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La Palma
In the northwestern part of the Canary Islands archipelago is the island of Palma, famous for its lush forests and natural beauty, qualities for whcih it has been chosen as a World Biosphere Reserve. Although of volcanic origin, ´La Isla Bonita´ stands out for the greenery of its landscape, the abundance of water and peaks over 2,000 metres high, such as La Caldera de Taburiente, La Cumbre Nueva or La Cumbre Vieja.
The Caldera de Taburiente National Park
The park houses a large number of archaeological remains, especially rock carvings, hidden among beautiful waterfalls. The visitor can reach the viewing points of the Cumbrecita and the Roque de los Muchachos by car, although if you prefer to walk, it is advisable to drop in at the visitors centre of the national park, located on the Llanos de Ariadne road, and ask for their itineraries.
Las Nieves National Park
Famous for the conservation of endangered and protected species like the White Retama or the Knapweed, we can find to the southwest the protected landscape of Las Angustias, home of the Idafe Natural Monument. Touring these areas on foot is the best bet.
Cliffs and caves
The highlights here are the natural monuments of Montana de Sufre, the Risco de la Concepcion or the protected landscape of Tamanca, a hilly area ending at a sheer cliff face. The cliffs, many of which are more than 200 metres high, are one of the secrets that lie hidden on the island. Its caves, formed by the erosion of the sea, such as Cueva Bonita in Tijarafe are another special attraction.
Volcanoes
As we continue our tour of the island, we will constantly come across cone-shaped formations, especially on the two slopes on the southern side, which demonstrate the intense volcanic activity experienced by La Palma throughout its history. Among the most spectacular are the Tacande in El Paso and Mount Tenisca close to Argual.
Archaeological remains
If we let ourselves be taken on a journey back in time, we will meet the ´Gaunches´, the first settlers of the island, whose footsteps we can follow through the caves, tombs, cave paintings, canals and rock water wells which have survived to our days. The archaeological centres of Belmaco, in the municipality of Mazo, and La Zarza-La Zarcita, in Garifia are a must for the visitor.
Santa Cruz de La Palma
The historic centres of Santa Cruz de La Palma and San Andres are ideal places to see ´Casas senoriales´, the typical stately homes of the region, a variant of the typical Andalusian house with Arab influence. Highlights are The Royal Castle of Santa Catalina which dates from 1676 and the XVl century El Cabo Fort, both built for the defensive needs of the island and both in Santa Cruz. Once you are in the capital, declared a site of Historic-Artistic interest, you can walk in the Plaza de Espana, a charming spot close to which several renaissance buildings can be seen, such as the Matriz de El Salvador parish church and the City Hall.
Hiking
La Palma is a paradise for walkers, boasting an extensive network of trails. The visitor is offered a wide variety of walks, which range from a gentle stroll through the island´s gardens to trekking in the peaks of Bejenado or Birigoyo, or the Marcos and Cordero trails.
Cycle tourism
The island´s climate, its numerous tracks covered in pine needles and its volcanic trails make it the ideal place to pratice this sport. There are many paths of differing length and degrees of difficulty, like the tour of Tijerafe that ends in the Torre del Time, a lookout on the steep side of the Caldera, or the Roque de los Muchachos.
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