Puerto Naos

Overview

Puerto Naos is the original tourist resort of La Palma, with its natural wide black sandy beach and often calm sea, it made an obvious choice for holiday makers.  It’s also one of the sunniest places on La Palma and has good warm temperatures all year round.

Although only a mere village in size, the beach at Puerto Naos brings people in their droves and the place has been improved with this influx of tourists.  Large palm trees have been planted along the coast to give a Caribbean appearance and provide shade, albeit limited, for the masses.  It is also only 10km away from the island’s national park, which makes it a popular spot for tourists wanting to visit the Taburiente Caldera National Park.

The village consists of only a few streets, a few apartment blocks and seafront apartments.  It also has the highly photographed hotel, Hotel Sol, which features in many travel brochures about the island.

Puerto Naos is a beautifully laid back, relaxing holiday spot.  For a calm, quiet and peaceful holiday on La Palma, it is hard to beat.

History

Founded in 1812, Puerto Naos was traditionally a small fishing village, and although its size hasn’t changed much, its purpose certainly has.  There was also originally a small landing place here for boats carrying bananas, but there is little evidence of this today.  Since the 1970’s, expansion has excelled on the waterfront with numerous accommodations being built.  However the village remain small, with just two supermarkets, tourist and souvenir shops and several of restaurants and bars.

Culture

The locals here a laid back, much like the tourists that come here, and enjoy the quiet life.  They live off the tourists who come to their village to enjoy the sun, sand and sea and, in their spare time, enjoy the same benefits of Puerto Naos.  With less than 900 inhabitants, everyone knows everyone, and daily life revolves around the tourism industry.

Economy

The village’s economy relies on the year-round tourism trade – those who come to shop, wine and dine.  The collection of artisan shops, souvenir shops and decent amount of bars and restaurants is a testament to this.  The backdrop of this small community is sheer cliffs, so farming is not an option in the small space they have available.  However, banana farms do extend out towards the south beyond the village for rural locals. 

How to get there

By bus:
From the airport at Santa Cruz de La Palma, catch the L8 bus to Santa Cruz de la Palma.  It leaves every half hour, or every hour on weekends and is a half hour journey.  From Santa Cruz catch the L1 bus which also leaves every half hour.  It cuts straight across the centre of the island so take just under and hour to get to Los Llanos de Adriane.  From there take the half hour journey on the L4 bus, which takes you directly the Puerto Naos.

By car:
Take the north-bound highway out of the airport at Santa Cruz de la Palma.  Once you reach the city head towards Cuesta and then take the south west-bound highway, the LP202/123.  Then follow the LP2 all the way to the other side of the island, about 12km, through El Paso before turning north onto the L1 which takes you into Los Llanos de Adriane.  From there, head south on the LP2 then at the junction continue on southwards.  The village is signposted from this main highway.

Sights and Activities

Parque Nacional de la Taburiente (Taburiente Caldera National Park)

In the centre of the island, and only 10km away from Puerto Naos, is the national park.  The pine trees which stretch into the distance, the craggy cliffs and the volcano itself are spectacular, and right on the doorstep of Puerto Naos. This was the 4th national park to be established in Spain and is the site of a gigantic volcanic wall of rock which stretches for 10km.  It is home to an impressive array of plants and flowers.

To get there back track towards Los Llanos then east to El Paso.  You will be on the LP2/Ctra General Padron and need to go north off the highway onto the LP302/Calle Calderon.  From here there are two different access points to the park, and either can be taken.  Via the LP202 you will find a small visitor’s centre which is a great spot to get information on the park, maps and guides.

Paragliding

Paragliding is a popular activity at Puerto Naos courtesy of the thermal air and wind currents that make it a great spot to do so.  Paragliders also get an elevated view of some incredible scenery; rugged cliffs, the crater, the beach and thousands of kilometres of ocean.  Paragliding is so big in Puerto Naos that there are international tournaments in the sport held here every year.

There is a paragliding club in Puerto Naos and it is the main contact point in the island for people interested in paragliding in La Palma.  A tandem flight can be arranged at Kiosco Playa Morena on the waterfront for between €80 and €130 euros.  They have experienced pilots who speak English, Spanish, German and French, who have been doing flights on the island for several years.

Address: Paseo Marítima, Puerto Naos, telephone 610 69 57 50 between midday and 6pm.

Scuba Diving

If lying about on the sand becomes too much, why not try your hand at scuba diving?  La Palma is unlike any other dive site on earth – volcanic landscapes beneath the water continue to intrigue and amaze divers who visit.  Alongside these bizarre landscapes are a fantastic array of fish, stingrays, eels and plants.  

Cycling

Cycling is very popular in Puerto Naos and the village is a great base from which to explore the national park (see below).  Bike Station offers a range of guided mountain biking tours, as well as individual bike rentals.  

Address: Avenida Cruz Roja, 3, 38750 Puerto Naos, ph 922 40 83 55.

Museums and Art Galleries

There are no museums or major art galleries in Puerto Naos, although there are several small art shops dotted around the village. Los Llanos de Adriane, to the north, is the closest town with a major archaeological museum.  Half way between the two is the Museo Vino, an interesting wine museum. 

Beaches

Playa de Puerto Naos

The main beach at Puerto Naos is its biggest drawcard – a 600m long beauty of black sand with all the facilities you could need; lifeguards, security flags, toilets and showers.  Often a very safe beach, it can be great for snorkelling during the calm periods.  It is the longest beach on the island of La Palma. The beach has been awarded the "blue flag" for its cleanliness standards.

Although it can get quite crowded during the weekends from visitors from other parts of the island, generally the southern end of the beach is not too busy.  It’s also a gorgeous place to watch the sunset.

Just off the beach is the promenade which is home to ice cream stands, bars and restaurants. Of course it is also home to apartment complexes and tourist shops as far as the eye can see.

Playa de las Monjas

The only nudist beach on La Palma, Playa de las Monjas (The Sister’s Beach), is just 1.5km south of the main beach in the direction of El Remo.  Although it is small in size, it has beautiful fine black sand and access can only be obtained by foot, so it is very private.  To reach the beach you must drive south from Puerto Naos passing through banana plantations until you reach a sign pointing to the beach.  You will need to park here and walk down.

Playa del Charco Verde

Another kilometre south of Playa de las Mongas is Playa del Charco Verde, a small sandy beach with black sand.  Although it doesn’t have the grandeur of Puerto Naos’ main beach, it maintains a quiet charm and is not as busy at its big sister.  In recent years access to the beach has been improved and there is a small café here too.

Playa Nueva

North of Puerto Naos lies this attractive surf beach, but it is only a great beach in summer. In winter the sand on the beach is halved, and it is covered in pebbles.  There are also strong currents at this time of year and it is quite dangerous.  From Puerto Naos head north towards Los Llanos and turn left at the sign pointing towards La Bombilla.

Festivals

The locals in Puerto Naos like to celebrate their own festivals, and the island-wide festivals, with gusto.  For a few weekends in summer the streets around the waterfront are closed to traffic and thousands of people flock to Puerto Naos as a destination to celebrate.  The procession of the Virgin Mary carries the statue through Puerto Naos during the Bajada de la Virgen de Las Nieves.  

Fiestas en Honor a la Virgen del Carmen

This festival is in honour of the Virgen del Carmen in the second half of July.  It includes cultural activities and the boat of the Virgen del Carmen travels along the coast visiting the various settlements including the beach of El Charco Verde, just south of Puerto Naos, and to the north of the village, La Bombilla.

Fiesta del Agua

The water festival in Puerto Naos is an annual event on the main beach, Playa de Puerto Naos.  Water hoses are used to spray people, and many people swim at the beach between drinking and dancing to live music.  It is held annually during July and the number of people attending is growing each year.

Restaurants

Bar Restaurant Orinoco

This small family restaurant serves local specialities and is popular with both tourists and residents of La Palma.  The restaurant is simply decorated and serves tapas, meat including rabbit and kid (young goat) as well as fish dishes and traditional Palmero desserts.

Address: Calle Manuel Rodriguez Quintero, 1, Puerto Naos, La Palma
Opening hours: 11am-10pm, closed Wednesdays and some festival days

La Roca

For meat and fish you can’t go past La Roca, a nice little eatery on the waterfront promenade.

Address: Paseo Marítima, 4, Puerto Naos, La Palma, ph 922 40 82 14

Nightlife

The nightlife in Puerto Naos is perhaps more lively than any other small town on the island, but it is hardly a place to come to go out all night.  There is a wide range of bars but no discos, and these are all relatively low key.  Compared to the other Canary Islands and the nightlife they have to offer, Puerto Naos just doesn’t compare.  It’s more a place for a nice quiet drink in the evening or a few social beverages.

Shopping

The shops in Puerto Naos are largely aimed at the tourists who flock to it. The promenade is lined with souvenir shops as well as artisan shops offering an array of arts and crafts.  The village is small and easy to find your way around, and there are shops dotted throughout, though the largest conglomeration is at the sea front.