La Palma offers a range of excursions that go far beyond conventional tourism. From kayak trips through sea caves to hiking trails winding between volcanoes, along with world-class stargazing and authentic culinary experiences, the Isla Bonita has activities for every kind of traveller and every ability level. In this guide we walk you through the best excursions on offer so you can pick the ones that fit your trip best.
Want the big picture of everything the island has to offer? Read our Full guide: what to do in La Palma. All our tours run with local La Palma guides (led by Gianluca) and we hold a 5.0★ rating (21 reviews) on Google.
Kayak excursion to Cueva Bonita
If we had to recommend just one excursion in La Palma, this would be it. The kayak excursion from Porís de Candelaria to Cueva Bonita is an experience that blends adventure, nature and moments of pure magic over a 2.5 to 3-hour route along the most spectacular coastline in the Canary Islands.
Setting off from a cave village that is unique in the world, you paddle through crystal-clear waters beneath dizzying volcanic cliffs until you reach a sea cave where the sunlight casts mesmerising bluish reflections across the rock walls. Our local guides know every corner of this coast and tailor the experience to the group's pace. It includes a stop for a swim and snorkelling in a sheltered cove.
- Duration: 2.5 - 3 hours
- Difficulty: Low (beginner-friendly, from age 7)
- Season: April to October
- Group: Maximum 8 people
- Includes: Kayak, life jacket, guide, photos, water and fruit
It's the activity most highly rated by visitors to La Palma and the one that generates the most word-of-mouth recommendations. Places are limited: book ahead to secure your spot.
The Surprise Route: guided hiking to secret corners
The Surprise Route is our most original excursion: you don't know where you're going until you get there. Our local guides choose the day's destination based on the weather conditions, the time of year and the group's level, taking you to corners of La Palma that most visitors never see and that don't appear in any guidebook.
It might be a hidden ravine with a secret waterfall, a volcanic beach you can only reach on foot, an unknown viewpoint with views from another planet, or an ancient trail known only to the locals of the area. It's the antithesis of the conventional tourist excursion: a genuine immersion in the island, guided by someone who knows it like the back of their hand.
- Duration: 3 - 4 hours
- Difficulty: Variable (adapted to the group)
- Season: All year round
- Group: Small and personalised
Hiking in the Caldera de Taburiente
The Caldera de Taburiente National Park is the geological heart of La Palma: an enormous erosion crater almost 10 km across, ringed by walls that rise beyond 2,000 metres. Several local companies offer guided routes into the caldera, including the famous descent to the Cascada de Colores, where waters stained by iron minerals create a natural mosaic of oranges, yellows and greens.
Going with a guide has real advantages: they know the terrain inside out, adapt the pace to the group and share geological, botanical and historical insights that greatly enrich the experience. The most popular routes are the descent from Los Brecitos to the Cascada de Colores (5-6 hours, medium-to-high difficulty) and the visit to the Mirador de la Cumbrecita (2-3 hours, low difficulty). For more options, see our guide to the best hiking trails in La Palma.
Stargazing
La Palma is a Starlight Reserve and home to the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory, one of the most important astrophysics observatories in the world. Several companies offer stargazing sessions with professional telescopes, led by astronomers who explain the constellations, nebulae, star clusters and galaxies visible from the island.
The sessions take place at certified astronomical viewpoints at altitudes of between 1,200 and 2,400 metres, where light pollution is virtually non-existent thanks to the Sky Law that protects the island's darkness. Seeing the Milky Way arc across the sky with such clarity, picking out the Andromeda Galaxy with the naked eye or gazing at Saturn and its rings through the telescope are experiences that change your perspective on the universe.
- Duration: 2 - 3 hours
- Best time: All year round, but summer for the Milky Way at its most glorious
- Tip: Bring warm clothing, even in summer. It gets cold at night on the summits, even in August
Boat trips and whale watching
Several companies operate boat trips along the west coast from the Puerto de Tazacorte. The routes include spotting dolphins and pilot whales (La Palma sits in one of the areas with the highest concentration of cetaceans in Europe), views of the volcanic cliffs from the sea and, in some cases, stops for a swim and snorkelling.
The difference from kayaking is that the boat offers more comfort but less intimacy with the surroundings. If you're after a more active experience, close to the water and in small groups, kayaking is the best choice. If you prefer something more relaxed with less physical effort, the boat is a good alternative, especially for people with reduced mobility.
Cycling routes
La Palma is increasingly popular with cyclists, and with good reason. Its winding roads with significant elevation changes and spectacular scenery draw both road and mountain bikers. Several rental companies offer quality bikes and some organise guided routes through the island's most beautiful areas.
The descent from the Roque de los Muchachos down to the coast is one of the most spectacular cycling routes in all of Europe: more than 2,400 metres of descending elevation with views that range from the lunar landscape of the summits to the tropical banana plantations of the coast, passing through Canary Island pine forests and laurel woodland.
Culinary experiences
La Palma's cuisine is a treasure waiting to be discovered. Some local operators offer routes that combine visits to wineries, artisan cheese-makers and local markets with tastings of typical products: Denominación de Origen La Palma cheese, sweet malvasía wine, tea wine (fermented in Canary Island pine barrels), palm honey, almonds and mojos of every variety.
These excursions usually include a meal at local restaurants serving authentic Palmeran cooking: papas arrugadas with mojo, grilled cheese, goat meat, fresh fish and desserts such as bienmesabe or príncipe Alberto. It's a way to get to know the island's culture through its palate.
How to choose your excursion
With so many options available, here's a quick guide based on your profile:
- If you want the flagship experience: the kayak excursion to Cueva Bonita. It's the most unique activity on the island.
- If you love hiking: the Caldera de Taburiente, the Ruta de los Volcanes or Marcos y Cordero.
- If you prefer something relaxed: a boat trip, a food route or stargazing.
- If you're travelling with children: kayaking (from age 7), a gentle hike through Los Tilos or a visit to the natural pools.
- If you want something different: the Surprise Route. Every outing is unique and unrepeatable.
- If you're looking for romance: a sunset kayak or dinner with stargazing.
To weave these excursions into your trip in the best possible way, see our 3-day and 7-day itineraries for La Palma. And remember: the island's best experiences are the ones that truly connect you with it, far from mass tourism and guided by people who know and love it.