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We have 8 La Palma holidays. The volcanic island of La Palma lies at the north westerly end of the Canary Islands. Black volcanic rocks are contrasted against azure blue seas and lush green plant life that thrives on the fertile volcanic soil, creating a rugged and colourful beauty to the island that has captured the imagination of generations of travellers to the Canaries. Often coined as the “Isla Bonita” (beautiful island in Spanish), the beauty and laid back agricultural economy of the island make La Palma a perfect place for a relaxing holiday, and our La Palma holidays will help you find the best the island has to offer.
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Not to missHistoric centre of Santa Cruz de La PalmaThe beautiful capital town of La Palma has a long history behind and one of the most important collections of historical buildings in the Canaries. The town was founded on 1493 serving as a port that connected routes to the Americas, exporting goods from the island such as sugarcane. The city was sacked by pirates and was later reconstructed and fortified against future pirate attacks. It is now a laid-back town, famous for its wooden balconies, cobbled streets and ancient buildings. The principal axis is the Calle Real, which runs from north to south, and which contains the best of the civil architecture, including the Town Hall. Famous fortifications include the Castillo de Santa Catalina and Castillo de la Virgen. Los Tiles Natural Park Los Tiles, located in the Northeast of the island, is home to one of the most important laurel forests in the Canary Islands dating from the tertiary age. The forest hosts an extraordinary and valuable heritage of flora and fauna species: tree heather, greenheart, Canary Islands ebony, Southern Olive, Canary Islands mahogany, Canary Islands strawberry tree, mocan, cherry laurel and, where the forest wetter and lushier becomes, and the sunrays cannot reach the soil, we can find giant ferns. Likewise, it hosts many indigenous fauna species such as the laurel pigeons as well as many invertebrates. Roque de Los Muchachos Observatory Located on the edge of the Caldera de Taburiente National Park, 2.396 m. above sea level, this Observatory is home to one of the most extensive fleets of telescopes in the world. The site was chosen after an extensive search for a location with clear, dark skies all the year round. The remoteness of the island and its lack of urban development ensure that at night the sky is free from light pollution, and in fact, the continued quality of the night is protected by law. Additionally, the mountain´s height and contour facing the prevailing northerly wind allows sharp and stable images of the night sky.Often, the view from the top of the volcano is a sea of clouds covering the eastern part of the island. Traditional rum distilleries When talking about the origins of rum, it is necessary to mention the Canary Islands, which were a stopover when transporting sugar cane from eastern Indian Ocean to Caribbean countries. The sugar cane, introduced in the Canary islands by the Castillians in the 15th century, is a variety from India. San Andres y Sauces have continued the long tradition of cane plantations and it is possible to visit some of the old distilleries where rum is still produced: Ron Aldea and Ron Espíndola. The sugar cane is also used to make a wide variety of liqueurs, using other local products from the island such as banana, loquat or mulberry liqueurs. Embroidery and silk spinning Embroidery is one of the iconic crafts on La Palma, and the embroiderers give birth to real works of art. Each piece is unique, the fruit of considerable skill and time. The commonest kinds of embroidery, depending on the embroidery stitch, are satin stich (bordado indefinido), and a variation of broderie anglaise called rechi or richelieu. The great diversity of colours and designs allows the embroiderers to give free rein to their creativity. Thus, it is possible to find flowers, human beings, copies of famous paintings, landscapes or houses. The embroidery museum is located in The Red House, a distinctive building in the village of Mazo. Similarly, the silk manufacture is one of the main crafts of the island. Located in El Paso it is a silk museum and a workshop where craftsmen and craftswomen carry out these works, permitting visitors to be witness of part of the process. |
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Adventure activitiesSeeking an adrenaline rush? La Palma is the place to really get that blood pumping. Potholing, climbing, paragliding, diving, mountain bike…are some of the outdoor activities you can find on La Palma and plenty of firms will give you the possibility to carry them out. La Palma is an island of great and unforgettable experiences. The island is so ideal for outdoor activities that it is home to some specific events such as Transvulcania (mountain ultramarathon, to be held on May, 12th, 2012. www.transvulcania.com), Ultrabike (mountain bike marathon, to be held on April, 7th, 2012), Walking Festival.HikingRather stand on your own two feet? Hikers are spoilt for choice on the Canary island nicknamed “La Isla Bonita” (the pretty island). The vast network of hiking paths which traverse La Palma virtually demand that you don those hiking boots and explore areas of jaw-dropping natural beauty, such as the wild peaks of Bejenado and Birigoyo, the dramatic coastline and the unforgettable caldera, while a trip through the vast, dry landscape to La Caldera de Taburiente or the springs at Marcos y Corderos will give you a new appreciation for the miracle of water.Everything from easy strolls to challenging multi-day hikes are available on the island, and the spiders web of different paths is surprisingly well signposted, using the ancient caminos, which represented the island’s only means of communication when they were created hundreds of years ago by the local people. There is something for every palate. Just choose one walk: from simple strolls up to very demanding/challenging walks. Further information at www.senderosdelapalma.com Water activitiesActivities on La Palma are not confined to the island itself, the warm waters of the Atlantic ocean which surround it also offer plenty of things to see and do. At both ends of the island, volcanic eruptions have created a marine ecosystem of rare and fascinating rock arches, towers and caves, and thanks to the 1971 eruption of the Teneguía volcano the seabed here is also the youngest in Spain.Diving among the dramatic and bizarre formations of volcanic rock, enjoying the diversity and colour of the sea fauna and flora, is a unique experience. Look out for parrot fish, combers and muraenas, as well as the spotfin burrfish, which is protected by the Endangered Species Catalogue of the Canary Islands (look out for a medium-sized silvery fish with black spots and numerous nobbles along its back). Scuba diving can be enjoyed year-round from La Palma, with water temperatures reaching 20ºC in winter and the light extending as deep as 50 metres below the surface, making visibility very good. As a result, those who don’t want to scuba will also find that La Palma is a great place for snorkelling, with plenty to be seen from the surface as well. If you’d rather stay dry, there are also numerous boat trips from La Palma, which allow visitors to enjoy the ocean and its sights without getting so much as one toe wet. The Canary islands is located in an area which sees one of the greatest varieties of whales passing through – look out for the long finned pilot whale, sperm whale, fin whale and killer whale, as well bottle-nosed dolphins, tortoises and flying fish. La Palma is also a great place for fishing as, thanks to the large amount of fish present in the water here, even the simplest fishing equipment is likely to result in a decent haul. Bear in mind that you will need a permit to do so and that there are some specific areas where you are not allowed to do it.  Read La Palma's mission statement
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Getting thereLa Palma can be reached directly from the UK (London) once a week. Another option would be to fly to either Tenerife or Gran Canaria and then take a connecting flight.There are connecting flights between La Palma and Tenerife-Los Rodeos every hour (or even every half an hour) and 3 flight connections every day to Gran Canaria. Binter Canarias and Islas are the two companies which will permit you to travel to La Palma from the already mentioned Canary Islands. Flight from Tenerife (Los Rodeos) and La Palma takes 30 minutes while from Gran Canaria to La Palma it will take you around 50 minutes. Direct flights to Tenerife are available from most major UK airports including London Gatwick, Luton, Stansted, Birmingham, Manchester, East Midlands, Doncaster Sheffield, Durham, Norwich, Bournemouth, Exeter, Blackpool, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Derry. Ryanair, EasyJet, Monarch, flythomascook, Thomson Flights and Jet2 are the main flight providers. Direct flights to Gran Canaria are also available from most major UK airports including London Gatwick, Stansted, Luton, Birmingham, Manchester, Bristol, Liverpool, Bournemouth, Leeds Bradford, Doncaster Sheffield, Glasgow, Cardiff and Belfast. Ryanair, EasyJet, Monarch, flythomascook, flythomascook charter, Thomson Flights and Jet2 all fly this route. Getting aroundA rental car offers the best way of exploring the island individually, while taxis can offer a similarly tailor made experience. Travelling by bus allows visitors time to enjoy the beautiful scenery and the regular bus services allow easy access between all of the island’s important destinations. |
