La Palma – The Island of Eternal Spring
Description
Welcome to La Palma, the north-westernmost island of the Canary Archipelago, known for its mild climate and unspoilt nature. This UNESCO biosphere reserve offers a unique combination of natural wonders, cultural heritage and modern infrastructure for an unforgettable holiday.
La Palma (La Palma) is one of the most picturesque and contrasting islands in the Canary Archipelago, attracting travellers with its unique combination of pristine nature, dramatic landscapes and secluded atmosphere. The island is often referred to as ‘La Isla Bonita “ – ”The Beautiful Island’ – and for good reason: dense laurel forests, sheer cliffs, black sandy beaches, volcanic craters and gorges can be found here, creating a mesmerising landscape. Unlike the more popular Canary Islands, La Palma remains a destination for a relaxed and thoughtful holiday, ideal for nature lovers and authentic experiences.
La Palma’s main characteristic is its volcanic origin, which has shaped its unusual topography: the island is crossed by the Cumbre Vieja range, an active volcanic massif that was last active in 2021. This makes it not only a geologically interesting place, but also an open book of Earth’s history. The southern part of the island is dotted with frozen lava flows, thermal springs and vineyards that have grown on the volcanic soil and give the local wines a distinctive character.
La Palma is also renowned for its clear skies, making it home to one of the world’s leading astronomical observatories, the Roque de los Muchachos. Laws restricting light pollution make this island an ideal place for stargazing. At night you can see the Milky Way with the naked eye, and special observatory tours allow you to delve deeper into the mysteries of the cosmos.
Unlike the more populated islands of the Canary Islands, La Palma remains an eco-friendly destination, with an extensive network of hiking trails that stretch for over 1000 kilometres. Here you can walk through the relict forests of Laurisilva, explore steep gorges and climb to the tops of volcanoes for panoramic views. The island is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, which guarantees its protection from mass development and preservation of the natural environment.
In terms of infrastructure, La Palma offers comfortable conditions for a holiday, but without excessive tourist hustle and bustle. There are no large resort complexes, no noisy nightclubs or crowds of tourists – instead, travellers will find boutique hotels, family-run apartments and small restaurants serving local cuisine made from the freshest produce.
La Palma is therefore the perfect destination for those looking for a secluded but fulfilling holiday where you can combine hiking, stargazing, volcanic exploration and local wine tasting while enjoying the tranquillity and natural beauty of the island.
Natural attractions
The Caldera de Taburiente National Park is the jewel of the island, a giant crater 8 kilometres in diameter. There are more than 20 marked trails of varying difficulty, allowing you to explore the unique flora and geological formations. The Roque de los Muchachos (Roque de los Muchachos) observation deck, located at a height of 2,426 metres, offers a panoramic view of the caldera and neighbouring islands.
Transport accessibility
La Palma International Airport (La Palma) receives regular flights from mainland Spain and other European countries. From the airport the main resort areas can be reached by bus or hire car. A well-developed network of bus routes (guaguas) connects all major population centres of the island, and travel time between the most distant points does not exceed 2 hours.
Resort regions
East Coast
Santa Cruz de La Palma is the capital of the island, combining colonial architecture with modern infrastructure. The historic city centre is famous for its Canarian-style balconies and the pedestrianised Calle Real.
West Coast
Puerto Naos and Tazacorte offer the best black volcanic sand beaches and a well-developed tourist infrastructure. The average water temperature here is 22°C all year round.
Beach holidays
Playa de Puerto Naos is the longest beach on the island (600 metres), awarded the Blue Flag for cleanliness and quality of services. Playa de Tazacorte attracts water sports enthusiasts and Playa Nogales is considered one of the most picturesque wild beaches in the archipelago.
Active holidays
La Palma offers ample opportunities for outdoor activities:
- Hiking trails totalling over 1,000 kilometres in length
- Mountain biking on volcanic trails
- Diving in clear waters with visibility up to 30 metres
- Paragliding over beautiful landscapes
- Astronomical observations at the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory
Cultural Heritage
The island has preserved a rich cultural heritage:
- Belmaco Archaeological Park (Belmaco) with Guanche rock paintings
- Silk Museum in El Paso, showing traditional craftsmanship.
- The 16th-century Nuestra Señora de los Remedios Church.
- Casa Roja Ethnographic Museum in Santa Cruz.
Gastronomic highlights
La Palma’s cuisine reflects the richness of local produce:
- The freshest seafood in coastal restaurants
- Traditional goat cheese queso palmero (queso palmero) with protected appellation of origin
- Local wines from the Fuencaliente region with its unique volcanic terroir.
- Canarian bananas grown on terraced slopes
- de palma honey with protected geographical indication
Practical information
The optimum time to visit is all year round due to the mild climate with temperatures of 20-25°C. Recommended length of stay is from 7 days to explore the main sights. Car hire is worth considering for easy travelling around the island, especially when planning to visit remote natural sites.