The “San Miguel de la Palma Island” also known as “La Palma” or “The Pretty Island” (“La Isla Bonita”) is one of the seven islands located within the Canary Archipelago.

  La Palma is the most westerly island, which is located to the north-west of Tenerife and El Hierro islands.

  It is 708 kms2.  The island emerged from the Atlantic Ocean as a result of  volcanic movement, approximately two million years ago.  It offers to the many visitors who come here, a large list of interesting and spectacular pastimes.  Is the ideal destination for mountaineering and hiking lovers.

  Also people interested in potholing, geology, botany, biology, scuba diving, astrophysics, paragliding, vulcanology and photography have a special place in La Palma!

  “The Pretty Island” offers a peaceful place for visitors, far from crowds and big cities.  Kindness and hospitality you find everywhere.

  This island has few ground and very much height, that is why there are a lot of steep slopes .  As a result, the water’s erosive action has been very aggressive, specially in the north of the island, where it is possible to find natural spaces forgotten by time and, even, evolution.

  Admire here spectacular and dense “laurisilva forests” in an enviable conservation area! The majority of these forests are so valuable, that the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has declared them as a “Biosphere Worldwide Reserve”, under the name of “Los Tiles”.  At the present time, the complete island has been declared Bisophere Worldwide Reserve.

  La Palma is an amazing place: over its reduced land there are more than twelve mountains which are up 2000 metres.  La Palma is one of the highest islands in the world and also has one of the cleanest skies of the northern hemisphere.  That is the reason why the international scientific community has built the Canary Astrophysics International Observatory here.  This important scientific institution was put up on the Roque de los Muchachos Peak, at 2426m.

  On the other hand, it is possible to find a very active geological zone in the south of La Palma.  The last volcanic eruptions, from which History has kept valuable documentation, are: Tacante Volcano (erupted between 1470 and 1492), Tajuya-Jedey Volcano (1585), del Martin Volcano (1646), San Antonio Volcano (1677) del Charco Volcano (1712), San Juan Volcano (1949) and the most recent Canary eruption: Teneguia volcano (1971).

  Besides mountains, volcanoes and streams of lava, it is very important to stress the many volcanic tubes, some of them very accessible.  Of course, there are others –by the way, very long- which are real underground and unique labyrinths.  

  La Palma is a “small continent”.  It has many microclimates which let you have a swim in the sea or snow play at the top of snowy mountains on the same day, and both just in more than one hour by car!

  Yes, La Palma is an amazing island.  You will be astonished to discover that going through a one kilometre tunnel, you will pass immediately from a hot day to a very rainy day.  

  In short, there are only few places in the world such as La Palma, which are able to offer landscapes and microclimates within a such small territory.  That is why it is possible to do many and different activities outside all through the year.

  But La Palma is not only nature but history.  In the Sixteenth Century, the first sugar plantations were planted here; since then, this island has been very well known because of its important wine industry.  As a matter of fact, the “Malvasía Wine” (Malvasía is a very sweet and fragrant grape) was mentioned by universal playwrights such as William Shakespeare.

  Since the Sixteenth Century, La Palma gained business importance.  Here shipyards were built and also many sailing ships, which would cover the Americas route.  The ships were made of the rich forest, present at the north of the island.

  The Port of Santa Cruz de la Palma was considered the third most important of the Spanish Empire, together with the Amberes and Sevilla Ports.  The First Indians Court was located precisely in Santa Cruz de la Palma, the capital of the island.

  As a heritage of that golden period, La Palma was, without doubt, the Canary Archipelago most important island.  There are at the present time many works of art, mainly religious, and also very valuable historic buildings, which are very well preserved.