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El Paso is La Palma’s largest municipality and occupies the heart of the island, between the Aridane Valley and the peaks. Its boundaries include the Caldera de Taburiente National Park and Cumbre Vieja, where the Tajogaite eruption began in 2021. It’s a mid-altitude town surrounded by pine forests, almond groves and orchards.
Almost all the accommodation here consists of holiday homes with kitchens, terraces and parking. We’ll explain which part of the municipality suits your trip and show you the homes we hand-pick, without taking the listing at its word.
How to choose an area in El Paso
The municipality is large and hilly, so it all depends on how far you want to walk to buy bread and which views you prefer:
- The town centre: around the church and town hall, with supermarkets, bars and the bus between Santa Cruz and Los Llanos. Handy for taking care of everyday errands on foot.
- The slopes towards the sea: neighbourhoods such as Tajuya and Tacande, overlooking the Aridane Valley. This is where you’ll find homes with pools and sunset views.
- The climb to the Caldera: rural properties near the visitor centre and the road to La Cumbrecita, cooler and quieter, with pine forest on the doorstep.
Any area works well for hiking. For a pool and afternoon sun, look at the western slopes; to rely less on a car, choose the town centre.
Holiday homes in El Paso
All our picks are detached homes for couples or groups of up to four, with free parking and internet access. We’ll start with those with pools and sea views; the rest of the places we reviewed are on our page of places to stay in El Paso.
Finca Maracuya
Two bedrooms and two bathrooms for four, with a pool, garden and barbecue for lingering over evenings facing the sea. Puerto de Tazacorte beach is 8 km away. The upper floors are reached by stairs, and check-in starts at 17:00.
Casa Aloe
Its main draw is a private pool open all year, with a terrace and barbecue overlooking the sea. A high chair and socket covers are provided for little ones. Pets are allowed, though an extra charge may apply, as it may for towels and sheets.
Tocando el cielo
1.1 km from the national park, with a terrace, courtyard and garden open to the mountains. Two bedrooms for four and a fully equipped kitchen make it easy to have dinner at home after a hike. You’ll need to let them know your arrival time in advance.
Casita La Rosa
One bedroom, a courtyard and a garden with mountain views: designed for couples, it’s adults-only. There’s no need to reserve the private parking. Check-in is from 16:00, and you’re asked to let them know your expected arrival time.
Casa Casilda
A detached home with two bedrooms, a courtyard, terrace and barbecue facing the peaks. Internet access reaches throughout the house, which is handy if someone is working remotely. Bear in mind there’s only one bathroom.
Rincón La Palma
Several two-bedroom homes for four, with a kitchen, garden and either a balcony or courtyard, depending on the unit. A good fit for families who want mountain scenery and outdoor space. Accessible parking spaces are available, but you can’t reserve one.
What to see and do from El Paso
Start at the national park visitor centre, on the LP-2. The 7 km road to La Cumbrecita, the Caldera’s most visited viewpoint, branches off from there; in the morning, vehicle access is controlled from the centre itself. If you’re up for a longer hike, the climb to Pico Bejenado rewards you with a magnificent view into the crater.
To the south, the road to El Pilar leads to the recreation area where the Ruta de los Volcanes begins, crossing Cumbre Vieja to Fuencaliente. Further down, the Llano del Jable viewpoint looks out over a sea of black volcanic ash, with the Tajogaite cone in the distance. In town, the Las Hilanderas Silk Museum keeps an old craft tradition alive.
The Ermita de la Virgen del Pino, beside an enormous Canary Island pine, has been a Site of Cultural Interest as a Historic Site since 2014. 2027 marks 100 years since construction began, and the mayor has proposed declaring it the Centenary Year.
When to visit El Paso
The mid-altitude areas are cooler than the coast: a welcome break in summer, while winter nights call for a jacket. Spring and autumn are ideal for hiking, with mild temperatures and green pine forests.
If you’re interested in festivals, make a note of 2027: alongside the chapel’s centenary, there’s the Bajada de la Virgen del Pino, the triennial festival when the image is carried in a pilgrimage down to the town centre. If you’re into sport, the Transvulcania Bike has El Paso as a host town every November, while the Transvulcania, from 6 to 8 May 2027, passes along the Ruta de los Volcanes. Book well in advance for these dates.
Getting there and getting around
The airport and the port of Santa Cruz are on the eastern side of the island; to reach El Paso, you cross the mountain via the LP-2 tunnel, a drive of around half an hour. The bus between Santa Cruz and Los Llanos de Aridane stops at the visitor centre, although you’ll need a vehicle to reach the homes on the slopes and trailheads.
To the south, the new stretch of the LP-2 across the Tajogaite lava flows, which will reconnect the valley with Fuencaliente, is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2027. For the rest of the island, see places to stay in La Palma.
El Paso is part of our guide to where to stay in La Palma. If you’d rather have amenities and beaches closer at hand, see where to stay in Los Llanos de Aridane, down in the valley; to compare with other islands, see where to stay in the Canary Islands.
Frequently asked questions
Here are the questions we’re most often asked by people planning a few days in El Paso.
Is it better to stay in El Paso or Los Llanos de Aridane?
It depends on your plans. El Paso is a good choice if you’re here to hike: the Caldera visitor centre, La Cumbrecita and El Pilar are just a few minutes away, and the atmosphere is rural and peaceful. Los Llanos de Aridane, down in the valley, has more shops and restaurants and is closer to the beaches at Puerto Naos and Tazacorte. They’re about a ten-minute drive apart, so you can stay in one and enjoy the other.
Do I need a car to stay in El Paso?
A car is highly recommended. The bus between Santa Cruz de La Palma and Los Llanos de Aridane stops at the park visitor centre, so you can reach the town without a vehicle. But many homes are in hillside neighbourhoods with steep slopes, and there’s no convenient transport to trailheads such as La Cumbrecita or El Pilar. The homes we recommend have free parking.
Is it cold in El Paso?
It’s cooler than on the coast because the town is in the mid-altitude zone. Summer temperatures are pleasant and nights are cool, which is welcome after a hike. In winter, bring warm clothes for the evenings and check whether the home has heating. When the trade winds bring clouds to the peaks, the Aridane Valley often stays sunny: the weather can change a lot over just a few kilometres.
How do you get up to La Cumbrecita from El Paso?
A road leads from the Caldera de Taburiente National Park Visitor Centre on the LP-2 for about 7 km to the viewpoint. Vehicle access is controlled from the centre itself in the morning, so check with them before setting off. Short walks start at La Cumbrecita, including one to Lomo de las Chozas, with views into the Caldera.
Can you see the Tajogaite volcano from El Paso?
Yes. The 2021 eruption began in Cumbre Vieja, within the municipality, and the Llano del Jable viewpoint offers a good view of the cone and the fields of volcanic ash. You can also see it from several points along the Ruta de los Volcanes, which starts at the El Pilar recreation area. Guided routes take you closer; always follow the signs and respect any areas closed to visitors.
