Finca La Principal

The gardens and whole setting were beautifully maintained, and our room had a personal touch. Our toddler loved exploring and spotting the Peacocks each morning. Jorge, the owner, was warm and friendly, and we loved how quiet it felt most of the time, almost as if we had the place to ourselves. We also enjoyed Friday’s concert. There are several really good restaurants a short drive away. We loved our stay with our toddler and hope to return soon.

We stayed in the bungalow for a week or two, and it had high-quality facilities. A great place for that kind of stay.

A relaxed atmosphere, lovely gardens, and helpful hosts make it a great base for a calm stay while exploring La Palma.

This is a really distinctive hotel with a lush garden, very good service, and a good location for starting nature trips around La Palma. I even saw someone playing a trumpet. La Palma’s greenery is full of striking contrasts, with volcanic ground alongside subtropical vegetation. In the north, misty ancient laurel forest grows moss-covered til trees (Ocotea foetens) and giant ferns. Los Tiles Biosphere Reserve is a UNESCO-protected example of this forest. Higher up, at around 1,200-2,000m, Canary Island pines (Pinus canariensis) grow on the slopes. These trees are adapted to fire, releasing seeds after wildfires, and forests regenerate in places such as Caldera de Taburiente. There are rarities too, like the La Palma violet (Viola palmensis) on cliffs and the blue-flowering Tajinaste azul (Echium gentianoides), which blooms from May to July. Dracaena groves (Dracaena draco) have crimson sap, and the 500-year-old Drago de San Andrés is a living monument. Ravines such as Angustias Gorge carry meltwater, while natural springs support watercress, willows, and wild hydrangeas. The north coast has green banana plantations sustained by volcanic soil and irrigation canals. Young lava fields, including Teneguía Volcano, quickly sprout plants such as tabaibas and tajinastes. Above the treeline, at over 2,000m, retama bushes bloom gold in spring against volcanic cones. Trade winds trap moisture below 1,500m, forming a “Sea of Clouds” effect: forests take in the fog while the summits stay sunny. At Indigenous Benahoarita sites such as La Zarza, carvings sit beneath laurel canopies, tying nature and spirituality together. In one Atlantic island, La Palma brings together ecological layers reminiscent of Hawaii, misty forests like Japan’s, and Andean microclimates. Its greenery is life taking hold after fire, shaped by isolation and steady trade winds. For a walk through fern tunnels, try the Cubo de la Galga trail, or climb Roque de los Muchachos (2,426m) to see clouds pour into calderas like green waterfalls.