• Teneguía, the youngest territory in Spain born from a volcano 50 years ago

  • Route 040.Tenerife launches the path with the most unevenness in Spain

It was the

first Starlight Reserve in the world

and has been chosen as one of the best destinations for

astrotourism

internationally.

It has the largest astronomical complex in Europe at its highest peak, the

Roque de los Muchachos.

And it offers visitors a multitude of experiences related to Astronomy.

We refer to

La Palma,

the Canary Island that has become a benchmark for the study of the sky due to the quality of its skies, free of light pollution but also for its ability to offer experiences and activities related to astrotourism, from routes by

lookouts stars

to

gourmet menus

themed.

Salinas de Fuencaliente, a protected area of ​​La Palma EDUARDO ARMAS

At the end of 2012 the island was awarded the

Starlight Reserve and Tourist Destination

certification

, being the first place in the world to receive this recognition.

At the end of 2019, La Palma was awarded in the international awards of the Starlight Foundation as the

best astrotourism destination in

the world.

The so-called Isla Bonita offers astronomy lovers the best environmental characteristics for the knowledge of this science and the enjoyment of tourist experiences thanks to its

dark and clear skies

almost all year round.

OBSERVATORY OVER A SEA OF CLOUDS

Likewise, La Palma is also recognized by UNESCO as a

Biosphere Reserve

, and more than half of its territory has some type of environmental protection, the greatest exponent of which is the

La Caldera de Taburiente National Park,

which helps greatly to this practice.

At the highest point of the island, at about 2,400 meters above sea level, is the Roque de Los Muchachos Observatory, above the so-called "sea of ​​clouds", where there is a clean atmosphere, without turbulence and stabilized by the ocean.

The Roque de los Muchachos Observatory SAÚL SANTOS

At this point it is considered one of the best places in the world for observing the sky and has the most complete complex of telescopes in Europe.

In its facilities many countries have installed their telescopes and great advances have been made in the

study of the universe

in recent years.

In fact, the Observatory will soon have a

Visitors and Interpretation Center

that will have as one of its primary objectives the dissemination of Astronomy among all of society.

Astrotourism Experiences

Within the range of possibilities that La Palma offers, one of the most popular and interesting activities is to walk the

trails and astronomical viewpoints

enabled, and in which we can also count on the explanations of specialized guides.

The

Llanos del Jable,

the Wall, the Llano de la Venta,

the Montaña de las Toscas

are some of the most spectacular.

In addition, several hotels and rural tourism houses on the island have basic instruments for observation in their establishments (

telescopes

, binoculars ...).

The experiences even reach gastronomy.

Some restaurants offer themed menus with dishes with suggestive flavors, textures, images and names that remind us of planets, galaxies or constellations.

Photography

also

occupies a special place within the activities that can be done related to the stars, thanks to

special

meetings and

workshops

to take night photographs.

Full moon at Roque de los Muchachos.MIGUEL CALERO

As a culmination, the island of La Palma hosts the Astrofest festival every year, an appointment full of events related to awareness and

dissemination of Astronomy

among palm trees and visitors, which for example has a

curious blackout

among its events

.

|

More information about La Palma and its astrotourism experiences at www.starsislandlapalma.es/

According to the criteria of The Trust Project

Know more

  • Europe

  • Spain

  • Beaches

  • Canary Islands

  • tourism

GastronomyEl Hierro, the most genuine, unknown and tasty island of the Canary Islands

Carrasca de Lecina This is the tree that has changed the life of a town in Huesca

TrendsThe four Cs of 2021 to succeed: road, city, country and coast

See links of interest

  • Work calendar

  • Rocio Carrasco

  • Home THE WORLD TODAY

  • Internazionale - Cagliari

  • Burnley - Newcastle United

  • Villarreal - Osasuna

  • Malaga - Albacete

  • Betis - Atlético, live