Many people go to La Palma for its scenery. The volcanic landscape is like nothing on earth and many parts of it are inaccessible unless on foot. For this reason there are many marked hiking trails and small boarding houses for those that want to explore the island in depth.
It’s best to drive out of your resort to the start of the trail or take a bus or taxi so you don’t waste time on the less interesting parts of the island. The view from many of the mountains, especially ‘Los Muchachos’, is spectacular.
La Palma Mini Guide
La Palma is the most north-westerly of the Canary Islands and a breathtakingly beautiful place to visit. This mountainous island is volcanic in origin and among the steepest islands in the world, making it fantastic for walking and hiking.
At the altitude of almost two and a half thousand metres there are some unforgettable views at the top of the La Palma volcano. An observatory exists at the summit of La Palma, the Roque des los Muchachos Observatory, which is an incredible location from which to do some star gazing.
In La Palma the scenery is always nothing less than dramatic with one valley even called the Barranco de las Angustias (Valley of Fear). Despite the main volcano on La Palma, the Cumbre Vieja being dormant, it is still potentially active and there was an eruption there in the early 1970s.
Despite rising seven kilometres from its root in the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean, La Palma is small. At its centre is a national park dominated by a huge crater called the Caldera de Taburiente, which is one of the largest in the world. It was because of a visit to La Palma by the geologist Leopold Van Buch in the 29th century that the Spanish word for bowl ‘Caldera’ was actually invented. La Palma’s unique environment has given rise to some endemic species which live there such as birds, a giant lizard and species of fir tree.
Resorts on La Palma include Playa de los Cancajos, Puerto Naos and Santa Cruz de la Palma which is also the capital of the island. These resorts are based around beautiful beaches, though the beaches are formed from volcanic black sand.
The combination of having an awesome natural park with many great outdoor areas to explore and a community geared towards tourism is a good one. It means that you can go to La Palma to get off the beaten track and have a relaxing yet fun filled holiday, all the while being surrounded by the conveniences which make a holiday comfortable.
The Isla de la Palma, as it is known as known by locals, has less than 100,000 people living there.
Having a car is very necessary on this island, though there are some very sharp bends on the road due to its steepness so cautious driving is advised. In spite of the bends the roads are in very good condition and there are plenty of them.
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