On this island surrounded by the Atlantic, you’ll get to see the Milky Way simply by raising your eyes towards the star-filled sky, you’ll be able to wander through thousand-year-old laurel forests and you’ll be wowed by a sea of clouds floating under the peaks of ancient volcanoes. Doesn’t that sound amazing?
Noise and bustle just don’t exist in La Palma. Instead, there’s peace and quiet, authenticity and pure nature. Now that we all appreciate uncrowded destinations and privacy like never before, a trip to La Palma is a must. Here you can move around freely, feel wondrously alone in the midst of nature and enjoy beaches and natural pools without crowds.
Natural pools
In this marvellous place, with moderate temperatures all year round, you can unwind and recharge your batteries, connecting with the more serene and leisurely lifestyle of its inhabitants. Let yourself savour the pleasure of the small things in life! Discover an exquisite locally sourced cuisine and splendid sunsets over banana plantations. Soak up the so-called #LaPalmaEffect, which you’ll never want to leave behind.
La Palma boasts a truly unique beauty. Natural features and spectacular landscapes are the main attractions of a whole island that has been a World Biosphere Reserve since 2002. The best way to discover La Palma is to dive straight in, so set off to explore its impressive network of footpaths!
The island has no less than one thousand kilometres of marked and signposted trails that make it incredibly easy to explore on foot. There are GR Footpaths (long-distance) that call for a certain level of fitness, as they take more than a day to walk. One wonderfully challenging GR is the Route of the Volcanoes (Ruta de los Volcanes), an impressive footpath of more than twenty kilometres through an extraordinary string of volcanoes, starting from the pine forests of the Refugio del Pilar, in the heart of the island, and finishing at the stunning Salinas de Fuencaliente, in the extreme south. This route is breathtaking thanks to the rugged, moon-like landscape, which you’ll enjoy in the friendly company of Gallot’s lizards, a species endemic to the island.
Route of the Volcanoes
There are also a multitude of short-distance (PR) and local footpaths with proposals suitable for all levels. Some are quite demanding, but others — such as the Cubo de la Galga — are not so difficult.
The list of must-dos on this island is huge, but the top two are definitely the Bosque de los Tilos and the Caldera de Taburiente. In the Bosque Los Tilos, located in the municipality of San Andrés y Sauces, you’ll find the island’s best laurel forest reserve. This type of humid subtropical forest disappeared from mainland Europe more than twenty million years ago, but fortunately can still be found in the Canary Islands.
Caldera de Taburiente National Park
Meanwhile, the Caldera de Taburiente National Park is a highlight for hiking enthusiasts. Explore it at your leisure by taking the footpath that goes from the Mirador de Brecitos to the Barranco de las Angustias, passing by the Cascada de los Colores waterfall. Another great option to enjoy the National Park from a bird’s eye view is by climbing the Pico Bejenado to admire one of the most spectacular images of the Caldera valley.
Pico Bejenado
As you can see, La Palma is a fabulous destination for nature tourism, active leisure and outdoor sports. Paragliding, mountain biking, diving, and water sports are all perfect activities, as is a form of sustainable tourism that has been booming in recent years, astro tourism, which consists of stargazing in the midst of nature.
Water sports
La Palma, the world’s first Starlight Reserve, boasts the perfect natural conditions for observing the night sky. At the island’s highest point, more than 2,400 metres above sea level, is the famous Roque de los Muchachos Observatory. At this altitude, the atmosphere is pristine and offers a double spectacle: by day, the magical vision of the sea of clouds under your feet; and at night, the clearest starry sky, like a window wide open to the universe.
The world’s first Starlight Reserve
Excursions are held up in the hills all over the island, with telescope included, to enjoy astro tourism and admire the stars, planets and constellations that surround us. Even at first glance, thanks to the low levels of light pollution, the sky of La Palma is an incredible tapestry full of dazzling lights that will remain forever engraved in your memory.
If you want to feel that you can touch the stars, follow our advice and head off to La Palma, dubbed La Isla Bonita, and the place where your dreams can come true.
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