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Regions
Fuerteventura	Gomera	Gran Canaria
Hierro	Lanzerote	La Palma
Tenerife
Buying Your Property	Useful Information

La Palma is the most north western island of the seven larger islands in the Archipelago of the Canary Islands (Isla Canarias). The Canaries Archipelago consists of seven large and six smaller islands based in the Atlantic Ocean, lying some 100km off the north west coast of Africa (Morocco and Western Sahara) and about 1,100km from the Spanish mainland (Cadiz). The Canary Islands are split into two Spanish provinces; The westerly islands of Tenerife, La Palma, Gomera and Hierro from the province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife (chief town Santa Cruz) while the eastern islands of Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura and Lanzarote from the province of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (chief town Las Palmas). La Palma is known as the 'Pretty Isle' by the Canary Islanders. The island has a natural beauty with a sharp contrast of green countryside with spectacular vegetation and floral wealth in the mountain and volcanic zones, lava flows and craters. There is the La Caldera del Taburiente which holds the World record for the largest volcanic crater with a diameter of 9 kilometres and a depth of 770 metres. La Palma has a culture that is full of traditions, cuisine, crafts and folklore which has survived from its aboriginal inhabitants time and has been left with a wide variety of natural archaeological riches.

There are various view points from the island like the terrific natural monument, Mirador de la Cumbrecita. Another is located in the beautiful valley of Los Lanos de Aridane, the view point El Time, overlooks the National Park Caldera del Taburiente.

The island's highest mountain, Roque de los Muchachos, is one of many acclaimed attractions in La Palma, with an astronomical observatory, which is considered the most important astrophysics observatory in the northern hemisphere. At it's peak it measures 2,423 metres. Other attractions include the Caldera de Taburiente National Park, the El Canal y Los Tiles forests, which is declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO and archaeological sites like Zarza or Belmaco.

La Palma has beautiful beaches that run along the coast of the island. Some made up of fine volcanic sand and small coves, some small and secluded and other long stretches of fine sand.

The capital of La Palma is Santa Cruz de La Palma which is located on the islands east coast. This picturesque port town has over 18,000 inhabitants. It has striking architecture and has managed to keep up with the times offering a really lively ambience, but still keeping a resemblence of the historical importance of the island. There are characteristical steeply inclined alleys, where there are important sights like the Town Hall and the church Iglesia del Salvador, both of which are 16th century, and the interesting Museum of Natural Science. Located just a few kilometers out of the town centre is the Santuario de la Virgen de las Nieves, which is a sanctuary of the island's patroness. Behind Santa Cruz de La Palma, looking a colossal amphitheater, is the mighty volcanic crater, Caldereta.

There are few tourist resorts in La Palma, all with something special about them like; Breña Baja, with some very beautiful small bays and great beaches of sand - Playa de Cancajos, In Mazo, which is close to the airport, there is the Cueva de Belmacoa which is a cave with prehistorical engravings. Then there is Cueva Bonita, a beautiful grott and which is close to Tijarafe. Tazacorte, a resort surrounded by large plantations of bananas has a picturesque port and fine sandy beaches. In Fuencaliente there are vineyards and volcanic craters. Best known are the craters of San Antonio and Teneguía, the latter having erupted last in 1971. Puerto de Naos is a traditional fishing village with splendid beaches of fine sand. Around San Andrés and Sauces there are large and beautiful woods.