Tajogaite Volcano: How to Visit It in La Palma

On 19 September 2021, the youngest patch of land in all of the Canary Islands was born in Cumbre Vieja. 85 days of eruption later, the volcano got its own name: Tajogaite. Today you can walk right up to its edge, step on ash that's still fresh, and get close to a force that redrew the island's map. Here's how to visit it.

What is the Tajogaite volcano?

Tajogaite means "the mountain that splits" in La Palma's aboriginal language, and it's the name the Real Academia Española settled on for the volcano born from the Cumbre Vieja eruption. In under three months, its lava flows buried more than 3,000 buildings and created a new peninsula on the Tazacorte coast. Activity has now stopped completely and the area is safe to visit along the marked trails.

How to visit the volcano on foot

The most complete way to see it is the guided hike around the Tajogaite volcano: a 4-hour, 8 km route that starts at the burnt mountain of Tacande — a historic volcano dated to 1480 — and climbs Cumbre Vieja to the back edge of Tajogaite, walking over ash and alongside the lava flows. The climb is moderate (±300 m) and you don't enter the crater. It includes a guide and round-trip transport from the meeting point in El Paso, and costs €38 per adult.

Tips for the hike

1. Footwear and clothing: hiking shoes or boots, a cap and sunscreen — there's no shade anywhere on the route.
2. Bring water: there's nowhere to refill along the trail.
3. Not suitable for reduced mobility: the terrain is loose ash and volcanic rock, with uneven stretches.
4. Book ahead in high season: groups are kept small to avoid overcrowding the affected area.

End the day with a night of stars

After getting up close with the youngest volcano in the Canaries, head to the other end of the island: the Roque de los Muchachos viewpoint, 2,426 metres up. The stargazing tour at Roque de los Muchachos with wine tours the observatory's telescopes with a StarLight guide, toasts the sunset with a glass of wine, and ends with stars, planets and galaxies through a telescope under one of the clearest skies on the planet. It runs 6-7 hours with hotel pickup and drop-off included, and costs €55 per adult.

FAQs

Is it safe to visit the Tajogaite volcano? Yes. The eruption ended in December 2021 and activity has fully stopped. Guided routes follow marked, safe trails.

Can you hike up to the crater of Tajogaite? No. The guided route covers the back edge of the volcano and its lava flows, but the crater itself isn't accessible.

How long does it take to see the Tajogaite volcano? The guided hike takes about 4 hours for 8 km, with a ±300 m climb at a moderate pace.

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More plans on the island? Find out what to do in La Palma, what the island looked like after the volcano eruption, and all our things to do in La Palma.