The natural fortress

With a diameter of some eight kilometres and almost twenty kilometres in circumference, this immense erosion crater is one of the oldest National Parks in Spain. Declared as such in 1954, it has just celebrated its fiftieth anniversary as a guarantor of the survival of its countless botanic, geological and wildlife treasures.

History A mere 4 million years The creation of the Caldera started before human beings ever walked the earth as a species. But the recorded history of the National Park starts a mere six centuries ago, when La Palma was taken by the conquistadors from Castile. More information		Geology Fire creates, water destroys Even now, in the 21st century, scientists fail to agree on the origins of the Caldera de Taburiente. After much debate, only one thing seems to be certain: everything you can see is the result of a titanic struggle between these two elements. More information
Flora A basalt greenhouse Almost one hundred plant species have been found in La Caldera. This wealth of biological diversity is possible thanks to the vast range of different ecosystems that make up the ecological mosaic of the Park. More information		Fauna Discreet wealth La Palma is a relatively young island. This means that the fauna has had little time to adapt and, therefore, in general, it is not so abundant. Even so, La Caldera shelters an incalculable wealh in classes of fauna like birds, reptiles and invertebrates. More information
Planning your visit A practical guide In this section, you will find everything you need for planning your excursions to La Caldera. We have included access maps, suggested routes, information about camping permits and safety tips. More information