Island of La Palma: “La Isla Bonita” of the Canary Islands
Have you ever heard of La Palma? You may be thinking of La Palma de Mallorca, but this is actually the island of La Palma. One of the Canary Islands, it is locally known as "La Isla Bonita", meaning "the pretty island".
In 2021, the island of La Palma suffered a tragic volcanic eruption, devastating a large area of the Island. Now they are recovering, and the island is welcoming tourists to explore again! Each Canary Island has its own charm, and La Palma certainly does live up to that. Keep reading and you'll learn why!
Let's jump right in! Here is everything you need to know about visiting the island of La Palma in the Canary Islands.
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📍 Where is the Island of La Palma?
La Palma is one of Canary Islands, which are located off the coast of Northern Africa (belonging to Spain). It is situated in the north west corner of the archipelago, and can be seen on the map below.
La Palma is the north western most island of the Canary Islands.
How to Get to the Island of La Palma
La Palma can be reached both by flight and ferry. Additionally, the island of La Palma is on quite a few cruise ship itineraries.
✈️ Getting to the Island of La Palma by Flight
The Island of La Palma receives the most of its traffic from the island of Tenerife, and a few flights from Gran Canaria (Las Palmas). You can also find domestic flights from Madrid through Iberia.
As far as International flights, there are a few cities in Europe that do fly direct to La Palma. These include London, Manchester, and Geneva. The airport is located right outside the capital, Santa Cruz de La Palma, and the code is SPC.
Make sure to search for flights to "Santa Cruz de la Palma". La Palma refers to the island of Mallorca, and Las Palmas refers to the island of Gran Canaria.
Search for a flight to Santa Cruz de La Palma:
⛴ Getting to the Island of La Palma by Ferry
Another popular way to get to the island of La Palma is by ferry. There are two companies in the market that serve the Canary Islands, and they are Fred Olsen and Armas Navarrias.
La Palma has one direct ferry to and from La Gomera through Armas Navarrias,. There are also several direct ferries from Tenerife with Fred Olsen and Armas. The ferry from La Gomera is at 7 am, and doesn't happen every day, so make sure you check schedules beforehand.
There is one ferry terminal in La Palma, and it is located in the capital of Santa Cruz de la Palma. It is walking distance from the historical center, and tickets can be purchased in the office or online.
Entry Requirements for the Canary Islands
The Canary Islands are part of Spain, so all of the requirements are the exact same. Chances are you'll be coming to La Palma from another part of Spain, so you won't really have to worry about additional requirements. Nevertheless, we will share all you need to know.
🛂 Visa Requirements for the Canary Islands
When it comes to visas for Spain, many countries have a free 90 day stay in the European Union. Keep in mind the 90/180 rule, if you are planning on traveling to other countries within the Schengen Zone. You can only spend 90/180 days in the countries of the EU in total.
For example, we are spending 2 months in the Canary Islands, and one month in mainland Spain, which means we need to stay outside of the Schengen Zone for 90 days, avoiding any countries that are in this part of Europe.
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Local Adjustments for La Palma Island
Here are some of the basic things to adjust yourself to visiting the Canary Islands, and Spain in general.
🗣 What Language is Spoken in La Palma?
The official language of the Canary Islands is Spanish. However, the accent on the islands is quite different than mainland Spain, and sounds much more like Spanish from islands of the Caribbean.
A few words differ as well, such as bus, which is called "guagua". You will also find that the island of La Palma has many British and German visitors. So it is common to find signs, menus, and such in both English and German.
💶 What Currency is Used in La Palma?
The official currency of the Canary Islands is the same as the rest of Spain- the euro.
Right now (May 2024) every USD is equivalent t0 .90 euros, and every GDP is equivalent to 1.2 euros. Credit cards are accepted in most establishments, so you won't need much cash while on the island.
🔌 What Plugs are Used in La Palma?
The electrical outlets in the Canary Islands are the same as in the rest of Spain, and all over the EU. They use plug types C, E, & F. La Palma operates on 230V with a standard frequency of 50Hz.
If you're visiting La Palma from the US, UK, or Australia, you'll need to bring a European travel adapter.
🚰 Is the Water Potable in La Palma?
In some islands (even in the Canary Islands) the water is not suitable for drinking. However, the tap water in La Palma is potable, and totally safe for drinking.
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Food & Drink in the Island of La Palma
Now that you know the best things to do in La Palma, here are some of the foods that you should try.
🥘 What is the Typical Food of the Canary Islands?
The Canary Islands have a great mix of Spanish cuisine, as well as their own specialities. Some of our favorite things that you should try include:
Seafood: Take advantage of the fresh catches in the area.
Mojo: There are a few types of mojo, which is a typical Canarian sauce served on the table with bread, made of garlic. Usually you'll find the red one (made with pepper) and the green one (cilantro based).
Papas Arrugadas: These small round potatoes are served as a starter or side, and mostly come with mojo to be dipped in.
Conejo: Rabbit is a very popular dish served in the Canary Islands, and is usually cooked in a home made sauce or entirely fried.
Cabra: Goat is another common animal served in restaurants, and usually cooked in the sauce of the house.
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Things to Do on the Island of La Palma
The island of La Palma is small, but It definitely has much more to do than you would think! Here are some awesome things to add to your list while visiting.
💧 Visit the Natural Pools
The island of the La Palma has some really incredible natural pools that we suggest you to check out! Unfortunately, when we went, they were completely overflowed due to the immense waves crashing down into them. However, they were beautiful to see nonetheless.
Some of the best natural pools can be found in the northeast of the island such as La Fajana and Charco Azul, or you can find some smaller ones along the coast of the region of Garafia. You can also head to Fuencaliente, where there are quite a few natural pools awaiting.
Some of the best natural pools are at Charco Azul.
Take a tour around the north with the natural pools included:
🎣 Check Out the Fishing Villages
One of the wildest thing about the island of La Palma is that there are small houses that are built right into the cliffs and mountainsides!
There are a few fishing villages that are built right on the seaside of the cliffs, and they are truly jaw-dropping.
Two of the ones we visited were Puerto Punta Gorda and Poris de Candelaria, both in the northwest of the island. For us, Poris de Candelaria is absolutely a must-see while in La Palma, and a great place to swim in the summertime.
Poris de Candelaria is a small fishing village in a cave.
🖤 Go to the Black Sand Beaches
One of our favorite thing to do in the Canary Islands is to enjoy the array of stunning black sand beaches. La Palma has quite a few great ones to check out.
We personally love Los Nogales, which is north of Santa Cruz, Tazacorte on the west coast (great for sunset), and the few beaches scattered through the southern tip of Fuencaliente.
🌳 Walk Through the Rainforest
One of the best spots to visit in La Palma is Los Tilos. This park is free of charge to enter, and is best reached by car. There are a few trails and viewpoints you can check out. The main highlight is the waterfall, which is just a short 10-20 minute hike.
Take a tour that includes Los Tilos:
🥾 Go on a Hike
The island of La Palma is full of natural beauty, and hiking allows you to get some spectacular views of what the volcanos have to offer.
Head to Caldera de Taburiente for a one hour trail visiting 3 viewpoints of the greenery in the crater, or trek deeper to discover the Cascada de Colores, which multicolored rocks surrounding waterfalls. Fuencaliente also has a great hike that is 3 hours walking along black volcano rock down to the salt pools, which we'll talk further about in a moment.
There are tons of beautiful hikes around the island of La Palma.
🤩 Admire the Views
Being that the island of La Palma is very mountainous, it's no wonder that there are a ton of great viewpoints! We suggest just driving and stopping at whichever ones you can, as they are marked with a camera icon, and pretty easy to come by.
Some of the popular viewpoints are Mirador del Time (outside Los Llanos), Mirador de la Cumbre (inside Caldera de Taburiente), and Mirador de la Concepcion, which overlooks the whole capital of Santa Cruz city and port.
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☁️ Walk Above the Clouds
Speaking of viewpoints, this is our absolute favorite one! Roque de los Muchachos is the highest point of the island, and if you're lucky, you'll be able to find yourself above an entire blanket of clouds.
We think it's truly a stunning place to visit at any time of the day. Leave yourself time to enjoy the blue skies, golden sunset, or the sky lighting up with stars.
The viewpoint of Roque de Los Muchachos is above the clouds.
🌌 Explore Astrology
Right up where Roque de los Muchachos, you can find several astronomy observatories. That is because there is no light pollution, and you can really appreciate the stars at their best up there. The area really will make you feel like you are on another planet.
Learn about the stars, take in some stunning views, or try astrophotography for some epic photos with the Milky Way.
At the top of the island there is a number of stations for astronomy.
Take an astronomy tour on La Palma:
🧂 Check Out the Salt Pools and Lighthouse of Fuencaliente
One of our favorite areas of the island is Fuencaliente, the southern tip of La Palma.
Fuencaliente is a great place to spend a full day, as you can enjoy the salt pools and lighthouse. We suggest going for sunset and having a drink or a nice meal at the restaurant at the bottom.
Check which days are open, as hours and days of operation vary greatly in the Canary Islands. The restaurant is not open every day.
While you're in Fuencaliente, you should also check out the small beaches scattered along the western tip of the island. We loved Playa y Bajas de la Zamora for it's little restaurant perched above the beach, and El Aljibe for it's small natural pools.
Fuencaliente has a great hike, lighthouse, and salt ponds.
Explore Fuencaliente by bike:
🌈 Stroll Around the Colorful Cities
We visited La Palma right after visiting El Hierro, where there were no real cities. Santa Cruz, the capital, has a very cute historical area worth checking out, and Los Llanos is also a great city to enjoy.
The historical center of Santa Cruz de la Palma is super colorful.
The historical center of Santa Cruz de la Palma is super vibrant, and is famous for its typical balconies full of flowers.
You can also head to Tazacorte for the small colorful village that it offers, and the beach area with shops and restaurants lined right above the black sands.
🛒 Visit the Local Markets
We also loved the local market right next to the Aqueducto de Argual (aqueduct of Argual). Every Sunday morning you can find local vendors selling their arts, crafts, and antiques. If you're looking to take home a souvenir or something unique, then this is your place.
Every Sunday there is a market in Tazacorte.
💎 Buy Volcanic Jewelry
When the volcano erupted in La Palma, the tourism of the island took a huge hit. Now the island is open again, and one of the most unique souvenir you can get is jewelry made from the volcanic rock that was left from the eruption.
Not only the jewelry super different and beautiful, but it supports the local businesses across the island.
Our personal favorite shop was right in the center of the capital, called Artesania Chandy. The jewelry is stunning, affordable, and handmade by a family that has been living in La Palma for decades.
Artesania Chandy is a local shop with volcano jewelry.
Moving Around the Island of La Palma
La Palma is definitely most easily navigable by car. Rental car companies can be found in the capital of Santa Cruz, at the airport, and in the second biggest city of Los Llanos. The roads are well paved, but can be very windy, so we suggest getting a smaller car to get around.
Driving around the island of La Palma you experience some stunning scenery.
It's important to note that due to the volcanic eruption, some of the roads are closed connecting Los Llanos (the west side of the island) to Fuencaliente (the south of the island). So if you want to visit the south of La Palma, ignore Google Maps, and go through Santa Cruz to get there.
🚌 Can You Get Around La Palma Without a Car?
If you don't want to rent a car, you can still get around by public transportation, known as the "guagua" or the bus. It services many of the main areas of La Palma, and there are also taxis found in the most popular areas.
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Where to Stay in La Palma
The two best places to stay in La Palma are in the cities of Santa Cruz and Los Llanos. They are in areas where you can easily walk to restaurants, shops, and supermarkets, and are both well connected with the rest of the island.
Los Llanos is located close to the west coast, where you can enjoy warmer weather, great sunsets, and some awesome restaurants. Santa Cruz is located near the airport. and is where the port is. It is a great place to be able to easily get almost anywhere on the island, and has plenty to offer (although the weather can be temperamental).
Book a place to stay in Los Llanos:
If you are a young or solo traveler, we suggest staying in Hostelit, which is an affordable capsule hostel located right in the center. They offer free breakfast, have a balcony, and it's clean and well equipped.
Want to see other options for staying in Santa Cruz de La Palma? Just take a look at the map:
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Is the Island of La Palma Safe?
La Palma, just like the rest of the Canary Islands, is a very safe place to travel for families, women, and solo travelers.
Many may wonder is the island of La Palma is safe due to the eruption that happened. The volcano erupted quite a bit ago, and doesn't appear to have any more activity coming up to worry about.
The island of La Palma was devastated by a volcano, but is now very safe to visit.
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Other Things to Know About Visiting the Island of La Palma
Now you know the best things to do around the island of La Palma, how to get around, and the best foods to try. So here are a few other things to know when visiting.
📆 What is the Best Time of Year to Visit La Palma?
The Canary Islands are pretty great to visit year round! However, we found that of all the islands, we wished we would have went a little later in the spring. This is because it gets pretty cold in the mountains, and the waves are so strong they overflow the natural pools that the island of La Palma is so well known for.
One thing we can appreciate though is that we were able to see a pretty unique formation at roque de los muchachos. Being so high up in the mountains, the entire area was covered in frost and icicles, giving it a pretty stunning look. However, it was extremely windy and cold, making it pretty difficult to enjoy the area to its full potential.
The top of Roque de los Muchachos is covered in frost in the winter months.
☀️ Weather & Packing for the Island of La Palma
The weather is pretty warm in the winter compared to the rest of Europe, and you can definitely get some beach days in! If you visit at this time, you will want to be ready for any kind of weather.
Being that the island is very hilly, the weather changes dramatically. Our one piece of advice is to layer up, and bring a swimsuit, sneakers, and jacket to be prepared for the different types of landscapes and climates.
One day we were lying on the beach in the morning, and then later drove up to the highest point of the island, where it was freezing. So make sure you are prepared for every season when visiting the island of La Palma.
🎒 Packing List for the Island of La Palma
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses
- Towel
- Bathing Suits
- Light Jacket for places of higher elevation
- Flip flops (our favorites are Havaianas)
- Zippered bag or backpack (here are our top picks for backpacks for travelers)
- Sneakers (there are some amazing hikes)
- Nicer beachy clothing to go out in (some clubs have dress codes)
- Action Camera (for all water activities) we use the Insta 360 X3 because it's small & waterproof
- Power Bank (we use Anker power banks, as they are super long lasting and sturdy)
- Drone (You can get epic shots from above. We use the Mavic Mini 4 Pro because it's super light and has great quality)
- Camera (we use the Sony A7Riii)
- Standard Lens for a dynamic range (we use the Sony GM 24-70)
- Wide Lens to capture great panoramas and astrophotography (we use the Sony GM 14 F1.8)
- Telephoto Lens to capture the landscapes up close (we use the Sony GM 70-200)
- Tripod to get pictures while no one is around or for astrophotography (We use the JOBY Rangepod Tripod)
- Waterproof phone pouch (we use the Case Mate Waterproof Phone Pouch)
- Travel Adapter (we use Insignia travel adapters as they are affordable and reliable)
- Water Bottle (we use Cafago Water Bottles because they hold the temperature well)
- Travel toiletries (our favorites are from Sheer Alternatives because they're all natural and 100ml)
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🤔 Is it Worth Going to La Palma?
La Palma truly lives up to its name "The Pretty Island". The volcano is mesmerizing, and there is a variety of landscapes for its visitors to enjoy. If you like getting out in nature, colorful towns, and exploring off the beaten path, then you'll absolutely love the island of La Palma.
La Palma has a variety of places for travelers to enjoy.
⏳ How Many Days Do You Need in La Palma?
We spent one week in La Palma, which was the perfect amount of time to see the top attractions, but also to explore hidden games and have time to relax. If you want to see the highlights, you can definitely do a trip to La Palma and spend an incredible 3-4 days.
We'd recommend a full week to be able to enjoy everything La Palma has to offer.
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We spent one week on the island, and felt that it was more than enough to enjoy what La Palma has to offer. Planning on visiting the other Canary Islands? Make sure to check out our Canary Islands Travel Guides to see what the other islands have to offer!
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