La Palma is one of the seven Canary Islands located in the Atlantic Ocean. This island attracts travellers mainly due to its natural beauty, volcanoes, black sand beaches and bright night sky. Its pleasant temperatures and a minimum number of tourists make it the ideal place to visit. Welcome to La Palma and check out the six best things to do there.
At first glance, it’s obvious that the Canary Islands were formed by volcanic activity. The whole island of La Palma is cone-shaped and resembles an enormous volcano. Its tallest peak, the Roque de Los Muchachos, is located 2426 meters above sea level. So it’s not surprising that there aren’t 100 meters of straight road on the island. La Palma is the most volcanic active island compared to the rest of the Canary Islands, but the last eruption was recorded in 1971.
Tom on top of Roque de Los Muchachos
The local infrastructure is in great condition, and we must to admire the builders of these roads. The best way to get around the island is to rent your own car (we recommend you rent a car at Skyscanner.net or RentCars.com), even though there are several bus lines in La Palma that connect to all the important places. Keep in mind that the roads are twisting in very sharp turns, and there is no escaping the sharp bends even in the towns.
The roads on La Palma are full of turns
The temperature in La Palma is pleasant throughout the year, which earned it the nickname “Island of eternal spring.” During the winter, the temperatures don’t drop below 15 °C and even during the hottest summer months, the thermometer shows a pleasant 28 °C. The differences in temperatures are mainly noticeable with increasing altitude. The seaside is wonderfully warm, while at the top of the volcano, you will be forced to put on a warm jacket.
Eve on the terrace – the best accommodation is in your own apartment
Each visitor to the island will find something they enjoy because there are many things to do in La Palma. Lovers of good food will enjoy exquisite cuisine, which includes fish, seafood, and other delicacies at very reasonable prices. Those who appreciate the beauty of nature will be delighted by the number of hiking treks that La Palma offers. There is also something for those of us interested in culture, as the island offers several interesting museums and also walks through lovely little towns with adorably colourful houses. You can sunbathe on the black sand beaches, only the temperature of the ocean is a bit cold. The biggest advantage of La Palma is, however, the magical isolation from the outside world and the minimum number of tourists. Every visitor forgets the problems of the outside world and fully enjoys the peace and tranquillity this island offers.
1. Astronomical Observatory – Stargazing on La Palma
La Palma is one of the best places on Earth for stargazing. Thanks to its distance from the European and African continents, light pollution is minimal. The island isn’t densely populated, so the sky is absolutely clear at night. The local climate is also ideal – it causes the clouds to form relatively low, about 1,000 – 2,000 meters above sea level. That is why in the highest parts of the island can offer a clear sky almost all year round. There are up to 13 telescopes at the top of the Roque de Los Muchachos, where scientists from around the world are working together. Here stands the largest astronomical observatory in the Northern Hemisphere. The sky in La Palma itself is actually protected by the astronomical quality law by the Observatory of the Astronomical Institute.
There are the world’s observatories at the top of La Palma
Some companies in La Palma offer night sky observation tours using the telescope, together with professional commentary. Check out their websites and make sure you book a tour in advance. There are two companies doing these tours – Ad Astra La Palma and La Palma Stars. The interest in stargazing is quite high. The tours are dependent on the weather, so be aware that in the event of unfavourable weather conditions, the stargazing tours can be cancelled – which is what happened to us 🙁
La Palma offers the best conditions for observing the night sky
2. Museums and Historic Colonial Style Towns
The island of La Palma also offers a unique atmosphere where you can enjoy walking through the colonial-style towns. Worth mentioning is the historical centre of the capital city, Santa Cruiz de La Palma, with its magical streets and corners. This city has historically been an important strategic point for commercial purposes by the Spaniards who colonized the Canary Islands. Considerable wealth had passed through Santa Cruiz from America straight to Europe. Today, you can admire a great number of monuments, colourful mansions and cobbled streets.
The cities are full of beautiful colonial houses
Several other towns are also worth mentioning. For example, Los Llanos de Aridane or Villa de Mazo both offer a wonderful walk around the picturesque town centre. Those interested in culture should check out the fascinating museums. The best ones are the Naval Museum, Cigar Museum, Silk Museum, or the Archaeological Museums.
Walking around the city is a great experience
3. Dolphins and Whales Watching
The Canary Islands are the best place in Europe to watch dolphins and whales. Various companies in the small town of Tazacorte on the west side of La Palma organize trips to the open sea. There are several options to choose from, beginning with a short trip in a motorboat to a several hour-long cruise on a large ship. The coast of the island is permanently inhabited by several kinds of dolphins, and when the visitors are lucky, they may be able to see cetaceans as well.
Read our review of GetYourGuide, where you can book tour online.
Not far from the harbour is a gorgeous black volcanic sand beach that offers a pleasant place to relax. The beach has changing rooms, showers and several restaurants. The only drawback is the water temperature, which isn’t very high. But those of us hardy enough may enjoy at refreshing swim.
Groups of dolphins living near the coast
The selection of companies is quite varied, and the chance to see some animals is very high. If none of the dolphins or whales appear, the company usually offers some compensation. We chose a small group trip on a glass-bottomed motorboat from fancy2.com, and we can definitely recommend this company.
There are several boats in the harbor that drive tourists for tours
4. Trekking in a Beautiful Landscape – the Best Things to Do in La Palma
The natural beauty of the Canary Islands is absolutely unique. Other things to do in La Palma are the spectacular pine forests, massive volcanos rising to tremendous heights, deep canyons or crystal clear waterfalls. The landscape changes every few kilometres, so you definitely won’t be bored as an observer. The first thing that every visitor notices are the vast plantations of banana trees. They are located mainly at lower altitudes and can be found almost anywhere. A drive between the rows of banana trees is one of the exciting experiences that every visitor takes home with them.
Be prepared to meet the locals – black ravens. These very intelligent birds can be seen in several places, but they thrive in tourist destinations. They became used to people a long time ago – tourists often feed them. That’s why there is no need to be afraid of admiring them up close.
Ravens are used to tourists
Parque Nacional de la Caldera de Taburiente is definitely worth visiting. The million-year-old stratovolcano that is part of this National park actually formed the entire shape of the park. This area offers a great number of hiking trails, and each one will show you a completely different face of La Palma. The most visited is, of course, the highest peak – Roque de Los Muchachos – that offers a spectacular view of the surrounding countryside. The Cascada de Los Colores hike is also a popular part of the National Park. This 10 km hike through the deep canyon will take you to the rainbow waterfalls, the colour of which is caused by the minerals.
Magical waterfall – Cascada de Los Colores
The local endemic pine trees create truly beautiful forests. Mirador de la Cumbrecita offers several different forest paths, as well as a couple of views of the entire island. The Los Tilos area is also worth mentioning, with its beautiful views of the local Mirador del Espigón Atravesado rainforest and a visit to the crystal clear waterfall Cascada De Los Tilos.
Unique pine forests grow at La Palma
The most beautiful hike in La Palma is the 17 km walk along the ridge of the extinct volcanos at Cumbre Vieja National Park called the Volcano Route. This is an absolutely unique trail that takes you to the desolate crater of the Volcan San Antonio volcano, located in the very south of the island. There are truly many paths and trails to choose from at La Palma, and everyone will surely be able to find the one for them.
A view into the crater of an extinct volcano Volcan San Antonio
5. Tasting Local Specialties – Fish and Seafood
Before the colonization of the Canary Islands, indigenous people had to eat what they could grow on the island. Luckily, the soil here is truly very fertile, as is evidenced by the great number of crops that thrive here. The main part of the local diet is fish and seafood. The inhabitants of La Palma are very fond of thick vegetable soups with either potatoes or fish. We definitely recommend trying it out, as it is a local speciality.
Chefs are skilled and seafood is tasty
Prawns with oil and garlic
You shouldn’t miss visiting some local restaurants, we recommend Restaurant El Jardín de la Sal at Faro de Fuencaliente (restaurant location map) with its magnificent view of the sea. The food is absolutely delicious, with a great price tag. The restaurant stands on the coast, where salt is actively extracted by the evaporation of seawater, so you can buy some sea salt right there as a souvenir to take home. There is also a very photogenic lighthouse not far away with a typical red colour.
Salt fields in La Palma
6. Swimming and Diving in the Ocean Full of Life
The Canary Islands are a sought-after destination not only for swimming but also for diving. This area is internationally recognized for how transparent its seawaters are, which offer great visibility. The seabed is very rugged with many different caves that offer dwellings to a plethora of aquatic animals. This makes La Palma Island ideal for diving and exploration of the seafloor. Those who like to keep close to the water surface can enjoy a refreshing swim at local black snad beaches or natural pools.
Before we set out to the Canary Islands, we thought long and hard about where the curious name comes from. Although there are wild canaries living in the area, the islands aren’t named after them. The islands were named after dogs – the canary Great Dane – that have been living in the area since the 15th century. Great Danes were abundantly used as cattle herders or for dog and bear fights.
Beautiful black sand beach in Tazacorte
Popular swimming destinations include natural lagoons on the northeast of the La Fajana Island. It is basically a tamed coastline. In places where the wild waves hit the rugged coast, artificial dams were built, which prevent waves from breaking on the bare rocks. This creates natural water tanks that are ideal for bathing.
Do you know other great things to do in La Palma? Let us know in comments.
Lagunas at Charco Azul are great for swimming
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I don’t know too much about La Palma but this makes me want to go. What a beautiful island and I love everything it has to offer. Such unique activities too with scenic backdrops. How neat that it’s isolated and not too many tourists. We’re such seafood lovers so this would be such an ideal location to visit. Thanks for the travel inspiration.
Thank you for your comment, La Palma is really interesting place for travel.If you dont’t insist on swimming in the sea and you prefer peaceful location with ho tourists and beautiful nature – this is place for you ! Do you love sea food? Bingo 🙂
What about the salt pans in La Palma – they look quite extraordinary in the photo. Can you look at the salt in full sunshine or is it too bright?
Hi Annette, the salt fields looks incredible in the photo butthe reality is always better. I didn´t look directly there without sunglasses, but would say they are not shining how it may seem.
Wow, the black sand beach is such a beautiful contrast to the architecture. I thought I would want to go just for the stargazing, but I’m definitely in for the architecture and natural wonders, too!! Absolutely beautiful pictures. They are so crystal clear and sharp!! #TheWeeklyPostcard
Hi Sara, it’s a strange coincidence we wanted to see the stargazing mainly, but it was bad weather so this was the only thing we missed. But I would say that it is not as bad as we would expect, because the island La Palma has other things to offer, which are really intresting.
What a beautiful place! I would love to visit La Palma, get out on the water, do some hiking, and try the delicious food. Thanks for sharing on #TheWeeklyPostcard.
Thanks Anisa for your post, La Palma is amazing place to discover, it is has a lot to offer to the travellers they love hiking in the beautiful nature.
My husband often talks about visiting! I think it would definitely be something new for the both of us, more outdoorsy than we normally do, but for the natural beauty I would definitely put my hiking boots on! Thanks for sharing on #TheWeeklyPostcard! (No pin this time?)
It was something new even for us! 🙂 We didn´t hike so much, you can choose short and easy hikes, so every one can be satisfied. The nature is very beautiful, clean a different. It´s worth it. ( I hope Tom will make a pin 🙂
Stunning photos! The Canary Islands are incredibly popular with UK families but La Palma is massively overlooked despite your beautiful photos suggesting it should be the pick of the crop! I would love to visit La Palma, it looks beautiful. #Theweeklypostcard
Hi Annabel, you are right, La Palma is not for resort tourists and I would say that is the reason why it is overlooked. But we were happy to be there nearly alone ! 🙂
What a beautiful island. I’d love to visit La Palma. That black sand beach looks beautiful, yet very strange. I prefer the white sand beaches. #TheWeeklyPostcard
Hi Anda, I can admit the black beaches are not so popular in the world as the beaches with white sand 😀 they looks dirty, but in reality they are beautiful as well
Oh my! I cannot get enough of the beautiful pictures in this post. Love, love all the beautiful landscapes in La Palama. I got fascinated with volcanic areas after visiting Iceland. I guess the weather is way better in La Palma. How many days do you spend on the island?
Hi Ruth, thank you for your nice comment, I am very happy you like our pictures 🙂 I haven’t been to Iceland so I cannot compare the weather, but it wasn’t so nice how would I expected. It was changing very fast. We spent around 4-5 days there and I would say it is enough for this island to see everything you need 🙂
Oh my! I cannot get enough of the beautiful pictures in this post. Love, love all the beautiful landscapes in La Palama. I got fascinated with volcanic areas after visiting Iceland. I guess the weather is way better in La Palma. How many days do you spend on the island?
BTW, I am noticing several of errors on your website. First, I got a bad gateway notice (like something was down) and then I have been having problems with leaving a comment.
I have heard about the star gazing – and now you’ve given me so many more reasons to visit.
#Theweeklypostcard
Hi Sandra, yaaehh, the star gazing was the main reason we went to the La Palma, but we so much more than we expected, but not the star gazing itself, because it was bad weather 😀
I’ve yet to visit the Canaries but the stories I’ve heard about its beautiful landscapes definitely seems to be true. A little surprised by that colonial architecture for some reason, but it all looks fantastic. Wishing I was somewhere warmer like that right now actually. Will definitely consult this post when I go. #TheWeeklyPostcard
Dear David, I would say the same, the colonial architecture surprised me as well, the island is so clean and so beautiful, really it is very nice place to live – this is was my first thought I had, when I arrived here 🙂 To be honest we are in cold Europe now and I am really looking froward to go where is warm as well.
Hi,
We are going to La Palma for 5 days in august. Which hikes do yo recommand the most? We will do the volcano route for sure, but we arr hesitating for the one in the caldera de taburiente.
Thank you
That’s great Amylie, definitely, volcano route it the best. I would recommend you visit Caldera de Taburiente too. We have visited three different places there – Cascade de Colores at the bottom, Mirador de la Cumbrecita and Roque de Los Muchachos at the top. All of these places were worth to visit.
Anyway, check if all the tracks are open. We saw many tracks closed.
If you like to know more about snorkeling and diving on La Palma, do not hassitate to visit this website:
http://www.casadebueo.com or http://www.casadebuceo.nl/en
At the most southernly tip of La Palma you will find the Salt Pans of Fuencaliente, one of the more unusual things to do in La Palma. Seawater is pumped in to shallow pools and left to dry in the sun resulting in natural salt formation. The salt is than packaged and sold in supermarkets across the island. The view of brilliant white against black volcanic rock is an impressive sight, and although the operation is small, it produces 500,000 kilos of natural salt a year. Enjoy a charming forest hike and uncover the carvings of La Zarza, which occupy 29 panels, and La Zarzita, which occupy 18 panels. This fascinating site was discovered in just 1941, but the carvings and petroglyphs are ancient. The park is small yet fascinating with a small museum in which to learn the origin and theories behind the ancient carvings.
Yes, you are right this place is very unusual, thank you for all the information. We were there also in a very good restaurant and The photo with lighthouse if taken there.