La Palma – a genuine paradise

La Palma is an island of considerable ecological interest with over 20 protected areas, including one of the Canary Islands’ four national parks, an extensive marine reserve, natural reserves, and sites of special scientific interest. 

Those fond of astronomical navigation may well be pleased to hear that La Palma is one of the world’s best locations for stargazing and home to the world’s first international Starlight certification (as both a Starlight Reserve and Tourist Destination).  The “Sky Law”, in place now for over 30 years and also the first of its kind, protects the quality of the night sky, mitigating light and atmospheric pollution around the island and reducing the harmful effects of nocturnal illumination on birds, animals and insects. (For more info: https://en.fundacionstarlight.org/)

A visit up to the Roque de los Muchachos, the island’s highest peak at over 2426m, offers spectacular views of the interior of the Caldera de Taburiente, as well as renowned international astronomy site, the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory. The impressive array of equipment includes the Gran Telescopio Canarias (GTC), and the Large Size Telescopes Chernenkov LST-1 in place since 2018, amidst some twenty other telescopes from a wide variety of international institutions. Visits to some of the facilities are possible using official guides. Follow this link for more information https://www.iac.es/en/observatorios-de-canarias/roque-de-los-muchachos-observatory 

As might be expected, the island is a paradise for hikers, mountain bikers, geologists, biologists and divers. Have a look at this excellent guide to paths for walkers and cyclists. https://www.senderosdelapalma.es/en/, with information on visitor centres, walking and cycling trails, and various types of overnight accommodation for travellers.   

Special recommendations include:

• A visit to the Caldera de Taburiente National Park, a volcanic crater with a depth of some 1500km and nearly 8km wide, also accessible via a 3km hike up the nearby Barranco de las Angustias ravine.

• The resplendent humid laurisilva (Laurel tree forests) up in Los Tilos, the Las Nieves Natural Park, feel like another world – look out for the notably blue La Palma chaffinch (pinzón palmero).

• The Ruta de Los Volcanes, with two alternative routes (approx. 18 or 24kms), with incredible views and almost lunar landscapes.

• Award-winning wines and charming bodegas with wine routes featuring some of the island’s DOP (Denominación de Origen Protegida) products, such as the “vino de Tea”: wines aged in caskets made from Canarian pine heartwood.

• The natural swimming pools in the north (Charco Azul, La Fajana, Juan Adalid – amongst others.