La Palma, with 25% of its surface covered by laurels forest, is home to one of the few reserves of this ancient deciduous tree forest that thrived on Earth 15-40 millions of years ago. Due to its high altitude and its position as the furthest island from the African continent, La Palma boasts unique climatic conditions that grant it an expansive green cover, distinguishing it from other Canary Islands and earning its nickname as the “Green Island.”
The Laurisilva Forest of La Palma: A Hidden Green Treasure
The laurel forest of La Palma, known as laurisilva, is mainly found in the northern and eastern parts of the island. It forms lush, dense woodlands that stretch from Roque Niquiomo in Mazo all the way to the mid-altitude zones of Garafía. There are many spots to explore this unique ecosystem—some are well-known, while others remain off the beaten path and less visited by tourists
Most visitors choose to discover the laurel forests in the municipalities of Puntallana, San Andrés y Sauces, and Barlovento, home to some of the most emblematic hiking routes on the island: the Marcos y Cordero trail, El Cubo de la Galga, and the Los Tilos Forest and Waterfall.
This subtropical cloud forest is home to around 20 native tree species, including laurels, tilos (Canary lindens), viñátigos, barbusanos, and a rich variety of companion plants like giant ferns and mosses.
The laurisilva thrives in areas where annual rainfall ranges between 500 and 1100 mm, and the average temperature remains between 15°C and 19°C. In the Canary Islands, these conditions are typically found along the northern slopes, thanks to the trade winds, which bring moist air from the northeast and create a spectacular weather phenomenon known as the sea of clouds.
This cloud layer, made up of stratocumulus, forms when the humid air condenses as it hits the cooler, higher altitudes of the island’s terrain. One of the most fascinating aspects of this is the “horizontal rain” effect: low-hanging clouds come into constant contact with the forest canopy, moistening the leaves, branches, and trunks. This slow, steady drip enriches the soil with humidity year-round—even in places where regular rainfall is rare.
Wildlife of La Palma’s Laurisilva
The laurel forest is a true biodiversity hotspot and a sanctuary for many species—some found nowhere else on Earth. Among the birds, two species stand out as symbols of the forest: the laurel pigeon (paloma turqué) and the bolle’s pigeon (paloma rabiche). Other birds include the Atlantic canary, the graja (an endemic crow species), and the Canary Islands chiffchaff. You might also spot several types of warblers, such as the blackcap, the Sardinian warbler, and the spectacled warbler.
In terms of mammals, the forest shelters two types of bats: the Canary big-eared bat and the Madeira pipistrelle. Reptiles are also present, such as the La Palma wall lizard and the perenquén, a small, nocturnal gecko.
However, the greatest diversity is found among the invertebrates. Earthworms, slugs, snails, spiders, millipedes, beetles, ground beetles, and other mollusks make this forest one of the most biodiverse habitats in the Canary Islands.
The laurisilva forest in La Palma is a spectacular display of life, greenery, and tranquility. Covered in moss, bathed in silence, and rich in native plant life, this peaceful forest is one of the last remaining laurel forests in the world. It is a living relic of prehistoric times, dating back millions of years, when similar forests covered vast areas of southern Europe and North Africa.
