La Palma — Overview

About La Palma

La Palma, known as "La Isla Bonita" (The Beautiful Island), is the fifth-largest Canary Island covering 708 km², with approximately 83,000 inhabitants. The capital is Santa Cruz de La Palma. The island is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve since 2002.

La Palma is one of the steepest islands in the world relative to its size. It rises dramatically from the Atlantic Ocean to Roque de los Muchachos at 2,426 metres, the island's highest point. This elevation and the island's clear skies have made it one of the world's premier astronomical locations. The Roque de los Muchachos Observatory, established in 1985, hosts telescopes from over 60 research institutions worldwide, including the 10.4-metre Gran Telescopio Canarias (GTC), the world's largest single-aperture optical telescope.

The island has strict light pollution controls (the "Sky Law" of 1988) to protect astronomical observations. The entire island is considered a Starlight Reserve, certified by UNESCO and the World Tourism Organization.

The most recent volcanic activity occurred in 2021 with the Tajogaite eruption on the Cumbre Vieja ridge, lasting 85 days from September to December. The eruption created a new volcanic cone and lava delta, adding approximately 43 hectares to the island's western coastline.

The only airport is La Palma Airport (SPC) near the capital, handling approximately 1.5 million passengers annually.