Salinas de Fuencaliente — Attraction in Fuencaliente de la Palma

A salt garden (saline) right at the coast at the most southern point of La Palma. The best salt of the world is produced here: flor de sal. They draw seawater into marsh basins and let the water evaporate, leaving behind the salt that was dissolved in it. As the water evaporates, most of the salt precipitates out on the bottom of the marsh or pan (and is later collected as ordinary sea salt), but some salt crystals float on the surface of the water, forming a delicate crust of intricate pyramidal crystals. This is the flor de sal. The delicacy requires that it be harvested by hand, so this is done with traditional methods using traditional tools. (Full explanation on Wikipedia). You can walk through the salt garden, sit down in their restaurant and buy their fantastic salt in their shop (available in different flavors!!!). They have domestic honey, jam, wine, banana chips, souvenirs and many other things, too. Don’t forget to stop on the way down to that place: the smell of the blooming plants is fantastic and the view to Tenerife’s Teide, La Gomera and El Hierro...

A self guided tour around the salt pans with information boards that explain the salt production. Its free to walk round and has lovely views over the rugged Atlantic coast. It was quite a long windy road down through the banana plantations. The walk was gravely, muddy/slippy in places where it was wet from the salt pans and rain and some bits were a bit rocky so wear sensible footwear. It was interesting to see little pyramids of salt lined up. Some of the pools looked pink. Their was a few different species of birds around and their was plants in the volcanic rocks around the restaurant/cafe which looked pretty. Their was a gift shop selling salt products. It is a short walk from the lighthouses and carparks and...

Those Salinas are one of the highlights of the island and they do not disappoint. The different colours of the saline pools are best to be admired during the evening or when the sun sets. It is only few minutes walk from the free car park and the access to the salines is free as well. There is a quite interesting lighthouse just next to the parking. If you follow the path along the way around the salines you will be able to learn bit more about the process of gathering the salt from the salines and it is in English as well. I just wish they would finally refresh those boards as they are getting bit damaged with the sun over the course of years... Nevertheless it is a great...