La Palma in 4 Days: a guidebook for getting the most out of your visit

A distinctive detail of the Canary Islands is that many of the activities related to tourism in the region have to do with the natural attractions of each island. In the case of La Palma there is no exception to this rule, as the best things to see or do in La Palma are usually related to the enjoyment of the volcanic and forest landscape that combines between the north and south of this island.

In this publication I have proposed to organize an excellent itinerary of activities so that not a single second is left unoccupied throughout a 4-day visit to one of the most beautiful islands of the Spanish maritime territories. Read on to get a precise idea of what you could do at each stage of your trip.

No matter which way you choose to get to La Palma, from a ferry from other Canary Islands to a direct flight arriving at La Palma Airport, you will always have to pass through the capital of the island as well as its surroundings.

This small city is characterized by its modest beauty, as well as by the geography of the terrain on which it is built. It ranges from steep hills that descend from the Caldera de Taburiente National Park to a volcanic coastline characterized by black sand beaches.

This first day of the trip is planned on the basis that you can take a rental car and drive around the area throughout the day. This is assuming you have the privilege of being able to start the first day of your visit in the early morning hours.

Have breakfast on the avenue of balconies

There is a very peculiar area in Santa Cruz de Palma that has been one of the most representative corners of this city for a couple of centuries. It is the balconies of the old two-storey houses that are located along the famous Avenida Marítima, just in front of the beach of Santa Cruz de Palma.

It is a good idea to enjoy this part of the city for the first moments of your trip, as it is a place that captures very well the architectural essence of this city. In addition, in the nearby area there are several alternatives for breakfast that are part of the list of the best gastronomic spots on the island.

La Chalana, La Placeta and La Habana are just some of the establishments you could choose to enjoy a good breakfast that will keep you satisfied until the next meal of the day.

Visit the Insular Museum of La Palma

Two blocks from the Balcones de la Avenida Marítima is the Museo Ins ular de La Palma. If I am talking about cultural institutions of importance on this island then this place takes the lead, since it is a place that occupies the facilities of an old mansion and has been dedicated to the compilation of several exhibitions on the artistic, handicraft and textile history of the island.

Inside there are also exhibitions oriented to the sociological history of the island as well as its strong relationship with the field of shipbuilding. There are rooms that deal with the most interesting details of the geology and natural environment of La Palma. It is worth visiting this museum before continuing your trip, as it is one of the great treasures that Santa Cruz de La Palma has to offer its visitors.

Spend the afternoon in the village of Nogales

If you drive to the north of the island on the LP-1 road and then continue on the LP-102 , you will reach the beautiful community of Nogales in less than 30 minutes. This is an agricultural village located on the fertile hills and cliffs of the northeast coast of La Palma. In turn, it is characterized by its ecological banana farms and other tropical resources that thrive in the volcanic soil of the Canary Islands.

Between the villages of El Corcho, Llano Molino and Puntallana you can find several alternatives for lunch, highlighting the modest restaurant Casa Asterio and the Asadero La Molina Vieja as convenient options from a logistical perspective.

My advice is to take advantage of your visit to this town, as well as to its neighboring communities, to admire the beauty of the rural environment of La Palma. In turn, the viewpoint of Playa de Nogales as well as the black sand and greenish cliffs is a site you cannot miss when touring the area.

Drive over the Puente de los Tilos and have dinner in San Andrés y Sauces

If you continue driving north on the LP-1 you will continue to encounter several picturesque villages such as San Juan or Los Galguitos. At one point you will have to cross the Los Tilos Bridge and this is an excellent occasion if you admire the beauty of the Barranco del Agua that crosses this beautiful work of civil engineering.

Just after passing this bridge you would be arriving at the largest urban settlement of San Andres y Sauces, the municipality you have been driving through since Playa de Nogales. Dining at this site is a good idea if you plan to get accommodation in one of the many hotels in the area. Although I have to highlight the fact that the restaurants in Playa de Espindola stand out for the beauty of their facilities, as well as for their gastronomic proposal.

By the end of your first day in La Palma you will find yourself officially enjoying the north of the island. However, this section has much more to offer you, ranging from sea and beach activities to a visit to the highest points of the volcanic mountains of La Palma.

So your second day's itinerary continues through this impressive region. Like so many things on La Palma, it will also require a rental car to facilitate transfers from one point to another within this very rural but beautiful and memorable area.

Visit Charco Azul

Charco Azul is a tourist complex located less than 500 meters from Puerto Espindola Beach and is characterized by two natural pools that get their water directly from the Atlantic Ocean and are formed on a rocky terrain of volcanic origin.

This site has changing rooms, parking, showers, solariums, a canteen and all kinds of facilities to move safely on the rocks. There is also a children's pool and best of all, admission is completely free all year round.

It can be a good activity to start the day. In addition, its proximity to several bars and restaurants also makes it an appropriate place to have breakfast before embarking on the route that will take you to the next destinations of your trip.

Drive to Roque de los Muchachos

If you drive for about an hour from Charco Azul on the LP-1 road, you will reach a point where you can turn off onto the LP-4 road. This new road will take you through several steep curves that after another 25 minutes will leave you right at the entrance of the visitor center of Roque de los Muchachos. This is the highest point of the whole island and all along the area there are several tourist attractions.

El Mirador del Roque de los Muchachos is clearly one of these sites, as well as the beautiful Mirador del Espigón del Roque. However, the astrophysical observatory that bears the same name is another place that you cannot miss when you are in this mountainous point of La Palma. Keep in mind that there are several excursions that can take you directly from your accommodation to this observatory and to the viewpoint. This may be your only alternative to enjoy this natural wonder if you don't rent a private car.

Then go to the Dragos El Palmar Forest

When you have covered everything that interests you in the Roque de los Muchachos, you must return by the same road on which you ascended the mountain and take again the LP-1 to connect later with the LP-112 that will take you directly to the village of Santo Domingo.

On the outskirts of this picturesque community is the Dragos El Palmar Forest. This is a unique terrain that has an infinity of beautiful trees known as Dragos and that are as attractive as the Baobabs of Madagascar or the great Sequoias of California.

While in this town you can take the opportunity to have lunch. Although as soon as you finish touring the forest you will have to start driving south again on the LP-114. This will take you to the beautiful destination that will complete the itinerary of your second day in La Palma.

Finish the day visiting the Poris de la Candelaria

There is a point where after driving for about 10 minutes on the LP-114 you will have to take the LP-1. When this happens you will start driving south, just towards the village of Tijarafe. When you get there you could also have lunch if you didn't do it in some of the villages along the way, having the Kiosco el Diablo in the hills of the village or the centrally located restaurant Los Olivos as your best alternatives.

When you are satisfied you can head towards the famous Poris de la Candelaria, which is a kind of cave that was formed in the cliffs near the Playa del Jorado.

The best way to describe this unique place is as a tiny village that has winding paths on stone stairs that lead tourists from the top base of the cliff to this kind of semicircle. It has several houses that contrast beautifully with the turquoise blue waters and rocks that leave visitors thinking about the immensity of the forces of nature.

For the third day of your trip to La Palma there are still hundreds of corners to be explored and focusing on the wonders that the west coast of the island has to offer is an excellent idea.

I have identified the most interesting and at the same time most entertaining places for you to enjoy during this stage of the itinerary. You will have less than 48 hours left to make the most of the beauty of La Palma.

Breakfast in Tazacorte and visit its beautiful beach

Tazacorte is a coastal community of a couple of streets that stands out for the quality of its real estate developments. As well as for the contrasting beauty that is created with its environment full of ravines or with the peculiar beach of black sands and waters without any kind of waves.

It is a beautiful place to have breakfast and start getting into attitude to enjoy the rest of the activities that will keep you busy for the rest of the day. La Buhardilla, Playa Mont restaurant and Kiosko Montecarlo stand out for offering you a direct perspective of the beach, while also betting on rich culinary preparations.

Take an excursion to the San Juan Volcano

Up to this point of the trip you haven't had the opportunity to see up close the volcanic environment that defines the Canary Islands from a geological point of view. Therefore an excursion to the San Juan Volcano can be a good plan to occupy the end of your morning and the first half of your afternoon.

To get there you should take the LP-2 from your departure from Tazacorte and after about 20 minutes you will be in the area of the Centro de Interpretación de los Caños del Fuego (Interpretation Center of the Caños del Fuego ). There you could understand a little better the volcanic nature of the island and you could also leave the car parked before embarking on a small hiking route of about 45 minutes to the Coladas de San Juan or to the top of the volcano that bears the same name.

Do not hesitate to swim at Charco Verde beach

After a good exercise session it is advisable to enjoy a visit to the beach and the Charco Verde area, which is accessible from the LP-213 road, is a scenery worth visiting. It is a black sand coastline that contrasts with the nearby plantations that takes advantage of the volcanic fertility and has black stone cliffs that create a landscape worthy of a movie about outer space.

If you wish to have lunch before starting your beach session you could do so in Puerto de Naos, a coastal community that is quite similar to Tazacorte in the sense of the architecture of its real estate developments.

Pay a visit to the Teneguía wineries in Fuencaliente

In the village of Los Canarios you will find one of the most important commercial institutions in all of La Palma. This is the Bodegas Teneguía and having a guided tour of its facilities is an excellent way to say goodbye to the third day of your trip, while enjoying a good tasting of Canarian wines.

It is a fairly inexpensive activity, as it usually costs about 16 euros per person and is available for the whole family with no age limits. Although alcohol consumption is clearly reserved for those who are legally authorized to do so.

Being in the extreme south of La Palma you can't help but marvel at the volcanic character that defines this region of the island. Take advantage of your visit to the area to return home being able to say that you have enjoyed all possible environments of the wide natural spectrum of this beautiful island.

Start the day touring Los Canarios

Los Canarios is a pretty village that encapsulates everything you would expect from a rural community on La Palma after having toured it in its entirety for 3 full days. The village has more than 8 restaurants where you could enjoy a delicious breakfast if your accommodation does not offer it and it is definitely something you will need to recharge your batteries before starting the next activity of the itinerary.

Then go to the San Antonio Volcano Viewpoint

Driving approximately 2 minutes from the center of Los Canarios you will arrive at the visitor's center of the San Antonio Volcano. This is the ideal place to familiarize yourself with the short hiking route to the top of the volcano as well as to park your car without the risk of getting a traffic ticket.

When you arrive at the viewpoint of this famous volcano located at the top you can enjoy a panoramic view of the south of the island. You can also marvel at the magnitude of the large crater that makes up this volcanic mountain.

Take the opportunity to have lunch at Las Salinas de Fuencaliente

By the time you work up an appetite, you will be lucky enough to be less than 15 minutes away from one of the most important attractions in the south of La Palma. This is Las Salinas de Fuencaliente, which stand out for their proximity to the lighthouse of the same name. Also for the existence of a famous restaurant that offers Canarian gastronomic elements with a direct view of this sea salt extraction complex that has been in operation for more than 40 years.

Say goodbye to the island with a dolphin watching tour

To end your trip it is a good idea to go for the best dolphin watching tours along the coast of La Palma. Which could be accessible for you knowing that many of them depart from the ports of the south coast of the island.

Theyusually last about 3 hours and are a completely safe and entertaining activity for the whole family. In addition, if you have the opportunity to attend a sea excursion like this one, you will be able to enjoy a very special sunset that will make those last moments of sunshine even more special during your 4-day visit to La Palma.