La Palma, la isla bonita

The Caldera de Taburiente

The Caldera de Taburiente, declared a National Park in 1954, is a must-see in La Palma. With a perimeter of 28 kilometres, a diameter of 10 kilometres and a depth of 1,500 metres, it isone of the largest and most imposing volcanoes in the world. The pure, torrential waters flow down the slopes to the interior of the caldera, meeting at a place called Dos Aguas. At the bottom of the cavity is a primitive indigenous altar used to worship the god Abora. One side of the crater, shaped like a horseshoe, slopes down towards the sea to form the Barranco de Las Angustias.

The Caldera de Taburiente National Park has a Visitor Centre with an exhibition room, a video library and a library where you can request permission to camp. A picturesque place, surrounded by mountains, well worth a visit.

⭐ Where to stay near Caldera de Taburiente?

Stargazing at Roque de los Muchachos

On the edge of the immense crater of the Caldera de Taburiente, at the highest point on the island, isone of the largest telescopes in the world, nestling at an altitude of 2,423 metres: the Roque de los Muchachos observatory. Only professional astronomers have access to the observatory, but many amateur astronomers organise tours using astronomical telescopes to observe the stars from several areas set aside for this purpose. With the naked eye, the show is just as magnificent!

To preserve this area even more, planes are not allowed to fly over La Palma, except those serving the island, but there are very few of them and they do not land or take off at night. During the day, you can see Tenerife, La Gomera and El Hierro.

Santa Cruz de La Palma

Santa Cruz de La Palma, the island's capital, is a town of 20,000 inhabitants with a strong seafaring tradition and a rich cultural and historical heritage. Architecturally, the city's beauty lies in the civil and religious buildings from the colonial era, such as the Renaissance town hall, Casa Salazar and the church of El Salvador. Dominated by the must-see Plaza de España, the old town is characterised by a mixture of different styles of building constructed over the course of the city's 500-year history. Don't miss Calle San Sebastián, an evocative stroll through an area packed with the island's typical architecture and culture.

Also visit the Naval Museum, which houses a reconstruction of a 15th-century caravel on which Christopher Columbus discovered America and houses a permanent exhibition featuring charts and nautical knots, among other exhibits.

⭐ Where to stay in Santa Cruz de La Palma?

The protected landscape of El Tablado

El Tablado is a protected area made up of a series of precipices set against a backdrop of panoramic views of the peaks, giving the area its extraordinary beauty. Due to their characteristics, certain parts of this area play an important role in maintaining ecological processes.

Covering an area of 220 hectares, El Tablado is an example of the blending of native flora and the local population, as this protected landscape is home to 63 inhabitants. Near the municipality of Garafía, before being declared a Natural Landscape, this setting was part of the Parque del Barranco de los Hobbres y Fagundo as well as the Parque de los Acantilados de Barlovento.

⭐ Where to stay in El Tablado?

Fuencaliente, its lighthouse and volcanoes

Fuencaliente is the southernmost municipality on the island of La Palma. The region is home to beautiful black sand beaches and impressive volcanic landscapes, with the two volcanoes of San Antonio and Teneguia, which last erupted in 1971- and it shows! You can also learn about volcanoes at the San Antonio volcano visitor centre.

You can visit the Fuencaliente lighthouse, which houses the La Palma marine reserve interpretation centre. Next door, the salt flats offer an array of warm colours that contrast with the blue of the sea and sky in a fabulous tableau.

⭐ Where to stay in Fuencaliente?

La Palma's beaches and natural pools

La Palma may not be as famous for its beaches as the other Canary Islands, but there's no doubt that the island will still delight fans of swimming and lounging. Playa La Zamora, Playa Nogales and Playa Tazacorte spring to mind. Scuba diving enthusiasts will also find plenty to do, as volcanic eruptions have created a fascinating marine ecosystem, and the waters of La Palma are particularly luminous, with visibility of up to 50 metres. Nature has also carved out numerous natural pools here, known as 'charcos'. One of the best known is Charco Azul, which has a large pool, a small one for children and a cove in the volcanic rock.

La Fajana is also home to three natural pools protected from the Atlantic swell. An exceptional enclave on a steep coastline, from which you can admire the cliffs of the north-east coast of La Palma. The perfect opportunity to swim in crystal-clear waters while admiring the ocean!

✈️ How do I get to La Palma?

La Palma is 3000 kilometres from Paris. While it is theoretically possible to get there by boat, the easiest way to get there is by plane. However, there are no direct flights from France, so you'll have to make a stopover in mainland Spain or on another Canary Island.

🚌 How do you get around La Palma?

Although there are a few buses on the island of La Palma, getting around by public transport is complicated. The easiest way to get around La Palma is to hire a car (check a car hire comparator to find the best prices) or book excursions.

👉 When to go to La Palma?

The climate in La Palma is mild all year round, with temperatures ranging between 19 and 24 degrees and very little rain. The ideal time to visit is in summer, especially to enjoy the beaches. Of course, the weather remains very pleasant in winter.