La Palma – a Nature Experience: Volcanoes, Dragon Trees, Almond Bloom, Sweet Chestnuts…
Beside the most famous nature and landscape attractions of La Palma – the National Reserve Caldera de Taburiente, the jungle-like and misty forests of Los Tilos, declared by Unesco “Biosphere Nature Reserve”, and the spectacular volcanic route, passing from the North to the South, La Palma offers many deserving destinations for walking tours and trips, in order to get to know the vegetation and animal kingdom of the island better and to be amazed and to enjoy...
Almond Bloom on La Palma
The almond plantation on La Palma has a long tradition. The harmony of lush green of the meadows and the rose and white colour tones of the countless blooming almond trees, always has the people from the whole island drawn to Puntagorda in January. There, the almond bloom is a welcome occasion to celebrate their traditional village feast with almonds, salsa and wine.
Dragon Trees near Las Tricias
For the indigenous inhabitants of La Palmas, the dracaenas or the Dragon Tree had a mythical meaning. Below the small village of Las Tricias, the valley of the Dragon Trees is situated. On no other island of the Canarian islands, are the “Dragos“as numerous as they are here. The Dragon Tree belongs to the Lily Family and is neither a tree nor a palm tree, and will live for up to 1000 years.
Sweet Chestnuts on San Martín
San Martín, on the 11th November, is celebrated with the combination of young wine and freshly harvested sweet chestnuts. On La Palma, there are extensive holdings of sweet chestnut trees, which ripe around this time of the year and fall down to earth. Formerly, the chestnuts were shipped, today they are exclusively reserved for personal consumption. The fruit are taken out of their painfully prickly skins and roasted in pans on the open fire. They constitute an excellent foundation for a maybe exuberant consumption of this year’s wine. Sweet chestnuts – pictures from bloom to the fruit.
La Palma 2007 – 5 Year Biosphere Reserve
After the laurel forests of Los Tilos had already been awarded the
designation “Biosphere Reserve” in the year 1983, the whole island of
La Palma gained this title in the autumn 5 years ago by the UNESCO –
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. This
award for the walking island of La Palma is dedicated to all those
landscapes that within the frame of the programme “Man and the
Biosphere” are meant to be protected from long-term interventions
changing the natural biodiversity. The La Palma project is aimed at
demonstrating how a landscape can be conserved and developped in a
sustainable way, without radical influences of the human being. The
regional administration looks after the observance of regulations in
connection with the protection of the environment. This is periodically
examined by the comissioners of UNESCO. If the regulations have not
been observed fully, the award of the title “Biosphere Reserve” can be
withdrawn again. The politicians of the island, however, are well aware
of the value of this label from UNESCO and put a lot of effort into
making future tourism projects adhere to the protection of the nature
and landscapes of La Palma.
Birds’ Paradise – Paraíso de las Aves near El Paso
In these grounds, the visitor will find in the midst of colourful vegetation - an interesting collection of local plants of the island - different birds from all continents, flying free in a birds’ house.
Address: Camino Panadero 16, El Paso
Opening hours: Mo - Fr 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Volcanologic Information Centre at the San Antonio Volcano in Fuencaliente
Here, you receive on the basis of detailed text tables, graphics, aerial photographs of the island and active seismographs information about volcanism on La Palma. The building is equipped with a projection room, in which a documentary film about the eruption of Teneguia in the year 1971 is on show.
Historically documented Volcanic Eruptions on La Palma
1470-1492 Montaña Quemada
1585 Tajuya close to El Paso
1646 Volcán San Martin
1677 Volcán San Antonio
1712 El Charco
1949 Volcán San Juan, Duraznero, Hoyo Negro
1971 Volcán Teneguía
In immediate vicinity of the Visitors’ Centre, is the San Antonio volcano, which formed from an eruption in the year 1677. On the occasion of a stroll along the edge of its crater, the visitors can gain an idea about the extent of volcanism on La Palma.
Address: Volcano San Antonio Fuencaliente
Opening hours: daily 9 a.m. – 9 p.m in the summer,
9 a.m. – 6 p.m. in the winter
Picnic and Camping Sites in Open Nature
These “refugios” are situated in beautiful locations mostly in the forest and are a perfect touring destination for individuals, families or groups. They are well-equipped with playgrounds, open fire places, firewood and drinking water. Here, you meet for grilling or picnic, in order to play or to relax. Most of the places are also well suited as starting point for short strolls or extensive hiking tours.
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