La Palma - Things to do ashore

[Dippydoris]

We are new to cruising and will be ashore for one day in La Palma (arriving at 08:00 and leaving at 18:00) in September. Any help in deciding whether to go it alone or opt for one of the scheduled P&O excursions would be appreciated

[bogofman]

there is almost nothing to do in the port/town on La Palma, you can hire a car at CICAR (look them up by google search) and pick the car up at the port buildings (if you get the bus to the port gate you ned to walk back to the port building to find the office) otherwise you will need to go on a tour.

 

We had low cloud all day in June so it was very miserable :(

[LibraLass41]

We did a lovely tour with P&O Countryside and Wine, we were took up into the volcanic mountains, saw banana plantations and wonderful scenery we stopped at a wine cellar for wine and buffet and were back onboard for lunch and to sunbathe on a hot deck by the pool.

 

You will get a tour brochure either by post or online 8 weeks or so before the cruise, a little while after final payment to make a decision, but I would recommend a tour as don't think there is much to see in the town.

[lancashire_cruisers]

We are new to cruising and will be ashore for one day in La Palma (arriving at 08:00 and leaving at 18:00) in September. Any help in deciding whether to go it alone or opt for one of the scheduled P&O excursions would be appreciated

 

Hi Dippydoris

 

Here's what we did at La Palma last October:

 

Prior to leaving the UK we had arranged hire cars for each of the Canary Islands through a company called CICAR at a cost of 58 Euro per day. The office was located in the port terminal and after a quick signature or two we found our car (a new Volvo Automatic) and headed off to our first stop.

 

We drove to the village of Fuencaliente in the South of the island as we were going to see the volcanoes of San Antonio and Teneguia. Once we reached the village the road to the volcanoes was well signposted and entry to the car park and visitor centre was 3.50 Euro each (children are free).

 

The scenery was unbelievably dramatic and you are able to walk around the rim of the San Antonio crater (it’s a very easy, if slightly uneven, walk) and peer over the southern edge towards the Teneguia volcano which last erupted in 1971, and the end of the island formed by the volcanic lava fields stretching into the sea. The colour and tranquillity of the sea which just melts into the sky has to be seen to be believed and you really do feel as if you are at the end of the world.

 

After a walk around the rim of the crater and taking many, many photographs we headed back to the car to embark on the next stage of our adventure, the National Park of the Crater of Taburiente right in the centre of the island.

 

After registering at the visitor centre to drive up to La Cumbrecita (you have to register to receive a ticket that allows you through the barrier in the National Park), we set off on a fairly ‘hairy’ road full of blind corners and hairpin bends. Once at the car park at La Cumbrecita the views made it all worthwhile. The crater is 18 miles wide and at one point, Roque de los muchachos, is the highest point on the island at nearly 8,000ft. The base of the crater holds a rain forest such is the nature of the climate in this part of the island – just beautiful. If you don’t fancy driving then the P&O Tour ‘Leisurely La Palma’ also calls there and two coaches turned up just as we were getting ready to leave.

 

Afterwards we headed for a short stop at Los Cancajos and then it was back to the Port to drop off the car and return to our home, the lovely Azura.

The island was really easy to find your way round, so much so that it didn't matter that I'd forgotten to pick up a map from the car hire office. Instead I used a map of the island in the Thomas Cook guide book I'd bought to do my research.

Whatever you decide to do, have a great time!

Debbie:)

[CASPALL]

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