La Palma in 5 Days: everything you need to know

Within the different islands that make up the Canary Islands, La Palma is not the most demanded. It is usually more common to visit Tenerife or Gran Canaria. However, the Isla Bonita receives this name for a reason. It is a paradise for hiking enthusiasts. During your trip, you can enjoy starry nights, trails through dreamlike forests, visits to charming villages on the shores of the Atlantic and impressive volcanoes. In short, there are many things to see and do in La Palma.

If you are planning a trip to La Palma in 5 days, take a look at this list of plans and activities that I recommend. As a preview: you will need to pack some good hiking shoes and your camera to immortalize the beautiful landscapes you will see during your visit to the Isla Bonita.

Santa Cruz de La Palma is the capital of the Isla Bonita and the first stop I propose in this trip to La Palma in 5 days. I invite you to cross the historical helmet, a perfectly feasible route to do on foot.

On the other hand, Nogales beach is a virgin beach located in the town of Puntallana. With volcanic sand and beautiful views of the mountains, it is one of the best in La Palma. It will take you less than half an hour by car to get to Nogales beach from the capital.

Get to know Santa Cruz de La Palma

There are several essential places and monuments in Santa Cruz de La Palma. The first of them is the Castle of Santa Catalina, which dates back to the 17th century and was built to defend the city from pirates.

Of course, you cannot miss walking along the Calle Real, which is the main avenue of the city. Here you will find certain monuments of tourist interest, such as the monument to the Dwarfs of La Palma, the Barco de la Virgen museum, the City Hall or the Matriz de El Salvador church.

Speaking of churches, a visit to the church of El Salvador is also a must. Finally, you can also visit some of the viewpoints, such as La Concepción or Barranco de Los Gomeros.

Savor the sea at Nogales beach

Nogales beach is not usually very busy, so it provides tranquility, peace and relaxation. However, it is advisable to be careful with the tide, which is usually very strong in this area.

To get to Nogales beach, you will have to take the LP-102. There is a parking lot where you can leave your car. From here, you will walk a 15-minute walk that stands out for its views.

In addition to a wonderful day at the beach, you can also take advantage of your visit to Nogales beach to do other activities. For example, very close to this place is the forest of Cubo de Galga, where there are two routes: one that exceeds 10 kilometers and another of only 2.

If you prefer to indulge yourself before opting for hiking, I advise you to try the authentic Canarian cuisine in the restaurant Casa Asterio. Among its specialties are ribs, fried cheese and, of course, papas arrugás with mojo picón.

The Teneguía Volcano is the penultimate volcanic eruption of the island. The eruption of this volcano in 1971 had a great impact on the southern end of the beautiful island. Today, it is one of the great tourist attractions of La Palma.

Get close to the Teneguía Crater

This volcano is very close to that of San Antonio. In fact, in the visitor center of the latter, you will learn part of the history of Teneguía. The road to the volcano runs with lava fields as scenery. You can choose to climb to the top, although the reality is that it is a demanding path.

Above all, the effort increases in summer, given the heat. However, there is no need to go all the way to the top, as the trail is worth the effort in itself. During this trail, you will discover the Roque de Teneguía, an archaeological site 400 meters high. The rock engravings of the area and the strange flora that decorates it are striking.

Discover the San Antonio volcano

To visit the San Antonio volcano from Teneguía, you can take a hiking route or opt to make the journey by car, which is less than 15 minutes. When visiting the San Antonio volcano, the first stop on the route is the visitor's center.

Here you can get information about the different volcanoes of the beautiful island, as well as all the processes related to them. When you leave the visitor center, there is a short walk to the top of the San Antonio volcano.

When you have seen the crater of the volcano, I recommend that you continue on the trail to appreciate the views of the coast and the sea. Also, from the Teneguía Volcanoes Natural Monument viewpoint, you will be able to see the youngest formation on the island, which is the result of the eruption that took place in 2021.

The third day of your trip to La Palma in 5 days consists of getting lost in nature. You will start the day admiring the waterfall of Los Tilos. Afterwards, I suggest you head to Charco Azul, a natural pool just 15 minutes away. When you have enjoyed the surroundings, visit the village of San Andres, which is located approximately 5 minutes away by car.

Get lost in Los Tilos

Los Tilos waterfall has a height of 60 meters and is located in a laurel forest, the forest of Los Tilos text. Right next to the waterfall, there is a visitor center where you can taste typical Canarian food. The waterfall is usually very crowded, but even so, it is worth seeing.

To get there, you can complete the route by following the Marcos y Cordero trail. You can take a cab to the starting point of the route. Afterwards, you will only have to walk a beautiful flat path where water is the main protagonist. The trail has a length of just over 12 kilometers and has several tunnels, so you should bring flashlights.

Bathe in the Charco Azul

I move now to the north of La Palma, an area of the island where there is a natural pool called Charco Azul. On hot days, it is the perfect place to cool off and relax.

To get to Charco Azul, you will have to do it on foot. There are different marks marking the way, so it is difficult to get lost.

In total, counting also the return, it is about 4 kilometers, so it is a very easy distance to walk. When you finish, you can go to the beach of El Risco.

Explore San Andrés

Very close to Charco Azul is the town of San Andrés. To reach this municipality, you will cross the largest single-arch bridge in the country. The most recommendable place to visit in San Andrés is the church of San Andrés Apóstol, which has been declared an Asset of Cultural Interest. This temple is located in the main square of the town, which serves as the nerve center.

With the sea as a showcase, San Andrés is a beautiful town with large houses, which are proof of the great importance that the municipality has had during its history in the region.

The Roque de los Muchachos is the second highest point of the Canary Islands, with an altitude of 2,426 meters. It is located in the National Park of La Caldera de Taburiente and offers an extensive list of activities to do.

Take a route through the National Park of La Caldera de Taburiente

The Canary Islands have an impressive landscape and natural wealth. One of its greatest relics is the National Park of La Caldera de Taburiente.

To reach this magical place, you can do it from the Cumbrecita viewpoint or from the Brecitos viewpoint. The first one is of low difficulty. On the other hand, the second starting point is only recommended for expert hikers.

Among the points of interest in the park is the Visitors' Center of La Caldera de Taburiente. It is a museum where, through various exhibitions, you will discover all the curiosities of the park: from its fauna to its history. I also recommend the viewpoint of Roque de los Muchachos, which is the highest peak of the island.

Contemplate the views from Roque de los Muchachos

The first thing you should do is go to the Roque de los Muchachos viewpoint. If the sky is clear, you will enjoy breathtaking views of nature. Besides, it will only take you a few minutes on foot to get there.

In case you like astronomy, I recommend that you take advantage of the walk to go to the Astronomical Observatory of Roque de los Muchachos, one of the best in the world.

Here you will be able to see the different telescopes it houses, as well as the discoveries attributed to it. In the Roque de los Muchachos there are also organized night excursions to see the stars, concretely in the esplanade of the LP-4 road. There are several routes that can be done in the Roque de los Muchachos. One of the easiest is the one to the Espigón del Roque, which lasts about half an hour.

Porís de la Candelaria is a municipality that will surely surprise you. It is made up of a group of cave houses located by the sea. Tazacorte is another charming coastal town, which is about 40 minutes away by car. Finally, end the day with a visit to Puerto Naos, less than half an hour away.

Surprise yourself with the cave houses of Porís de la Candelaria

It is located on the coast of Tijarafe and is the greatest example of the ability of human beings to adapt to the different irregularities of nature.

I recommend that you visit the beach of La Veta, although it is not easy to access. Keep this in mind if you are traveling with children and do not forget to bring appropriate footwear and some water. In addition to this beach, in Porís de la Candelaria you will also find the Time viewpoint, which offers unparalleled views of Llanos de Aridane, Naos, Tazacorte and Fuencaliente.

Enjoy a day at the beach in Tazacorte

Tazacorte is of great tourist interest for its beautiful beach of volcanic sand and its marina. It is in the port of this locality from where the boats for whale watching leave.

Of the two beaches of the town, the most famous is the Puerto de Tazacorte, which is located next to the pier. It is a very safe beach for children, due to the tranquility of the water.

The other beach of Tazacorte is that of Los Guirres, which exceeds in size to the previous one. It is usually somewhat emptier than the beach of Puerto de Tazacorte, which makes it ideal for those seeking tranquility. It is also perfect for surfers, thanks to its waves.

Enjoy a sunset in Puerto Naos

Puerto Naos is a coastal town belonging to Los Llanos de Aridane. In its time, it was a village dedicated to fishing and the cultivation of bananas. The most striking of Puerto Naos is its wonderful beach of black volcanic sand.

Here you will find all kinds of services, such as hammocks, public baths or beach bars where you can taste the fresh fish of the island. It is here where you can see one of the most beautiful sunsets of La Palma. Therefore, if you do not have time to spend all day on the beach, I advise you to at least arrive in time to see the sunset.

In addition to the beach of Puerto Naos, the center of the town is also very nice to see. Among the most striking places is the Plaza de La Glorieta, designed by Luis Morera. Of course, you cannot miss the volcanic tube of Todoque, formed by the eruption of the San Juan volcano.

As you can see, a 5-day trip to La Palma can be very complete. In fact, you can also get to know the Isla Bonita in depth with only 4 days of travel. My recommendation is that you take a look at the best excursions and tours in La Palma and that you take into account your physical capabilities when choosing one or the other. It is also important that you go well equipped with quality shoes.