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Topics: Travel, Food And Drink, Money, Weather
Claire Reid
If this weather has got you dreaming of a little bit of winter sun, then you may want to check out this often overlooked Spanish island ,with temperatures hitting 24C in the winter and cheap booze on offer.
Millions of Brits fly off to the Canary Islands each year, for a bit of sun, sea, sand and cold pints on a hot day.
However, while you’re probably familiar with - and may have even visited - the likes of Lanzarote, Gran Canaria and Tenerife, you may not be as aware of La Palma.
La Palma is the Canary Islands’ fifth largest island, but unlike its nearby neighbours, it attracts far fewer visitors - meaning you wont have to get into a fist fight to grab a sun lounger.
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Its tourist trade even took a further hit in 2021 after a volcano erupted on the island, which destroyed 3,000 buildings. But don’t let that put you off, because La Palma is a stunning place to visit, even during the winter.
The average temperatures during January when, let’s face it, we could all do with a bit of sunshine are 20C, but it did hit 25C this month. Not bad for December, eh?
Once on the island there’s plenty to do. If you’re the outdoorsy type, then La Palma is home to plenty of great hiking trails, or you can take a dip into the water and check out the incredible underwater caves created by the island’s volcanic activity.
La Palma is also a ‘Starlight Reserve’, which means it has strict rules surrounding light pollution, making it one of the best places to stargaze in the world.
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The island has four national parks, including the stunning La Caldera de Taburiente National Park, and 19 protected natural areas - so if nature is your thing, then you’re in for a treat.
For those who prefer a more relaxing getaway than an active one, La Palma has resort hotels complete with pools and nightly entertainment, as well as bars and restaurants serving up a variety of cuisines and drinks.
Food and drink on the island is cheap as chips, with a three-course meal for two at a ‘mid-range restaurant’ costing around €50 (£43) and pints for €2.50 (£2.17) - not bad, eh?
Interestingly, spirits are actually tax-free in La Palma, so while you’re there you can indulge in some of the locally made rum - created using sugar cane from the island.
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Anyway, enough talking, I’m off to dig out my passport.