Things to do in La Palma: The Ultimate Guide

As this blog is a comprehensive guide, we’ve put together a handy list of contents to help you find the information that’s relevant to you… Top things to do in La Palma Walking in La Palma La Palma Beaches La Palma Museums La Palma Food Events in La Palma Practical Information

Things to do in La Palma 1. Go stargazing La Palma is blessed with some of the clearest skies in Europe, for that reason the skies are protected within a ‘starlight reserve’ and recognised on an international level for low levels of light pollution. From La Palma you can see a plethora of constellations and visit some stunning observatories built to view the sky above. Two of La Palma’s observatories are set up by the IAC (Canary Islands Institute of Astrophysics) to study the night sky, demonstrating how phenomenal the skies here really are. Simply look up at night or view the stars from one of the many observatories, including Astro La Palma and Roque de Los Muchachos, where telescopes allow you to witness the surface of the moon, rings of Saturn or even Jupiter’s moons. There are several stargazing tours, walks and excursions taking place on the island. Admission to Astro la Palma from €9.

2. Spot dolphins and whales The Atlantic Ocean surrounding La Palma is home to a wonderful array of marine life including dolphins and whales. Several boat tours and catamarans operate across the island with experienced and knowledgeable guides, showcasing the beauty of La Palma’s marine life. Watch dolphins jump joyfully alongside your boat and witness the majestic sight of pilot whales coming up for air.

3. Swim in the natural sea pools at Charco Azul and La Fajana La Palma’s natural pools are filled with clear sea water making them a wonderful place to swim and a fantastic experience. Surrounding the pools are warm rocks in which you can sunbathe and relax, as well as toilet facilities and a small café. At Charco Azul there are showers to wash off which cost around 50 cents. Charco Azul and Piscinas de La Fajana are amongst the best natural pools on La Palma.

4. Visit Roque de Los Muchachos Observatory Roque de Los Muchachos is the highest peak on La Palma offering jaw-dropping surroundings and views across the island. At the peak is a collection of 13 gigantic telescopes in which to discover, including the world’s largest telescope. The observatory is located on the edge of Caldera de Taburiente at 2,396 above sea level and can be visited throughout the year on a request basis. Open from 16th September – 14th June. Visits are only available Tuesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Open 9am – 12.30pm.  Must be booked in advance.

5. Explore Santa Cruz de la Palma The capital of La Palma, Santa Cruz de la Palma, is a colourful and relaxed city, and a visit here is one of the best things to do in La Palma. Its 15th century buildings and flower filled balconies reflect the colonial era and its cobbled streets lead to quaint cafes and relaxed eateries. You can experience a delightful day trip here with plenty to entertain, including the colourful Avenida Maritima, impressive Iglesia del Salvador and tempting markets. Feel as if you have stepped back in time in the beautiful Old Town while soaking up the maritime atmosphere. Easily accessed by bus or taxi from all La Palma towns.

6. Salt pans of Fuencaliente 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.

7. Uncover ancient carvings at Cultural Park La Zarza and Zarcita 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. Entry fee €2. Summer 11am – 7pm, winter 11am – 5pm. Located in Garafia

Hiking and walking in La Palma La Palma is unarguably a fantastic destination for walkers of all abilities. Over one thousand kilometres of trails lead through deep canyons and ravines, volcanic calderas and deep in to laurel forests. There are tracks to suit all levels of walking from a light amble to a challenging trek, making walking one of the most popular things to do in La Palma. The trails here are well sign-posted and classified in accordance with the European Rambler’s Association. Here are some of the best places for walking in La Palma: Los Tilos forest Los Tilos Forest is one of the few remaining Laurel forests in the world, resulting in a unique experience. The walking trails here wind through misty glades to glittering cascades, taking in a fascinating array of flora and fauna along the way. Don’t miss a visit to Cascada de Los Tilos, a stunning hidden waterfall.

Caldera de Taburiente Caldera de Taburiente is a volcanic caldera formed millions of years ago, which is now a favourite with hikers. The vast national park is filled with streams, waterfalls and rugged peaks in which to walk through. Hike through dense forests, in to deep valleys and walk alongside the ridge of a volcanic crater. Within the park is the highest peak on the island, Roque de la Muchachos, the fascinating Cascada de Los Colores and an 8 km wide caldera.

Cumbre Vieja National Park Cumbre Vieja National Park is situated in the heart of La Palma and home to extreme landscape contrasts, from green forests to barren volcanic crags. One of La Palma’s most popular hikes, known as the volcano route (Ruta de los volcanes), takes in the main sites of this beautiful park, including some of the oldest and newest lava formations, as well as a unique array of indigenous plants and animal species.

La Palma Beaches Due to their unique black sands and tranquil personality, La Palma’s beaches are simply wonderful. The black sands are created from the islands volcanic past and each beach is quiet, peaceful and utterly delightful. Thanks to being in a protected Biosphere Reserve, the waters a clean and clear, as well as featuring an azure glow due to the volcanic nature of the island. Make sure you bring a towel as the sand can get very hot.

La Palma Food La Palma’s cuisine consists mostly of fresh seafood and ingredients sourced from the island, therefore most restaurants serve homely and hearty food at reasonable prices. Here are some La Palma dishes you must try: Papas Arrugadas – Potatoes are boiled and dried with salt and served with a garlic and pepper sauce Fresh Sardines – Caught locally and served fresh from the island’s coast Cocomar in La Bombilla – Fresh fish served in a tasty Columbian style sauce Quesa Asado – Fried goats cheese Chiperones a la Pancha – Small squid cooked in oil Gambas – Prawns most often served with garlic Cerveza Gara – La Palma’s very own beer, brewed on the island Barraquitos – An espresso style drink served with condensed milk, a dash of liquor, shot of espresso and milk froth to top it off Events in La Palma Carnival Los Indianos: Taking place in either February or March, Carnival Los Indianos is a festival not to miss. The streets of La Palma fill with music, dancing and lots of talcum powder! Locals and visitors alike dress in white and throw talcum powder around the streets. La Bajada de la Virgen de Las Nieves: Bajada takes place in several towns across the Canary Islands, the term is Spanish for ‘bringing down’, meaning the bringing of the Patron Saint statue from its resting place to the people. In La Palma’s case, this is Virgen de Las Nieves (virgin of the snows). The festival takes place in July/August with several parades, pilgrimages and street entertainment. Fiesta de San Martin: This festival usually taking place in November where wine cellars open for visitors to celebrate the chestnut and grape harvest season. A great opportunity to taste local delicacies and wine. Fiestas San Miguel: An annual fiesta to worship the island’s patron saint, Fiestas San Miguel usually takes place in September. The streets fill with exhibitions, processions and unique celebrations, including the ‘dance of the Fufo horses’. Practical Information La Palma Weather averages: the best time to visit La Palma La Palma enjoys year-round, spring like weather and very little seasonal variation, however the best time to visit La Palma is from May to mid-October as the days are slightly longer. Temperatures are enjoyable year-round and the spring like weather is great for walkers, although the hottest months are July and August when the sea water is also at its warmest. Rainfall is not particularly high in La Palma and falls most in November and December.

Time in La Palma La Palma follows the same time zone as the UK so there is no time difference. La Palma Currency As part of Spain, the Euro is the only accepted currency in La Palma. La Palma Flight Time 4 hours and 30 minutes from London airports.

Museums in La Palma