10 Best things to do in La Palma, Canary Islands - Tours & places to visit

Published on July 19, 2022
La PalmaThings to do in La Palma
la palma bridge los tilos
Los Tilos Bridge in La Palma

La Palma is one of the smaller Canary Islands, very different from the bigger islands like Tenerife or Gran Canaria in terms of scenery and tourism as well.

La Palma is (fortunately) still untouched by mass tourism, as most visitors come here for an active holiday, to enjoy the amazing scenery and discover the island on foot.

What to do in La Palma - Places to visit and tours

During the summertime, you can combine an active holiday with a beach holiday, and you can enjoy the beautiful natural beaches in La Palma, with dark black sand that won't let you forget that you are visiting a volcanic island.

1. Caldera de Taburiente National Park

la palma caldera park photos
The green island of La Palma

Caldera de Taburiente is a massive volcanic crater of around 10 km across, with massive mountainous walls all around of about 2000 m in height.

In order to enjoy all the beauty of this place, you should be prepared to hike on one of the many trails inside the park. If you don't know where to start you can head first to the visitor center near El Paso, in order to learn more about the park and what you can explore in this area.

2. Unique experience: go on a guided tour to see the new volcano on La Palma

Walk over the brand new volcano at the Cumbre Vieja volcanic ridge which erupted in September 2021

Discover the new volcano of La Palma and learn about the consequences of its eruption for the island's residents as you get to walk on Spain's youngest piece of land.  

  • The starting point is the National Park Visitor Center (El Paso)
  • Includes: guided walking tour
  • Free cancellation up to 24 hours before activity starts

3. Roque de Los Muchachos

Roque de los Muchachos, situated inside Caldera de Taburiente National Park, is actually the highest point on the island of La Palma, at an altitude of 2423m above sea level. This rock formation is situated close to the famous Observatory with the same name and on clear days, from that altitude, you can see some of the other Canary Islands: Tenerife, La Gomera and El Hierro.

You can drive up there on your own if you rent a car, and the drive from the capital will take around 70 minutes. The views you get while driving there and the views from Roque de los Muchacos are simply breathtaking, as you are well above the clouds in one of the most unique places in the Canary Islands (and possibly on the planet).

4. Stargazing in La Palma at Roque de Los Muchachos Observatory

Roque de los muchachos observatory la palma
Above the clouds in La Palma, Canary Islands

Did you know that La Palma is considered to be one of the best places in the world for stargazing?

The Roque de los Muchachos Observatory is known as the second-best location for optical and infrared astronomy in the northern hemisphere, after Mauna Kea Observatory in Hawaii. The low light pollution in La Palma makes it the perfect place for stargazing and although the observatory is primarily used by scientists in research, the place is open for visitors, depending on the weather conditions. 

A visit to the Observatory usually lasts between 70 and 90 minutes and you do need to make a booking first with one of the approved tour companies. Night tours are not allowed at the observatory.

5. Dolphin and whale watching boat tour

dolphin canary islands spain

Make the most of your trip to La Palma on this 3-hour dolphin and whale-watching adventure. Going on a boat trip is one of the top activities to do in La Palma, as the Canary Islands are a good destination for whale-watching tours. 

During this trip, you can also learn a lot about these fascinating creatures from marine biologists and it will be a memorable experience if you get to see them live in their natural environment..

  • Enjoy a 3-hour cruise around the coast of La Palma
  • Visit the magical Cueva Bonita and Poris de Candelaria
  • Opportunity to see dolphins and whales in their natural habitat
  • Free cancellation up to 24 hours before activity starts

6. Los Indianos Carnival

Did you know about the carnival in La Palma known as the Fiesta de los Indianos?

Fiesta de los Indianos dates back to the times when people returned to their native island of La Palma from the colonies in Latin America, bringing back to the archipelago wealth and some of the traditions from across the ocean. This Spanish festival takes place in the capital, Santa Cruz de la Palma and everyone dresses in white and people throw talcum powder at each other. It's a really unique carnival in the Canary Islands and very different from the big carnival in Tenerife. It usually takes place in February or March and if you are planning a holiday around that time of the year, make sure to add the carnival of Los Indianos to your list of what to do in La Palma. 

7. Salinas de Fuencaliente - the salt fields of La Palma

Salinas fuencaliente la palma
Salinas Fuencaliente - one of the places you should not miss when in La Palma

The salt fields are located in the south of the island and they have been declared an Official Site of Scientific Interest, due to the fact that many species of birds can be found in this area. By visiting this unique place in La Palma you can see how salt is harvested, learn more about salt production while walking around the salt fields and see the entire process with your own eyes. There's also a nice gift shop on-site and a restaurant (El Jardin de la Sal) that gets good reviews from visitors and is worth trying out for a nice lunch.

8. Visit Santa Cruz de La Palma

what to do santa cruz de la palma
Take a walk on Avenida Maritima to see the beautiful balconies of La Palma

Santa Cruz de La Palma is the capital of La Gomera and the island's largest city. 

You should take a day to visit Santa Cruz de La Palma and walk around its old streets in order to see the beautifully preserved wooden balconies, a symbol of the Canary Islands architecture. 

There are many authentic bars and restaurants since this is a residential city, so you can also sample some of the local dishes in one of the places where the locals go to eat.

Santa Cruz is also one of the best places to stay in La Palma, especially if you want to explore the entire island, as it's easy to move around, either by public transport or by using a rental car. 

9. Wildlife viewing and Cumbre Vieja boat tour

See dolphins, whales, turtles, and other marine life during a boat tour with an experienced crew.

You also get to see the lava flows of the Cumbre Vieja ridge, a unique opportunity to see the youngest piece of land in the Canary Islands archipelago.

  • Take in a unique and exciting underwater view of marine life
  • See the lava flows of the Cumbre Vieja ridge
  • Free cancellation up to 24 hours before activity starts

10. Spend a day at the beach in Tazacorte

tazacorte la palma
Tazacorte, La Palma

Located on the west coast of La Palma, Tazacorte is usually the sunniest place on the island, so it's also one of the best places to stay if you're after a sunny holiday, where you want to spend time at the beach.

The beach in Tazacorte has black volcanic sand, but it is beautiful and large and it is a lovely place to spend the day sunbathing and swimming. You'll find many nice places to eat nearby and if you get bored you can go on to explore the town, which has a nice promenade. 

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