The north, undoubtedly the most charming part of La Palma, is the setting for this impressive walk that will take us to El Tablado, a picturesque village clinging to the cliff tops between two deep gorges.
From San Antonio del Monte, a small church at 900 metres above sea level, our path descends toward Don Pedro between wax myrtle and tree heath, crossing terraces of farm land with a constant view of the impressive peaks of Roque de Los Muchachos.
In the distance, we start to see the first houses scattered over the green slopes of the north. Between the houses, we can see deep gorges separating settlements. In the background, the wild sea pounds the coastline, wearing away the cliffs. The barking of a dog indicates an inhabited house, the last house we pass before setting out to cross the Barranco de Fagundo Gorge, the most spectacular one on La Palma.
El Tablado, on the other side of the gorge, lazily lifts its head, as though it were sleepily emerging from its daily siesta.
The path zig-zags down the gorge between the layers of rock exposed by erosion. Nature’s garden stretches at our feet: blue, pink and white bugloss among the cactus spurge and the common spurge, yellow-flowered houseleeks and reddish sorrel. After climbing for 45 minutes, we reach the first houses. El Tablado is an oasis of peace. The people watch us with pleasure and surprise. Green terraces are dotted around the landscape, showing their crops of potatoes, corn, barley …. The only street leads us to Eliseo’s bar, on the edge of the Barranco de Los Hombres Gorge. From an improvised terrace invaded by the smell of the neighbouring stables, we have a grandiose view of the north coast of La Palma. Here, our walk finishes.
