Welcome to La Palma! Upon your arrival at La Palma Airport, our guide will meet you and transfer you to our hotel in Santa Cruz de La Palma, a short 10-minute drive away. With only 13,000 inhabitants, the city is perfect for exploring on foot, so you may wish to take some time to discover its charm. This evening, we will gather for a welcome dinner at a local restaurant.

This morning, after breakfast, we begin our first day of walking in the lush northeast, the greenest part of the island. Starting from the village of La Galga, we follow a route along a water canal that leads into a verdant forest filled with tall ferns and laurisilva trees. We ascend above the forest canopy to reach the Mirador de Somada Alta, a vantage point offering breathtaking views of La Palma's forested mountains, the coastline, and the ocean beyond. Our descent towards the coast takes us through rural landscapes, allowing us to soak up the rhythm of local life. As we approach the cliffs, we encounter vast banana plantations in sunnier spots. The path meanders along the rugged coastline, with several ascents and descents as we navigate barrancos (ravines), until we reach the picturesque village of San Andrés, known for its traditional architecture and colourful façades. Lined with Canary palm trees and banana trees, our route concludes at the Charco Azul marine pools.

This morning, we embark on one of La Palma's must-do hikes. Starting from Refugio del Pilar at 1,440 metres, our ascent takes us to the Cumbre Vieja ridge within the Cumbre Vieja Natural Park, where a chain of volcanoes stretches across the southern half of the island. Today's trek offers spectacular, ever-changing views of the lunar landscape shaped by these extinct volcanoes. Highlights include the Hoyo Negro crater, the lava lake of Duraznero, and the summit of Las Deseadas, which crowns the mountain ridge at 1,947 metres above sea level. Enjoy the descent over the black sands of the El Charco and Martín volcanoes. The contrasting colours, volcanic landscapes, and expansive views over the sea are remarkable. At the end of the walk in Los Canarios, you might like to treat yourself to a well-earned drink and some locally baked almond biscuits before returning to the hotel.

This morning, we transfer to the northern part of the island, where time seems to have stood still. From the La Tosca viewpoint, enjoy splendid views of this serene region. Majestic dragon trees line the path as we join the paved Camino Real de La Costa, leading us through ravines rich with local flora and up to large ridges. Goats roam the landscape, and traditional cheese is produced here, but life feels wonderfully slow and tranquil. We pass through the last of the deep canyons to reach the remote villages of Gallegos and Franceses. Our efforts are rewarded with dramatic views over the coastline at the end of today's walk.

In the heart of La Isla Bonita lies the world's first scientific site for a caldera: the Caldera de Taburiente. This 2,000-metre-deep depression, spanning 8 kilometres across the mountain tops, has been protected as a National Park since 1954. After transferring to the Los Brecitos viewpoint, which offers dramatic views of the area, we begin our walk through a Canary pine forest. We cross wooden bridges over streams and take in magnificent views from various vantage points. Reaching the main stream at Taburiente, we pause to dip our toes in the water and enjoy a picnic. The trail then descends steeply to the Cascada de Colores, before continuing more gently through the Barranco de Las Angustias. As we crisscross the stream along the riverbed, we encounter pillow lavas formed underwater long ago and marvel at the breathtaking beauty of the canyon.

Today, we head to the highest point on the island. Our route begins with a climb through the pine forest to Pico de Las Nieves, standing 2,235 metres above sea level, where we reach the ridge and are rewarded with expansive views of the Caldera de Taburiente. From here, we follow the caldera's rim, ascending to the summit of La Palma, the Roque de Los Muchachos, which rises to 2,426 metres above sea level. As we traverse the ridge, neighbouring islands, including Tenerife crowned by Mount Teide, emerge above the clouds, offering a 360-degree panorama. Along the way, we may encounter native high-mountain plants, birds, and lizards. Snow-white buildings atop the mountains mark the Roque de Los Muchachos Astronomical Observatory, home to numerous telescopes, including the world's largest, the GRANTECAN. This area is a globally renowned site for scientists, who utilise the pristine skies for astrophysical research. From the summit, the awe-inspiring views of the landscape is truly captivating, and on a clear day, you may be able to see the islands of Tenerife, El Hierro, and La Gomera.

On our final walking day, we split our time between two distinct areas. In the morning, we get up close to the island's most recent volcano, Tajogaite, which erupted for three months between September and December 2021, severely disrupting life across the island and burying thousands of houses, farmland, and properties under its lava flows. The path, covered in volcanic ash, winds through pine woods to a mirador, offering expansive views over the Aridane Valley, the Tajogaite volcano, and its dark lava fields. In the afternoon, we transfer to the southern tip of the island for a second walk through the volcanic region of Fuencaliente, famous for its malmsey wines. Here, vines are cultivated in the lapilli from previous eruptions, such as those of San Antonio and Teneguía. At Roque Teneguía, we admire ancient rock engravings and endemic plants unique to the Canary Islands. Our route follows the lava flows of Teneguía downhill to the sea, concluding the walk at the marine salt pans and the lighthouses of Fuencaliente. We then return to our hotel in Santa Cruz de La Palma for a final included dinner.

The holiday ends after breakfast. A single timed transfer to the airport is provided. Flight time allowing you may wish to spend the morning exploring Santa Cruz de La Palma.