Barlovento

The Municipality of Barlovento is located in the northern part of the island. The town is encircled by pictorial valleys, hills and green fields. There are a few attractions here, such as Iglesia de Nuestra Senora and some 16th and 18th Century Spanish sculptures, but not much else. However, Barlovento is home to the bi-yearly Fiesta de la Virgin del Rosario. It is held in August and both villagers and tourists get together and recreate scenes from the battle of Lepanto in 1571. It's a vibrant, dynamic and very friendly event and the revelry goes on until the early hours.

Attractions in the surrounding area include Piscinas de Fajana (around 6km to the north), where you can bathe in a pleasant rock pool, that's kept cool by the surrounding Atlantic Ocean. The lighthouse (Punta Cumplida) that has been working constantly since 1860 is close by.

Vila de Mazo

Vila de Mazo is located on the south-east of the Island and is generally known as Mazo. The town is 500m above sea level and has stunning views of La Gomera. The surrounding coastline and valleys consist mainly of farmlands. In the northern parts, the landscape is mountainous and covered in forest.

Mazo is renowned for its hand made cigars, known as ‘puros’ and a variety of handicrafts, including woven baskets and lacework. Demonstrations showing how the pieces are made are held at the Escuela Insular de Artesania. Other attractions such as the Ceramico Molino which is where they produce replica black Guanche vessels, the Museo de Corpus which exhibits street decorations for the feast of Corpus Christi. There is also the Iglesia de San Blas from 1512 which features an attractive Baroque altar and richly carved decorations.

The Cueva de Belmaco is located around 4km south of Mazo and has some remarkable original Guanche inscriptions.

San Andrés y Sauces

San Andrés y Sauces is located in the east of La Palma, north of the La Palma Airport. The eastern part and the coastline are predominately Farming areas. Forests are in the western area and the majority of the central parts, with mountains to the west. Most of the inhabitants are rural, with only a few that are urban.

Throughout those times, the Municipality was separated into two towns, with San Andrés by the coastline and Los Sauces inland. During the sugar cane crisis, the population declined somewhat and in the end, they unified owing to the crossing of a main road to the north. The population of Los Sauces' grew, whereas the population of San Andrés' stabilized or declined a little.

Attractions here include the springs of Marcos y Corderos which are located high up in the hills above San Andrés. The forests of the Nature reserve of Los Tilos located west of San Andrés present a great walking opportunity. It is one the best preserved laurisilva forest of the Canary Islands. This ravine was once the most productive water source on the Island. Now, a great deal of the water runs through concrete channels to the farming areas below. On the coast, the natural swimming pool at Charco Azul can be located. Los Tilos has been declared a biosphere reserve under the protection of UNESCO.

Nuestra Señora de Monserrat is the patron of San Andrés, whose fiesta takes place during the first week of September.

Puntallana

Puntallana is is a quiet village located on the east-northeastern part of the Island. Puntallana is the most eastern point on La Palma and due to this, has more sunshine than Santa Cruz and is less affected by the cloud that frequently hangs over the higher altitudes on the east side of the Island. Puntallana offers a beautiful view of La Gomera to the south-east. Known as the village of the nine mountains, Puntallana offers unique views of the surrounding beauty.

Attractions include the Santa Lucia Chapel, surrounded by palm trees, is home to a Flemish bust that dates back to the 17^th Century. The Church of St. John the Baptist has some interesting sculptures and handicrafts.

In the Historical Quarter, La Casa Luján is a fine example of traditional canarian architecture. It was once a Town hall, but now houses the Ethnographic Museum and Promotion Centre you can buy local handicrafts and natural food products from here. The fiesta of San Juan Bautista takes place in Puntallana on 24th June.

Playa de Nogales is located to the north-east of Puntallana and is a very quiet beach. It has around a kilometre of fine black sand and is beside an impressive cliff. The rocks here cast a shade over the beach from early in the afternoon, so if you’re after a tan get there early. Facilities include freshwater showers and lifeguards.