The pretty La Palma island is an undiscovered gem, and it’s the right place to go if you want an authentic experience of the Canaries. The island is located at the north-western end of the Canary Islands archipelago, and is a unique place with quite unexpected landscapes. It is rightly called La Isla Bonita, meaning “Pretty Island”. It is home to intact natural resources and landscapes of remarkable beauty.
Imagine yourself in a land where the mountains are covered in sweet smelling pines, theatrical-looking ravines and sun-dappled evergreen forests.
The quaint white-washed houses of the sleepy towns mingle with tasteful low-rise resorts. It is also home to the La Caldera de Taburiente National Park.
The steep hillsides are filled with vineyards, orchards and pine forests, and poinsettia trees in full flower flank the roads.
The view of Cumbre Vieja, an active volcanic ridge, La Palma
La Palma island is famous for its greenery, and it reveals a multitude of colors beneath the sky, which is one among the clearest in the world.
That is why the most important astrophysics observatories in the northern hemisphere are situated here.
A Little Bit of History
The view of Santa Cruz de La Palma
The natives of this island were the Auaritas who gave this island a name of Benahoare. The cave dwellings, paved stone paths through mountains and the petroglyphs are the main remnants of this culture.
However, after the Spanish occupation, the natives vanished; they were either killed or sold into slavery. The Phoenicians, Greeks and the Romans were the early settlers of this island.
The Spaniards conquered the island in 1404 after several battles. La Palma became economically rich in the following centuries due to its position as a trading post.
Immigrants from Castile, Catalonia, Portugal, Flanders and Majorca got settled in here.
Each village and town of this island celebrates holy days, carnival and holidays in its own way. Christmas, Carnival, Feast of San Antonio and Bajada de la Virgen are celebrated with great enthusiasm.
A typical church, La Palma
For an authentic shopping experience you should visit the sleepy inland towns and villages, where you can find little artisan workshops and handicraft stalls selling traditional Canarian items like embroidery, lace and pottery.
La Palma island is also famous for its cigars made in the Mazo town.
Where is La Palma?
- 25 miles/ 40.3 km from Santa Cruz de La Palma, Spain
- 23.6 miles/ 38 km from Villa de Mazo, Spain
- 11.5 miles/ 18.6 km from El Paso, Spain
- 9.6 miles/ 15.5 km from Los Llanos, Spain
- 108.1 miles/ 174 km from La Gomera Tenerife Airport, Spain
- 116.1 miles/ 187 km from Tenerife South Airport, Spain
- 155.9 miles/ 251 km from Tenerife North Airport, Spain
Things to See
- Caldera de Taburiente
- Salt Pans
- Gofio Windmills
- The Cemetery
- Wall Paintings
Beaches
- Puerto Naos
- Playa Nueva
- Playa de Puerto Naos
- Los Cancajos
- Playa de los Cancajos
Excursions
- Santa Cruz de La Palma
- Los Llanos
- Mazo
La Palma island is off the radar of many people and that, in fact, is its charm. It is a quiet, unspoiled and totally peaceful island, and is the right choice for a relaxed holiday under the sun.
It is just mountains and volcanoes, beaches and forests, a tropical rain forest, tiny villages and breathtaking views. Holidays in La Palma are one of the Canaries best-kept secrets.
We wish you a fantastic Mediterranean cruise!
