How should you plan your trip to La Palma?
A small island of 708 km² with drops of up to 2,000 m in the Caldera de Taburiente, an observatory at 2,396 m and recent volcanoes. Four days is enough to see a bit of everything if you don't cross the island more than you need to.
- Suggested time
- 4 days
- To go at your own pace
- May and June
To drive up to the La Cumbrecita viewpoint in a private car you must book parking: the checkpoint barrier is at El Riachuelo, about 4 km from the viewpoint, and without a booking you cannot pass. You can book a month ahead, or on the same day if spaces remain. The daily regulation runs from 8:30 to 16:00, extendable to 18:00 at busy times, and from 18:00 access is free. The El Paso Visitor Centre is open daily from 9:00 to 18:00. The guided visit to the Roque de los Muchachos telescopes is booked through the Fundación Starlight: it takes place in daytime, in small groups, and lasts about 90 minutes. It depends on the telescopes being in operation and on the weather.
Activities in La Palma
Tajogaite Volcano Hike
from €35
See on Civitatis (opens in a new tab)
Santa Cruz de La Palma Free Tour
Free tour: tip whatever you like
See on Civitatis (opens in a new tab)
La Palma & Tajogaite Volcano Day Trip
from €120
See on Civitatis (opens in a new tab)Affiliate link: we may earn a commission if you book, at no extra cost to you. You book directly with the provider.
A green island that looks up at the stars.
It is small but twisting: spread the Caldera, the Roque and the south over different days.
A green island with recent volcanoes and nights full of stars.
La Palma is small, but you can't cover it quickly. It has the Caldera de Taburiente with its trails, an observatory at 2,396 m, laurel forest in the north-east and a volcanic south. The island has been a Biosphere Reserve since 2002 and has held Starlight Reserve certification since 2012. The 2021 Cumbre Vieja eruption changed part of the west coast, but the rest of the island is as it was. Four days lets you see one thing a day if you plan the distances well.
The Caldera de Taburiente in soft light.
Almendrados and coffee in Santa Cruz.
The Roque de los Muchachos under a sky full of stars.
You can also explore more Canary Islands getaways or compare this destination with other ideas.
What to see in La Palma.
- 1Caldera de Taburiente
- 2Roque de los Muchachos
- 3Los Tilos
- 4Ruta de los Volcanes
- 5Santa Cruz de La Palma
- 6The 2021 eruption
Caldera de Taburiente
A national park since 1954, with drops of up to 2,000 m and pine forest inside. Los Brecitos has a track of about 13 km where you cannot park, and private taxis run on limited hours (8:30 to 13:30 in summer and 9:00 to 12:00 in winter, according to the park).
Roque de los Muchachos
The Roque de los Muchachos is the island's highest point (2,426 m). The IAC astrophysical observatory, at 2,396 m, is on the rim of the Caldera. La Palma has held Starlight Reserve certification since 2012 (Fundación Starlight), so it deserves a night.
Los Tilos
A laurel forest in the north-east, a refuge for plants that have vanished from much of the planet. The Charco Azul natural pools are nearby. Car access was limited to 15 parking spaces before the tunnel when it reopened in April 2025 (Cabildo): check the current status with the Cabildo.
Ruta de los Volcanes
A signposted route of about 17.5 km through the Cumbre Vieja Natural Park, from the El Pilar refuge (El Paso) to Los Canarios (Fuencaliente). High difficulty, with 1,207 m of elevation change. The Fuencaliente salt pans are nearby.
Santa Cruz de La Palma
The island's capital, with about 15,700 inhabitants (INE, 2025), about 7 km from the airport by road.
The 2021 eruption
The Cumbre Vieja eruption lasted from 19 September to 13 December 2021 and changed the Las Manchas area. To climb the new volcano there is a circular trail of about 6 km from El Paso that can only be done with an authorised company from the island; book beforehand.
Two views of La Palma.
A few details to help you picture your trip. Enlarge each photo, then carry on with the route.
Your trip, day by day.
Santa Cruz and the east coast
A stroll round the capital and an afternoon at Los Cancajos or on the coast. If you arrive early, don't string together timed visits.
Santa Cruz and the east coast
A stroll round the capital and an afternoon at Los Cancajos or on the coast. If you arrive early, don't string together timed visits.
Caldera de Taburiente
A full day for La Cumbrecita or Los Brecitos. Book La Cumbrecita parking beforehand and check the checkpoint hours at El Riachuelo.
Santa Cruz and the east coast
A stroll round the capital and an afternoon at Los Cancajos or on the coast. If you arrive early, don't string together timed visits.
Caldera de Taburiente
A full day for La Cumbrecita or Los Brecitos. Book La Cumbrecita parking beforehand and check the checkpoint hours at El Riachuelo.
Roque de los Muchachos and the stars
Go up in the afternoon and check the state of the road before you leave. If you want the guided visit to the observatory, book first through the Fundación Starlight. Wrap up: at 2,426 m it gets cold.
Santa Cruz and the east coast
A stroll round the capital and an afternoon at Los Cancajos or on the coast. If you arrive early, don't string together timed visits.
Caldera de Taburiente
A full day for La Cumbrecita or Los Brecitos. Book La Cumbrecita parking beforehand and check the checkpoint hours at El Riachuelo.
Roque de los Muchachos and the stars
Go up in the afternoon and check the state of the road before you leave. If you want the guided visit to the observatory, book first through the Fundación Starlight. Wrap up: at 2,426 m it gets cold.
The south of the island
The Ruta de los Volcanes (about 17.5 km, from El Pilar to Los Canarios, high difficulty, 5 h 30 min according to the Cabildo's information sheet) takes a whole day. The Fuencaliente salt pans fit better on another day. Los Tilos and Charco Azul, in the north-east, are for anyone with one more day.
A suggested editorial route. Adjust the timings to your bookings, the weather and your mobility.
More ideas in La Palma
Caldera de Taburiente National Park Hiking Tour
from €36
See on Civitatis (opens in a new tab)
Caving Tour in Cueva de Las Palomas
from €25
See on Civitatis (opens in a new tab)
La Palma Dolphin & Whale Watching on a Glass-Bottom Boat
from €60
See on Civitatis (opens in a new tab)Affiliate link: we may earn a commission if you book, at no extra cost to you. You book directly with the provider.
A getaway you can taste.
You don't need a list of twenty restaurants. You need to know what to look for, book a table if you want one, and give it time.
Almendrados and príncipe Alberto
Typical sweets of the island. Order them with coffee in a village pastry shop.
Queso palmero
A local cheese with a designation of origin. Buy a small one to take home and ask whether it is smoked.
La Palma wine
The island has its own designation of origin, with vines on volcanic soil in the south. If you visit a winery, sort out transport beforehand.
La Palma, with whoever you like.
As a couple
A night at the Roque de los Muchachos and a short walk in the Caldera. Book the observatory in good time.
With children
Los Cancajos has calm swimming. For the Caldera, choose a short stretch and bring water.
For stargazing
The island is a Starlight Reserve. A night with no moon and no cloud makes the sky much better.
When to go.
May and June. The highlighted months are our recommendation; the figures are AEMET climate normals, not a forecast.
See the data in a table (with hours of sunshine)
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May (recommended) | Jun (recommended) | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg. high (°C) | 20.6 | 20.7 | 21.2 | 21.6 | 22.6 | 24.1 | 25.5 | 26.3 | 26.6 | 25.5 | 23.5 | 21.8 |
| Avg. low (°C) | 15.5 | 15.3 | 15.7 | 16.2 | 17.4 | 19.2 | 20.7 | 21.4 | 21.3 | 20.2 | 18.3 | 16.7 |
| Rainy days (≥ 1 mm) | 5.3 | 4.3 | 3.9 | 2.7 | 1.3 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 1.8 | 5.2 | 6.8 | 7.9 |
| Hours of sunshine | 141 | 146 | 177 | 174 | 192 | 188 | 222 | 209 | 187 | 175 | 140 | 138 |
Getting there and where to stay.
The journey here
La Palma airport is at Breña Baja, about 7 km from Santa Cruz de La Palma. From there it is about 22 km to Fuencaliente, 39 km to Los Llanos de Aridane and 50 km to the Roque de los Muchachos. If you come from Tenerife, ferries run from Los Cristianos to the island in around 2 h 30 min. You need a car: distances are deceptive because the roads are mountain roads.
Find La Palma on the mapAirport transfer
If you fly into La Palma airport, you can book a private or shared transfer to your accommodation in advance. Options, schedules and prices are on the SunTransfers website.
Affiliate link: we may earn a commission if you book, at no extra cost to you. You book directly with the provider.
Choose your base well
Santa Cruz de La Palma is the easiest base to start from. Los Llanos de Aridane and Tazacorte put you close to the Caldera and the west coast. Los Cancajos has a calm beach a few minutes from the airport.
Three ways to choose your base
Santa Cruz de La Palma
For an easy arrival from the airport and getting around on foot. The Caldera and the Roque are an hour or more away.
Los Llanos de Aridane or Tazacorte
For the Caldera and the west coast. You will find more places to eat and sleep.
Los Cancajos
For a calm black-sand beach and an airport a few minutes away. Handy on the first and last day.
Where to stay in La Palma
Once you have chosen your base, check availability, cancellation terms and prices for your dates on Booking.com. What you see there depends on the dates you search.
See places to stay in La Palma on Booking.com (opens in a new tab)Affiliate link: we may earn a commission if you book, at no extra cost to you. You book directly with the provider.
Look at the map and add in the bends: between almost any pair of villages it takes longer than it looks. Split the island into zones.
If the weather turns.
It rains more from October to March: at the airport, December has almost 8 days with 1 mm or more. If it pours, Santa Cruz de La Palma or a pre-arranged winery visit is a safe plan.
Two things that save you from a bad plan.
Driving up to La Cumbrecita without a parking booking
Without a booking you cannot get past the El Riachuelo barrier. Book ahead and check the regulation hours.
Wanting the south, the north and the Caldera in one day
Mountain roads eat hours. One area per day.
From plan to suitcase.
Get the important things sorted and save the route to check it offline.
0 of 4 preparations ready.
List saved in this browser. The download includes the editorial route and your preparations, not bookings.
Discover La Palma with a guide.
These are the Civitatis activities, ordered by number of reviews. You'll find the price, reviews, duration and up-to-date conditions on the provider's website.
Tajogaite Volcano Hike
from €35
See on Civitatis (opens in a new tab) Santa Cruz de La Palma Free Tour
Free tour: tip whatever you like
See on Civitatis (opens in a new tab) La Palma & Tajogaite Volcano Day Trip
from €120
See on Civitatis (opens in a new tab) Caldera de Taburiente National Park Hiking Tour
from €36
See on Civitatis (opens in a new tab) Caving Tour in Cueva de Las Palomas
from €25
See on Civitatis (opens in a new tab) La Palma Dolphin & Whale Watching on a Glass-Bottom Boat
from €60
See on Civitatis (opens in a new tab)Affiliate link: we may earn a commission if you book, at no extra cost to you. You book directly with the provider.
Information, with context.
. Itineraries and seasons: editorial suggestions by Conócela. Check opening times, rules and access at Turismo de La Palma ↗.
