10 Best things to do in La Palma, Canary Island

Before we planned this trip, we thought about where we wanted to go. We realised that we really liked green areas with the possibility of going on shorter and longer hikes. If you have ever been to the island of Madeira and you were excited about it, then you can be sure that the island of La Palma will take your breath away.

On this small island, it is possible to walk above the clouds, along volcanic rocks and through green jungle paths that could almost be rainforests. The island is well known for hiking, stargazing, and volcano tours. And, of course, exploring the traditional Canary architecture and enjoying the local cuisine of La Palma. 

We have listed 10 places from this untouched island that we definitely recommend to you. An interesting fact is that La Palma is the steepest island in the world, so you can take a look and check it out for yourself! 

1. Roque de los Muchachos: Highest point of La Palma

We were on the island in January. During the month, we were at the highest point of the island 3 times. Each time we were surprised by a completely different sight. From the top, in clear weather, you can see the whole island. If you are lucky, you can see the clouds crosses the middle of the island — Cumbre Vieja.

2. Santa Cruz de La Palma: Centuries-old architecture

The charm of the capital of La Palma still remains in our memory with the architecture of the old town and the cosy restaurants and cafes. Walking along the promenade, you will definitely want to take a photo of the historical Canarian balconies. Their expressive colours, complemented by gorgeous flower pots, are noticed by everyone. The replica of Christopher Columbus's ship Santa Maria is also impressive. The streets of the old town are often full because people are celebrating one of the many fiestas. We attended the Three Kings Parade. It was a great experience to see how the local people celebrate the most magical night of Christmas. This parade is usually on the 5th of January.

3. Playa de Nogales: Epic beach for Photo Shoots

Nogales Beach is an epic place to enjoy the amazing cliffs of La Palma. The beach is located in the eastern part of the island. We recommend visiting this most famous beach in the first part of the day, if you want to sunbathe. There is a small climb down to get to the beach, but the view is worth every step. This place is perfect for photo sessions in La Palma (ladies, be sure to bring some colourful dresses.)

4. Playa de Tazacorte: The warmest beach on the island

This beach is located in the western part of the island. As the locals say, if it rains in the east, then you have to go to Tazacorte beach, because it is almost always sunny. The beach is relatively small, but popular with tourists. Nevertheless, you can enjoy a refreshing swim in the Atlantic Ocean after a good hike on one of the nearby trails — LP 13 Cascada del colores. There are several restaurants near the beach especially for fish lovers, we definitely recommend visiting them. 

From the beach along a beautiful promenade you can walk to the port of Puerto Tazacorte S.L. From there you can get whale watching boat trips where can you see whales and dolphins. During the month, this was one of the activities that we did not go to do, but the locals suggested that it was worth it.

5. La Palma's New Volcano: Natures disaster and beauty

Compared to the other Canary Islands, La Palma receives a relatively small number of tourists. Many people did not know about the existence of this island until 19 September 2021, when the Cumbre Vieja volcanic eruption happened. The last eruption was 50 years ago. So if you are not afraid of volcanoes there are several volcano museums and tours that are worth visiting. We went on a Tajogaite volcano hike with a certified guide, our eyes had never seen such sights. We saw its dangerous majesty of a new volcano. Of course, volcanic eruptions are destructive, but this is part of the rebirth of nature. 

6. Salinas Marinas de Fuencaliente: Sea salt production

In the south of the island, it is possible to visit several sights in one day. Right next to the lighthouse, don't miss the Michelin-starred restaurant El Jardin de la Sal and the Salinas de Fuencalienteand salt flats. This place offers a free self-guided tour through the salt production facility. Usually we don't buy souvenirs, but if we see the full production process and it is a quality product, then we try to support the locals. It should be mentioned that salt from this salt field can be bought in regular grocery stores at lower prices than in souvenir shops.

7. Punta Gorda: A cosy village with a local market

8. Cascade de Colores: Easy hiking to a colourful waterfall

In this trip our goal was to find the Cascade de Colores. This route is part of PR-LP 13 Los Llanos de Aridane - Caldera de Taburiente. It is one of the objects that you should definitely see. Not only because of the colourful waterfall at the end of the trail, but also because of the trail itself. It is fascinating because the trail leads along an ancient river bed. We walked this trail twice and the weather was changeable. A raincoat will be useful.

9. Teneguía Volcano: Hiking on the volcano trail

If you're in the south of the island, take a walk up to the Teneguía volcano before visiting the salt flats and the lighthouse. The duration of the walk there and back will takes 3 hours. Along the way you will see various volcanic rocks and grape fields. Green plants looks very beautiful on dark ground. Remember, there are no trees in this area, which means you won't be able to hide in the shade. So, it is not recommended to walk this trail in the middle of the day on hot days. Take sunscreen and water with you. We suggest downloading a trail map, as there is no phone service in places.

10. Porís de Candelaria: The mysterious village in the cave

While driving to this place, the question arose, is it really possible to live in a cave nowadays? We quickly put the question out of our heads, because the way down was frighteningly interesting. The road to the cave is a bit unpredictable, narrow and steep. We rented a car from Cicar (Canary Islands Car) with a manual gearbox and the road did not cause any difficulties for us. It would be more difficult with an automatic transmission. Going down the stairs, we understand that the people who live here love nature. Here people can escape from the urban environment. It's a mysterious place!