Going around by car

La Palma, with a good network of roads leading to the great majority of its highlights and landmarks, is easy to tour by car.  Apart from the main roads which are asphalted,  there are many unmetalled tracks which are used mainly for agriculture purposes or as forest trails. It is absolutely necessary to get information concerning the state of the road before you leave, in order to avoid difficulties. The routes and timings given are guidelines only.  They all start and finish in Santa Cruz.

To Roque de Los Muchachos

Santa Cruz de la Palma-Mirca-Carretera al Roque de los Muchachos-Mirador Degollada de Franceses (The Degollada de Franceses viewpoint, offering a superb view of the Caldera de Taburiente National Park)-Mirador de los Andenes (The Los Andenes viewpoint)-Astrophysics Observatory-Roque de los Muchachos (highest peak of the island, 2,426m above sea level)-Carretera de Garafía (the road down to Garafía)-Puntagorda-Tijarafe-Mirador El Time (The El Time viepoint, superb view over the Valle de Aridane)- Los Llanos de Aridane-Santa Cruz de la Palma

Northern Route

Santa Cruz de la Palma-La Galga, Mirador de San Bartolomé (the San Bartolomé viewpoint)-Bosque de los Tilos (The Los Tilos laurel forest)-Los Sauces-San Andrés-Piscinas Naturales Charco Azul (The Charco Azul saltwater seaside swimming pools)-Barlovento, Piscinas de la Fajana (The La Fajana saltwater seaside swimming pools)-La Laguna-Mirador de la Tosca (the La Tosca viewpoint, with a view of one of the most astonishing and spectacular dragon-tree colonies on the island)-Gallegos-Franceses-Roque Faro-Fuente de la Zarza (prehispanic rock carvings)-Llano Negro-Garafía-Puerto (rugged coastline, examples of spurges)-las Tricias-Puntagorda-Tijarafe-Mirador El Time (the El Time viewpoint, superb view over Valle de Aridane)- Puerto de Tazacorte-Tazacorte-Los Llanos de Aridane-Santa Cruz de la Palma

Central and Southern route

Santa Cruz de la Palma-Real Santuario Insular de las Nieves (the gorgeous Las Nieves church)-Breña Alta, Mirador de la Concepción (the La Concepción viewpoint)-Carretera de la Cumbre-Centro de Visitantes del Parque Nacional Caldera de Taburiente (the Caldera de Taburiente National Park Visitors’ centre )-Mirador de la Cumbrecita (the La Cumbrecita viewpoint, offering a superb view over the Caldera de Taburiente National Park)-El Paso, Museo de la Seda (the silk Museum)-Los Llanos de Aridane-Playa de Puerto Naos-Las Manchas, Plaza de la Glorieta and Museo del Vino (Wine museum)- San Nicolás (Volcán de San Juán, 1949)- Fuencaliente-Volcán de Teneguía (wine, saltpans and lighthouse)-Cueva de Belmaco (archaeological park, prehispanic rock carvings)-Mazo (Wine and crafts)-Santa Cruz de la Palma

Trekking on the island

No doubt about it, La Palma is ideal to go trekking. Its well-marked network of hiking paths, stretching over more than 1000km and criss-crossing all kinds of landscapes, give hikers the chance to enjoy nature to the full. Please stay on the marked footpath and pay attention to the marks and signposts and be very careful with fire.  And please respect the plants, animals, and everything else you find.  Do not throw any rubbish away. Here we describe some walks on the island

Pico de la Nieve – Punta de Los Roques – Pino de la Virgen. This trail offers stunning and breathtaking views over the Caldera de Taburiente National Park and other parts of the island.

On the road from Santa Cruz de la Palma to the Roque de los Muchachos astrophysics observatory we will find a signpost indicating Pico de la Nieve. A 2km long track leads to the starting point of our walk. We start by going up to Pico de la Nieve and, from there, down to Pico de la Veta, first, and to Degollada del Río.  From there the path drops very steeply down to a water spring. Soon we reach the Veta de la Arena and the Punta de los Roques, good spots to take a break while enjoying the superb views. From this point on, the walk goes down through  sticky brooms, rock roses and pine trees to the road leading to Cumbre Nueva. Here we will go along the Camino de las Vueltas to chapel at el Pino de la Virgen

Difficulty level: demanding/Duration: 6-7 hours.

The Volcano Route(Refugio de El Pilar, El Paso – Fuencaliente). The Cumbre Vieja Natural Park offers an unique landscape thanks to its volcanoes. While enjoying the walk, walkers, listening to the crunch of their boots and to the breeze blowing among the pine trees, can admire the steep hillsides of the mountain range as well as other Canary Islands in the distance (weather permitting).

The Volcanoes Route stage of the GR131 (the  long-distance hiking trail 131), gives walkers the possibility to discover the island from North to South and, at the same time, takes them through a landscape composed of five historical eruptions. As the walk goes along the crest of the ridge which divides the south of the island in two, it provides   fascinating views of volcanoes, flat lands, the Valle de Aridane and Fuencaliente, and, on the horizon, the sea. Since this is an inhospitable and lonesome area, one of the most memorable features of this walk is the many different colours of the volcanoes and volcanic rocks.

The starting point for this walk is the small service building in the Refugio del Pilar picnic spot.  From there we walk up to Pico Birigoyo, then Montaña La Barquilla, Hoyo Negro and Nambroque, which erupted in 1949. We continue on to Montaña las Deseadas, which is the highest point of the walk, around 1949m above sea level. From this point we can see Montaña Negra (1712). We go through pine forests up to Hoya de la Manteca and the Martín volcano (which is red and which erupted in 1646) in Fuencaliente.  Leaving this volcano behind on the left, the path forks: to the right, it leads to the Tión water spring and, thus, the road leading to Fuencaliente. In this stage of the walk there are several   short cuts.

Difficulty level: demanding/Duration: 8 hours
 

"Casa del Monte – Marcos y Cordero – Los Tilos". Get to know the very heart of the Los Tilos laurel forest and the Marcos y Cordero water springs, one of the most important water springs in the Canary Islands.

We can reach the Casa del Monte either by car or by 4WD taxi.  From this point we follow the canal up to the water springs. We have to go through several tunnels (a torch and a waterproof garment are highly recommended), in the midst of a landscape of outstanding natural beauty. From here you can see the hard work the islanders have done to transport the water from the springs to Los Sauces. The first spring we find is Marcos, where we can have a break before going on to Cordero , just half an hour away .At this point, the descent to Barranco del Agua begins, passing throughdifferent levels of vegetation, until we reach the heart of the laurel forest. Here we can admire some  species of the laurel forest, such as the best example of til trees (Acotea foetens) in the Canary Islands.

Difficulty level: medium-demanding/Duration: 4-5 hours

Tips: take a torch and a waterproof garment with you

Further information on these walks in: www.senderosdelapalma.com

Ruta del Vino (The wine route. An itinerary to get to know the different wines exiting on the island)

Consejo Regulador de la Denominación de Origen Vinos de La Palma

In order to guarentee and preserve the quality of the wines of the island, the 
The La Palma Denomination of Origin was created in. The whole process is strictly controlled, from the methods of cultivating of approved varieties of grapes, through the harvest and fermentation, to the final bottle. The regulatory body (Consejo Regulador) is composed of representatives of the wine production sector of the island. Therefore, you can be absolutely sure that a bottle of wine carrying the mark “Denominación de Origen La Palma” has been carefully controlled and inspected by a group of experts before going on sale. They are very strict.  Only good quality wine is may use the label, so the wines of the island are guaranteed to be of a good quality

Get to know the Ruta del Vino.