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Island Palm, also known as San Miguel de La Palma, is located in Atlantic Ocean, is part of the territory and is part of the province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. It is one of the highest islands on the planet relative to its area. It is distinguished by an abundance of volcanoes and magnificent natural landscapes, for which it has long been called “la isla bonita”, which means “the beautiful island”.

Peculiarities

Palma is considered perhaps the youngest piece of land in the Canaries. Its age is only about 2 million years. The surface is abundantly covered with dense pine and laurel forests, giving this massive green oasis a natural flavor. From the central part of the island to southern regions, passes a chain of volcanoes, some of which are still active today. In the northern region of Palma there is the world's largest crater of erosional origin - Caldera de Taburiente, which was given the status of a National Park in the early 50s of the last century. There are few convenient areas for a beach holiday at the resort due to its geological structure, therefore, to a large extent, tourist interest in it is caused by unique natural attractions. In 2002, UNESCO declared Palma a world biosphere reserve. Most of the local population is employed in agriculture, where the main crops are bananas and potatoes. Great attention is paid to the cultivation of tobacco, which is not inferior in quality to Cuban cigars and is of significant interest among tourists who buy it as souvenirs. The crime rate on the island is extremely low, but unemployment is high.

general information

The area of ​​the island is 708 square meters. km, with a population of about 90,000 people. Local time lags behind Moscow by 2 hours in summer and 3 in winter. Time zone UTC+0 in summer UTC+1. Telephone code Palms: (+34) 922. Official website www.lapalmaturismo.com.

A brief excursion into history

The Canary Islands are more than 30 million years old, and Palma, according to some scientists, may be a remnant of the mainland ancient Atlantis. However, these are just guesses. Historically, these lands were inhabited by Aurite tribes, traces of which were discovered by researchers in many places on the island. In the Middle Ages, pirates often visited here. There are many legends about their activities, treasures and treasures here. Cultural enlightenment in the form of church building, emergence works of art, sculptures and crafts, came to the island in full with the heyday of the Renaissance, after which the importance of Palma in the life of the country increased.

Climate

On climatic conditions islands are strongly influenced by warm air currents from north coast Africa, causing the air temperature to rise. Even in the winter months, the thermometer, as a rule, fluctuates around +18 degrees, although in summer it rarely rises above +28, on average limiting itself to +23. Rainfall mainly occurs in late autumn and spring, while there is almost no rain from June to August. It is this time period, as well as the period from September to October, that is considered the most optimal for a trip to the island.

How to get there

The palm tree has its own international Airport, but it only accepts charters from a few European countries. Mostly planes fly here from neighboring islands archipelago, including Hierro. In addition, there is a ferry service between the Canary Islands, in particular from Tenerife and La Gomera there are regular ferries to Palma. From Russia and some CIS countries, you can directly get to the Canaries only by flight to Tenerife.

Transport

The most convenient way to get around the island is by car. There are also regular buses, which, although they do not always adhere to the schedule, run regularly and in all directions.

Cities

The capital of the island is the small town of Santa Cruz de La Palma, located in its eastern part and founded in 1493 by the Spanish conquistador Alon so Fernandez de Lugo. It fully matches the appearance of the colonial port city and has several interesting architectural sites, including the Church of St. Salvador, the Castle of St. Catalina, rising right on the ocean, and the Museum of the Fleet, housed in an original building made in the shape of Christopher Columbus's caravel "Santa Maria". On the city streets there are many palaces and mansions built in the 17th-18th centuries by noble citizens.

Beaches

In the role of the main tourist centers for a beach holiday there is the village of Los Lancajos on east coast and Puerto Naos in the district of Los Llanos de Aridane in the western part of Palma. Also noteworthy is the city of Los Llanos, located in close proximity to the Caldera de Taburiente National Park. All these areas have comfortable hotels, well-established transport links and developed tourism infrastructure. The most popular among beach lovers are the beaches of Puerto Naos with the longest coastal strip of black volcanic sand and Charco Verde, which lies 2 km to the south, ideal for families with small children. The beaches of Playa de la Barqueta, Playa la Martina and, located apart from all the others, Playa de la Vota, are more suitable for lovers of a secluded holiday.

Attractions and entertainment

In terms of excursions and eco-tourism, Palma can give a hundred points ahead to almost any resort in the Canary Islands. One of the main natural attractions of these places is National Park La Caldera de Taburiente with a giant crater with a diameter of 8 km and a depth of 2 km. There are numerous walking trails throughout the reserve, movement along which, in certain areas, requires serious physical endurance. Some of the most scenic sites include the Pico de la Cruz summit, the "Gorge of Fear" at over 2000 meters, the Roca de los Muchachos trail, the Muchazos viewpoint and the Lomo de las Chosas hiking trail. You can get to the park by bus or car from the capital Santa Cruz.

Another outstanding natural attraction of Palma is the rocky walls of the gorge. Barranco del Agua, are a preserved fragment of an ancient laurel forest, declared a biosphere reserve by UNESCO in 1983. It has an area of ​​5 sq. km, and you can enjoy fabulous views from the observation deck in the town of Mirador Las Barrandas. If you climb the steep climbs to the peaks of Caldera de Marcos y Cordero, then from there you will see views of the island’s majestic waterfalls. Lovers of antiquities should definitely visit the archaeological region of La Zarza, with rock paintings carved on the walls of caves and other evidence of the existence of the ancient Benajoares tribes in these places. The La Zarza Information Center houses a museum in the halls of which unique exhibits related to the times of the Benajoares are exhibited. Those who wish have the opportunity to watch a short film about unusual finds and the results of research carried out by archaeologists in the area.

In addition to the popular excursion routes on Palma, there are many others interesting places, including unexplored picturesque cliffs, wild beaches, mysterious caves and volcanoes. Those tourists who do not have enough local beauty can take a boat trip to other islands of the archipelago. To get acquainted with the culture and traditions of Palma, as well as appreciate some architectural monuments past, you should definitely visit the capital Santa Cruz de La Palma, visit small village Los Llanos, visit El Paso, famous for its silk products. Palmitos Park is an excellent opportunity to discover beauty and has a huge number of butterflies, as well as a whole scattering of exotic birds. Just north of Santa Cruz is the church of the island's patron saint, Saint Madonna, with her terracotta statue and an altar made of Mexican silver. You can taste local wine and learn some of the secrets of its preparation in the city of Fuencaliente, near El Paso.

Kitchen

They give great pleasure to real gourmets and connoisseurs of Canarian cuisine. local restaurants, having wide choice dishes that contain a whole range of different taste sensations. Fresh fish, pork, goat meat, all kinds of vegetable soups and side dishes in combination with mojo sauce give a lot of vivid impressions, and tropical fruits with a touch of exoticism and delicious wines aged for many years fit harmoniously into any menu.

Shopping

Shoppers rarely leave Palma disappointed. There are many shops, souvenir shops and shopping centers where you can buy anything you want. Santa Cruz has the widest selection of goods. Souvenirs, clothes, shoes, and jewelry are available here. Connoisseurs of good tobacco should visit the Tobacos Vargas tobacco factory and low prices buy beautifully packaged tobacco, ideal also as a gift. Ceramic products are very popular in the village of Maso. El Paso has good shops specializing in wine and liquor, as well as shops where you can buy silk products.

Palma is not the most visited resort. Suffice it to say that it houses only about 7,000 hotel rooms to the whole island. Most tourists come here to explore the natural component of Palma and walk through the most protected places, enjoying the beauty of the local landscapes. In general, tourist interest in the resort is very high, especially among travelers who prefer active species recreation.

1. The main attraction of the island is National A park Caldera de Taburiente , located in the center of the island. A huge erosion crater was formed 400 thousand years ago as a result of a monstrous explosion and earthquake. In addition to rocks with unusual shapes, the crater is covered with thick pine forest. The depth of the crater reaches 2,000 m, its circumference is 28 km (diameter 8-10 km) and covers an area of ​​2426 m. A stone spire 800 m high rises from the bottom - Rocke de Idafe.

The caldera funnel is crossed in the same way deep ravines, with waterfalls and with a water drop of more than 100 m ( cascadas de la Desfondada, Hoyo Verde de colors, la Fondada and others) and streams of ferruginous water, like riachuelo Almendro Amargo, coloring the stones a bright red-orange color. Almost all the waters flow into the beautiful Dos Aguas Gorge (Dos Aguas) at an altitude of 520 m.

To view the Caldera de Taburiente in all its grandeur, there are several observation platforms: , And . The observation decks can be reached via conveniently marked paths and roads.

Roque de los Muchachos- the highest point (2426 m) of the island, where the largest and most significant of the northern hemisphere is located.

Unique and impressive landscapes National Park attract thousands of tourists every year. Along the territory of the reserve there are laid

There is a visitor information center (Centro de Visitantes del Parque Nacional La Caldera), created specifically for everyone who wants to get acquainted with the reserve. Here you can watch an exhibition in the exhibition hall, a film about the formation and characteristics of the Caldera, get maps in Spanish, English or German languages, guidebooks and brochures.

2. One of the largest and most significant observatories of the Northern Hemisphere is located on this island. Palma has unique geographical, topographical and meteorological conditions that are extremely favorable for stargazing. The island's remoteness and sparse population allows scientists to observe the starry sky in virtually the absence of artificial light. The air above the mountain is virtually still, helped by the prevailing winds and the unique shape of the mountain. For most of the year, clouds that trap dust and moisture are below the observatory. All these factors contribute to perfect observation of distant stars and galaxies.

The Roque de los Muchachos Observatory is an astronomical observatory founded in 1985 in the municipality of Garafia, owned by the Canarian Institute of Astrophysics, which is part of the Northern European Observatory. The largest observatory belongs to Isaac Newton Group of Telescopes. It houses the largest telescope in Europe, named after William Herschel. Today, several international scientific organizations operate here. “Telescopic time” is strictly divided between professional astronomers from all over the world. Several specialists apply for every minute. Everything is controlled from a computer console, and operators sit in warm rooms. Thanks to the natural conditions of Palma and the extreme precision of scientific equipment, the observatory on the Roque de los Muchachos is a unique window on the Universe.

3. The entire north of the island is covered with cherry laurel forests growing at an altitude of 500-1500 m. Such forests covered the entire south of Europe in the Tertiary period. Only here can you find trees and ferns, which can rightfully be considered real living fossils. Forest Los Tilos, located not far from Los Sauces, declared a biosphere reserve by UNESCO and is an excellent example of such a forest. There are trails for walking here.

Gorges of Barranco del Agua Barranco del Agua in the northeast of the island of the municipality of Puntallana (Puntallana) and Cubo de la Galga (Cubo de la Galga) And nature reserve Galgen (Galguén) in the municipalities of Barlovento and Garafia (Barlovento and Garafía) are also worth special attention. Every nature lover will appreciate these excursions.

4. Not far from Barlovento there is a small cultural park fraught with many mysteries and secrets. We are talking about an archaeological region and ethnographic center La Zarza, where you can see evidence of the existence of the Benaoares - the ancient inhabitants of La Palma. They left petroglyphs carved into rocks at several locations in the northern part of the island, including Destiny Faro, Don Pedro and Juan Adalid. These designs consist mainly of spirals, circles and linear figures, the meaning of which remains unknown. Interestingly, exactly the same drawings, called petroglyphs, are present in Irish Newgrange and date back to the megalithic era (Irish petroglyphs date back to 3200 BC; they are older than Stonehenge and Egyptian pyramids). The information center has a museum dedicated to the life of the Aurites. The exhibition is supplemented by a 20-minute video film.

And in the archaeological park of Belmaco, in the municipality Villa de Mazo, you can see ten caves and rock paintings of the Benaoarites - the residence of the last leaders of the canton of Tigalate - Hugiro and Gareagua. It was here that the first cave paintings in the Canary Islands were discovered in the 18th century.

5. IN La Tosca (Barlovento) and in Buracas (Garafía) You can admire the dragon trees growing here. The trunks of the oldest dragon trees look very exotic: they are disproportionately thick, topped with a thick brush of sharp leaves. The trunk of an adult dracaena branches fancifully, forming many side shoots. Some trees produce aerial roots covering the trunk. And sometimes a hollow forms in the trunk of an old dragon tree - large enough to accommodate a person. Residents of the Canary Islands consider such trees sacred; rituals are performed near them.

The red resin secreted by dracaena when cut is also considered sacred. This resin was used in ancient times for embalming; legend says that it is not just resin: under the dracaena bark there is real dragon blood. Carnivorous dragons once lived in these parts and elephants were their prey. But one day a large elephant fell and crushed the dragon. Dragon blood soaked the ground and rose up the trunk of the tree that grew in this place.

Locals make beautiful jewelry from the seeds of the dragon tree.

6. Visiting volcanoes San Antonio and Teneguía (Fuenacaliente) will not leave anyone indifferent; they represent an amazing contrast to the green part of the island.
The last eruption of the volcano was in 1971 and near its crater you can still feel the warmth from the extinct volcano.

7. La Palma has beautiful, comfortable beaches made of black volcanic sand. The water is very clean, and thanks to artificially erected breakwaters on some of them, very calm. The coast is home to a huge amount of marine life, so in addition to swimming, there are excellent conditions for diving. The beaches are quite comfortable: there are playgrounds and many cafes, and huge palm trees grow along the beaches, under the shade of which you can relax from the hot sun. You can also discover almost wild, but lovingly maintained beaches or visit artificial sea pools.

8. Capital of the island (Santa Cruz de La Palma) is a small town with many narrow streets and ancient buildings in neoclassical and colonial style with Portuguese or Andalusian details. It is located on a mountainside, near the rim of the crater la Caldereta. The importance of La Palma during the Renaissance, when its capital Santa Cruz became the third port of the Spanish Empire after Seville and Antwerp, is reflected in its architecture.

City center - small triangular Plaza de Espana (Plaza di Spagna) with a wonderful stone fountain (1776). There is a monument to the “liberal” and the priest on it El Salvador-Manuel Diaz Hernandez (1774-1863).

And here is the famous (Church of the Savior) with a high bell tower, built in 1503. The main building is in the Renaissance style and was expanded in subsequent centuries. The sacristy houses fine examples of wood carvings in the Gothic style. The Mudejar style ceiling is made from the heartwood of pine trees.
On the other side of the square is the no less famous city hall of the capital, built in 1569, with an arcade in the style of the Italian Renaissance. The second floor is decorated with the coats of arms of Philip II of Spain, Palma and the Austrian royal house. The Town Hall is also famous for one feature - the wood finishing and ceiling treatment called Mudejar. Inside, the walls are painted with the painting "Pilgrimage" by the Palmeran artist Gonzalez Mendes (1843-1909) and frescoes by the artist M. Kassir (1890-1960), showing the folklore of La Palma.
The very first democratic town hall in Spain in 1773! There is a very old and valuable archive of historical documents dating back to 1553.

Another attraction of Santa Cruz is the fortress. Castillo de Santa Catalina , which perfectly defended the city from numerous French pirates. It was built in 1554, after the defeat of the city by pirates under the leadership of the legendary François Le Clerc in 1553, and thanks to which the islanders were able to repel the legendary pirate Francis Drake in 1585. It also served as the location of a military garrison. On its territory there were living quarters, warehouses and a prison.

Casa Salazar , on one of the main streets of Santa Cruz. This incredibly beautiful, rich building was built already in the 17th century by the governor of the island, Ventura Salazar.

At the end of the street Calle Real you can see the Ship of Our Lady, Barco de la Virgen - Maritime Museum of Santa Cruz de La Palma (Museo Naval de Santa Cruz de La Palma). Santa Maria- a replica ship of St. Mary, on which Christopher Columbus made his voyage to America, built by the descendants of sailors and shipbuilders and opened in 1940 as a maritime museum.

North of the capital Santa Cruz, in the municipality of Velhoco, is the sanctuary of the island's patroness - Nueatra Senora de Las Nievas. In - the Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Snows, there is an altar made of Mexican silver and a terracotta statue of the Madonna. The image itself Virgen de Las Nieves already from the 15th century. This is the oldest image of the Virgin in the Canary Islands. The iconostasis was built in the 16th century, in the Baroque style, it is gilded and many details are made in chased silver (art of the 17th-18th centuries). This church contains one part of a collection of Flemish sculptures and paintings from the 16th and 17th centuries, which are found in various churches on the island and represent a very rare and valuable historical heritage.

9. The collection of Flemish sculptures and paintings from the 16th and 17th centuries represents a very rare and valuable historical heritage. All works can be viewed in different churches on the island.

12. Another attraction of the Canaries is National cuisine- a mixture of Latin American and European cultures with indigenous heritage and elements of African cuisine. Its simplicity emphasizes the quality of local products. Canarian cuisine consists of simple but high-calorie dishes. The islanders love to eat with pleasure and a lot, with family and in a big, cheerful company.

Beaches of La Palma

Puerto Naos is a small, cute resort with 330 hours of sunshine a year. Here is the longest beach on the island with black sand, many cafes, restaurants and shops.

2 km south is Charco Verde - picturesque sand beach, ideal for a family holiday.

Popular hotels in La Palma

Guides on La Palma

Entertainment and attractions of La Palma

The capital is Santa Cruz small town, whose main attractions are located within a few blocks of the Avenida Marítima promenade. Here it is worth visiting: Plaza de España, Dali Street with the Salazar Palace of the 17th century, Constitution Square, Church of the Holy Light of the 16th century, Aiantamiento (town hall) of the 16th century. It is also worth visiting the House of Tobacco, where they hold interesting excursions and you can buy very high quality cigars.

Maps of La Palma

La Caldera de Taburiente National Park

La Caldera de Taburiente is a giant crater with a diameter of 8 km and a depth of up to 2 km, formed by powerful volcanic eruptions. This fourth National Park in Spain was opened in 1954. There are many walking routes throughout the park (some of which require good health when climbing). There is a volcanic rock (10 km in diameter) and the “Gorge of Fear” (the height of the walls reaches 2000 m). The park can be reached by car or bus from Santa Cruz (8 km).

Pico de la Cruz is one of the most high peaks in the park. You can get here in 4-5 hours. Roque de los Muchachos is a trail that runs along the highest peaks and offers stunning views of the crater walls. At the very top of Mount Muchasos, at an altitude of 2400 m, an observation deck has recently opened - the highest on the island. The new observation deck is part of excursion route Espigon del Roque de los Muchachos and is expected to soon become the most visited on the island. Lomo de las Chosas, on the other hand, is a short and easy trail.

4 things to do on La Palma

1. Learn a little more about Benajoares at the La Zarza Museum.
2. Buy quality cigars at the House of Tobacco - if not for yourself, then as a gift.
3. Feel like you're on top of the world at the observation deck at the top of Mount Muchasos.
4. Overcome yourself during difficult times walking route through La Caldera de Taburiente park.

Los Tilos

The rocky walls of the Barranco del Agua gorge are the largest habitat on the island of the ancient laurel forest - laurisilva. In 1983, Los Tilos was declared a biosphere reserve by UNESCO.

In the reserve with an area of ​​5 square meters. km there are several walking trails. One of them leads to the Mirador Las Barrandas observation deck. The longer (6 km) and steeper route heads northwest to the Caldera de Marcos y Cordero, where you can admire spectacular waterfalls.

Views of La Palma

La Zarsa

In the archaeological area of ​​La Zarza, evidence of the existence of the Benajoares, the ancient inhabitants of the island of La Palma, was found. Evidence of their existence, which attracts tourists so much, is strange signs carved on the rocks (petroglyphs). They can be seen in the areas of Roque Faro, Don Pedro and Juan Adalid. These designs mainly consist of spirals, circles and linear figures, and their meaning remains unknown to this day. The real “hit” of all the finds here are the images in the Aztec style: a man and an abstract figure of a woman with the head of an insect.

The La Zarza Visitor Center has a museum dedicated to the life of the Benajoares, which includes a 20-minute film that introduces the nutrition, medicine and funeral rituals of this people.

It's no secret that in the 17th - 18th centuries. AD, Spain and England were great maritime powers and controlled the majority sea ​​routes. Serious battles took place in all parts of the world to increase influence. One of the stumbling blocks for the filibusters of both countries was the island of La Palma, located in the Canary archipelago. Its inaccessible, rocky shores were a good natural defense against attacks from the sea, so both of them dreamed of gaining a foothold on this island.

In the championship of volcanic formations, better known as the Canary Islands, La Palma ranks fifth, the largest, but not the most important. Rising 2.5 thousand meters above the archipelago, the island stores on its territory evidence of glorious, epic battles. From the moment the Spaniards decided to introduce local tribe Guanches to civilization and until the beginning of the 20th century, battles did not subside here. The natives lost this battle for their island and were forced to either assimilate into Spanish society or die.

La Palma beach

The rocky, sometimes inaccessible shores of the island, it would seem, should have nothing in common with beaches, however, this beautiful corner boasts luxurious sandy shores, Where tourist holiday comes first. Equipment local beaches staged on a grand scale. There is everything here: from beach cabins and sun loungers with umbrellas, to stations where you can rent any equipment for active rest on the water, be it fishing, diving or surfing.

Not far from the village of Breca Baia, one of the most visited by travelers is Cancaios Beach, which consists of several bays protected from strong winds. There is a separate Children's swimming pool, taking into account all safety precautions. A sufficient number of cafeterias and various bars have been built around the beach to satisfy the tastes of the most demanding tourists.

The island of La Palma is the center of beaches for every taste. There is even a beach for nudists (the only official one). The descent to the water is also the most varied - from long pedestrian descents near Los Nogales, which is not far from the community of Puntalanna, to the most popular Puerto Naos, located among coconut palms. It’s worth stopping at this point and taking a closer look.

Most tourists who have visited the island of La Palma consider the resort of Puerto Naos to be the pearl of the island, and it is difficult to argue with that. It has its own microclimate - even in rainy weather throughout the island, it is almost always sunny here. The town is surrounded by huge volcanic rocks and this creates conditions for constant rising currents of warm air. Ideal for paragliding.

In order to realize that Puerto Naos beach is the most extensive on the island of La Palma, you do not need to be a topographer. Black volcanic sand will not bring joy, only in very hot weather (it heats up very quickly), but here vacationers are unexpectedly lucky, it rarely gets really hot here. Black sand has a remarkable advantage over all others - it does not leave marks on the body. After drying a little, you just need to shake it off.

Another advantage of this beach is its unique equipment for people with disabilities. There are special slopes for them, railings for the visually impaired and much more. On the beach of Puerto Naos, Red Cross employees are constantly on duty, there are showers right on the street and, like the icing on the cake for couples with children, excellent playgrounds.

Speaking about the beaches of the island of La Palma, it should be noted such places as: Las Muñas; Charco Verde; Fuencaliente; La Faiana; surfers' paradise - Playa Nueva Los Guirres and beautifully equipped Tazacorte, where several fish restaurants preparing dishes from the catch of local fishermen. They fish in sight of vacationers and in a good mood, they sing native songs. Those who heard and observed this share their impressions with complete delight.

Puerto Naos beach. La Palma Island. Spain

Sights of the island of La Palma

The size of the island does not matter when it comes to the number of attractions located on it. It is curious that having visited the island of La Palma in the 19th century, Baron von Buch first used the term “caldera,” meaning the inner cauldron of the volcano (caldera - cauldron (Spanish)). It is easy to assume that this comparison occurred to him while studying the Caldera de Taburiente crater, which has now become a national park. To explore this majestic monument of natural activity, various tourist routes and observation platforms are provided.

For romantically inclined tourists, it will be interesting to look at the “Mountain of Guys” (Roque de los Muchachos), about which the native guides will tell a lot interesting stories. Here is located highest point island, from which you can see not only the entire local terrain, but also the neighboring islands of La Palma.

It’s better to climb the mountain by car, but to go downhill, it’s better to travel by car. tourist route, on foot or by bike. During the daytime, you can visit one of the main assets of the island - the scientific astrophysical observatory located on this mountain. The fantastic picture of buildings located among the clouds will be imprinted in your memory for a long time.

For lovers of cityscapes, there is also something to see on the island. The magnificent Avenida Marittima embankment has absorbed the most interesting examples of medieval architecture. Amazing building facades look ocean waters, striking the traveler's imagination.

Avenida Marittima embankment. La Palma Island. Spain

Stroll through Plaza España, in the heart of Santa Cruz de la Palma, the island's capital. The unusual, triangular shape of the square is framed by majestic Renaissance buildings. This is the City Hall and the Church of the Savior, notable for its unique painted vaults. Don't forget to visit the Tobacco Museum, even if you are not a smoker. The guides will lead a fascinating tour of the island’s past, which included the production of tobacco products.

Describe all the beauty in one article fairy island La Palma is an impossible task, however, if you are eager to visit here, then this is due not to the author, but to the splendor of the local nature and the glorious history of the island.

For some tourists, a trip to La Palma is associated with beach holiday and measured walks around the city, but for others La Palma is hiking. The island offers countless forest and mountain routes - from one-day to multi-day ones with overnight stays in tents in the forest. Most of the museum-reserves and observation decks are also located under the open sky, so La Palma is considered an island for active recreation.

The best time for trekking is spring and autumn, when it is not very hot. You can also go rock climbing in the mountainous areas, and speleology in the cave areas of Villa de Mazo. You can explore the beauty of the island not only on foot, but also on horseback, like a real conquistador. One of the most spectacular routes begins in Fuencaliente and ends at the Caldera de Taberiente.

The island is washed by the beautiful Atalatic Ocean - this is where there is freedom for lovers sea ​​trips, sailing, kayaking and fishing. During excursion walks along the sea you can meet dolphins. Fans of more extreme recreation La Palma offers diving, paragliding and mountain biking.

Transport features of La Palma

Although La Palma is an island for lovers of walking, it is still most convenient to get around the island by car, since most of the tourist national parks and observation points are located outside the city. Be prepared for the fact that La Palma is largely mountainous and has steep serpentine roads. To rent a car, you will need to provide a driver's license, voucher and credit card Visa, AMEX, Mastercard. To drive a car and rent it abroad, you must have an international driver's license, which you can obtain at the MREO traffic police department.

Another way to get around is, of course, buses, which run here on a regular schedule. Each stop has a route map and schedule. You can buy bus tickets directly from the driver, or purchase a travel ticket (bono card). The cost of travel from Los Canjajos to Santa Cruz de La Palma (7-10 minutes drive) is approximately 1.5 euros. And from Santa Cruz de La Palma to Los Llanos or Fuencalente (an hour's drive) about 2.5 euros.