Cueva de Las Palomas

Cueva de Las Palomas is a volcanic lava tube in the municipality of Los Llanos de Aridane, on the island of La Palma in the Canary Islands, running between the villages of Las Manchas and Todoque.

The tube formed during the historic 1949 eruption of the San Juan volcano: as lava pushed toward the coast, its surface cooled and hardened into a solid crust while molten rock kept flowing beneath. Once the eruption ended and that inner flow drained away, it left behind a long basalt-lined passage. Today the site is listed as a Natural Monument (Monumento Natural) in the Canary Islands Network of Protected Natural Areas under code P-11, and it forms part of the La Palma Biosphere Reserve.

What will you see inside?

The main gallery is roughly 3 metres wide and stretches for more than 500 metres, running from a point known as El Cercado (in Las Manchas) toward Hoyo de Verdugo. Along the route are around ten natural "skylights" — degassing vents that opened up as the lava cooled — and several let daylight filter into the tube, casting bright shafts against the dark basalt walls. These same openings also serve as access points for visitors.

Deep inside, in permanent darkness, lives a specialised cave fauna made up mainly of insects adapted to a life without sunlight. Their presence is one of the reasons the site is protected.

How do you get there, and how is it visited?

Cueva de Las Palomas sits within the Los Llanos de Aridane municipality, between the Las Manchas and Todoque areas on the western side of La Palma — a stretch of the island shaped by its volcanic history, including the 1949 and 2021 eruptions. Given the nature of the site — a narrow passage, uneven ground, and no lighting — it cannot be explored on your own. Entry is arranged in small groups, with proper caving equipment (helmets, headlamps, sometimes ropes) and under the supervision of a licensed guide, the standard way lava tubes are opened to the public on the island.

When is the best time to visit?

La Palma enjoys a mild climate year-round, and the inside of the tube keeps a fairly constant temperature regardless of season, so the visit itself isn't limited to a particular time of year. That said, reaching the entrance means walking across open terrain — in summer it's worth scheduling the trip for a cooler part of the day, and in winter it helps to check the rain forecast, since heavy showers can affect the approach path.

Frequently asked questions

Can you enter Cueva de Las Palomas on your own? No. Because of the difficult terrain and lack of lighting, visits only happen in small, guided groups equipped with caving gear.

How did this cave form? It's a lava tube shaped during the 1949 eruption of the San Juan volcano — a passage carved out as the flowing lava cooled, typical of volcanic islands.

How long is the route? The main gallery runs for more than 500 metres and is about 3 metres wide, stretching from El Cercado toward Hoyo de Verdugo.

Is there natural light inside? Yes, partially — around ten natural openings along the route let daylight into the passage.