La Palma is one of the most beautiful and most diverse of the Canary Islands. Whether it’s impressive volcanic landscapes, natural black sand beaches or lush Laurel forests you’re looking for, you’ll find it in La Palma.
We spent a week here exploring different areas of the island, and I feel like there is still much more left to explore. But here are the best things to do in La Palma which I got to discover during my trip plus the ones still on my list.
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Table of Contents - The best things to do in La Palma
- Where is La Palma
- How to get to La Palma
- What is the best time of year to visit La Palma
- Getting around La Palma
- Where to stay in La Palma
- The best things to do in La Palma
- Visit La Palma’s newest volcano Tajogaite
- Go hiking around Pilar
- Visit Playa Nogales, La Palma’s most beautiful beach
- Hide from pirates in PorĂs de Candelaria
- Rise above the clouds at Roque de los Muchachos, La Palma’s highest point
- Go hiking in the Laurel Forest in Cubo de la Galga
- Visit the wild Playa de la Veta (if it’s there!)
- Other things to do in La Palma
- Finishing thoughts on the best things to do in La Palma
- FAQ about La Palma
Where is La Palma
La Palma is one of the main islands in the Canary archipelago. It’s the northwesternmost island of the group and due to this position it receives some of the most extreme weather. It’s the rainiest of the 7 islands (or 8 if you include La Graciosa), and also receives some of the strongest mountain winds. Add a strong volcanic presence and you’ve got yourself a gorgeous, wild and diverse island full of amazing things to do.
How to get to La Palma
Being one of the main islands, La Palma is well connected by air and receives direct flights↗ from mainland Spain and several international destinations like The Netherlands, Germany, and the UK. If you’re island hopping in the archipelago, you can also fly here directly from Gran Canaria and Tenerife.
There are also direct ferry connections between Santa Cruz de La Palma and Tenerife (Los Cristianos) and La Gomera (San Sebastián).
What is the best time of year to visit La Palma
My favorite time of year to visit the Canary Islands is spring, however this comes with some trade-offs in La Palma. Spring is great because it’s the quietest season in the Canary Islands. Prices drop and roads, viewpoints, and hiking trails don’t feel saturated. However, it’s also one of the cloudier seasons in La Palma, so we missed out on some of the greatest views the island has to offer.
Summer generally offers clearer skies in the mountains, but temperatures rise, making hikes more demanding. Winter is more hit-and-miss with varying weather, but it’s also the busiest season. Autumn is relatively quiet, but it’s generally the cloudiest season in La Palma. So I would pick spring over autumn if you can.
Getting around La Palma
The best way to get around La Palma is by renting a car. There are buses which serve the island, but many of the best places to visit in La Palma cannot be reached by public transport.
If you’re really set on discovering la Palma by bus, you can find all lines here↗. You can still visit some nice beach towns and Cubo de la Galga by bus.Â
Where to stay in La Palma
The best area to stay in La Palma depends on the places you want to visit. We stayed in Las Manchas which we loved, because we could see the newly formed volcano Tajogaite from our accommodation! If you’re looking for a nice beach town, try Puerto de Tazacorte or Puerto Naos. Or for something bigger and more lively than Las Manchas, consider El Paso or Los Llanos.
But if you want to be immersed in nature and connect to La Palma’s essence, I highly recommend El JardĂn de las PlĂ©yades ↗, where we stayed. It’s a little pricier than some budget options, but if it fits your budget it’s well worth it.
The best things to do in La Palma
La Palma offers many incredible things to do. From hiking in dense forests, to visiting volcanic craters and exploring hidden beaches and coves. These are the things we especially loved on La Palma.
| 🌄 Place / Activity | What is it? |
|---|---|
| Tajogaite Volcano | New volcanic cone formed in 2021 eruption, impressive lava flow viewpoints |
| Hiking around El Pilar | Iconic Ruta de los Volcanes section and scenic circular hikes through volcanic landscapes |
| Playa Nogales | Wild, pristine black sand beach with dramatic cliffs, popular for surfing |
| PorĂs de La Candelaria | Hidden historical fisherman's settlement originally built as pirate hideout |
| Roque de los Muchachos | Island's highest point with panoramic views and astronomical observatories nearby |
| Cubo de la Galga Laurel Forest | Enchanting laurel forest with well-marked trails and wildlife spotting |
| Playa de la Veta | Seasonal black sand beach, wild and rugged, best visited in calm summer months |
🌋 Incredible volcanic landscapes | 🥾 Stunning hikes | 🏖️ Wild beaches
Visit La Palma's newest volcano Tajogaite
After nearly 50 years of dormancy, in 2021 La Cumbre Vieja erupted again. La Cumbre Vieja is considered the most active volcanic system in the Canary Islands, even more so than Lanzarote’s Timanfaya! It was a devastating eruption which caused a lot of damage, but also created new land, including the new volcanic cone Tajogaite. A must-visit when in La Palma.
You can see the volcano from several places on the island, but the viewpoint that impressed me the most is the Mirador Oficial Volcán Tajogaite. You can walk up right till the edge of the lava flows and you get a really clear view of the crater from here.
Go hiking around Pilar
Pilar is one of the main hiking areas on La Palma and several trails start from here, including the iconic Ruta de los Volcanes. The Ruta de los Volcanes (volcano route) is a long and demanding trail of 17-20 km (depending on your finishing point) one way and is not served by public transport. So you’ll need to arrange at least one taxi ride if you want to hike the complete trail. We didn’t want to go through the hassle of trying to organize a taxi, so we chose this circular route from El Pilar↗ instead, which includes the northern part of La Ruta de los Volcanes instead. This gave us more flexibility and it’s a more budget-friendly option and a less demanding hike.
The views were still great, although it was very cloudy, so we didn’t see as much as we’d hoped. But it was still a very nice hike through the forest regardless. And we got to see Hoyo Negro which is a very impressive crater which honors its name.
Visit Playa Nogales, La Palma's most beautiful beach
If you like pristine, black sand beaches with a backdrop of dramatic cliffs, you will love Playa Nogales. This wild and unspoiled beach ticks all the boxes. The beach can only be reached on foot, but it’s a short and beautiful walk from the parking lot. I promise it’s worth it!
Note that swimming here isn’t recommended due to the strong currents, but it’s great for surfing. Or to chill and disconnect while watching the surfers in the water and the tiny crabs on the beach, which is what we did.
Hide from the pirates in PorĂs de Candelaria
Pirates, in La Palma? Well, not anymore but back in the 16th and 17th century La Palma, as well as the other Canary Islands, used to be plagued by pirates. So locals built hidden hideouts to protect themselves and their belongings from them. One picture-perfect example is PorĂs de Candelaria, a hide-out perfectly hidden from passers by. You won’t see it from the sea, unless you get very close and at just the right angle.
Nowadays, it’s not a hide-out anymore, but a quirky fisherman’s settlement which is still used by some locals during the holidays or weekends.
PorĂs de Candelaria was meant as a hiding place and access is not easy. Neither from the road. So only drive down if you’re comfortable driving on curvy mountain roads. It’s also possible to hike down, but beware that it’s a long way down (and back up!) and there is no shade. Bring plenty of water and some snacks, there is no shop in PorĂs de Candelaria
Rise above the clouds at Roque de los Muchachos, La Palma's highest point
With over 2,400 meters above sea level, Roque de los Muchachos is the highest point on La Palma. From up here, you get some of the most incredible panoramic views of the island, on clear days. This area is often cloudy though. We visited on a cloudy day, but the peak was clear so we could at least get some views of the crater, but the island below us was covered in clouds unfortunately. We could see the peak of Teide though!
It’s also home to one of the world’s leading astronomical observatories, taking advantage of La Palma’s famously clear skies at this altitude. Do note that if you want to visit the observatory, you can only do so during the day unfortunately.
Wondering if it’s worth heading up to Roque de los Muchachos? Check the actual weather conditions on the webcams↗.Â
Go hiking in the Laurel Forest in Cubo de la Galga
I love the Laurel forests of the Canary Islands, every time I step into one, I feel like I’m in a fairytale. And Cubo de la Galga is nothing different. You can do a short and simple out and back trail through the forest, or hike the complete loop to the viewpoint which I would recommend for a more diverse hiking experience and to meet the friendly and curious chaffinches at the viewpoint.
Visit the wild Playa de la Veta (if it's there!)
I randomly came across Playa de la Veta while looking for something else to do close to La Candelaria. It looked amazing on the pictures on Google maps, so we headed over. However, when we got there, there was no beach! I figured it had to do something with the tides, although it was weird that this wasn’t mentioned anywhere. So I looked into it later and found out Playa de la Veta is seasonal! Wait, what do you mean seasonal?
Well, apparently, the black sand only appears during calm summer months, when gentle waves allow it to settle at the base of the cliffs. But in winter and early spring, strong Atlantic swells hit this part of the coast and strip the beach back down to rocks! This is a totally natural process, and it can vary from year to year. Some summers the sand barely forms at all. It’s a wild beach in every sense, which is part of its charm, but also something to be aware of to manage expectations.
So, if you’re visiting La Palma between late spring and early autumn, I’d say heading to Playa de la Veta is probably one of the best things to do in La Palma. I did still enjoy it even without the sandy beach and with the strong swells, but it’s not the same and it didn’t quite match my expectations.
Driving to Playa de la Veta – Just a heads up for those who want to drive down: The road was more difficult to drive than the road to PorĂs de Candelaria. So if you didn’t feel comfortable driving there, maybe skip Playa de la Veta. We did it and when we were almost down, we actually decided to park the car there since the curves seemed to become tighter, the potholes bigger and the inclination steeper. And from here we continued on foot.Â
Other things to do in La Palma
Besides the above listed best things to do in La Palma, there are many more places on this island that are worth visiting.
If you’re looking for a more relaxed beach day than the wild Playa Nogales and Playa de la Veta, head over to Puerto de Tazacorte or Puerto Naos, two laid-back beach towns. Personally, I think Puerto de Tazacorte is prettier with its colorful facades and dramatic cliffs, but the beach in Puerto Naos is bigger. So it depends on what you’re looking for.Â
Another popular place to visit in La Palma is La Cumbrecita. La Cumbrecita is also located on the Caldera de Taburiente crater, but on the opposite side of Roque de los Muchachos and at a lower altitude. We really wanted to go, because the views are supposed to be amazing and there are some very nice hikes to do from here. But unfortunately it was cloudy every day we were there, so we picked other activities for our stay and left this one for next time!
Quick sidenote: if you want to drive to Cumbrecita, you’ll need to book your parkingspot↗.
Los Tilos has to be the most famous waterfall in La Palma. I can’t say it’ll be the highlight of your trip, but if you’re heading that way anyway, for example to hike Cubo de la Galga, you might as well make the detour and check out Los Tilos. It’s a short walk from the parking lot here↗ (it can be a bit difficult to find on Google Maps).
And, while not a specific place, startgazing is also one of the best things to do in La Palma, when skies allow it. Unfortunately we had very cloudy weather where we were, and we didn’t really want to drive the windy roads in the dark until we reached enough height for clear skies. So this is also one on the list for our next visit. 🙂
Finishing thoughts on the best things to do in La Palma
La Palma might be one of the main Canary Islands, it feels a world apart from its busier neighbors Gran Canaria and Tenerife. It’s wild, green, and deeply connected to nature, perfect for travelers looking to slow down and explore somewhere a little different. Whether you’re hiking through ancient forests, walking on fresh volcanic rock, or discovering secret hideaways, La Palma offers a truly unique experience. I hope this guide helps you make the most of your time on the island and if you stumble on something magical I haven’t mentioned yet, I’d love to hear about it!
Have you been to La Palma? Let us know which was your favorite spot!
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| Which Canary Island Is Best to Visit? | Not sure which island to choose? This guide compares all the Canary Islands to help you find your perfect match. |
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| Best Things to Do in El Hierro | Venture to the smallest and most remote Canary Island for incredible diving, natural pools, and unspoiled landscapes. |
| The Best Free Things to Do in Lanzarote | Experience Lanzarote's volcanic wonders, stunning beaches, and unique landscapes without spending a euro with this budget-friendly guide. |
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FAQ about La Palma
Phone signal can be a bit unpredictable on La Palma, especially around the western side of the island. This is partly due to the 2021 Tajogaite eruption, which disrupted infrastructure in some areas. Even in places where you’d expect coverage, it can suddenly drop. So don’t rely on mobile data when hiking or driving around the island and download offline maps ahead of time.
Yes! Some of La Palma’s best hikes, like those from El Pilar or La Cumbrecita, can be done as circular routes. This is great if you have rented a car and want to avoid taxis. That said, some famous routes like the full Ruta de los Volcanes are one-way and require arranging a taxi, so check the trails you want to do for options.
The 2021 eruption of Tajogaite was one of the most significant events in La Palma’s recent history. For in-depth information, visit the Centro de Visitantes Caños de Fuego, located right at the lava flow. For more information about the center and the entrance fees, visit their website↗.
Yes, La Palma is very safe to visit. Volcanic activity is closely monitored by local authorities and scientists, and any risk zones are clearly marked and off-limits. Most of the island, including the hiking trails and viewpoints, is perfectly safe. Just follow local advice and signs, especially when visiting recent eruption sites.
La Palma isn’t your classic sun-and-sand beach destination. A lot of its beaches are wild, remote and often with strong currents and dramatic backdrops. Places like Playa Nogales or Playa de la Veta are stunning, but not always ideal for swimming. If you’re after a more relaxed beach day, head to Puerto de Tazacorte or Puerto Naos.
La Palma is a designated Starlight Reserve, making it one of the best places in the world for stargazing! Thanks to strict light pollution laws and clear skies at higher altitudes, the island is home to some of Europe’s most important astronomical observatories. While the observatories themselves are not open to the public after dark, there are several nearby spots perfect for enjoying the night sky. Drive up yourself, or join a tour with a guide and telescopes to learn more about the incredible universe surrounding us.
La Palma has so much to offer that you could easily spend weeks exploring its diverse landscapes, hiking trails, and charming towns. That said, if you’re short on time, 3 to 4 days is enough to cover the highlights. It all depends on your pace and what you want to focus on: adventure, relaxation, or a bit of both! We spent one week here (while also working) which was a good amount of time I’d say. But we could have easily spent another week here exploring more of the island and adding some chill beach days to our itinerary.