An island that is a Biosphere Reserve in its entirety offers us an experience to connect with the pulsating heart of the Atlantic.
I am talking about snorkelling in La Palma, a simple and easy to practice activity, capable of awakening all our senses with an explosion of colour and marine life.
I leave you with the best excursions and places to go snorkelling in La Palma.
Best snorkelling activities and excursions on La Palma
Going snorkelling with a guide has three advantages:
- You will discover hidden nooks and crannies and a variety of marine fauna that you probably won’t see on your own.
- You don’t have to bring your snorkel equipment because they give you one.
- You will enjoy the safety of having the backing of a professional.
That said, I leave you with the best snorkelling excursions on La Palma.
Snorkelling in Fuencaliente
- The tour starts at 10:00 at the diving school, where the participants will follow the guide in their vehicles to the designated beach.
- Equipped with wetsuits, fins, snorkels and goggles, the participants will spend an hour diving in the waters of the southwest of La Palma.
- They will discover hundreds of fish and the remains of solidified lava from the eruption of the Teneguía volcano in 1971.
- The activity, which lasts between 2 and 5 hours, includes a guide in Spanish and all the necessary equipment, but not transport. The price is 35 € for adults and 25 € for children (8-12 years old).
- This excursion offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before the activity.
Atlantic snorkelling tour
- Lasting 2 hours, the activity begins with an introduction to the equipment at the dive centre, located just a few metres from the beach.
- A guided snorkelling tour of approximately one hour is followed by the opportunity to shower, drink coffee and learn more about the fish observed.
- Full equipment hire, including wetsuit, mask, snorkel and fins, is available for the whole day, allowing for more individual exploration.
- The price is €35 per person, with guides available in English, German and Spanish, and the possibility to cancel free of charge up to 24 hours in advance.
The best places to snorkel in La Palma
From tourist beaches to small hidden bays, here are the best places to enjoy snorkelling on the island:
Los Cancajos Beach
Popular but pristine, Playa de los Cancajos is an outstanding snorkelling spot.
With four splendid spots to explore, the marine life here is rich and vibrant, offering an unforgettable experience.
Puerto Espindola Beach
Once a major port, this quiet beach near the natural pools of Charco Azul offers crystal clear waters and a variety of colourful fish.
Ideal for a relaxing day, its natural protection ensures optimal conditions for snorkelling.
La Bajita
This charming fishing area features a unique rocky bay and a crystal clear swimming pool with depths of only 3-5 metres.
It is a wonder how so many species can inhabit this small space.
Las Cabras
Close to the famous lighthouse of Fuencaliente, this small cove surrounded by salt flats is a spectacle for diving and snorkelling.
The bay between the lava formations offers a representative view of the marine life of the Canaries.
El Porís de Mazo
Lesser known and often overlooked, this area offers some rocky coves to explore.
The key here is to find the sea calm; when that happens, it becomes a nice place to snorkel.
El Faro
Located next to the lighthouse of Fuencaliente, this rocky cove offers the opportunity to explore the labyrinthine forms of lava underwater and the rich marine fauna of the area.
Malpique Beach
A small and attractive cove near the lighthouse beach, with large rocks and the possibility of spotting unique species such as eagle rays and dogfish.
It is perfect for both snorkelling and diving.
Echentive Beach
Created by the eruption of the Teneguía volcano, this beach offers basaltic walls and rocky bottoms ideal for snorkelling, as well as a natural swimming pool nearby.
Remo Beach
An idyllic spot for a quiet morning on the beach and an excellent opportunity for snorkelling, with an abundance of fish, molluscs, and other sea creatures hiding among the rocks.
Charco Verde Beach
An unspoilt but well-equipped beach that is the perfect place for snorkelling in calm seas.
The rocky surroundings are home to an abundance of marine life.
Porís de Candelaria
An iconic location to enjoy a sunset, it is also a quiet spot for snorkelling, although with less variety of marine life.
I also recommend the Playa del Jorado, next to Porís de Candelaria.
La Veta Beach
Located in Tijarafe, this black sand beach is ideal for exploring the marine life close to the coast, as long as the sea is calm.
Bujarén Beach
One of the most spectacular and unspoilt beaches on the island, located in Garafía. If you’re lucky with the sea conditions, it’s another stunning spot for snorkelling.
What marine fauna can you see while snorkelling in La Palma?
| Common Name | Scientific Name | Classification |
|---|---|---|
| Abade | Mycteroperca fusca | Fish |
| Aguamala, Blue Jellyfish | Rhizostoma pulmo | Cnidarians |
| Aguaviva, Portuguese Man O’ War | Physalia physalis | Cnidarians |
| Needlefish | Belone belone gracilis | Fish |
| Yellowfin Tuna | Thunnus albacares | Fish |
| Brown Alga, Brown Seaweed | Cystoseira abies-marina | Algae |
| Barracuda | Sphyraena viridensis | Fish |
| Triton’s Trumpet | Charonia lampas | Molluscs |
| Skipjack Tuna | Katsuwonus pelamis | Fish |
| Striped Red Mullet | Parapristipoma octolineatum | Fish |
| Squid | Loligo vulgaris | Molluscs |
| Spider Crab | Stenorhynchus lanceolatus | Crustaceans |
| Stone Crab | Eriphia verrucosa | Crustaceans |
| Sand Anemone | Cerianthus membranaceus | Cnidarians |
| Black Stingray | Taeniura grabata | Fish |
| Common Stingray | Dasyatis pastinaca | Fish |
| Norway Lobster | Nephrops norvegicus | Crustaceans |
| Slipper Lobster | Scyllarides latus | Crustaceans |
| Orange Coral, Star Coral | Astroides calycularis | Cnidarians |
| Black Coral | Antipathes wollastoni | Cnidarians |
| Lime Urchin | Diadema africanum | Echinoderms |
| Black Damsel | Chromis limbatus | Fish |
| Pufferfish | Canthigaster capistratus | Fish |
| Green Filefish | Stephanolepis hispidus | Fish |
| Scrawled Filefish | Aluterus scriptus | Fish |
| Flounder | Bothus podas | Fish |
| Sand Smelt | Atherina presbyter | Fish |
| Dentex | Pseudocaranx dentex | Fish |
| Horse Mackerel | Trachurus trachurus | Fish |
| Mullet | Chelon labrosus | Fish |
| Butterfly Ray | Gymnura altavela | Fish |
| Moray Eel | Muraena helena | Fish |
| Black Moray | Muraena augusti | Fish |
| Fangtooth Moray | Enchelycore anatina | Fish |
| Muraena | Gymnothorax bacalladoi | Fish |
| Undulated Moray | Gymnothorax unicolor | Fish |
| Saddled Bream | Oblada melanura | Fish |
| Razorfish | Xyrichthys novacula | Fish |
| Red Hogfish | Bodianus scrofa | Fish |
| Swordfish | Xiphias gladius | Fish |
| Trumpetfish | Aulostomus strigosus | Fish |
| Grunter | Pomadasys incisus | Fish |
| Salema Porgy | Sarpa salpa | Fish |
| Striped Red Mullet | Mullus surmuletus | Fish |
| Cardinalfish | Apogon imberbis | Fish |
| White Seabream | Diplodus sargus | Fish |
| White Seabream Cadenati | Diplodus sargus cadenati | Fish |
| Cuttlefish | Sepia officinallis | Molluscs |
| Comber | Serranus atricauda | Fish |
| Spiny Pufferfish | Chilomycterus atringa | Fish |
| Whale Shark | Rhincodon typus | Fish |
| Marbled Electric Ray | Torpedo marmorata | Fish |
| Verongia Sponge | Verongia aerophoba | Sponges |
| Parrotfish | Sparisoma cretense | Fish |
More adventure activities on La Palma
Kayak La Palma: Excursion to the magical Cueva Bonita
Hiking in the park of the Caldera de Taburiente on La Palma
Cueva de Las Palomas: caving in La Palma’s most famous volcanic cave
Tajogaite volcano and Cumbre Vieja crater: excursions to the volcano on La Palma
Whale and dolphin watching on La Palma: in search of dolphins and whales