Things to Do in La Palma: Our 24 Personal Highlights

Our Personal Highlights on La Palma

Roque de Los Muchachos

What you need to know: The Roque de los Muchachos is the highest point on La Palma. At 2,426 meters above sea level, it offers breathtaking views over the landscape — at least when the sky is clear. The many observatories scattered across the site, some of which rank among the most important in the world, give the place a truly mystical atmosphere.

Is it worth it? Absolutely. The Roque de los Muchachos is a must-see among the things to do in La Palma. The drive up takes around an hour and a half, but it’s totally worth every minute.

Our tip: On weekends, you can visit some of the observatories on a guided tour. Spots are limited and often booked up several days in advance. You can reserve tours on the Astrophysical Institute’s website.

One more tip: The observatories are up there for a good reason, of course. Few places in the world offer stargazing as spectacular as La Palma. If that’s something you’d like to experience, we recommend booking a stargazing tour. A guaranteed one-of-a-kind experience!

Los Tilos

What you need to know: The Los Tilos forest in the island’s interior feels like a completely different world: incredibly green, exotic, and a little like a jungle. Giant ferns, palms, laurel trees, and even something resembling lianas grow here. It’s no coincidence that UNESCO designated the forest a biosphere reserve.

Is it worth it? Definitely. There are many different hiking trails, ranging from short and easy to long and challenging. There’s the right route here for everyone.

Our tip: One of the most beautiful spots in the Los Tilos laurel forest is the Cascada de Los Tilos waterfall. And the best part: you can reach it without much effort, since there’s a parking lot just a ten-minute walk away.

Poris de Candelaria

What you need to know: Poris de Candelaria is one of the most fascinating coves on La Palma. It’s surrounded by massive black rock walls, with a handful of whitewashed houses somehow built right into them. These days, they’re only used by locals on summer weekends.

Is it worth it? For us, the cove was an absolute highlight. It’s truly impressive how houses actually stand inside this cave — and people even live in them. Unbelievable!

Our tip: If you look at the Google reviews for this place, you’ll come across some horror stories about the drive in. We were a little nervous because of them, but went for it anyway. The road is genuinely steep — at one point the gradient hits 30 percent. Even so, the drive is very manageable, and our rental car had absolutely no trouble making it up.

Tajogaite Volcano

What you need to know: In 2021, a major volcanic eruption occurred on La Palma. This natural spectacle created a brand-new volcano: the Tajogaite. For safety reasons, access to the new volcano is only permitted on guided tours.

Is it worth it? We booked this guided hike to the Tajogaite and thought it was fantastic. The landscape scarred by the eruption is seriously breathtaking.

Our tip: There’s almost no shade on the hike. Sunscreen and plenty of water are a must!

San Antonio Volcano

What you need to know: The San Antonio volcano last erupted in 1971. You can walk halfway around the crater — a path that takes no more than 15 minutes. From the top you get a great view into the crater and toward the sea, and you can clearly see how much new land was created by the last eruption.

Is it worth it? Yes — the effort involved is minimal. There’s a parking lot right at the volcano, and the visitor center offers a wealth of information about La Palma’s volcanoes. Admission costs 8 euros.

Our tip: As you leave the visitor center heading toward the crater, there’s an earthquake simulator on the left side. Make sure you give it a try!

Salinas de Fuencaliente and Faro de Fuencaliente

What you need to know: At the Fuencaliente salt flats, salt is harvested from the sea. You can visit the salt flats for free; various information boards explain the salt-making process. Right next door you’ll find the Faro de Fuencaliente lighthouse.

Is it worth it? The salt flats aren’t an absolute must, but it’s genuinely interesting to see how salt is produced from seawater.

Our tip: The restaurant Jardin de la Sal, located right next to the salt flats, serves excellent food. It’s one of only three restaurants on La Palma mentioned in the Michelin Guide — yet the prices are still surprisingly reasonable.

Caños de Fuego

What you need to know: The Caños de Fuego are underground lava tunnels that you can explore on a guided tour. Outside, a vast lava field stretches out, which you can walk across for free via a wooden boardwalk.

Is it worth it? A tour through the lava caves gives you a whole new sense of the unimaginable power of La Palma’s volcanoes. Not an absolute must for us, but really interesting nonetheless.

Natural Swimming Pools: Fajana and Charco Azul

What you need to know: La Palma has several natural pools. The water comes directly from the sea, yet you can swim here safely without waves or sand. For us, the nicest pools are at Fajana in the far north and Charco Azul in the northeast.

Is it worth it? The pools are really great, especially with kids. Without children, we probably wouldn’t have made the trip.

The Most Beautiful Towns on La Palma

Santa Cruz

What you need to know: Santa Cruz is the capital of La Palma. Don’t expect a sprawling metropolis — only about 15,000 people live here. The city is truly lovely, with many historic buildings, small shops, and of course a long beachfront promenade.

Is it worth it? Absolutely. A visit to Santa Cruz should be on every La Palma itinerary.

Our tip: The best coffee on the island can be found at Café Don Manuel. The British newspaper the Guardian even claims it’s the best coffee in all of Spain. We can’t say that for certain, but it tasted excellent and the selection of cakes to go with it is phenomenal.

Los Llanos

What you need to know: Los Llanos is the second largest city on La Palma. With just over 20,000 residents, it’s actually bigger than Santa Cruz and is sometimes called the unofficial capital of La Palma.

Is it worth it? Honestly, we didn’t enjoy Los Llanos as much as the rest of La Palma. But if you’re in the area anyway, a short visit is worthwhile. The Parque Gómez Felipe, located a little outside the city center, is really quite lovely.

Our tip: At La Gelateria, right in the pedestrian zone, we had the best ice cream on La Palma. In addition to the classics, there are also unusual flavors like blood orange–turmeric–chili. The second-best we had was at Heladeria El Drago, right next to Parque Gómez Felipe. The German owner makes the ice cream himself, mostly from ingredients grown on his own organic farm.

San Andrés

What you need to know: San Andrés is a picture-perfect little coastal village in the northeast. Charming squares, cobblestone streets, historic buildings. Simply beautiful!

Is it worth it? A quick detour to San Andrés is worthwhile. There’s really not much going on in the little village, and you’ll have seen everything in 20 minutes.

Our tip: The natural pool Charco Azul is very close by. You can easily combine both spots in one outing.

Las Nieves

What you need to know: Las Nieves is a small village very close to Santa Cruz. Only 18 people live here. The most famous resident doesn’t count in that number, though — it’s the Virgin of the Snow. The small Madonna in the church of Las Nieves is the patron saint of the island.

Is it worth it? The church is truly worth a visit. The ornate altar and the intricately decorated ceiling are real highlights.

Our tip: Every five years on July 15th, the Madonna is carried down the mountain to Santa Cruz in a grand procession, then brought back to Las Nieves on August 5th. The event is accompanied by huge celebrations and parades. The next dates are in 2025 and 2030.

The Best Viewpoints

Mirador El Time

What you need to know: The Mirador El Time is one of the most well-known vantage points on La Palma. On a clear day, you get sweeping views over large stretches of the west coast.

Is it worth it? We wouldn’t make the drive just for this viewpoint alone. But you’ll pass by it on the way to other attractions — including Poris de Candelaria — so a stop is definitely worth it in that case.

Mirador Las Calderetitas

What you need to know: The Mirador Las Calderetitas in the southwest of the island is a real local favorite. The panorama is phenomenal, especially at sunset.

Is it worth it? The Mirador Las Calderetitas was our personal favorite overlook on La Palma. That evening light! Simply magical.

Our extra tip: 50 meters up the road there’s another viewpoint that, in our opinion, is even more beautiful. There’s even a small barbecue area there. All the photos you see above were taken from that alternative spot.

Cool Day Trips and Activities on La Palma

If you want more than just classic sightseeing, here are a few exciting activities to consider. You’ll find even more in our article on the best activities on La Palma.

Ecofinca Tacande

What you need to know: Ecofinca Tacande is a farm near El Paso in the west of the island. The special thing about it: you can visit the farm on a guided tour and learn more about the cultivation of various fruits and plants on La Palma.

Is it worth it? The undisputed highlight of the tour is the meal served afterward. The tour itself is informative, but don’t expect too much.

Whale Watching Tour

What you need to know: A boat trip is simply part of any island vacation. And if you get to see whales and dolphins on top of that, even better.

Is it worth it? Yes. We recommend this 3-hour tour, which also takes you to the pirate cave at Poris de Candelaria. The tour is led by a marine biologist — a huge plus. Not only does he have an incredible amount of knowledge about the animals, he also knows exactly where they tend to hang out.

The Most Beautiful Beaches on La Palma

Playa de Charco Verde

What you need to know: Charco Verde is one of the most popular beaches on La Palma. Like everywhere on the island, you’ll find black lava sand here, with banana plantations in the background.

Is it worth it? Especially if you’re vacationing on La Palma with kids, you’ll love the shallow water. The on-site facilities are excellent: there’s plenty of parking, showers, a kiosk, and a ramp so you can even get to the beach with a stroller.

Playa de Tazacorte

What you need to know: Playa de Tazacorte sits right in front of the resort town of the same name, making it easy to stroll through the small alleyways and grab a bite to eat between swims.

Is it worth it? The beach has jet-black volcanic sand and the water is calm on almost every day of the year — perfect for swimming. Personally, though, neither the beach nor the town particularly won us over.

Playa del Faro

What you need to know: Playa del Faro is located at the very southern tip of the island, right next to the Fuencaliente lighthouse and the salt flats, which are among La Palma’s most important attractions. You can easily combine the beach with a day trip to the south.

Is it worth it? Playa del Faro is a top pick for anyone looking for peace and quiet. Very few tourists find their way here, and the only things bobbing in the water are a few fishing boats.

Playa de Puntalarga

What you need to know: Playa de Puntalarga is a small beach in the southwest of La Palma, popular mainly with locals.

Is it worth it? The beach is especially great with kids, as there’s a sheltered lagoon where little ones are protected from the waves.

Our tip: Above the beach you’ll find the restaurant La Guildera — a real off-the-beaten-path find. In a completely relaxed atmosphere, you can enjoy fresh fish and typical Canarian specialties, such as fried moray eel.

Playa de Cabras

What you need to know: Playa de Cabras is a secluded beach you can only reach via an unpaved road. On the way back from the salt flats, a small sign points to the right — just follow it.

Is it worth it? The short detour is worth it, since you’ll most likely have the place completely to yourself. The beach even has a small natural pool, and the rugged landscape alone is truly worth seeing.

Our Insider Tips for La Palma

Cloud Waterfall over the Cumbre Nueva

What you need to know: Thanks to air currents and temperature differences, you can sometimes witness a truly special phenomenon on La Palma: a cloud waterfall. The clouds shoot over the mountain and seem to cascade down like an avalanche. The photo only partially captures how impressive it really is. A similar phenomenon exists at Table Mountain in Cape Town, where it’s called the tablecloth.

Is it worth it? We saw the cloud waterfall on the road from El Paso heading east toward Santa Cruz, just before the entrance to the tunnel. Unfortunately, it’s not something you can plan for — sometimes the clouds are there and sometimes they’re just not.

Estadio Silvestre Carrillo

What you need to know: The Estadio Silvestre Carrillo is a real insider tip for soccer fans. The stadium sits just outside Santa Cruz, spectacularly set into the mountain landscape.

Is it worth it? CD Mensajero’s home games are quite atmospheric, but this is probably more of an experience for die-hard soccer romantics. The club plays in the Tercera Federación, which is the equivalent of the 5th division.

La Glorieta

What you need to know: Some of the best things to do in La Palma are tucked away in the middle of nowhere — like this small, artfully designed square in a tiny village south of Los Llanos.

Is it worth it? We wouldn’t make a special trip just for this, but if you’re in the area anyway, a quick detour is worthwhile. Several other La Palma sights are nearby, such as the Caños de Fuego or Playa de Charco Verde.

Practical Tips for La Palma