La Palma Canarian. The main attractions of the island of La Palma

Part 1 - Santa Cruz de La Palma - Caldera Taburiente (Cumbrecita)
Part 2 - Los Llanos - Roque de Muchachos - petroglyphs of La Zarza - Los Tilos
Part 3 - Volcanoes of San Antonio and Teneguia - Tazacorte

They say La Palma is the greenest of the Canary Islands. We decided to see this for ourselves. Last year Tenerife and I started traveling around neighboring islands(, Lanzarote), and we really liked this idea. The visit to the green island was planned for January holidays.

Back in the summer, I booked a couple of hotels on La Palma: Sol La Palma And H10 Costa Salinas, deciding to make the final choice closer to the trip. But tickets for the Fred Olsen ferry appeared much later - at the end of October. I decided not to delay, and besides, take advantage of the promotional rate, and booked tickets in advance on the Internet. However, with such a reservation, two small pitfalls may await you: if you are sailing with a car, then you need its number; and second, boarding tickets for the ferry must either be printed 48 hours in advance, or go to the port and get them at the ticket office.

When I was choosing tickets on the website, I was very upset by the proposed schedule: the ship departed from Tenerife at 19.00 and arrived at Palma at around 22.00. A completely uninteresting option. And only on January 6th (!!!) when nothing works in Spain and they celebrate their favorite holiday, a morning flight was listed on the schedule. I didn’t think twice, changed the dates of my hotel stay for one day, and grabbed such interesting tickets!

We set sail from the port Los Cristianos January 6th. We already know how to load a ferry by car from our trip to La Gomera last year. The ship was, surprisingly, half empty, and those who boarded on Tenerife, for the most part, got off on Homer. From La Gomera to La Palma there were only two or three dozen of us left. The children had complete control of the empty playroom, and we watched the seascapes through the window.

Here is our friend from last year - La Gomera.

And on the other hand, Teide floats above the clouds, showing off its snow cap.

Almost three hours after departure, La Palma began to loom on the horizon

And here is Binter Canaries hurrying to the island. We flew this baby in the summer in Lanzarote

From the water I recognized the outline of the hotel I had booked.

And we are greeted by the capital of the island, which has almost the same name as the capital of Tenerife - Santa Cruz de La Palma.

Immediately from the ferry we go to check into our hotel H10 Costa Salinas, which is located exactly ten minutes from the port of Santa Cruz, in a cozy place called Los Cancajos. Surprisingly, the hotel doors were locked. There was an announcement on them that the reception should be found in the nearby four-star hotel H10 Taburiente playa. We were given keys to the front door of the hotel and to our room. Guests of our Costa Salinas can safely use the infrastructure of their older brother Taburiente playa, which is essentially located in the middle between them. We were given a room in a higher category than I ordered, apparently due to the low season and the hotel being unoccupied. And our cute house appears in all the photos of this hotel on Booking.com. More details about the room, its pros and cons, can be found on my review page.

We went out onto our huge balcony and saw off Fred, who, having dropped off the passengers, sailed back to Tenerife.

We walked a bit around the hotel grounds, which offered a wonderful view of the capital of the island.

We began to think about what we could do today, given that nothing was working anywhere, due to the holiday - the Parade of the Magi.
So, before us is the island of La Palma:

We decided to start with the observation deck above the capital - Mirador de la Concepcion. But in order to get back - towards Santa Cruz de La Palma, each time we had to start moving in the opposite direction from it - this is how the road in Los Cancajos is arranged. The first one we came across on the way was another lookout, which offers a view of our lovely village.

Well, Mirador de la Concepcion gave us simply fantastic views, both of the capital with its colorful houses, and of its neighboring areas.

Interesting monument, which we drove past for 4 days, but still didn’t understand what the author wanted to say.

With trepidation and impatience, I looked at the mountain range that we had to overcome tomorrow.

Well, having finished the photo shoot at the mirador, we begin the long descent to the capital. So far, everything around me reminds me of the north of the island of Tenerife - the Santa Cruz - Anagi area.

It took a very long time to go down, the road twists and turns continuously, along beautiful bright houses, palm trees and gardens. Surprisingly, we did not meet a single oncoming car. The navigator took us around the edge of Santa Cruz and turned us onto a one-way road - the oncoming one. In fact, we could have gotten to the parking lot much faster if we had gone down the same road we went up to the mirador, but that wouldn't have been fun! Finally we got to the embankment, found parking, and it turned out to be free today.

We went for a walk through a completely empty city: all shops and restaurants were closed, there were practically no people on the streets, and the paved central street was dotted with colorful confetti - traces of the past holiday.

Deserted Calle Anselmo led us to Piazza di Spagna. The silence here was broken by an interesting character: on a bench, opposite the Church of the Holy Savior, there was a man with a tape recorder turned on at full volume, from which catchy reggae sounded. Reggae in an empty city, on central square- makes a strong impression :))

Most of the cathedrals, built during the 16th century, are made in the Moorish style: thick walls painted white and masonry of volcanic stones in the corners.
Church of the Savior (Iglesia Matriz de El Salvador). The bell tower was erected at the very beginning of the 16th century.

Here, in Plaza de España, in addition to the church, you can find a stone fountain (late 16th century) and the City Hall building.

Climbing up an empty street, we found ourselves in Saint Domingo Square with the church of the same name.

An interesting house was also discovered here. Judging by the inscription, Palmovsky architects work here, who apparently were original.

Even the city roofs are a constant reminder that we are on the greenest island. And tomorrow we will be convinced of this for sure.

Having walked around a small block, we again found ourselves near the Cathedral of the Savior.

Door handle collection

Where there are elegant entrance groups in the entrances - doors are open everywhere.

Santa Cruz Fortress

We spent a little over an hour walking around the city. With great difficulty we found a restaurant here that was ready to feed us. The food is cheap and very mediocre. But, as they say, without fish there is cancer.

Second day. La Cumbrecita - Los Llanos

The most important thing planned for today is a trip to the Taburiente National Park (Caldera de Taburiente) in the Cumbrecita area. You can find a lot in Kumbrechit walking routes. Due to the fact that the parking space there is very limited (there are only 16 spaces available for booking), there are only two ways to get there by car: either take a taxi from the information office, or book a parking time in advance on the Internet on the website of the National parks of the Canary Islands. I preferred the second method. On the website you need to select the date, hours of arrival and the amount of time spent there, print out this reservation (it’s free) in two copies and be sure to take it with you.

On the way, we stop at the observation deck de la Cumre, from where you can see two islands at once: Tenerife and La Gomera.

Then, through a series of tunnels, along a simple serpentine road, we continue our journey in the direction of the town of El Paso, where the branch of the road to Cumbrecita begins.

IN information center We grab a map of the Caldera, indicating all possible routes, distances, and approximate travel time.

The nature here is amazing! A variety of trees grow: fluffy Canary pines, different varieties of palm trees, blooming almonds and even bald ones.

After some time we pass the checkpoint and present our reservation. The narrow road begins to twist and rise.

We found a place not in the main parking lot, but in an additional one. We buried our noses in a mosaic of Christmas trees.

That's all (almost) parking on Cumbrecita

We looked around - beautiful! We unfolded the map and began to choose a route. It took a long time to come to a decision. Where I wanted to go it was 5-6 km, where the path was 1 km it seemed sad and uninteresting. I booked a time for 3 hours.

After much deliberation, the route to Pico Bejenado (1.854 m) was chosen. And although the map said that the path there was not close and was more than 4 km, with an ascent of 560 m, we somehow ignored this information, or rather, we did not take it seriously enough. Having dressed the children and ourselves in the warmest clothes (January 7, after all, and the mountains), we cheerfully began the climb. A narrow path led up the slope, and very quickly the car parking lot was somewhere far below, which gave us strength and confidence that we could cope with the climb without any problems. We started at 11.40, noting the time to calculate the return point.

Here you can clearly see the width of the path along which you need to climb up above the caldera.

Our children, experienced travelers, walked forward “like tanks” and did not know Tired at all. But for adults, the climb was harder. The flat sole of our shoes constantly slid along the pine needles covering the path, and every now and then tripped over volcanic stones and cones that came across the way.

All our suffering was compensated by the beauty and fresh pine air around us.

Look down, and there is an abyss!

Warm clothes turned out to be unnecessary, and after 30 minutes of getting up we were all wet. Finally, we reached the first peak of El Rodeo, where we rested, undressed, and packed all our warm clothes into my dad’s enormous backpack.

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 of boat trips, sailing, kayaking and fishing. During excursion walks along the sea you can meet dolphins. Those who love 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 tourist national parks and observation platforms 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.

Remember the advertisement for a chocolate bar: a girl with a beautiful figure is basking by a palm tree against the backdrop of the turquoise sea and drinking coconut milk?.. Today we will tell you about a place where you can not only feel paradisaic delight, but also to check real feelings.

Palma - the “true” island

A small piece of land in the middle of the ocean, created as a result of the eruption of an underwater volcano, is today surrounded by green gardens of indescribable beauty. Palma has become famous for its special atmosphere, which is often noted by those who have been there. And if other Canary Islands attract tourists active species sports and relaxation on immaculate shores, then Palma has its own magic.

Being surrounded by “living” inanimate nature, a person returns to his essence and remembers his soul. Perhaps this is why there are such contradictory reviews about Palma: it attracts some, repels others, forever.

Have you already felt the force of attraction? Then welcome to Palma Island! It only takes 708 square kilometers, so we have no doubt that you will want to explore it all. And we anticipate the first question upon arrival.

Where to rent a car?

You can rent it right at the airport, so don’t rush to leave it. To do this, you need to have a driver's (international) license, a voucher and a credit card. That's it for the list necessary documents does not end, so we advise you to take care of the full package of documents in advance and book a car in advance. By the way, if you are under 21 years old, the company may not give you the car. In some regions, the critical age reaches 23 years.

Rent a car to get more from Palma!

And finally, a couple of reminders about the traffic rules, which are strongly recommended to be followed on the island of Palma:

• At a pedestrian crossing you must let everyone through. In this place, pedestrians are not expected to worry about driver inattention. In addition to people, goats, cats, dogs and rabbits can jump onto the road. Be careful, especially at night!
• It is not customary to overtake cars on the right;
• Do you want to overtake a car while in the far left lane? Turn on the left turn signal - they will understand you and give way;
  If you want to slow down, first stick your hand to the left or turn on the left turn signal. This will warn those following you to stop. On a mountain road with poor visibility before turning, honk your horn;
• yellow markings prohibit parking;
• the fine for exceeding the speed limit by 20 km/h will be €100;
• driving while intoxicated may result in imprisonment;
• and lastly, traffic police representatives do not take bribes

Housing on the island Palm

Now let's talk about housing. What would you like: a villa, a hacienda, a cottage or an apartment?

The Hacienda has a long history within its walls. Sometimes it is two hundred years old. A cozy rural house with gardens, a swimming pool and everything you need will immerse you in complete peace and give you an unforgettable experience. A weekly rental will cost at least €300-400. The price may include cleaning, transfer to the airport, yacht rental and much more.

Apartments on the island Palma is promised no less comfortable stay, but directly in the resort town, where in addition to the pool and terrace, you can see the beach and bars and restaurants nearby. Cost – from €300.

Spacious villas will cost you €1000 per week. And for lovers of recreation with an agricultural “tint”, cottages are suitable: cozy small houses with a personal plot, garden or vegetable garden. You will have to pay €350 or more for them.

Separately, I would like to tell you about one unique hotel for adults. Have you ever wanted to spend a couple of unforgettable days in a museum? The Hacienda de Abajo hotel offers you to walk past the relics and feel like you are, in a sense, an exhibit. The history of the estate begins in the 16th century, but it opened only in 2012 after careful restoration. This is probably why the price tag is quite reasonable: from €92 per night. The hotel is located in a quiet historical center resort town Tazacorte, surrounded by banana plantations and with magnificent views of the Atlantic Ocean.

Beaches

There, in Tazacorte, there is an eternally sunny beach, on which gloomy clouds do not cast shadows even in winter. And at night, along the coast, dozens of fishermen in boats wait for their catch. The light of the lamps reflected in the dark water and the male singing are mesmerizing! There are a few more notable beaches in the table below.

Puerto Naos beach on Palma island

Be sure to take a swim in natural pools Charco azul in San Andres on the island of Palma (Spain)

Despite the small area of ​​the island and our rather lyrical introduction, there is something for everyone here to suit their taste. But the priority, of course, is excursions. That's just small list where to go and what to see...

Attractions

The main attraction of the island is its nature. And amazing fresh air. Since 2002, Palma has been recognized as a world biosphere reserve. About 35 percent of its area is covered with pine and laurel forests.

Caldera de Taburiente National Park. Extensive forests and mountains make the island ideal for hiking trails.

“Colored” waterfall in the Caldera de Taburiente National Park.

Together with ferns, dragon trees and other species (and there are more than twenty of them), they form a “dome” covering the ancient north of the island. These are the “last of the Mohicans” forests, endangered representatives that covered the south of Europe many years ago. Especially for lovers of romance and solitude, there are paths along which you can walk, “wrapped” in fog and feeling the breath of living nature.

A few steps from the central part of the city of Los Llanos there is a good botanical garden. Not far from it is the Maroparque Zoo with exotic birds and animals: pompous peacocks, fastidious toucans, slender herons, etc. sit in the enclosures.

Los Llanos de Aridane – The largest city on the island. Here you can take some spectacular photos against the backdrop of bright facades.

Las Manchas has the distinctive mosaic Square of the Four Stones. There is a small but beautiful fountain, numerous gazebos and benches surrounded by greenery, as well as a stage for performances. Conveniently, there is a house-museum of wine located very close by. Here you can taste and even buy the vaunted Canary wines.

Santa Cruz de La Palma is the capital of the island. The city is notable for its colonial style facades.

Be sure to visit the cactus garden on your way to El Paso. There are more than seven hundred exotic species there.

For museum lovers:

• in the cigar museum you will get acquainted with the stages of making high-quality cigars, which are quite comparable in quality to Cuban ones;
• In the silk museum you will see the process of making silk products. When leaving, don’t forget to buy something for yourself or as a souvenir;
• Palma also has the only banana museum in the world, where you will be told in detail about the influence of the banana on the society and economy of the island. The fact is that this product is the most cultivated and exported

There are a lot of observation platforms scattered throughout the island (free!), from where absolutely fantastic landscapes can be seen to suit every taste: the coast and cities, amazing sunsets and the vast ocean.

A well-known fact that we have no right not to mention is an astronomical observatory that studies the entire northern hemisphere of the planet. If you decide to visit this delightful place, be sure to register in advance and bring warm clothes and comfortable shoes. The observatory is located at the highest point of the island: 2400 meters above sea level.

A couple of facts that were not included in the article:

• Tenerife - for now the only island in the Canary Islands, with which there are international air connections. Therefore, you will have to get to Palma the old fashioned way, with transfers.
• There is practically no crime in this place, life is measured and calm.
• In addition to the forests on Palma, you can admire the vast heather fields.
• Since scientists monitor our Universe around the clock, special lighting is installed on the roads, which does not interfere with astrophysicists’ work.
• There are a few geographical names, which includes the word “Palm”. You should not confuse them, so as not to end up instead of the Canary Island of Palma on, for example, Palma de Mallorca, which is on the island. Majorca.
• The average air temperature throughout the year is approximately 22-24 °C.
• The palm tree is able to provide itself with vegetables and fruits. Potatoes are harvested here four times a year.
• There are not many places for tourists on the island – not a few: only seven thousand. So, hurry up! ;)
• The palm tree is known for producing delicious honey.

Leisure

In this regard, the possibilities on the island are no less than the number of attractions. Surprised? It seems, what else can you do in a place surrounded by azure warm water, under the gentle sun? Here's what:

• diving or spearfishing. If you have already mastered scuba diving, it's time to take on something more cunning. True, there are many conditions for spearfishing to take place. Firstly, not all fish can be caught. Secondly, not on every day and, thirdly, not in any place you like. In addition, the catch cannot be sold, and fishing must be licensed. If the listed restrictions have discouraged you from hunting underwater, well, you can just go fishing. Catching a rich catch - no matter where you are: in a boat or under water - is always pleasant. Or you can do it even simpler: just go on a boat trip. Good too;
• rock climbing or paragliding. There is everything you need for both types of entertainment. By the way, Palma Island is considered one of the most ideal places for free flights;
• arrange a real marathon for yourself or explore the route on foot, visiting ancient caves. You can use a mountain bike

Pay attention to the possibility of a tour of the acropark, which is located very close to Refugio del Pilar. Suspension bridges, cables and nets will add vivid impressions to a relaxing holiday.

Gastronomy

It's delicious everywhere here. A little unusual - influenced by many national cultures: Spanish, European, Latin American, African and more. The basis of the dishes continues to be fresh seafood of excellent quality and impeccable taste. Add to this excellent home-made wine, amazing desserts and, as they say, “it’s impossible to resist”! Prices in restaurants vary between €10-15, with wine the amount increases to €50. By the way, dinner on Palma starts late and can last until midnight.

Green and red mojo are traditional hot and spicy Canarian sauces.

P.S.

This is the island of Palma, to which today we deservedly hand over the palm (no pun intended) among the other islets of the Canary archipelago. Meet me on Palma?;)

South road

Driving west from Santa Cruz, make your first stop at Las Nieves. This town is built on the slope of a mountain. First you will see a roadside bar, and behind it the Royal Convent of Nuestra Señora de las Nieves, where there is a highly revered terracotta statue of Our Lady of the Snows, which, according to legend, appeared in Rome during a snowfall in August. The statue dates back to the 14th century. The Feast of Our Lady of the Snows is celebrated on August 5th. A special celebration is held every five years (2015, 2020, etc.). On this day the statue is carried to Santa Cruz. The procession is called La Bajada de la Virgen (Descent of Our Lady).

Then enter a tunnel under the La Cumbre Nueva mountain range. This ridge runs through the very center of the island. Behind the tunnel is the visitor center of the Caldera de Taburiente National Park. Then the main road heads west to El Paso, a charming town where traditional houses are surrounded by mighty, prickly cacti. Outside the city there is the Paraiso de las Aves park (open: daily 10.00-17.00, entrance fee). The park contains rare exotic birds. Excursions and educational programs are organized here. Also of interest is the Los Llanos de Aridane estate, located in the very center of a fertile valley. Here you can experience traditional architecture surrounded by lush green gardens.

Just before southern part The route can be deviated to the side, to the mirador El Time. This viewpoint above the picturesque valley has a restaurant with stunning views. From here you can also go down to Tazacorta, a beautiful seaside town with many excellent fish restaurants. It was in this port that the Spanish conqueror Fernandez de Lugo landed on La Palma in 1492.

Follow the main road further south towards Fuencaliente. This town is famous for its wonderful wines. The serpentine meanders between the hills, which in spring are covered with colorful flowers, and leads to the El Faro de Fuencaliente lighthouse, located on the very southern point islands. The first stop is the Bodegas Carballo wine cellar (open: daily 11.00-20.00, tel.: 922-444-140), where you can taste surprisingly strong local wines and buy something that suits your taste.

In 1677, the San Antonio volcano erupted. The once fertile lands were covered with a thick layer of ash - the depth of the layer reached 2 m. At the end of the century, local peasants developed a special way of farming. They dug deep trenches to reach the topsoil, planted grapevines, and then covered them with volcanic ash. Thanks to this, the grapes calmly withstood bad weather and even resisted phylloxera, which at the end of the 19th century. destroyed the vineyards of Europe.

Just across the road you can explore the San Antonio volcano (the visitor center is open daily from 9.00 to 18.00) and go to the observation deck, which is located above the crater. Today, the windswept crater looks quite peaceful. I can’t even believe that he could once cause such significant damage. A little further south you will see other signs of volcanic activity. The Teneguya volcano erupted in 1971. Fortunately, human casualties were avoided. As a result of the eruption, streams of lava rushed into the valley - petrified black lava on the mountain slopes can still be seen today, and the road was cut right into it. Surprisingly, bananas seem to like these conditions and grow everywhere here. (To learn about the history of banana cultivation in Canary Islands, visit the small Banana Museum: Camino San Antonio; El Charco, Tazacorte; open: in summer Mon-nm 10.00-13.00, 16.00-19.00, in winter Mon-Fri 10.00-13.30, 15.00-19.00.)

Approaching the sea, you find yourself on the small black beach of Playa de Zamora. The beach is surrounded on both sides by surreal lava fields. A little to the side, between two lighthouses, there is a small fishing bay with a pebble beach. Try a seaside restaurant that serves deliciously fresh fish.

Returning to Santa Cruz, stop at the Belmaco Archaeological Park (open: Mon-Sat 10.00-18.00, 10.00-15.00, entrance fee). First archaeological finds in the Canary Islands date back to the 18th century. Then ten were discovered cave settlements, in which the Benaorites lived - the ancient inhabitants of Benaoare (that’s what its ancient inhabitants called La Palma).

A little further is the town of Maso, where you can buy copies of ancient people’s products, as well as local cigars. On Corpus Christi (May/June), the streets of Maso are covered with real carpets of flowers, leaves and sand.

North road

A picturesque serpentine winds along east coast La Palma. Stop at Mirador San Bartolome for stunning views of the coastline. Drive to the seaside town of San Andrei, where you can swim in the natural pool of El Charco Azul. A little further from the coast, behind San Andrés, begins the dense forest of Bosquede Los Tiles, made up of native Canarian laurel, which last years is becoming less and less common. Today this forest is a biosphere reserve and is protected by UNESCO. At the tourist center (open: Mon-Fri 9.00-17.00) you can get maps and information about hiking.

It’s worth a trip to the northern part of the island if only to visit the Caldera de Taburiente National Park. The Visitor Center (open daily 9am-2pm, 4pm-6:30pm) is located outside the park on the road to El Paso. Here you can get acquainted with the geology and geomorphology of the region, flora and fauna, learn about camping opportunities and get a color map of hiking trails. Caldera de Taburiente is a giant crater 1500 m deep and 10 km in diameter. The crater appeared 400 thousand years ago. Today it is a green, fertile valley.

From tourist center The road winds through a wooded gorge surrounded by mist-shrouded peaks for 7 km to the mirador of La Cumbrecita. The observation deck offers beautiful views when the weather permits (which is not always the case). From here you can see the Roque de los Muchachos and the monolithic rock Roque Idafe - it is believed that it was the sacred altar of the Guanche. You can drive through the caldera by car, but to feel all the beauty of this place, it is better to hike.

Heading towards the caldera from the north, you need to take the serpentine after Santa Cruz, which runs past Pico de las Nieves to Roque de los Muchachos - the highest point of the island (2426 m above sea level). You can get here in different ways, but you should never forget about the weather. If the weather is good on the coast, this does not mean that it will remain the same at altitude. The weather changes very sharply and quickly. When going to the mountains, stock up on raincoats, jackets and durable shoes. In addition to the stunning views, the mountain features the futuristic Astrophysical Observatory (closed to the public except on special days in the summer; information can be found at www.iac.es). This is the most significant observatory in the Northern Hemisphere. Here is one of the largest telescopes in the world - the 400-cm telescope named after. William Herschel.

From the observatory the road heads northwest to the isolated village of Santo Domingo de Garafia. Powerful waves of the ocean surf crash against the coastal rocks. In places like this, like nowhere else, you understand the weakness of man in the face of the forces of nature.

Explosion Island

La Palma is the most volcanically active island of the archipelago. The last eruption of the Teneguya volcano occurred in 1971. And the soil temperature near the crater is still very high.

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 also crossed by deep ravines, with waterfalls and 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 . TO observation platforms can be reached along conveniently marked paths and roads.

Roque de los Muchachos — highest point(2426 m) islands, 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 natural conditions Palm trees and the extreme precision of scientific equipment, the observatory on 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 hiking 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.

From dragon tree seeds local residents they make beautiful jewelry.

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 wonderful comfortable beaches from 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 old 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 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 are 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.