Cueva Bonita, La Palma: how to visit by boat

On the west coast of La Palma, under the cliffs of Tazacorte, there's a sea cave that changes colour depending on how the light falls inside: Cueva Bonita, the "pretty cave". It won't show up on any road map, because there's no way to reach it by land. The only way in is by boat, and that alone makes it worth a sea trip of its own.

What is Cueva Bonita

It's a volcanic cave carved into the base of the cliffs on the island's west coast, hollowed out by the sea in dark basalt rock. Light bounces off the water and tints the inside in shades of blue and turquoise that shift with the hour and the state of the sea. There's no path, no staircase, no way in on foot: the only way to look inside is to pull up alongside it in a small boat.

The cruise from Puerto de Tazacorte

The way to see it is the dolphin and whale watching cruise with a marine biologist, which sails from the port of Tazacorte aboard the Flipper. It lasts 3 hours and costs €60 per adult. A marine biologist travels on board explaining the pilot whales and dolphins that live off this coast, with a 96% sighting success rate according to the operator, and the boat is wheelchair accessible. The meeting point is the local partner's office at the port's marina; transport there isn't included.

Two more stops on the same stretch of coast

The same cruise takes in two other spots you can only see from the water:

• Porís de Candelaria, a former fishing hamlet built into a cave in the cliffside, home for generations to families who lived off this coast.
• The 2021 volcanic delta, the new stretch of land that lava from the Tajogaite volcano added to the Tazacorte coastline when it reached the sea. If you want to get closer to the volcano that created it, read our guide on how to visit the Tajogaite volcano.

Drinks and photos on board are included in the price; lunch isn't.

Before you book

1. Bring a cap and sunscreen: the boat has no full canopy and you're out in the open for most of the trip.
2. Getting to Puerto de Tazacorte is on you: plan ahead if you're not staying on the west side of the island.
3. Book with some flexibility: sightings depend on sea conditions, and the trip can be rescheduled due to weather.
4. Travelling with a wheelchair? Say so when booking: the boat is adapted for it.

FAQs

Can you walk to Cueva Bonita? No. It's a sea cave at the base of the Tazacorte cliffs, with no access by land. It can only be seen from a boat.

How much does it cost to see Cueva Bonita? The cruise from Puerto de Tazacorte that passes the cave costs €60 per adult and lasts 3 hours, including a marine biologist guide, drinks and photos.

What else does the same cruise cover? Besides Cueva Bonita, the route passes Porís de Candelaria and the volcanic delta left by the 2021 eruption on the Tazacorte coast, while looking out for dolphins and whales along the way.

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Still planning your route around La Palma? Read how to visit the Tajogaite volcano, head up to Roque de los Muchachos at night to see the stars, or check out all our excursions in La Palma.