Buy a trip

To La Palma with Expedia

Rent-a-car

Book your Hertz car now.

Cypress.
(Cupressus sempervirens).

How a shepherd interfered in world politics. Or did he? Read: Pirates attack Santa Cruz

Holiday Island La Palma

Welcome to the La Palma Site.

La Palma is one of the smaller Canary islands and one of the lesser known ones. It is the greenest of all the Canary islands and has fewer tourists than the other islands though it has got everything a tourist can ask for: good beaches, restaurants, wine bodegas and plenty of activities for the active visitor: hiking trails, paragliding, diving, caving (spelunking), horseriding, mountainbiking etc.
Eventually this site will cover all aspects of interest to the visitor. Enjoy your stay.

Carnival 

Carnival is music, dance, colours and happiness. Carnival on La Palma is sunshine, music, colours, dance, happiness and talcum. During carnival you dress up, play the drums and powder the Indians with talcum. Best celebrations are found in Santa Cruz, Los Llanos and Los Sauces. See Carnival on La Palma.

What to see in Santa Cruz; A guided walk

Follow this route and I will take you to almost all sights of interest in Santa Cruz.

You will see the busy Calle Real, El Salvador Church and the famous balconies. You will see the first church built in Santa Cruz and the copy of Christopher Columbus' ship, Santa Maria, the church of San Fransisco, the Island Museum and the Market Hall and a lot more.

You can do this sight-seeing tour in two hours or more at your leasure. What to see in Santa Cruz.   

Take the Hiking Trails

For centuries the footpath network was the only means of transportation and communication. The original inhabitants of the island spent untold amount of time and energy establishing and maintaining the paths. When the Spaniards arrived to the Canary Islands at the end of the 15th century they continued the work and the footpaths continued to be the most important means for transport of goods and people. 

The network of walking paths connected all villages and towns with each other and with the capital Santa Cruz. Travelling those days was a time consuming task as compared to today; a trip from Garafía in the northwest corner of the island to Santa Cruz would normally take two days. But of course, the people didn’t know any alternative, so to them it was just normal.

Then, after the Second World War something happened...(Read the whole article: Hiking on La Palma).

Introduction to La Palma

La Palma is sun and eternal spring. When it is winter and freezing cold in the UK you have sun and warmth on the beaches of La Palma. When it is summer and too hot to go to southern Spain you have comfortable temperatures on La Palma.

On La Palma you can go hiking in the mountains in the morning, swim in the Atlantic Ocean in the afternoon and dine in an open-air beach restaurant in the sunset. All year round.

La Palma is one of the smaller Canary Islands and one of the most beautiful. And it has got some of the most varied nature you will find anywhere. Its mountain slopes are covered in pine forest and in the northeast you will find rainforest with beautiful laurel trees, while in the south there are barren moonscapes. And everything in between.

You won't find long beaches crowded with tourists, but instead you will find many small, cosy beaches where you can always find space after you come back from a hiking trip to the mountains. La Palma is a hikers paradise having 75 marked hiking paths and many local un-marked ones. For the active traveller there are many other activities to chose from, like scuba diving, horse riding, paragliding etc. Or you can just lean back in your deck chair on the beach with a good book and watch - - (read: Introduction to La Palma).

Beaches of La Palma

Cancajos

The Cancajos beach and tourist resort is located on the east coast between the capital Santa Cruz and the airport. It is the second largest tourist resort on the island and it was built for the purpose so there is no old historical village hidden somewhere on the resort. The beach consists of two coves and is naturally divided into segments by remarkable lava/rock formations.

In total the beach is some 400 – 500 m long, but the rocks make it possible to find secluded spots. The sand is black because of its volcanic origin, as it is on all beaches on La Palma. If it’s your first visit to a volcanic island you may find it strange, but you will soon get used. Facilities include two lifeguards, showers and the tourist office next to the beach. Opposite the beach are several- - (Read: Beaches of La Palma, part I)

Top of page      Site Map 

Carnival on La Palma

The Indians arrive during the Carnival in Santa Cruz. Read more in The Day of the Indians

What’s in a name?

Ever since the Roman author and naturalist Pliny the Elder (23-79 CE) wrote in his 'Naturalis Historia', that Grand Canaria is so named due to the existence of dogs of great size, it has generally been considered the truth, and it is mentioned in most guide books. However, present day historians tend to consider another theory more correct. Some of the first people to come to the islands were from a tribe in the Atlas Mountains called Canarii.

San Antonio

Saint Anthony of Padua is a Catholic saint, who was born in Lisbon, Portugal and died in Padua, Italy on the 13th June, 1231. A chapel in Garafía is named after him and a big festival is held on this date in the hamlet of San Antonio.