Beneath the western slope of La Palma lies the Tubo Volcánico de Todoque Natural Monument; a memorial monolith and the history of the church also commemorate Todoque. Two perspectives are especially tangible when planning a trip: the underground volcanic caves and the local history shaped by the 2021 eruption. Geology and commemorative heritage complement one another, but remain distinct reasons to learn about Todoque.
Location and protected area
The Tubo Volcánico de Todoque Natural Monument lies underground on the western slope of La Palma, between Las Manchas and Todoque, south of the Aridane Valley and in the municipality of Los Llanos de Aridane. The Tubo Volcánico de Todoque is designated as ZEC ES7020018 in the Natura 2000 network of the Canary Islands. Its location places the natural monument both within La Palma’s landscape and in a designated protected area.
The Cueva del Vidrio is the easternmost known section of the lava tube. It lies outside, but immediately adjacent to, ZEC ES7020018. The location of this cave section should therefore be distinguished precisely: it is part of the lava tube described here, but lies outside the protected area boundary.
Cave sections and volcanic formations
Underground, the ZEC encompasses three cave sections belonging to two branches of a lava flow. The flow formed during the 1949 lava emission of the San Juan volcano. The formation of the lava flow links the cave description to a specific volcanic event.
At 560 metres long, Todoque I is the longest named section of the cave system. Todoque II is 157 metres long; the Cueva Verde is a volcanic cave approximately 40 metres long. These different measurements help distinguish the named cave sections, rather than treating them as a single cave with one combined length.
Life underground
The wildlife is also one of Todoque I’s distinctive features: specimens of three troglobitic species adapted to underground life have been recorded there. They include Loboptera teneguia, Anataelia troglobia, and Apteranopsis tanausui. Adaptation to life underground is what these three species have in common; their names refer to specific species, not to cave fauna in general.
Visitor information and routes
The Caños de Fuego Visitor Centre is on the Ctra. El Hoyo–Todoque road. Floating walkways provide access to the Cueva de Las Palomas lava tube. Check the current access regulations for this visit before you travel.
In the area around Todoque, the official GR-130 between Los Llanos and Jedey is currently impassable because of the 2021 volcanic eruption. If you plan to use this section, check its current status again before setting out.
Remembering Todoque
A memorial monolith was unveiled on the site of Todoque’s former square during the pilgrimage of the Virgen de Las Nieves. The history of the church offers another perspective on the town: residents of the settlement built it in 1964; it was later destroyed in the 2021 volcanic eruption. Its bell tower became a symbol of resistance for a community deeply attached to its homeland. The monolith at the former square and the story of the bell tower thus represent two distinct ways of commemorating Todoque.
Discover more destinations
Discover more destinations: La Condesa, Los Campitos, Puerto Naos, Jedey
Go to the main travel overview: Los Llanos De Aridane.
