La Palma

La Palma – What you should know

La Palma has the smallest annual range of any destination covered here: just six degrees separate the coolest month at 21°C from the warmest at 27°C. Nights never fall below 16°C. The Canary Current and the steady trade winds keep both heat and cold away from the island — the label "eternal spring" fits here even better than on Tenerife.

Summer is practically rain-free: May through August together bring 15 mm across zero rain days. Rainfall concentrates in winter, with 55 mm in February and 48 mm each in November and December. As on every Canary Island, though, the north–south divide applies: the northeast catches the trade-wind clouds and is green and damp, while the south and west stay dry and sunny.

La Palma is not a conventional beach destination — the island is steep and its beaches are small and black. It is regarded instead as the best hiking island in the Canaries, with the Caldera de Taburiente and the volcanic Ruta de los Volcanes. The cooler months from November to April are ideal for walking. And thanks to the exceptionally clear night sky, the Roque de los Muchachos hosts one of the world's most important observatories.