The cloud waterfall.

Because the island sits in the trade winds, damp air hits the northeast of the island and has to rise, where it turns into clouds. Because La Palma has a north-south spine called the Cumbre Nueva, the cloud quite often reaches up to the ridge and then tumbles over as the cloud waterfall. This is extremely pretty, and best viewed from around the western side of the tunnel. You can also look down on it from the Los Andennes mirador on the road to the observatory.

Sometimes, when the winds blow from the west, the waterfall tumbles down the eastern side of the ridge.

Occasionally, it keeps going after sunset, and you can see it lit by the full moon, which makes you wonder if you've slipped through to Narnia or Middle Earth.

Just once, I saw a spectacular sunset illuminate it candyfloss-pink.

I didn't have a camera.

I swore.

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Santa Cruz Tourist Office

When I first came to La Palma, the tourist office was in temporary accommodation in the third floor of an office building, with absolutely nothing at street-level to indicate where it was. Basically, you had to ask a local to find it.

Obviously this left something to be desired, so they put up two signs: one at the south end of town pointing north, and one at the north end, pointing south.

That was seventeen years ago. Since then, the tourist office has moved twice. They are now in this rather attractive building in Santa Cruz, outside the port entrance. As you can see, it's in the middle of a dual carriageway, but there's a zebra crossing just out of the frame to the right. All the staff speak good English, and I've always found them very helpful.

Opening hours:

Mon - Fri Saturday Sunday

9 am - 7:30 pm 9 am - 3 pm 9 am - 2 pm

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