La Palma Island Info

Northernmost in the seven-island chain of the Spanish Canary Islands is La Palma, nicknamed La Isla Bonita (the beautiful island) and celebrated by William Shakespeare for its Malmsey wine.  Just lately “La Isla Bonita” was the subject of a song by pop star Madonna, and it surely lives up to the name.  Like many others, the island was created by an ancient volcanic eruption.

Viewed from space (or from a high-flying plane) the giant cauldron (caldera) in the middle of the island makes a dramatic statement about the nature of this semi-tropical, mostly undeveloped island.

The main industries of the island are banana plantations and vineyards.  Bananas are the chief exports, but Malvasia (Shakespeare’s Malmsey), a sweet dessert wine, is still a notable contribution, especially at European tables.   As of the last couple of decades, the tourism industry has been growing and expanding, but much of the natural terrain and flora is still virtually untouched by ‘progress’.

La Palma is an excellent destination for travelers who wish to stay close to nature.  Although the road system is comprehensive and in very good shape, circumnavigating the entire island, the most popular and rewarding activity for most visitors is a walking tour.

The Los Tilos Walk is a must-do, but not for the faint-hearted – it takes an average of six hours.  You can walk through the minas galerias (water tunnels), carved into the rock through centuries, which carry water from the mountain slopes to pipes and aqueducts.  The path also goes to a lookout with utterly breathtaking 360-degree views from a volcanic dyke about two feet wide and protected from the sheer drop by handrails.

The Roque de Los Muchachos is a major international astronomical observatory, located on the island’s highest peak at about 8000 feet.  The observatory provides a fascinating experience, and you can get there easily by car during most of the year.  In fact, if you are not willing to walk, most of the island’s spectacular scenery is traversable by auto, and there are several good agencies offering rentals.

Santa Cruz de La Palma is the main port town on the island, and you can find some of the elegant homes dating from the 17^th and 18^th centuries as well as modern accommodations for visitors.  For visiting other towns and the countryside around, the best option is a hired car, and public buses are also available.

Be aware that most of the drivers speak very little English, but they are unfailingly helpful.  You should also sample the local cuisine, of which one staple is goat, young or old, fried or stewed.  Bienmesabe, a local dessert made from ground almonds and honey, means “tastes me good”, and it does.

From La Palma Island there are connections via ferry to Tenerife (another Canary Island in the chain) and to Cadiz on mainland Spain and to the African coast.  The international airport (SPC) is located just outside of Santa Cruz, with connections via turboprop to other major airports.