canarytravel

Perhaps more than any other island in the archipelago, La Palma offers the chance to experience real, unspoiled nature – from the verdant forests of the north, where lush vegetation drips from the rainforest canopy; to the desertscapes of the south, where volcanic craters and twisted rock formations define the views; to the serene pine forests of the Parque Nacional de la Caldera de Taburiente. No wonder the entire island was declared a Unesco biosphere reserve. It’s the ideal place for a walking holiday, although trekkers are by no means the only ones who succumb to its attractions.Mass tourism has yet to make its mark on ‘The Pretty Island’, as La Palma is nicknamed. The banana crop still represents a whopping 80% of the local economy, and the absence of golden beaches has diverted many travellers’ attention elsewhere. Although things are changing – new hotels, golf course, ports and a bigger airport are all on the planning charts – for now La Palma is pristine and very pretty indeed.
Rainfall and spring water are more plentiful here than on any other island, making San Miguel de la Palma (the island’s full name) the greenest of the archipelago. Orchards, vine-yards and forests flourish, their soft beauty contrasting with the harsh crags and peaks of the volcanic heights that run down the island’s centre. This is one of the most volcanically active islands; the archipelago’s last eruption was in 1971 in Fuencaliente. That volcanic activity is responsible for La Palma’s steep cliffs and plunging ravines. It’s the steepest island in the world, shooting from sea level to 2426m in just over 10km.