Fuencaliente Holidays

Fuencaliente clings to the southern coast of La Palma, the smallest of the Canary Islands. The region takes in the villages of Las Indias and Los Canarios, and with just a scattering of bars and restaurants it makes for a peaceful holiday. You’ll find a landscape of whitewashed houses and pretty balconies, topped off with lots of hike-friendly volcanoes.

Your nearest beach is at Faro de Fuencaliente, which is about 20 minutes’ drive from Las Indias. It comes with pebbles and La Palma’s signature volcanic black sand, and is watched over by a red-and-white striped lighthouse. There’s just one snack bar at this quiet stretch. Snorkellers and scuba divers love it here for the parrot fish and Canarian lobster.

Fuencaliente’s biggest draw is its countryside, so it’s no surprise it’s a haven for walkers. Well-marked trails meander through pretty villages, up mountains and across dazzling coastal terrain. But it’s the volcanoes that really get people’s attention – a 6-hour trek along the Ruta de Los Volcanes takes in quite a few of them.

You can be in the capital, Santa Cruz de la Palma, in 40 minutes. Start at the northern end of the Avenida Maritima and you’ll see a row of traditional Canarian houses with their brightly painted wooden balconies. At Plaza de Espana, it’s worth looking inside the Iglesia de El Salvador for its honeycombed ceiling, and on the waterfront there’s a naval museum inside a huge replica boat.