AN EERIE island characterised by black beaches and volcanic rock is offering an alternative summer hols destination.
La Palma, the little-known of Spain’s Canary Islands, was covered in clouds of dark smoke, flows of bright lava and piles of ash in late 2021 during a volcanic eruption.
It wasn’t a Hollywood-style eruption with bursting flames and explosions, but lava slowly rolled its way down La Palma’s west coast, forcing 7,000 residents to evacuate.
The flow peaked at four miles long and two miles wide, claiming everything in its way, including homes, church towers and banana plantations.
The island continued erupting for 85 and eight hours days – La Palma’s longest on record – destroying 1,345 houses and 16 schools.
It ended on December 14, with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez branding it “the best Christmas present”.
A 50-mile stretch of road was also buried with total damage estimated to be an eye-popping £760million.
Mr Sanchez tweeted at the time: “We will continue working together, all institutions, to relaunch the marvelous island of La Palma and repair the damage.”
Nearly three years on from when the eruption began, it appears the island is slowly doing good on that promise.
Tourist numbers initially nosedived by a third in the year following the eruption amid damage to accommodation, but the rebound is now in swing.
For the more adventurous traveller looking for a landscape that more closely resembles a planet from a Sci-Fi movie, La Palma’s black sand beaches and dramatic mountain ranges offer an alternate destination.
It also presents an opportunity to escape crowds at the more famed Canary Islands Tenerife and Lanzarote.
Enrique Luis Larroque del Castillo-Olivares, a member of the family that owns The Hacienda de Abajo hotel on La Palma, recently told The Times the island stood ready to welcome back tourists.
He said more people are going back with the unique scenes attracting new types of travellers.
He added: “La Palma is the least known of the Canary Islands but also the most diverse in its geography and nature — it truly has more to offer.
“And because the volcano was worldwide news, La Palma finally has a greater recognition.
“The eruption was the greatest disaster in the island’s history. It will take many years and a great deal of effort to recover. But Palmeros are very hard working. La Palma will recover.”
Aside from the black sand beaches and volcanic rock, the island is said to boast breathtaking hikes up mountain ranges – one offering views of the valley beneath from almost 8,000ft high.
One visitor wrote on TripAdvisor: “If you visit the island, you must go here! It will take your breath away.”
According to destination comparison site Tour Scanner, La Palma sees a staggering six million fewer visitors per year Lanzarote and is £28 cheaper per day.
