Take yourself on an exhilarating and memorable trip to one of the most dangerous places on the planet
With temperatures over 20 degrees throughout most of the year you'd be mad not to take advantage of some of the amazing off-peak offers available to this Canary Island
WELCOME to the most dangerous holiday destination on Earth.
No, it’s not North Korea, but little La Palma in the Canary Islands.
Yes, the Canaries! I must admit, I’d never heard of it.
I’ve been to Tenerife and Gran Canaria with their busy nightlife and even busier beaches. But the most westerly island and most exciting is actually La Palma.
Why the most dangerous? Running north to south through the centre of the island is a ridge of volcanoes. Called the Cumbre Vieja, it’s spectacular.
Some geologists believe there is a huge crack down the centre of the island and claim the western flank of the Vieja could collapse if there is an eruption, sparking a landslide into the Atlantic and sending a mega-tsunami with 160ft waves across the ocean — wiping out the Caribbean and Eastern sea-board of the US. Yikes.
To be fair, other geologists dispute there is a crack in La Palma but it definitely adds a thrill to a trip.
Doing something a little risky is often most rewarding. And this island is very rewarding — an absolute gem.
Unlike the other Canaries, it didn’t have that annoying breeze which can lead to a drop in heat in the evenings.
Average temperatures exceed 20C most of the year. When we went last month it was nearly 30C every day, which means you can explore the extra-ordinary landscapes without fear of being rained off.
Hire a car and head south and you’ll feel like you’ve taken a wrong turn and driven your rental Renault on to Mars.
The lava flows from past volcanic eruptions — the most recent in 1971 — leave a red tinge to the earth. Huge boulders scatter the landscape.
And yet there is blue too — little sea coves where you can pretty much have the beach to yourself. Don’t miss a trip to the Fuencaliente lighthouse on the southern tip.
Here, there’s a little restaurant called El Jardin de la Sal that looks out over the ocean. It’s so picturesque, they could serve just cornflakes and you’d still be content.
Also on any must-do list is the Caldera de Taburiente National Park in the north of the island. Everything here is green, with forests as far as the eye can see.
In the middle of the park is a massive crater, in places a jaw-dropping six miles across, with walls that tower 6,500ft metres over the caldera floor.
If you’re a walker, this place is paradise. My girlfriend Becky and I went up to the highest point, Roque de los Muchachos, and at 2,426 metres you’re walking among the clouds.
I kept losing sight of Becky as she wandered off along the paths with 800ft sheer drops as a cloud mist came between us.
Also up on Roque is a series of observatories. With strict anti-pollution laws on the island the stargazing opportunities are second to none, with clear skies more than 350 days a year.
With the thin air at high altitudes, you can get a little woozy — almost feeling a little high — which is probably why back in the 1960s the island became the go-to place for Europe’s hippies.
Our tour guide told us how hippies made homes in caves in the mountains, with amenities such as electricity provided by the Spanish government.
Becky and I stumbled across a deserted one above a beach cove — you could see the stove in the kitchen and wooden furniture in the dining area.
While the island’s natural wonders are a huge pull, the capital city, Santa Cruz, is also worth a visit.
Stroll the streets of the old colonial town with its brightly coloured buildings. Spend an afternoon drinking coffee and eating a few slices of their delicious Santiago cake.
But even better than the cake was our trip to the island’s two main volcanoes, which are barely a mile apart.
We visited San Antonio, near Teneguia. It’s a classic-looking volcano, like an upside-down funnel, which last blew in 1677. It blew my mind a little too.
You go through the visitor centre expecting to be at the bottom of San Antonio. But as you walk round a corner, you realise you’re actually at the top of the beast, 2,175 metres up and looking down into the vast crater, now filled with trees.
While there is so much beauty to explore on La Palma we definitely weren’t roughing it when we returned to our hotel.
The La Palma and Teneguia Princess Hotel on the west coast is on a steep hill that tumbles down to the waterfront, with never-ending views across the Atlantic.
The hotel may not be close to buzzing nightlife but that’s very much the point.
You can stroll round the perimeter on a 40-minute walk with fabulous views over the sea and endless banana groves.
There is plenty going on, day and night, with 11 pools and activities such as water polo and aqua aerobics, not to mention archery, rifle shooting, volleyball and ordinary aerobics.
You definitely won’t go hungry. It’s an all-inclusive affair, with something for every- one in the main buffet rest-aurant as well as a speciality restaurant serving Spanish and Canarian tasting menus and a pizzeria for poolside snacks.
The traditional-style rooms are clean and spacious, with air conditioning and a balcony or terrace that is perfect for relaxing on after a long day’s exploring.
Make sure to stay close to one another if taking high altitude hikes
So Becky and I survived “the most dangerous Canary Island” — and we’ll definitely be back
GO: LA PALMA, CANARY ISLANDS
GETTING THERE: TUI has the 5H La Palma & Teneguia Princess in its Platinum programme with seven nights’ all-inclusive from £442 per person, including flights from Gatwick on November 30 and transfers. To book, go to tui.co.uk or call 0844 871 0878.
OUT AND ABOUT: El Jardin de la Sal restaurant is £35 per head for a two-course meal and wine. See
TOP TIP: If you decide on a holiday here, make sure you don’t book a flight to La Palma island and hotel in Las Palmas, which is in Gran Canaria – as one unfortunate couple did on my flight.
