FUENCALIENTE DE LA PALMA (A Canary Islands All Inclusive)

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FUENCALIENTE DE LA PALMA
(A Canary Islands All Inclusive)
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Volcanoes can be monstrous. They are unforgiving
and, most terrifying of all, unpredictable. But,
as disastrous as they may be, they help create
the most breathtaking landscapes. Such is the
beginning of Fuencaliente de La Palma, shaped by
volcanic eruptions and perfected by nature that
has made it majestic and magnificent. Fuencalient
e de La Palma is 56.42 km² of natural and
human-made spectacles. It has a gentle volcanic
ridge with trails to its divine mountains and
craters. Furthermore, its fertile soil grows one
of the best grapes and bananas in the
archipelago. Equally spectacular are its coasts
of cliffs and black sand beaches. Also found here
are salt ponds and lighthouses that overlook the
vast Atlantic. There are no pubs or clubs. No
noise or smoke. Here, there are only happy
travelers partying with nature and enjoying its
finest creations.
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The Making of the Volcanic Wonder
Like the other Canary Islands, Guanche natives
were the first inhabitants of La Palma. The
territory of what is now Fuencaliente was called
Ahenguareme then. Here, they thrived in its
abundant natural resources and fertile soil. By
1492, the Spanish conquest of the Canaries landed
on the shores of La Palma. As expected, the
Guanches stood their ground, and bloodbaths soon
followed. Although superior, the conquistadors
didnt have it easy. In fact, a good number of
them died for the cause and the crown. In the
end, as brave as the natives were, their
courageousness failed to secure a victory. By
1493, barely a year since it started, the
invasion ended after the last of the chiefs was
ambushed and captured. It is unknown when
Ahenguareme became Fuencaliente, which in Spanish
means hot spring. What is certain is that the
name originated from a spring near Playa de
Echentive called Fuente Santa. Unfortunately, a
lava flow completely wiped it out in the 18th
Century.
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Why Vacation in Fuencaliente de La Palma
Fuencaliente is the perfect place to get close to
nature. It has the most mesmerizing landscapes
with an excellent network of hiking trails.
Thats 1,000 km of aptly-marked tracks with
fantastic views of the coasts, villages, and
mountains. If that isnt excellent, then nothing
is and will ever be. If travelers want to go
seaside, stunning views also await them. Nothing
is more dramatic than the harsh Atlantic waves
crashing against the cliffs. Salt ponds like pans
of snow on a rugged coastal terrain are quite an
unusual sight. Should visitors want to unwind and
play by the waters, the southern paradise has one
or two to offer. Its black volcanic sand beaches
are as stunning as it is peaceful. Itll be hard
for anyone to find a more relaxing place than
Fuencaliente, and perhaps there isnt. La Palma
is an island from a volcano and of many
volcanoes. In fact, it has had seven eruptions
since the Spanish occupation, and thats a lot
for such a small island. Travelers have nothing
to fear though. The volcanoes are dormant hence
excursions to the most exalted trails and views
on the island is safe.
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The Volcanoes and Walking Trails
The hike along the Caldera Rim and around the
Volcán San Antonio crater is quite easy but can
be a bit rocky. Leisure walkers dont have to
worry though as long as they have a suitable
footwear. For a more challenging and exciting
trail, they can continue the trek to Volcán
Teneguía. They may also take the gentle slope
down to Fuencaliente Lighthouse where the views
are just as rewarding. For fit hikers, they can
take a reversed route and start at the
lighthouse. The hike, whichever course visitors
choose, is a rewarding experience. The craters
are astounding and serene. Its hard to imagine
such beauties can cause destruction. The black
volcanic soil brings out the beautiful
contrasting hues of the flora. Even the landscape
look even more impressive with the blue sea in
the background. And those are only a few of the
reasons why Fuencaliente de La Palma is such a
well-known hiking destination.
The Cumbre Vieja National Park and its 120
volcanoes is a hiking haven. It houses the famous
and interesting Route of the Inaccessible
Volcanoes. Although the name says it is
inaccessible, it is but only by foot. Through
this route, hikers can see the remarkable
landscapes of La Palma and the neighboring
islands. The starting point is the Volcán San
Antonio Visitor Centre. Here, visitors must pay
the 5 entrance fee which already covers the walk
to the crater. Before hikers get to exercise
their legs, they can power up with a delicious
espresso in the cafeteria for only 1. For a
quick warm up, trekkers can walk around to see
the displays and the short film about the
volcanoes around the world. Energized by coffee
and equipped with the right information is a sure
way for visitors to appreciate the trek more.
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Fuencaliente Lighthouses
The old faro isnt only beautiful though, it is
also educational and is for a great cause. In
2006, the building affixed to it was opened as a
museum for the islands marine reserve. Hanging
on its ceiling is a full-scale bronze dolphin
sculpture caught in a fishing net. This
thought-provoking art piece promotes respect and
understanding of the marine life. Furthermore, it
also houses a volcanic cave replica where
visitors can stand on a glass floor. The newer
faro, opened in 1985, stands 24m high and can be
seen as far as 14 nautical miles. While the old
one boasts quaint allure, the new one gives a
fresh look to a rather colorless picture. They
look contrasting, but they are somehow in
complete harmony. Together they even rival the
beauty of the Atlantic.
The Fuencaliente Lighthouses are buildings fit
for a romantic novel. Both the old and new
lighthouses offer fantastic views of the salt
ponds, the coast, and the Atlantic. Theres also
a small harbor with fishing boats that add
undeniable charm to the already picture perfect
lighthouses. The 12m high old tower was opened
in 1903 and is the smaller of the two. Although
damaged by the 1939 earthquake, it was rebuilt to
its former magnificence after. And to get it
tourist-ready, it was also renovated between 2001
and 2004.
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Salinas de Fuencaliente
Black Volcanic Sand Beaches
Bodegas Teneguia
Fuencaliente de La Palma is not known for its
beaches. However, it does have a few fabulous
ones that travelers have come to love. Best of
all, they are never too crowded. Playa La Zamora
is a small black sand cove surrounded by rugged
cliffs. Here, even families with kids can enjoy
as waves are almost always calm. The small rocks
sprinkled near the bay are also a sight to see.
Also by the coast and next to the Fuencaliente
Lighthouses is the salt evaporation ponds. Some
wonder why the Salinas de Fuencaliente is even
considered a tourist attraction. Well, it is. In
fact, when in the south of La Palma, it is one of
the most visited spots. It is not because of the
salt ponds alone. Rather, it is the combination
of everything that makes it enjoyable and
worthwhile.
Wine tasting in Fuencaliente is more exciting yet
still very relaxing. Bodegas Teneguia has been
making excellent wines for 70 years. Locals and
tourists rave about their wines, most notably,
the sweet Malvasia wines. What makes their wines
so exceptional? Well, they use a variety of
grapes, seven different types for the ten kinds
of wine at the last count. And all are locally
grown in the fertile volcanic soils of
Fuencaliente de La Palma.
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How to Get There and Go Around
From Santa Cruz de La Palma, tourists can take
TILP (Transportes Insular La Palma) bus line 201
to Fuencaliente. On weekdays, the bus departs at
0715, 0915, 1115, 1300, 1415, 1515, 1715,
1915 and 2115. On Saturdays, Sundays and
holidays 0915, 1300, 1715 and 2115. From
Santa Cruz, there are 14 stops before reaching
Fuencaliente. Many tourists also prefer to hire
a car as its cheap and they can go around the
island at their own pace. A lot of car hire
companies are near the airport and in the busy
towns. As for taxis, visit https//www.taxilapalma
.com/en/ to book or check the rates. The most
popular way to go around Fuencaliente de La Palma
is to walk. It is a hiking and walking haven, so
thats not a shocker. For those who prefer to
take a ride, a local bus goes to famous tourist
spots every two hours.
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Where to Stay in Fuencaliente
At the moment, theres only one hotel in the
whole of Fuencaliente de La Palma. No need to
fret or rethink the vacation though. There are
plenty of other accommodations to please every
lodging needs. Whats more amazing is that most
offer panoramic views of the sea, the mountains,
or even both.
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La Palma Teneguia Princess Resort
Casa El Mirador
Casa El Mirador stands on a mountain slope and,
as the name suggests, has a viewing point. Not
only that, but theres also a garden and a sun
terrace where guests can lavish more amazing
sceneries. No wonder guests love this place, and
it is particularly popular with couples. The
property is of traditional Canarian architecture.
It has volcanic rock walls and clay brick roofs
while the terraces have wooden beams and pillars.
All their units also have fully equipped kitchen,
and some even have a patio. Truly, it is a
classic looking casa complete with modern
comforts overlooking paradise.
La Palma Teneguia Princess Resort is the sole
hotel in Fuencaliente de La Palma. The whole
property, one of the best on the island, boasts
astonishing sights of the sea and the volcanoes.
Even the hotel itself is majestic. Take a dip in
their magnificent swimming pools and bask in the
sun. Dine and enjoy the food in their restaurant
that overlooks the expansive Atlantic. And, after
the long trek, go ahead and visit the spa for
some relaxation and pampering. Their other
amenities include an on-site gym and an elegant
bar.
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Apartamentos Villa Colon
Casa Clara
Casa Clara is a mountainside country house with
an incredible vista and a beautiful garden.
Guests can relax on the sun terrace amidst the
sparkling blue sea and even Tenerife. A fully
equipped kitchenette also makes guests feel right
at home. Tourists, most especially couples,
recommend this cozy casa and its not hard to see
why.
With Atlantic and the island volcanoes gracing
its balconies, guests cannot help but fall in
love with Apartamentos Villa Colon. The complex
also houses a swimming pool for guests to dip in
and swim. Each of the units here has a fully
functioning kitchen which means guests can cook
and eat what and when they want to. They can also
chill in their living room or hire a car if they
want to go out. Apartamentos Villa Colon is truly
a home away from home.
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A Great Tourist Spot Deserves Great Restaurants
Fuencaliente de La Palma has plenty of natural
wonders to see and trails to trek. And with so
much walking and sightseeing, tourists are bound
to get hungry, very hungry. Fear not though. This
municipality knows what visitors need to have a
great vacation. So, whichever tourist spot they
visit, good food is not far away.
El Jardin de la Sal Restaurant
The lovely El Jardin de la Sal Restaurant offers
excellent local dishes and beautiful sights to
see. And it doesnt mean just one interesting
place in different angles. Here, guests can dine
while appreciating the view of the salt ponds,
the sea, and the lighthouses. Its no surprise
the place is always packed.
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Kiosco la Zamora Restaurant
La Casa del Volcan Restaurant
Cantina del Gladiatore Restaurant
The La Casa del Volcan Restaurant is the most
popular restaurant in Fuencaliente de La Palma.
And rightfully so. Guests love that they can
enjoy local cuisine while marveling at Volcan San
Antonio. Their most popular dishes are the tapas,
braised rabbit, slow-cooked goat in mojo sauce
with Canarian salt potatoes, and parrot fish.
Pairing anything on their menu with local wine is
a divine experience. Also, never forget to finish
with the gofio mousse for dessert.
The Kiosco la Zamora supplies the Playa la Zamora
beachgoers delectable local dishes. It sits on a
plateau that surrounds the charming cove with an
enchanting view of the Atlantic, the rugged
cliffs, and the mountains behind it.
Hot and tasty pizza after a tiring, but
invigorating hike? Cantina del Gladiatore
Restaurant serves the best pizza in the south. No
question about that. They also have sumptuous
pasta as any great Italian restaurant should. And
if one is looking for a light meal before the
trek, then try their coffee and any of the
selection of cakes.
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Going South to Fire and Brimstone
Fuencaliente is synonymous to volcanoes. It is a
fact that the municipality has a lot and they are
breathtaking. The gem of the south has more to
offer than volcanoes though. In its lovely
terrain is the abundant flora that looks even
more colorful because of the black volcanic soil.
The rocky coast sits mighty against that immense
Atlantic Ocean. How about the salt ponds? They
most definitely complement the view of the
horizon. As for the picturesque lighthouses, they
are a reminder of the islands rich history.
Also, never miss the hiking trails, they are the
best in the whole Canary archipelago. Famished
from all sightseeing? The food in Fuencaliente de
La Palma is always cooked to perfection and
served warm. As for the locals, they are
friendly, hospitable, and always make everyone
feel at home. So, when anyone says things are
going south, thats not so bad at all. In La
Palma, south is the place to go.
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