FAQ Hacienda La Palma
Flights and ferries to La Palma
Are there direct flights from Germany to La Palma?
Condor, Eurowings, Lufthansa and Marabou Airlines offer direct flights from various German airports. The offer varies from season to season. Availability and prices fluctuate; the earlier you book, the more choice you have and the cheaper it is. In addition, the flights are marketed through various providers. Flights can be booked either directly with the airline or through one of the traditional tour operators such as Thomas Cook or Schauinsland Reisen.
What are the advantages of traveling by air via Spain?
The number of direct flights from Germany to La Palma is very manageable. Sometimes they do not fit the vacation periods or the individual vacation planning. Iberia offers here with a daily connection from Madrid to La Palma a little more flexibility. However, this means a change in Madrid and thus a longer travel time. The connections with 6.5 to 8 hours travel time are interesting. Those with +1, i.e. with onward flight the next day, are not recommended from our point of view. It applies also here: The earlier you book, the more choice you have and the cheaper it is. Another option is Vueling. The airline offers flights from Barcelona to La Palma in cooperation with Iberia. However, not daily.
Is it also possible to travel by air via other Canary Islands?
Those who are not so much under time pressure or, for example, are affected by short-term flight cancellations and so quickly can not find alternative flight options, should check whether a journey via Tenerife or Gran Canaria comes into question. There are significantly more flight connections to both islands.
On Tenerife, planes from Germany land at Tenerife/South airport. An onward journey is best with the Binter Canarias, the Canaryfly or the Air Europe possible from Tenerife/North. However, a transfer time of 3 - 4 hours must be taken into account.
A direct several times a day Bus connection connects the two airports. If the departure times are unfavorable, you can alternatively take the bus via Santa Cruz de Tenerife. But be careful! For separately booked flights, there is no right to transportation if you miss the connection, for example, due to flight time changes or other events.
From Gran Canaria the airport does not have to be changed. Sufficient connecting time should be planned here, however, because of possible flight time changes.
How to get from Tenerife to La Palma by ferry?
From Tenerife/South you can also take the ferry to La Palma. The ferry port of Los Christianos is about a twenty minute cab ride from Tenerife/South airport. The ferries usually start from about 18 - 19 o'clock, so that one is at about 21- 22 o'clock on La Palma. On La Palma the ferry starts in the morning at about 6 o'clock, so you have to plan a corresponding stay on Tenerife depending on your flight connection. Exact departure times can be found on the Websites of the ferry companies. Fred Olsen offers a fast ferry that takes about 150 minutes from Tenerife to La Palma.
Ferry connections Fred Olsen:
From where are there direct flights in the EU?
Currently there are flights from Manchester with TUI Fly, Copenhagen with Bravo Tours, Amsterdam with Transavia, Billund with Avion Express and Zurich with Edelweiss.
As an alternative travel option, the detour via Zurich or Amsterdam could also be considered.
Rental cars and e-bikes on La Palma
What is the best way to get from the airport or port to the Hacienda?
The easiest way to get to the Hacienda is by rental car. There are also several bus connections. However, these are connected with several changes. Due to the secluded location of the Hacienda in the middle of nature, we therefore always recommend arriving with a suitable rental vehicle.
Some of our guests went by public transport from Santa Cruz to Los Llanos and rented an e-bike there. After the journey, they then made the entire vacation with the e-bike and reported very good experiences.
We are happy to support you with further individual recommendations. Please just send us a short message.
What do I need to consider when booking a suitable rental car?
Most rental car companies have their station directly in the airport, so that pick-up and return can be done easily directly in the parking garage of the airport building. If desired, many providers also offer the possibility to pick up the rental car directly at the ferry port of Santa Cruz de La Palma.
We ourselves prefer to book the Citroen Berlingo or FIAT Panda 4×4 from Monta Cars when they are available. Both vehicles have sufficient ground clearance and horsepower (about 80-90) which is highly recommended as we are located far up in the vineyards and the approach is partly quite curvy and steep. Also, the last stretch leads once again over a somewhat bumpy concrete road with some deeper water gullies through the vineyard and then the last 100 meters over a small, steep piece of forest road.
Of course you can get up to the hacienda with small vehicles but it can be a bit exhausting in the long run if you plan to do a lot of things by car.
Privacy and pool area at the hacienda
What about location, privacy, other guests and the team at the Hacienda?
The hacienda is located in the midst of nature in a protected landscape area and is bordered by pine forests upwards, so there are no direct neighbors from here. The surrounding vineyards below are cultivated by local winegrowers and are not permanently inhabited.
Our fincas are widely distributed on the hacienda, which has a total area of 70,000 m². In total, there are six different vacation homes, each with its own character and assigned plot shares according to their size.
The total area is divided into actively cultivated vineyards, almond and olive groves, citrus plantations, fruit trees, pine forests and natural zones for discovery and relaxation. Not only the wide distribution of the cottages on the entire property, but also the different levels in the terraced area and the different orientations of the fincas offer a maximum of privacy.
All houses have private parking, their own separate entrances and various private gardens and terraces directly adjacent to the house. Here you can make yourself comfortable with a glass of wine and or a book and enjoy the sound of nature.
If you do not want to see other guests, you can arrange yourself here so that this is not necessary. Many of our regular guests appreciate this special privacy but also feel safer in the knowledge that there are other guests "within reach" in this special solitary location in the midst of nature.
Our team usually works in the vineyard during the day and is available for our guests upon request. However, just like the owner, does not live on the hacienda itself.
Is the pool area shared?
The pool area is shared. Here a meeting with other guests is possible. However, by dividing the complex into vertical rock gardens and separate sunbathing areas at different levels, a comparably high degree of privacy is also provided here.
Most of our guests come for hiking and stargazing. So during the day we often have the situation that the pool is rather little frequented. If, however, several guests use the pool area at the same time, the separate sunbathing areas in the vertical rock gardens offer enough space for retreat and relaxation.
Somewhat higher is the frequency at the pool, for example, during the summer vacations.
Are the pool and hot tub heated?
The pool has solar heating, which helps to warm it in the winter time when the sun is shining. In the period November to April, the pool reaches temperatures around 20 degrees. So in any case rather a refreshment and not a bathtub temperature! In the period May- October it is about 24 degrees water temperature.
If you prefer it hot and cozy all year round, you can enjoy a hot bath under La Palma's starry sky in our hot tub. In our wooden barrel you can experience the soothing and relaxing effect of 1500l of fresh mountain water, heated with wood up to 38 degrees and flavored with fresh herbs growing in the rock garden. The use of the hot tub requires some preparation and material input. Therefore, a hot tub evening must be booked separately and is not included in the cottage rental. Please send us a short request if you are interested.
Is the pool for all houses and are there specific times?
The pool is available for all our guests all year round and is included with our cottages. Since we attach great importance to the privacy of our guests, we have a public area where you can meet and exchange experiences. Here even one or the other friendship has already arisen.
La Palma weather and harvest seasons
What is the weather like at the Hacienda throughout the year?
In total, we have over 300 sunny days a year up in our vineyard, so the chances of good weather are quite high. Due to the special wind-protected location in the valley and the south-west orientation of the finca, it is often much more pleasant than in lower, but for example windy locations.
If we divide the year into two periods, the weather at our hacienda can be described as follows. Whereby it must be said that there can always be a dynamic and deviations due to weather phenomena and changing wind directions such as Calima.
As a rule, the period from November to April is quite stable with pleasant daytime temperatures on sunny days and, depending on the wind direction, between 14- 20 degrees. Due to the intense sunshine at the altitude of 1,380 meters above sea level, it is usually a little warmer than on the thermometer. With a stable north-east trade wind, we are then above the trade wind cloud cover and enjoy the numerous hours of sunshine.
But attention! There can of course, even with us sometimes clouds or rainy days, where it is then worthwhile to bring appropriately warm clothes. On such days, temperatures can drop to 10-14 degrees during the day. At night during stargazing it can cool down to 4-8 degrees. Since we have over 300 sunny days throughout the year, the chances of pleasant daytime temperatures and intense sunshine are quite good.
In the period between May and October, the daytime temperatures then climb sharply upwards and it is also significantly warmer in the evening hours. Thus, in July and August it can go up to over 30 degrees, but at night it usually cools down again.
The air is rather dry in our zone, so due to our particular altitude we are not affected by the climate change-induced muggy, almost tropical heat, which has unfortunately developed more and more frequently on La Palma in recent years.
Since the Hacienda is located more than 1,380 meters above sea level, the sunlight is very intense and it is highly recommended to bring sunscreen with a high sun protection factor and a sun hat. Also, in the summer months, the weather phenomenon Calima is to be expected, then the Sahara dust comes over to us and the temperatures rise again significantly upwards. During these times, physical exertion is strongly discouraged. But our salt water pool invites to a refreshing bath. Also the nearby laurel forest of La Zarza offers in these days a good retreat with significantly lower temperatures.
When to harvest what?
The vineyard blooms and grows practically all year round. While from January to the beginning of April the almond and fruit blossom season impresses, already in May/June the first fruits begin to ripen.
Apricots, figs, lemons, oranges, peaches, plums, apples, pears, strawberries and of course the sugary grapes grow. Until November you can help yourselves to our fruit trees. In September you can accompany the almond and fig harvest and learn how this tradition is still lived on La Palma. In October, the wine is brought in with united forces. From November to December, the chestnuts (chestnuts) are waiting to be harvested by you. An own herb garden provides year-round for tasty ingredients in the kitchen.
Location, hikes and excursions
Can I start hiking directly from the Hacienda?
Our winery is uniquely beautiful amidst centuries-old vines and almond trees. The Hacienda is about 35 minutes away from the star observatories on the Roque de los Muchachos and just as fast you can drive down to the hikes on the Atlantic Ocean. There are also numerous walks and hikes on foot through the wild and romantic landscape and vineyards of La Palma directly from the hacienda.
The special altitude of the Hacienda on the sunny northwest side of the island combines the most spectacular and beautiful landscapes, consisting of centuries-old mighty pine forests, vineyards and almond groves, deep ravines and dragon trees, as well as many other unique plants. All around, the ever-blue Atlantic Ocean shines and beckons in the light-filled sea of clouds. The clean air invites you to hikes directly from the hacienda.
We have put together a small Komoot Collection on our website with great hikes in the area. Komoot is a hiking app that you can download for free for Android and from the Apple App Store.
Do you also offer guided hikes?
We are happy to provide you with experienced hiking guides who can show you the most beautiful hikes on La Palma. The hikes lead into mystical laurel forests, to the sacred dragon trees, through mysterious canyons, on the bizarre crater rim and to the sea. The highlight is the circular hike through the impressive world inside the world's largest erosion crater, the "Caldera de Taburiente", the home of the last king of the "Guanches". Again and again one encounters the traces of the indigenous people. La Palma is a very powerful volcanic island, which touches our heart and appeals to all senses - an experience vacation of a special kind.
Shopping and catering
Do you also offer catering?
Our guests stay in independent cottages and cater for themselves. We offer our own products such as almond mousse and red wine for sale directly in the cottages. In addition, depending on the season, there are other suppliers who offer our guests, for example, fresh bread, homemade jams and fish.
Can I drink the water in the house?
Drinking water supply we provide in the form of the finest mountain spring water for our guests. You can take the water from our well, which is centrally located at the ascent to the pool.
So you do not need to bring bottles or plastic canisters. In the houses we have the same water, the difference is that at the springs again an activated carbon filter treats the water.
How long do I have to drive to the first shopping opportunity?
The closest shopping possibilities from the Hacienda are the supermarket in Llano Negro (approx. 15 minutes by car) in the north or the Supermercado in Las Tricias (approx. 15 minutes by car) in the south or in Puntagorda with two Spar markets, a Maxcoop and two organic food stores. (about 20 minutes by car)
Where is the nearest EC machine
You will find the nearest ATM in Puntagorda. Please have a look at our location and destinations page.
Where is the nearest pharmacy? What do I do if I hurt myself?
The nearest pharmacy is in Puntagorda. For smaller injuries the Centro de Salud helps. You can find the exact addresses on our location and destinations page.
Internet, home office and Don Pedro the cat
Do you also offer enough bandwidth for home offices?
In all our cottages we have WIFI, the internet connection is provided to us very stable via directional radio. The speed of over 20Mbps download and 5Mbps upload are sufficient for video conferencing and office.
Can I feed Don Pedro the cat and let him into our house?
Don Pedro, the good spirit of the finca, of course always arouses desires among our guests and he himself as a charmer also knows how to use his popularity to the fullest extent. Nevertheless, we must point out that our fur-nose is also in the service of the finca on mice hunt and gets his food from Benjamin 😉
In addition, he is not allowed in the vacation homes, because we also have allergy sufferers visiting from time to time, who would like to spend their well-deserved vacation with us without red eyes.
Steep slope
For whom is the Hacienda suitable as a vacation destination?
Basically, the Hacienda is recommended for all nature lovers and friends of visual beauty. Due to the different terraces, there are always new perspectives and motifs that make even experienced photographers marvel again.
The terraced location has of course its pitfalls for people who are not so sure on their feet. Even if you are traveling with small children, you should be aware of the special location and always have your loved ones well in sight.
Celebrations and events
Is it possible to book the Hacienda for parties and events?
The project Hacienda la Palma wants to offer its guests a vacation experience in absolute tranquility and seclusion in the vineyards of la Palma. This is very important to us and we try to ensure that all year round.
Of course, the ambience just around the Placita offers great opportunities to spend evenings together in a group. If the event (such as seminars, coaching birthday, wedding, etc.) is booked early enough and preferably the whole finca is reserved, then it can become an unforgettable experience for all participants.
La Palma Astronomy
Do you rent out astro equipment?
For professional astro equipment we cooperate with the rental of the Finca Athos together.
Here our astronomy-experienced guests can assemble their desired set from a very large and professionally maintained equipment. If you are interested, we will gladly provide you with the current rental brochure. Please send us a short message.
Do you have your own astro equipment?
We ourselves have two analog telescopes for our guests who like to observe stars:
For beginners: Skywatcher 4′ refractor telescope on AZ 3 incl. various accessories
For advanced users: Skywatcher 254/1200 Dobson PDobson Pyrex 10′ incl. 6mm and 15mm UWA O15mm UWA eyepiece, moon filter, 2′ 32 mm WA eyepiece.
For this purpose we have a beginner's manual, which you are welcome to use.
Please reserve in time. To do this, simply send us a short message.
Festnetz: +49 30 85 96 49 30 (Beratung)