La Palma Travel Guide

La Palma in 30 pictures, from Roque de los Muchachos to Los Tilos

The gallery runs from the Caldera de Taburiente and the observatories at 2,426 metres to the ancient laurel forest of Los Tilos, the black sand of Puerto de Tazacorte and the volcanic south around Los Canarios.

Johannes Bornewasser

6 min read

La Palma Kanaren Highlights Mirador La Cumbrecita 01 — 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 Kanaren Highlights Mirador El Time 02 — 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 Kanaren Highlights Lavalandschaft Kanarenkiefer 03 — 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 Kanaren Highlights Nationalpark Caldera de Tamburiente Roque de los Muchachos 04-02 — 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 Kanaren Highlights Sternwarte 04-03 — 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 Kanaren Highlights Caldera 04 — Another view of the caldera from a different vantage point. The trade wind clouds are drifting from east to west.

La Palma Kanaren Highlights Sonnenuntergang 05 — The sun sets to the west of La Palma. The palm trees provide the perfect backdrop.

La Palma Kanaren Highlights Los Lanos de Aridane wandern 06-02 — You can also hike up to the caldera from Los Lanos de Aridane. It's an unforgettable adventure.

La Palma Kanaren Highlights Caldera Bach 06 — 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 Kanaren Highlights Puerto de Tazacorte Strand 07 — 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 Kanaren Highlights Plaza de España in Los Llanos 08 — 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 Kanaren Highlights Playa Bombilla 10-02 — A natural sunshade near Playa Bombilla, close to Puerto Naos, the tourist centre in the west of the island.

La Palma Kanaren Highlights Basaltfels Playa Bombilla 10 — An impressive basalt rock at Playa Bombilla. The modern lighthouse can be seen in the background.

La Palma Kanaren Highlights Santo Domingo de Garafia 11 — 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 Kanaren Highlights Punta El Lajio 12 — 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 Kanaren Highlights Ostküste Tiguerorte 13 — 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 Kanaren Highlights Los Canarios Kiefernwald 14 — 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 Kanaren Highlights Kanaren-Kiefer 15 — 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 Kanaren Highlights Los Canarios Gemeinde Fuencaliente 16 — 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 Kanaren Highlights Vulkan San Antonio bei Los Canarios 17 — 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 Kanaren Highlights Eidechsen 18 — 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 Kanaren Highlights Lorbeerwald Los Tilos 19 — 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 Kanaren Highlights Strand Los Canarios Mondlandschaft 20-02 — Along the coast of the volcanic landscape - to the west of Los Canarios - there are a few hidden beaches.

La Palma Kanaren Highlights Strand Los Canarios Mondlandschaft 20-03 — They are sometimes very reminiscent of a lunar landscape.

La Palma Kanaren Highlights Leuchttürme Fuencaliente 20 — One of the two lighthouses at Fuencaliente on the southern tip of La Palma (Faro de Fuencaliente) houses a small museum.

La Palma Kanaren Highlights El Paso 21 — 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 Kanaren Highlights Ostküste Wolken Passat 22 — 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 Kanaren Highlights Santo Domingo 23 — 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 Kanaren Highlights Santa Cruz de La Palma 24 — 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 Kanaren Highlights Tijarafe nach El Pinar 25 — 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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