Fuente Santa

Fuente Santa is a hot spring on the southern coast of Fuencaliente de La Palma, on the Canary Island of La Palma, famed for centuries for its healing waters and for the dramatic story of its disappearance beneath a lava flow.

Why is Fuente Santa so famous?

The indigenous Benahoarita people who lived on La Palma before the Spanish conquest already knew the spring, calling it Tagragito, meaning "hot water." After the island's conquest in 1493, Spanish settlers rediscovered it, and word of its curative power spread quickly. Throughout the 16th and 17th centuries, the sick travelled from across Europe and the Americas to bathe in its waters, seeking relief from skin conditions, rheumatism, arthritis and other chronic ailments. The water was considered so valuable that it was shipped in barrels to Cuba and sold further afield across the American continent, making Fuente Santa one of the most respected healing sites of its time.

What happened to the spring?

In 1677, an eruption of the San Antonio volcano buried Fuente Santa under dozens of metres of lava, destroying the historic San Lorenzo and San Blas pools. The spring vanished from view for more than three centuries. Locals never forgot the legendary waters, and several search attempts were made over the years, but it was not until 1995 that the mayor of Fuencaliente launched a serious project to locate it again. The breakthrough came in 2005, when engineers from the Canary Islands' General Directorate of Water drilled a tunnel nearly 200 metres long through the cliff and reached the exact spot where the historic pools once stood.

What makes the water special?

Analysis carried out by the Oliver Rodés Laboratory in Barcelona found that Fuente Santa's water is sodium chloride with a carbogaseous composition — a rare and highly prized type of thermal water in balneology. Its temperature can reach up to 60°C, making it one of the hottest natural water sources in the Canary Islands.

How do you get to Fuente Santa?

Fuente Santa sits at the southern tip of the municipality of Fuencaliente de La Palma, at the foot of a steep volcanic cliff roughly 150 metres high, near Echentive beach. Driving from Santa Cruz de La Palma or the island's airport takes about 40 minutes. A coastal hiking trail leads to the site itself; the terrain is raw and volcanic, so comfortable footwear and enough time to walk the route are worth planning for.

What will you see there?

Fuencaliente is currently developing Fuente Santa into a thermal spa complex, designed by architect Federico Soriano, winner of an international ideas competition for the project. The concept uses the site's natural rock terraces to create thermal routes with pools and caves that echo the character of the original baths, while keeping the impact on the volcanic surroundings to a minimum. Until the project is completed, visitors can view the site as a coastal landmark, notable above all for its history and geology.

When is the best time to visit?

The south of La Palma, where Fuencaliente lies, enjoys mild weather year-round, so the area can be visited in any season. Spring and autumn offer the most comfortable conditions for walking the coastal trail, while in summer it's worth avoiding the hottest hours of the day, since the volcanic terrain offers little natural shade.

Frequently asked questions

Can you bathe in Fuente Santa? The site is currently at the development stage of becoming a thermal spa complex, so whether you can access the water for bathing depends on the state of construction at any given time.

Why was the water lost for so long? Lava from the 1677 eruption of the San Antonio volcano buried the spring under dozens of metres of rock, and pinpointing its exact location required drilling a tunnel through the cliff — something only achieved in 2005.

Does Fuente Santa have historical significance? Yes — from pre-Hispanic times through the colonial era, it was regarded as one of the most important healing springs in the Canary Islands, with its water even exported to the Americas.

What else is worth seeing nearby? Fuencaliente de La Palma is also known for the Teneguía volcano, the Faro de Fuencaliente lighthouse, and the Salinas de Fuencaliente salt flats, all of which make good stops on the same trip to the south of the island.