La Palma AKA La Isla Bonita
by Pete van der Mussele.
Because of its name, a lot of people still think La Palma is in Mallorca (Palma de Mallorca), or even Gran Canaria (Las Palmas) – but it’s not.
La Palma is one of the smaller Canary Islands and certainly until two decades ago one of the lesser known islands of the archipelago. La Palma took me completely by surprise during my first visit back in 1998. It’s surprisingly high altitude set against its surface, the authenticity of its villages and people, the tranquillity and not to forget for me at that time, its unexplainable diversity had completely blown me away.
Over the many years that I lived on this magnificent island, La Palma, one by one, let me in on her secrets, but still remaining that magical place where Mother Nature, after she had done her finishing touches, must have stood back looking at her creation and felt proud.
So – what exactly makes La Palma so special I hear you ask me?
This unforgettable walking experience will show you a place where not one walk will resemble the other. Keeping in mind that we talk about a 720km2 island, you will be walking subalpine areas above the clouds along the highest rim, ancient laurel forests and steep coastlines in the north.
There are pine forests, and we walk along water streams in one of world’s largest erosion craters and historical and prehistorical volcanic cones and landscapes.
We will take you to tiny villages where time seems to have stood still, to the majestic National Park Caldera de Taburiente, along meadows with flowers you might have never seen or heard of and along the most important observatory of the Northern hemisphere.
So- every day we explore a completely different area.
High, low, east, west, north and south we will unravel the islands mysteries and see it in all its beauty.
As our base we’ve chosen the wonderful four-star Hotel Las Olas, situated right on the East coast. The spacious rooms are equipped with a little kitchen unit and every room has a large balcony with incredible views over the Atlantic, allowing you to witness the sunrise over Tenerife every morning.
Breakfast and dinner are buffet, plentiful and varied. The island’s wine has to be sampled – it is excellent.
The hotel has a large pool area, where you can have a relaxing swim after the walk. Or just close your eyes on one of the sun beds and let your mind wander back along the tracks you’ve been taking that day.
On your day off you can visit the islands main village, Santa Cruz de La Palma, which is at walking distance. A little gem of a place breathing an illustrious history. Its beautiful old historical buildings and squares show wonderful examples of baroque, renaissance and mudéjar architecture.
There are many lovely places where you can sit down, letting Spanish rhythm take over and indulge yourself drinking a Canary coffee (barraquito) or a glass of excellent island wine.
Are you getting curious?
Then there’s only one thing to do: Let Jill and I show you this majestic island either in November 2023 or March 2024. The perfect place to escape UK winter for a week of sunshine.
