Activities and Sports on La Palma

La Palma is of volcanic origin and has a very brittle, loose surface - this fact should also be taken into account when hiking. Good footwear, suitable clothing to protect against suddenly occurring winds or moisture, as well as a sufficient supply of drinking water guarantee an undisturbed hiking pleasure.

One should not hike alone. La Palma is partly wildly rugged. If you are also off the beaten paths, the search for a missing hiker becomes like looking for a needle in a haystack. Meanwhile, there are well-developed and signposted hiking trails that eliminate the endless search for the famous “cairns.” You can read about the most beautiful hiking routes in various hiking guides.

Of course, there is also the possibility to participate in guided hikes on La Palma.

The homepage of Graja Tours gives you an overview.

At the small, privately run observatory in Tacande, interested visitors have the opportunity to enjoy breathtaking views of the starry sky of La Palma at night for 1 - 2 hours.

The observation evenings include an audio-visual description of the physical properties of the celestial objects to be observed, such as the moon, planets, nebulae, star clusters, galaxies, etc. This is followed by practical observations with a high-quality 400mm telescope. If possible, we will also attempt to capture an astrophotograph of some of the observed objects with a state-of-the-art CCD camera. Depending on the time of night and your interest, a walk with the naked eye through the constellations visible from La Palma (latitude 28.5) will also be included.

The aforementioned activities - with the exception of the last one - take place within the observatory building, undisturbed by the fresh winds that can sometimes occur in the Canaries. The observatory is located at an altitude of 760m, relatively central on the island, not far from the village of El Paso (there is no need to drive to remote areas at night).
The observation evenings begin at 10:00 PM in summer and at 9:00 PM in winter. The duration is approximately 2.5 hours. The language of communication is English.

The price is €20/person, with a minimum of 3 people. If there are only 1 or 2 people (then more attention can be given to the visitors), the total price is €60.

More information about Astropalma can be found here

Almost a hidden gem is the collection of the abundantly sprouting mushrooms in November and December.

For groups, guided tours can also be organized upon request through the local mushroom association. Please ask us.

La Palma can also be experienced by bike - preferably with a mountain bike. There are many trails, paths, and roads where bikers can enjoy their ride undisturbed.

Simply riding across the terrain is not recommended due to the volcanic origin of the island. In the nature reserves, biking is of course completely prohibited.

Experience the nature of the beautiful island of La Palma on horseback. Sometimes it goes over sandy plains, sometimes through evergreen pine forests, past volcanoes and along the black lava beach. A horseback ride on La Palma is definitely a special experience.

There are several providers for riding tours on La Palma. We are happy to assist you.

In good weather conditions, you can regularly see one or more paragliders circling over La Palma and searching for thermals. Especially the west side of the island, due to its more consistent weather, is the flying zone for paragliders.

Most of the time, launches take place between Las Manchas and Fuencaliente. Depending on the wind and weather conditions, the launch site is chosen. The landing site is Puerto Naos, which is also the point of contact for interested parties.

As a special attraction, tandem flights are offered. The experienced pilot sits behind the customer and controls the paraglider.

The paved road network has been expanded on La Palma recently and is in excellent condition. Off the paved roads, it continues as it used to on tracks that can only be accessed by jeeps in some parts.

Public transport is operated by buses that run very reliably and cover a fairly large area of the island. Bus is called ‘Guagua’ on La Palma.

If you want to reach more remote attractions that are poorly accessible by bus and you are not a bike fan, you will likely need to use a car or a taxi.
Meanwhile, jeep tours and organized bus trips are also offered. The advertising is being heavily promoted, so there is no need to go into detail here.

Anyone vacationing on La Palma will surely, if not always, but definitely from time to time, engage in leisurely strolls and enjoy.
La Palma offers not only sights outside but also in the towns and small cities. It is precisely this southern bustle, especially in the urban areas of this small island, that invites strolling and idleness.
Observing the happenings on the plaza while having a snack (tapa) or a drink should not be missed - a special souvenir for the stressed-out traveler.

Bathing in the Atlantic is certainly one of the highlights of a La Palma vacation. However, be aware that the open Atlantic should not be treated as a harmless bathtub. Especially in winter, the sea can be very lively.

Pay attention to warning signals such as the differently colored beach flags. With a green flag, you can assume that it is safe to swim. With a yellow flag, caution is advised, and for safety's sake, it is better to refrain from swimming enjoyment.

With a red flag, there is a complete swimming ban. Occasionally, strong water currents occur, which have already led to very dangerous situations. On such days, it is better to use the pool or engage in another leisure activity.

The beaches of La Palma all have dark sand. The dark lava sand is soft and warm. Generally, the beaches in the south of the island are more suitable for swimming than those in the north of the island, as there are fewer dangers from currents.

The most popular beaches are:

• Playa de Tazacorte - one of the best beaches in La Palma,
• Playa de la Zamora - Below Las Indias, an asphalt road leads north through the banana plantations to Playa Chica and Playa de la Zamora, with each entrance only 200 meters apart. Playa de la Zamora is accessible via a steep stone staircase and is the most romantic bathing cove on the island with fine lava sand.
• Beach of Echentive - also called 'Nueva', is located below the Teneguía volcano.
• Puerto de Naos; Las Monjas - nudist beach behind Puerto de Naos (caution in winter),
• Charco Verde - behind the aforementioned beach towards El Remo,
• Small beach at the lighthouse of Fuencaliente,
• Los Cancajos - between Fuencaliente and Los Cancajos, there are some hidden small bathing beaches;
• Santa Cruz - in front of the harbor;
• Los Nogales near Puntallana - only accessible by a long descent on foot (however, there are dangerous currents at this beach, so be careful - more of a beach for surfers - especially in summer),
• Charco Azul - sea swimming pool at Los Sauces,
• La Fajana - sea swimming pool at Barlovento.

If you arrived by ferry, you have experienced impressions of the Atlantic that can vary depending on the weather, i.e., the wave conditions.

Experiencing the Atlantic from La Palma on a sightseeing boat can be another outdoor adventure, with the starting point being the port of Tazacorte.

For fishing enthusiasts, there is the opportunity for deep-sea fishing.

Surfers meet in winter at Playa Nueva, which can be found just before Puerto Naos after the last major curve to the right. Of course, the waves are not world championship waves, but at certain times when there are waves, a group of surfers gathers as agreed.

In summer, surfing takes place at Playa los Nogales - insiders rave about “waves like in Hawaii,” probably a bit exaggerated, yet it’s the tip for surf tourists.

There are some very interesting caves and volcanic tubes on La Palma.
It is best to contact the following addresses for a guided tour:
Grupo de Espeleología Junonia
E-Mail: active@arrakis.es

Grupo de Espeleología Benisahare
P.O. Box No. 591
38700 Santa Cruz de La Palma
Paco Govantes
Tel. 922 181 008
Mobile 619 140 025
E-Mail: fgovmor@gobiernodecanarias.org

On La Palma, there are two locations prepared for climbing. With a difficulty level of IV A 7b+ in the Barranco de la Madera right next to the church of Las Nieves and IVa 7a at the summit of the Tajuya volcano in El Paso. Both locations have a basic climbing setup with about 70 and 13 variants, respectively.

Canyon climbing can be done in the gorge of Marcos and Cordero in the Los Tiles Biosphere Reserve, in the Las Granjas gorge near Roque de Los Muchachos, and in the Barranco de Fagundo in the north of the island.

Among the Canary Islands, La Palma is considered the most interesting diving area of the entire archipelago. This is partly due to the fascinating topography of the local underwater landscape, which was shaped, among other things, by volcanic eruptions in the 1970s, so that today black, petrified lava flows can be seen. Furthermore, divers can expect reefs, deep gorges, arches, overhangs, wildly scattered boulders, and mysterious underwater caves.

Off the coast of La Palma, there are over 30 dive sites. Some of them can be easily reached from land, while others require a boat ride of several minutes. Many dive sites are also located at around 30 meters deep, making them accessible to both beginners and professionals in the diving sport. In addition, there are also some interesting dive areas that lure experienced divers even to depths of over 40 meters.

The majority of dive sites are located on the east and west coasts of La Palma, where many dive schools have also settled, particularly around Playa de Puerto Naos, Los Cancajos, and Puerto de Tazacorte. The south is also very appealing for diving adventures; however, diving off the north coast of La Palma is more dangerous than enjoyable due to strong currents and rough waves. Even among the local dive bases, only a few offer dive safaris in this region.

Off the south coast of La Palma lies the marine protected area Reserva Marina de La Palma. Although it cannot be dived, there are very attractive dive sites in its immediate vicinity, known especially for their abundance of fish.

A unique diving experience is also promised by the underwater cemetery Malpique at the southern tip of the island. Here, around 40 stone crosses lie on the seabed, sunk in honor of the missionaries murdered by pirates in the 16th century. Additionally, curious visitors can admire the rare black corals found here.

In the southwest, you can also expect the two noteworthy underwater caves Cueva de agua dulce and Cueva Ricardo. Not far from there lies the steam freighter Santa Úrsula, the only wreck off the coast of La Palma.

Off the east coast, the dive site El Canyon impresses with a fascinating canyon-like landscape, while at the dive spots Los Molinos and La Caldera, lava flows have petrified on their way down, creating a captivating marine landscape today.

The marine landscapes off the Canary Islands are home to over 600 different species of fish. For example, divers can encounter bream, grouper, moray eels, octopuses, shrimp, trumpetfish, as well as turtles, rays, lobsters, sand eels, starfish, and with a bit of luck, also sunfish, dolphins, and whales welcoming them to their realm. A special feature are the black corals, which can only be found here.

Source: Urlaubsreise24 - La Palma travel information and package offers