The activities on offer on the island are well distributed throughout its territory. Half of the experiences take place in the western region (Platanológico educational visits, Palmaclub Aventura paragliding flights and the Fancy maritime tours), while the other half start in the eastern region (Canary Live Experience motorized routes , the astronomical observations of La Palma Stars and the cultural tours of Nuevo Rumbo Historia Viva.
Together they provide the perfect combination to enjoy an active week on the island. We offer this itinerary as a suggestion.
Palmaclub Aventura is one of the most experienced active tourism companies in La Palma. Riding on the trade winds and with all the necessary certifications and guarantees, they have been training pilots for two decades and organizing paragliding flights for all kinds of levels.
Their base is in Puerto Naos (the largest of the beaches on the west coast of La Palma) and there they have their landing area. They offer introductory or advanced courses, but also tandem flights where they take-off on the coastal cliff (100€ for 1 hour of activity, with a flight of 10 to 15 minutes) or in the area of Los Campanarios (150€ for 2 hours of activity, with a flight of 20 to 30 minutes). With the exception of a few days in spring, they are active throughout the year and every day of the week.
In addition to its many hours of sun, Tazacorte is a municipality known for hosting the largest fishing port on the west coast. From there the Fancy maritime excursions sail, which take place every day of the week and whose highlights are the visit inside Cueva Bonita 8the beautiful cave) in Tijarafe and the observation of dolphins and whales.
Their experiences are organized according to the characteristics of their three boats. The Fancy II, the longest serving, has a wide deck, hull with underwater vision and the ability to tow a fun inflatable banana. Their sailing are: North Excursion on Mondays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays (2.5 hours, 35€) and on a Safari Excursion on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays (4 hours, 45€ ). The Fantasy, its sister vessel and the most modern of the fleet, maximizes underwater vision and leaves from Monday to Saturday (2 hours, 50€ ). And since April 2018 they have incorporated a 14 metre long sail boat, with specific excursions (3 hours, 50€) or rentals for groups of up to 10 people (4 hours for 500€ and 8 hours for 1,000€).
In Puerto Naos we find Platanológico, where the whole family can experience sustainable agriculture. They offer a guided tour of a banana plantation, working in an ecologically friendly way and in an environment free of pesticides and chemical fertilizers. The property also has a quite diverse farm, which includes chickens, ducks, geese, donkeys and sheep. The experience ends with a chance to taste different varieties of bananas, as well as infusions prepared in a solar kitchen.
The visits last approximately 2 hours, cost 20€ for adults and are offered on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
Santa Cruz de La Palma, the capital of the island, has an interesting historical centre that is worth visiting. The best way to do it is to join one of the cultural tours offered by Nuevo Rumbo Historia Viva, which will help us interpret its corners from the 16th century to the present day. Traditions, pirates and transoceanic voyages are part of this entertaining narrative, in a peaceful journey that crosses from one end to the other the entire urban perimeter. The starting point is the Junonia Interpretation Centre, an interpretive resource managed by the company itself and located in the very heart of the city. The approximate duration of these trips is 2 hours, they are offered on Wednesdays and Thursdays and cost 12€ per person. In addition to the interpretation and guide service, this rate includes a small wine tasting.
Although La Palma is perceived as a peaceful and quiet island, it also offers experiences for action lovers. Canary Live Experience has specialized in buggy and 4×4 bus routes, which in the latter case also include a complementary hiking activity.
The headquarters of the company is in El Llanito (Breña Alta) and the buggy excursions depart from there. The vehicles can accommodate one or two people, but as is logical one of them must be an adult with a current driving license. The short trip lasts 3 hours and reaches the municipality of Villa de Mazo (90€ per buggy), while the long version reaches Fuencaliente and the famous Volcano Route (150€ per buggy). Both leave Tuesday and Friday. As for the 4 × 4 bus and hiking experiences, the destinations offered are the Volcanoes Route (59€), the Marcos and Cordero springs (49€) and the Laural forest area of El Cubo de la Galga (49€). In all cases lunch is included in the price.
La Palma is home to the Astrophysical Observatory of the Roque de los Muchachos, one of the most important scientific facilities on the planet. The exceptional quality of the Palmeran night skies is the basis of the activities run by La Palma Stars, a company focused on the observation of the Universe.
Its most popular activity is the Astronomical Tour (4 hours, 27€, transport not included), which takes place on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. It starts from its headquarters in Los Cancajos and, depending on weather conditions, guides its participants towards the optimal location to enjoy stars, planets and celestial objects in general with the help of telescopes. The company also offers, with prior reservation, a Photographic Tour (minimum 6 people, 65€, camera required), the Tapas and Stars experience (minimum 20 people, 33€ including transportation and tasting) and the rental service of telescopes, mounts , tripods and other specialized materials (for example: 40€ / day for an 8-inch Dobson, with a 50% discount from the third day). As for the visits to the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory, they are always during the day and are restricted for administrative reasons at the present time, although there is a waiting list on their website.
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