Move over Madonna – it’s La Palma that’s earned the nickname ‘La Isla Bonita’. As the greenest island in the Canaries, and with volcanic beaches, laurel forests and towering peaks, it’s no wonder UNESCO has designated it as a Biosphere Reserve.
La Palma’s relatively small size makes touring the various natural sites a breeze. Once you see the national parks, jungle-like forests of dense foliage, abandoned black sand beaches and natural rock pools surrounded by torrents of crashing waves, you’ll be glad you made the effort.
If you’re looking for a nature escape in La Palma, the beauties on this list should do the trick.
This massive national park covers a huge patch of northern La Palma.
Its main feature is its namesake, the Caldera, which was originally thought to be a crater but is actually just a crater-shaped mountain arch. The varying heights make it especially staggering, as the different levels afford incredible views across the pine-clad terrain.
The Roque de Los Muchachos – the highest point on La Palma – is found within the Caldera de Taburiente National Park. Towering about 2,400 metres high, from the top you can see the nearby islands of Tenerife and La Gomera on a clear day.
When the clouds roll in, the views from its peak look like something out of a science fiction film, as the surrounding peaks are cloaked in fog as far as the eye can see.
