When I first saw images of the volcano in La Palma and the lave eruption, I had to do some Google research to find if it was safe and if it was possible to visit the volcano in La Palma. The name of the volcano is Cumbre Vieja, and it’s located in a little village called El Paso.
While there are several active volcanos in the world, the best and closest place in Spain to see the lava eruption is the Cumbre Vieja in La Palma.
Located just in front of El Paso in La Palma, Cumbre Vieja is a volcano that has already erupted twice, every 60 years.
The volcano and its lava rivers were growing day by day, so there was a lot of police making sure that people were not getting too close to the volcano for security reasons. It’s important to understand that even if the volcano is a natural show, it’s also a disaster for people living in La Palma, as lots of people lost their houses and jobs because of the volcano. This means that you need to respect the local authorities and make sure you don’t cause any trouble.
Don’t miss other unique spots in La Palma! Discover our La Palma Travel Guide and the 4-Day La Palma itinerary.
How to Get to the Volcano in La Palma
The Cumbre Vieja Volcano is located west of the La Palma airport and just near El Paso, a little village in the west of La Palma. This little road trip will take you about 30 minutes. There are plenty of spots to pull off the main road to get to different safe viewpoints of the volcano. You can pick for the best path to take.
When to Visit the Volcano in La Palma
As in any volcano, the lava is only visible at night. During the day, you’ll only see smoke coming out from the volcano. I took one photo in the morning and another one at night where you can easily see that.
These photos were taken in October 2021. The volcano has no activity anymore, but it’s also interesting to go visit La Palma to discover the newest volcano in the world and its effects on the island.
Viewpoints to Visit the Volcano in La Palma
- Centro Comercial Del Mueble: This is the 1st viewpoint of the volcano in El Paso when coming from the airport.
- Iglesia Tajuya: That’s the main viewpoint. We spent the majority of our trip here, as it was also the official meeting point for journalists.
- Clínica Salinero: This is another parking in case the previous one is full.
- C/ Alcalà and Las Manchas: This is the area that was closed due to the lava rivers. You could only see them from Empalme Tajuya.
- Puerto Tazacorte: People went there to watch the lava rivers reach the sea. We didn’t go there because we thought that the visibility from Tajuya church was stunning, and there was no need to get down there.
- Pico Birigoyo: At the beginning of the eruption, I had a viewpoint on my bucket list called Pico Birigoyo. It was too close to the volcano, so when we get there in October 2021 it was already closed.
- Mirador de Los Andenes: If you want to adventure yourself into the mountains, Mirador de Los Andenes is the best option. We got there before sunset and managed to capture this stunning photo from this viewpoint, which is located at a +2000 m elevation. This is near Roque de Los Muchachos, which is the best place to observe the sky and the Milky Way in all the north hemisphere! So we decided to camp here and spend the night. It was one of the best days of my life!
- Roque de Los Muchachos: We went up to the highest point in La Palma to watch the sunrise from the top of the island. It also had fantastic views of the volcano.
Things to Do Near Cumbre Vieja Volcano
If you are going to visit the volcano in La Palma, make sure to stop by Los Tilos. We did not spend long in La Palma, so it would be easy to see the main places in La Palma in 4 days.
Take time to hike out to Los Tilos Waterfall in La Palma to see a natural waterfall and one of the most popular hikes on the island. It is outside the national park area, so you can visit without paying to enter the park.
If you have a high clearance drive vehicle, drive out into Porís de Candelaria to see the hidden village inside a cave. We actually did this road the first time in an SUV car, and it handled the road like a champ.
Where to stay near the volcano in La Palma
There are limited places to stay close to the Volcano in El Paso other than some hostels. The places used to fill up fast during the eruption, but it should be fine now to book a spot in El Paso.
The closest option to look into is staying in El Paso (Booking.com). You can look for options and availability on Booking.com here. I recommend our hostel called Albergue La Casa Encantada.
Los Canarios is another nearby city with a lot more options. Because it is the closest city to the airport and just a 30 min drive from the volcano. You can look for options and availability on Booking here.
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If you are like me and have been looking for the volcano in La Palma, lava rivers, and Cumbre Vieja volcano eruption, you are now ready to get your flight to La Palma and enjoy this mystic island. After spending 4 days in La Palma, I realized that the island is much more than a volcano. Called “La Isla Bonita” (The Beautiful Island) of Canary Island, La Palma is a hidden gem for locals to discover the meaning of peace.
After spending 4 days in La Palma, I’ve got lots more La Palma and Canary Islands content! For now, if you’re looking for unique places to visit in La Palma and Canary Islands, don’t miss the Ultimate 4 Day La Palma Itinerary.
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he blog was how do i say it… relevant, finally something that helped me. Thanks