La Palma Canary Islands
La Palma Tourist Information
La Palma
La Palma is the most North western island of the seven larger islands in the Archipelago of the Canary Islands (Isla Canarias). The Canaries Archipelago consist of seven large and six smaller islands based in the Atlantic Ocean, lying some 100km off the North West coast off Africa (Morocco and Western Sahara) and about 1100km from the Spanish mainland (Cadiz). The Canary Islands are split into 2 Spanish provinces; The Westerly Islands of Tenerife, La Palma, Gomera and Hierro from the province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife (chief town Santa Cruz) while the Eastern Islands of Gran Canaria, FuerteVentura and Lanzarote from the province of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (chief town Las Palmas).
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La Palma is known as the 'Pretty Isles' by the Canary Islanders! The island has a natural beauty with a sharp contrast of green countryside with spectacular vegetation and floral wealth to mountain and volcanic cones, lava flows and craters with the La Caldera del Taburiente which holds the World record for the largest volcanic crater with a diameter of 9 kilometers and a depth of 770 meters! Along with the natural beauty of the island La Palmas has a culture that is full of traditions, cuisine, crafts and folklore which has survived from aboriginal inhabitants time and they left a wide variety of natural archaeological riches.
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You can see the beauty of La Palma from the various view points across the islands, one of the best view points is from the terrific natural monument, Mirador de la Cumbrecita. The other is located in the beautiful valley of Los Lanos de Aridane, the view point El Time, here you can overlook the National Park Caldera del Taburiente.
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The island's highest mountain, Roque de los Muchachos, is one of many acclaimed attractions in La Palma, with an astronomical observatory, which is considered the most important astrophysics observatory in the northern hemisphere, at its peak it measures 2423 meters. Other attractions include the Caldera de Taburiente National Park, the El Canal y Los Tiles forests, which is declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO, and archaeological sites like Zarza or Belmaco. These are just a taste of the marvels that are to be discovered by exploring or walking the trails and paths of the Island.
La Palma has beautifull beaches that run along the coast of the island! Some made up of fine volcanic sand and small coves, some small and secluded and other long stretches of fine sand with an abundant of tourist facilities, these beaches you will find nearer the main tourist resorts.
The Capital of La Palma is Santa Cruz de La Palma which is located on the islands East coast, this picturesque port-town with over eighteen inhabitants! It has striking architecture and has managed to keep up with the times offering a really lively ambience, but still keeping a resemblence of the historical importance of the island! Among the town with its characteristical steeply inclined alleys, you will find some most important sights there, which are the Town Hall and the church Iglesia del Salvador, both of which are 16th century, and the interesting Museum of Natural Science. Located just a few kilometers out of the town centre is the Santuario de la Virgen de las Nieves, which is a sanctuary of the island's patroness! Behind Santa Cruz de La Palma, like a colossal amphitheater, is where you will find the mighty volcanic crater, Caldereta!
There are few tourist resorts in La Palma, all have something special about them like; Breña Baja, with some very beautiful small bays and great beaches of sand - Playa de Cancajos, In Mazo, which is close to the airport, there is the Cueva de Belmacoa which is a cave with prehistorical engravings - from here you also have a great view over the coast. Then there is Cueva Bonita, which is close to Tijarafe, and is a beautiful grotto that really is deserving of a visit. Tazacorte, this resort is surrounded by large plantations of bananas, and has a picturesque port and fine sand beaches, In Fuencaliente you can enjoy of the unusual contrast of vineyards and volcanic craters. Best known are the craters of San Antonio and Teneguía, the latter having erupted for the so far last time in 1971. Puerto de Naos is a traditional fishing-village with splendid beaches of fine sand. Around San Andrés and Sauces there are large and beautiful woods.
Although there are not the typical tourist attractions like Water parks, theme parks etc, which you will find in some holiday destinations - here you will never be stuck for anything to do! Other than the main sight-seeing attractions that are mentioned above there are lots of water sports and excursions that you can participate in!
There are many places to stay while in the capital, from basic hotels to luxurious ones, private apartments and villas. In Los Llanos de Aridane, the second largest town, there are 23 different lodgings. However, on the rest of the Island, places to stay are more limited, except in the tourist resorts of Los Cancajos, in Breña Baja where again you will find the usual hotels, apartments and villas!
La Palma is truly a spectacular island and is well worth a visit to explore it even if you are not staying there!!
La Palma Essential Information
Please find to follow a few helpful numbers, important information and useful tips that will help make your stay in La Palma more enjoyable and stress free..
The Language used is Spanish
The Currency used is the Euro
La Palma is also running on GMT so there isn't a time difference between there and the UK
Visa's are not needed if you are a member of the EU, as long as your stay is below 90days.
The dialing code is the same as the Spanish mainland 0034 (remember to drop the zero from the beginning of the number being called if calling to the UK)
The Spanish Embassy number is; 020 7235 5555
In an Emergency please call; 061
Cash machines are not widely available throughout the Island.
The Voltage in La Palma is 220V - so take an European adapter!!
The shops are generally open Monday to Saturday 9am till 1pm, closing for a couple of hours in the afternoon and opening again from 4.30pm till about 8pm!
Banks are a little different they are generally open Monday to Friday 9am till 2pm.
Please be aware of Ticket touts, they can be selling illegal trips on the streets and beaches
More Canary Island links;
Gran Canaria Site Map | ||
La Palma Information
La Palma Canary Islands Spain