La Palma, The Beautiful Island
La Palma lies in the north west of the Canary Islands, about 17º West and 28º North. Together with Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, La Gomera and El Hierro, it makes up a group of seven islands, under Spanish sovereignty. This Archipelago is located about 100 kilometres off the African coast, out in the Atlantic Ocean.
The geographical location of La Palma explains its mild climate (after all, the island is a mere 5º north of the Tropic of Cancer.) Its proximity to the Sahara desert is off-set by the moisture provided by the trade winds, with the north east trades predominating for most of the year. That menas the average temperature on the island hovers around 20 degrees Centigrade throughout the year, with mild winters, temperate summers and little rain.
There are so many reasons to come to La Palma that it is difficult to sum them all up in just a few lines. The island has enough attractions to please everyone: from nature-lovers, sports enthusiasts, culture vultures, food connoisseurs, shoppers and those who want to do all of this at the same time.
To begin with, La Palma has a privileged environment, which is why UNESCO declared it a World Biosphere Reserve in November 2002. One National Park, 19 nature reserves (representing about 35% of its surface area), dozens of black sand beaches and breathtaking volcanic landscapes are only some of the island's assets.
For all these reasons, La Palma is the ideal place for adventure and sports lovers. On land, sea and air, the island is ideal for enjoying the great outdoors. Among the many activities on offer, you can choose from hiking, horse riding, paragliding, mountain biking, diving and boat trips.
But our island is also rich in cultural traditions, with hundred-year-old festivals, a wide network of museums and visitor centres, exquisite handicrafts, an important architectural heritage and trails used for centuries. Low taxes and open air shopping centres offer extraordinary opportunities for shopping-oriented visitors. And last, but not least, La Palma's restaurants will reward visitors with an astounding variety of dishes, reflecting the influences of Castilian, Portuguese, Creole and even pre-Hispanic cuisines.
