The Geography of La Palma

La Palma has a total surface area of 706 square kilometres and a population of 80.000. The capital city is Santa Cruz de la Palma, with a population of 18,000. The island is divided into 14 administrative regions:

Garafía			Barlovento
Puntagorda			San Andrés y Sauces
Tijarafe			Puntallana
El Paso			Santa Cruz
Tazacorte			Breña Alta
Los Llanos			Breña Baja
Fuencaliente			Mazo

At the centre of the town is the Plaza de Espana , the church of El Salvador and the old city hall, all dating from the 16th century. Other churches worth a visit include that of San Francisco Associated with the San Francisco church is the town museum. There is a also a naval museum, housed in a concrete replica of Christopher Columbus's flagship, the Santa Maria .

There are numerous other buildings worth seeing, such as the Casa Salazar , now used for art exhibitions and the tourist information centre, and 'los balcones' on the sea-front. Alternatively a happy afternoon can be spent wandering around the cobbled streets and squares

In the hills above the city is the sanctuary of Nuestra Senora de Las Nieves . This is a beautiful renaissance building from the 16th century, in which resides the image of Nuestra Senora de Las Nieves, the patron of the island . Every 5 years this is taken down to the city, where the famous fiesta of the Bajada de la Virgen is celebrated. Events include the dance of the dwarves ,the Minue , and the carnival float procession .

Santa Cruz also has an annual carnival.

Breña Alta

Worth visiting is the Mirador de La Conception, just off the main road from Santa Cruz to Los Llanos, from which it is possible to look down across port and city of Santa Cruz , and the entire valley of Las Breñas.

Breña Baja

Worth visiting is the Montana de La Breña . , from which there is an excellent view of the east of the island.

Also within Breña Baja is the major beach and tourist centre on the eastern side of the island, Los Cancajos.

Mazo

Mazo has a population of 4,250 and an area of 71 sq km.

The major event is Corpus Christi, on which day the streets are decorated with tapestries, arches and carpets made out of flower petals.

Also worth a visit is the El Molino ceramics workshop in Hoyo de Mazo, which makes reproductions of Guanche pottery.

Fuencaliente

Worth a visit are the volcanic craters of San Antonio (1677) and Teneguia (1971). Along the coast are a number of small beaches and coves; El Faro, Playa Nueva, Punta Larga and La Zamora.

Tazacorte

Of particular interest is the port of Tazacorte, located at the outlet of the Barranco de las Augustias . This is an active fishing port, the largest on the western side of the island. Around the port are a number of fish restaurants.

El Paso

The major event is the fiesta of Nuestra Señora del Pino. This occurs every two years during the last week of August, when the patron is bought to the village in a popular pilgrimage .

Worth a visit is the Mirador de La Cumbrecita, which affords an impressive view into the Caldera de Taburiente . Also in El Paso, close to the turn-off to the Cumbrecita, is the new visitors centre of La Caldera National Park.

Los Llanos

The squares of Elías Santos and Plaza de España are worth a visit, particularly the latter with its giant laurel trees . The principal church is Nuestra Señora de Los Remedios.

There is a fiesta every second year, on the 2nd July, to celebrate the patron of the town. There is also a Carnival each year, towards the end of February.

Also within the Los Llanos region is the major beach and tourist centre of the island, Puerto Naos . Other beaches near Puerto Naos worth visiting are Charco Verde and Playa Nueva.

Tijarafe

Worth a visit is the viewpoint at El Time, perched on the edge of the Barranco de Augustias, which affords a splendid view across the Aridane valley .

Puntagorda

Puntagorda is best known for its almond trees, and there is a traditional fiesta held when the trees are in blossom, in January or February.

Garafía

The most important livestock fair of the island takes place during the festival of San Antonio del Monte, on the 12th and 13th of June .

Barlovento

On the coast can be found the natural swimming pools at Las Piscinas .

San Andrés y Sauces

Well worth a visit are the springs of Marcos y Corderos , high in the hills above San Andrés. More accessible is the forest of Los Tilos, fed by the waters from the springs. Los Tilos has been declared a 'biosphere reserve', under the protection of UNESCO, as part of the heritage of mankind.

On the coast can be found the natural swimming pools at Charco Azul .

Puntallana

Worth a visit is the wooded area El Cubo de Galga. On the coast is the best beach to the north of the island, Playa Nogales .