Where can you sleep?
The tourist offer of La Palma has learnt to adjust to the requirements of any kinds of tourists: for those who are visiting the island alone as well as to those who come with their families, or couples, to the most intrepid adventurers or those who would just like to relax, they will find accommodation that meets their expectations. In Santa Cruz de la Palma, the capital of the island, lively streets filled with bars and shopping establishments await for you in charming towns like Bretaña Alta, Los Llanos de Aridane or Tazacorte, where you will enjoy of the peaceful and rural atmosphere.
What to do in the area?
Those who love hiking will find in Palma the land of their dreams, since this island has a total of 1,000 length of signalled paths in the National Park of Caldera de Taburiente, where you will walk along the small rivers and torrents, or the Ruta de los Volcanes, with high and low grounds of more than 1,000 meters, and Bosque de Los Tilos, where you will encounter centenary trees that look almost ad if they are touching the sky. The beaches of the island are characterised by the dark colour of their sand in the Playa de Puerto Naos, Charco Verde or the one of Fuencaliente, are some of the most beautiful ones. Wherever you are staying, you will be able to enjoy of one of the cleanest places of the planet, as La Palma is considered a Starlight destination, a label awarded to the destinations with the best quality for stargazing. And even though you might not be able to touch the sky yourself, up in the 2,420 meters high of the Roque de los Muchachos you will be very close to doing so, in one of the best observatories of the whole world.
What typical foods are recommended?
The gastronomy of Palma can be proud of being one of the most complete gastronomies of the regional cuisine of Las Islas Canarias, as the result of the influence of different cultures. Amongst the most popular recipes is the 'gofio', the so famous 'papas arrugadas' ad the many different varieties of 'mojo'. But these are not the only ones: 'potaje de trigo', 'carne de cabra en salsa', or 'escacho palmero', are becoming more and more popular dishes. As for the local confectionery, it deserves a chapter on its own; El Príncipe Alberto is one of the traditional cakes of this island, just like the 'bienmesabe', 'almendrados' or the 'rapaduras'. All of the above, accompanied with some of the best wine, especially the one from Malvasia, which has received many international awards, and other delicious beverages like 'mistela', 'ron de caña', or 'ronmiel'.
Where are the festivities?
The local Fiesta de la Bajada de la Virgen de las Niveles, celebrated each five years, is the most important celebration of this island. Apart from a pilgrimage where the virgin is taken from the Real Santuario Insular, to the capital of the island, during which theatre and dances are performed.
The carnival of La Palma is a showcase of the most characteristic elements of the typical carnivals celebrated each year all over the archipelago, such as the 'murgas', 'comparsas', or choosing the Queen of the carnival, but a thing that makes this carnival in particular special, is that it is held during the Fiesta de los Indianos, where the homecoming of those locals who had emigrated to America is celebrated.
Amongst other relevant celebrations you will also find here the Día de la Cruz, on the 3rd of May, where the origin of the island is commemorated, and during which it is customary to visit the different crosses spread all over the island.
