This Canary Island is a perfect place for those who like adventures and enjoy nature. With steep cliffs, beautiful forests, and beautiful beaches, there are many interesting things to do there. There are so many things to do and see: hiking through the primeval forests and around volcanic craters, diving in the clear sea and watching sea creatures, etc. It focuses on the top things to do in La Palma so that the guests can maximize their fun-packed visit. La Palma is a perfect destination for hiking lovers, water sports lovers, and just those who want to explore the nature of the island.

Hiking and Trekking

Caldera de Taburiente National Park

It is in the central part of La Palma. It has one of the biggest volcanic craters in the world with surrounding mountains and covered with vegetation. Some of the activities one is likely to enjoy include hiking along the trails which are well defined, water falls, camping at the established sites in the caldera.

Ruta de los Volcanes

This trail can be started from different points such as Refugio del Pilar and Fuencaliente. Some of the special attractions include; spectacular views of volcanic craters, lava desert, and the Atlantic Ocean. The Cumbre Vieja is a volcanic ridge through which hikers will go through to have a look at the impressive geology of the island. The trail is of about 19 km and is considered to be rather difficult because of its length and changes in elevation. On the way, the hikers can also see the plants and animals that grow in the regions of volcanic activities.

Los Tilos Forest

The forest can be reached by car and there is a car park at the visitors centre in San Andrs y Sauces. Some of the distinguishing features are thick foliage, high waterfalls, and the Bosque de Los Tilos that is a natural and magical laurel forest. There are easy strolls to the tough hikes in Los Tilos and the best of these trails are the forest trails since they afford the best view of the flora and fauna of the island. The Mirador de Las Barandas viewpoint is a perfect place to look at the forest and the surrounding territory.

Water-Based Adventures

Scuba Diving and Snorkeling

La Palma is famous for the great opportunities to dive and snorkel because of the clean sea and the variety of underwater life. Some of the famous areas are Puerto Naos and Los Cancajos which are well connected by car and have diving centers and tour services. Some of the characteristics of diving in La Palma are: underwater volcanic structures, coral gardens, and marine life like octopus, rays and various types of fish. There is shallow water reef and tide pools which snorkelers can explore. The diving schools on the island offer equipment for rent as well as courses and dive trips for beginners and advanced divers guaranteeing a safe and exciting dive.

Sea Kayaking

Sea kayaking is one of the best ways to discover La Palmas coast line, the coves and the beautiful beaches. Some of the most common places where people start their kayaking are Tazacorte and Puerto Naos where cars can be driven up to and kayaks can be rented and guided tours can be arranged. Some of the things that make sea kayaking in La Palma stand out include; you can paddle close to vertical cliffs, sea grottos, and over turquoise waters. The coastal waters are also calm and therefore it is not rare for the kayakers to sight fishes, turtles and even the dolphins. Safety and knowledge of the guide are the benefits of the guided tours, so this is an excellent option for both, newbies, and experienced paddlers.

Dolphin and Whale Watching

Two of the most interesting ways to spend time on La Palma is watching dolphins and whales in the sea. Tours are usually from Tazacorte and Santa Cruz de La Palma which are both car accessible. The features of these tours are the ability to observe different species of marine animals like bottlenose dolphins, pilot whales and sometimes even the larger sperm whales. The tour is informative because the guides who accompany the tourists explain how these animals behave and what they are biologically. The tours also take the tourists to various beautiful coastal areas for swimming and snorkeling making it a one stop tour of the marine life.

Unique Natural Attractions

Roque de los Muchachos Observatory

It is situated at the top of the island and one can drive up to the site from Santa Cruz de La Palma. This famous astronomical observatory is located at an altitude of 2396m and provides marvelous views of the island and the Atlantic Ocean. Tourists can go for a guided tour to understand the state of the art research conducted at the observatory and the role of La Palma for astronomical purposes due to its light pollution free environment. It also has several trails for hiking to enable the visitors to have a view of the high altitude region.

Cueva de Todoque

Cueva de Todoque situated in the western part of La Palma near Los Llanos de Aridane is rather easy to get by car. This volcanic cave is interesting as it was created by flows of lava from past eruptions and provides a view into the geological past of the island. Some of the features that make Cueva de Todoque special are the complex patterns of the lava tube and the chance to go through the tunnels formed by lava. Tourists are allowed to tour the cave and be briefed on the formation of the cave, its use in the past, and the formation of the island of La Palma. There are lights and pathways in the cave to make sure that it is safe and enjoyable while learning about the place.

Conclusion

There are many exciting things to do in La Palma and beautiful natural sights that will make the adventurous and lovers of the natural world happy. There is a lot to do and to see in Lanzarote, starting from climbing the volcanic trails of Ruta de los Volcanes and ending with the exploration of the lush forest of Los Tilos, scuba diving in clear waters and watching the sea life. Let the journey begin and find out the most exciting things to do in La Palma and make your trip to this beautiful Canary Island enjoyable.