La Palma has all the conditions necessary to experience a thousand and one adventures that turn a getaway into a lifetime memory. Mountain biking, hiking, scuba diving or a mountain race among volcanoes is possible on this island, where calmer visitors can also enjoy the silence of its forests or the magic of its coasts.
Declared a World Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO, La Palma is home to several mountain races, some with a strong international character, where elite athletes gather to enjoy a unique landscape where silence and nature are perceived like no other place in the world. A landscape where time stands still and adventure hides in every corner.
The Challenge: The Transvulcania and Reventón Trail
For the most daring visitors, the island of La Palma is home to two of the most interesting sporting events in nature on the international scene.
Transvulcania is a mountain race that boasts different configurations, being the most intense ultramarathon, reaching over 80 kilometers. For months, Palmeros and athletes from all over the world train on rugged peaks and volcanic terrain to cover a very hard 83 kilometers of trails and a cumulative elevation gain of 8,500m. Moreover, almost the entire route runs along marked trails according to the international standard of the European Ramblers’ Association. This race, which has itineraries of great beauty such as the Route of the Volcanoes, runs through the 14 municipalities of the island during its celebration, which normally takes place in May. At each refreshment post the runners usually encounter a public that transmits warmth, cheers, and projects their energy and enthusiasm.
Also the Reventón Trail, in El Paso, is a race that bears the privilege of passing through the boundaries of the Caldera de Taburiente National Park and Cumbre Vieja Natural Park, the location of the new La Palma volcano that erupted in 2012. This circular race of 42,200m starts and ends in El Paso and is usually held in April. In total that’s 70.5km and more than 8,100m of accumulated elevation gain
Hiking Among Volcanoes
For hiking enthusiasts, one of the outstanding destinations is Caldera de Taburiente National Park, a crevice eight kilometers in diameter and up to one and a half kilometers deep, covered with dense Canary pine forests and crisscrossed by deep ravines.
The most recommended route is the one that leaves from Los Brecitos, in Los Llanos de Aridane, and runs through the interior of the park along marked trails to the camping area, located next to the riverbed. To exit you can reverse the path you have walked; but if you want to make a complete circuit of the national park and not miss the Cascada de Colores, it’s better to leave by the path known as El Reventón, which ends at Las Angustias ravine, in Tazacorte. It’s not necessary to obtain a permit to enter and leave the Caldera de Taburiente in one day. On the other hand, in order to spend the night there, it’s necessary to obtain the permit online at the national parks website or in person at the Caldera de Taburiente Visitor Center, located in El Paso.
Sailing with Whales
Whale watching is an excellent experience that can be undergone in La Isla Bonita, aboard one of the authorized boats offering this adventure, which departs from the port of Tazacorte. Among the different species of cetaceans that can be observed throughout the year are pilot whales, dolphins, sperm whales, sharks and flying fish, even some turtles.
The waters of La Palma contain a great diversity of animals with more than 30 identified species (7 species of mysticetes and 23 odontocetes) of the 89 known to date, belonging to 7 families, including dolphins, pilot whales, beaked whales, fin whales, sperm whales and killer whales, among others.
Isla Bonita has a particularity for the sightings, signifying that cetaceans swim very close to the coast. Sometimes, they can be seen from the beaches and harbors themselves. But to get more enjoyment out of this adventure, it’s better to move away from the coast to see the larger species, such as fin whales and sperm whales.
This experience is rounded off with the view of the steep, cliffy coast of the island, populated by traditional Porís [natural ports] such as Candelaria or Puntagorda. An All-Encompassing Spectacle
This is how a trip to La Palma transforms into a great adventure involving sports, virgin nature and closeness to marine species. Undoubtedly, a unique opportunity to awaken unforgettable new sensations.