canary Islands: Highlights - Los Canarios Beach, lunar landscape, 20 March Photo: Klaus Trenz
They are sometimes very reminiscent of a lunar landscape.
La Palma, Canary Islands: Highlights - Lighthouses in Fuencaliente 20 Photo: Klaus Trenz
One of the two lighthouses at Fuencaliente on the southern tip of La Palma (Faro de Fuencaliente) houses a small museum.
La Palma, Canary Islands: Highlights - El Paso 21 Photo: Klaus Trenz
From El Paso, you can see right to the edge of the Caldera de Taburiente. Above the village stands the large Caldera de Taburiente Visitor Centre. There, visitors can find out just about everything there is to know about La Palma.
La Palma, Canary Islands: Highlights - East Coast, Clouds, Trade Winds 22 Photo: Klaus Trenz
The east coast of La Palma is often overcast. This is where the trade winds meet the island. This does not make the region any less attractive than the sun-drenched south and east. Here, the land is more fertile and greener.
La Palma, Canary Islands: Highlights of Santo Domingo 23 Photo: Klaus Trenz
In Santo Domingo, part of the municipality of Garafia in the north-west of La Palma, it sometimes feels as though time has stood still.
La Palma, Canary Islands: Highlights of Santa Cruz de La Palma 24 Photo: Klaus Trenz
Santa Cruz de La Palma is the island's capital. This is where the ferries arrive. The town is regarded as one of the best-preserved in the Canary Islands. The town centre has been a listed conservation area since 1990.
La Palma, Canary Islands: Highlights - Tijarafe to El Pinar 25 Photo: Klaus Trenz
Rural tourism is the main attraction in the municipality of Tijarafe in the west. From there, the route leads into the El Pinar forest area, which is popular with walkers.
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