Where to eat, sleep and explore in La Palma, Canary Islands
La Palma is an island dedicated to nature, and was the first Spanish island to be designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, in 1983. Almost four decades later, La Palma is still one of the most unspoiled and serene islands in the Canary Island archipelago, which sits just off the coast of Morocco. Due to La Palma’s rugged coastline and volcanic black-sand beaches, it dodged the mass beach development of sister islands Lanzarote and Tenerife, and is a great bet for travellers who’d choose barefoot luxury and spectacular scenery over glossy resorts and busy promenades. To the north, you’ll find lush rainforest; to the south, dramatic volcanic moonscapes. And the old town of the capital – Santa Cruz de la Palma – is an architectural wonder, with grand whitewashed villas, cobbled streets and a brilliant museum housed in a 16th-century monastery.