Barlovento can be explored through several clearly distinct themes: coastal views, swimming spots, forest and lagoon landscapes, and culture. If you are looking for a hotel in Barlovento, it helps to first decide which of these aspects you want to shape your stay. Information about routes, transport and recurring events shows which visits need special planning.
Coastal Views and Swimming Spots
The Mirador de La Tosca is 700 metres above sea level. From there, the views stretch to the northern coastal cliffs and ancient dragon trees. The viewpoint is fully accessible and offers information in Braille, an information QR code and two designated parking spaces. As the facilities may change, check them before your visit.
La Fajana has a different focus: the bathing area comprises three pools and preserves its natural coastal setting. Parking, sun terraces, adjoining restaurants and showers add to the facilities. Access to the pools is via stairs and is not recommended for people with reduced mobility. Check conditions before travelling. The distinction is important for planning: the information about the viewpoint specifies accessibility, while access to the pools is via stairs.
Forest, Lagoon and Hiking Trails
The Reserva Natural Especial de Guelguén covers 1,074.4 hectares in the municipalities of Garafía and Barlovento. It protects the laurel forest habitat as well as its hydrological water-retention and replenishment function. The Laguna de Barlovento offers a different landscape: it lies at an altitude of 650 metres in a crater surrounded by pine forest. Endemic and protected birds can be found in the lagoon.
The Fuente de Las Mimbreras is also located in an area characterised by laurel forest. A small recreation area with tables and fire pits adds to this natural spot. The La Laguna recreation area offers a camping area, cabins, a children's playground and a multi-adventure course; it is also part of the island's hiking trail network. Facilities may change, so it is worth checking the current conditions before travelling.
For a specific hiking connection, the PR LP 07.1 links the Laguna de Barlovento with the Los Tilos Visitor Centre. The third stage of the GR 130 runs from Barlovento to Garafía. The Reserva Natural Especial de Guelguén is designated as a protected natural area. Check the current status of each trail before setting out; no route length or difficulty is specified here for these trails.
Culture, Crafts and Events
The Church of Our Lady of the Rosary was extended in 1678 and, at 35 metres, is the island's longest single-nave church building. Inside is a 16th-century Flemish statue of Our Lady of the Rosary. The extension and the statue offer two different historical points of interest for a visit.
The Sanmao literary viewpoint on the coast of Barlovento commemorates the writer Echo Chen and features poems dedicated to her husband. At the Centro de Artesanía de Las Mimbreras in La Laguna de Barlovento, wickerwork and other traditional handicrafts are displayed and offered for sale. Access and the goods on offer may change; check the current conditions before visiting.
Recurring events are another factor to consider when planning. The agricultural and craft market takes place on the second Sunday of every month and offers local produce, traditional products and tastings. As the date may change, check it in advance. The theatrical re-enactment of the Battle of Lepanto is recognised as a Bien de Interés Cultural in the Ámbito Local category and takes place every three years; the specific dates may vary here too.
Getting There and Planning Your Stay
Barlovento is connected by the LP-1 road and has taxi services as well as intercity bus connections to Santa Cruz de La Palma, San Andrés y Sauces and Garafía. Check the latest public transport details before travelling. The themes are easy to distinguish when planning: coastal destinations have their own mobility considerations, hikes depend on the current trail status, and the market and Lepanto are tied to dates that may change. This lets you tailor your stay to the places and events that matter to you, without assuming that every visit can be planned in the same way.
Discover more destinations: Villa De Mazo, Tazacorte, Santa Cruz De La Palma, Las Manchas, Los Canarios, Puntallana, Los Llanos De Aridane, Hoya Grande.
For the main travel overview: La Palma.
