La Palma

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Wooded hills in the Garajonay National Park, view from Garajonay mountain, highest peak of La Gomera island, La Palma island at the back, Gomera island, Canary Islands, Spain, Europe

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Overview

La Palma, the greenest of the Canarian islands, offers the chance to experience real, unspoiled nature – from the verdant forests of the north, where lush vegetation drips from the rainforest canopy; to the desertscapes of the south, where volcanic craters and twisted rock formations define the views; to the serene pine forests of the Parque Nacional de la Caldera de Taburiente. No wonder the entire island has been declared a Unesco biosphere reserve.

Attractions

Must-see attractions

Santuario de la Virgen de las Nieves

Santa Cruz de la Palma

For splendid views down the valley to Santa Cruz, put aside time to tackle the 4km uphill hike north of town to La Palma’s main object of pilgrimage, the…

Observatorio del Roque de Los Muchachos

La Palma

The huge telescopes on the peak of Roque de los Muchachos belong to the island’s astronomical observatory, one of the world’s best places to study the…

Parque Nacional de la Caldera de Taburiente

La Palma

Declared a national park in 1954, this beautiful park is at the heart of La Palma, both geographically and symbolically. Extending across 46.9 sq km, the…

Volcán San Antonio Visitor Centre & Volcán San Antonio

La Palma

The visitor centre is your first stop if you want to explore the volcanoes. Displays are well-captioned and informative, but the layout is not very…

Charco Azul

La Palma

Creatively designed Charco Azul is a blending of moulded concrete with natural volcanic rocks. The effect is stunning, especially when the waves are…

Museo Casa Roja

La Palma

This handsome ochre-red mansion (built in 1911), located down one of the steep streets from the main road, has downstairs exhibits on Corpus Christi – a…

Iglesia del Salvador

Santa Cruz de la Palma

The interior of this magnificent church boasts a glittering baroque pulpit dating back to 1750 and a stunningly intricate and coloured 16th-century wooden…