Just returned from a week in La Palma and very nice it was too. Always a good start to leave Manchester with a few cms of snow and 4.5hours later, land on a sunny island with 19degC T-shirt weather.
We rented a house on the west side of the island as this has better weather. The east side suffers from the trade winds.
We did the following Lava Tubes, some on our own, others with members of the local caving club.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tebexcorade/286174134767766?fref=ts
Tigalate A, long lava tube, example of Phase IV ceramic bowl insitu - these bowls were used to collect clean water. 4wd needed to get near the entrance
Tigalate B, collapsing because of proximity to Barranco side (Barranco is a steep sided erosion gully)
Hondo Miranda - permission from the mental illness institute required as the entrance was discovered during the building of their property - we assisted with some video and photography in there - some nice examples of benches and lava flows
Hondo Bejenado - a permit needs to be got from the Director of the National Park - you are escorted throughout by a Park Ranger who drives you by 4wd to near the entrance - lots of animal skeletons in there, some good lava varieties - we found a live Ratentis spider specimen half way in - also photographed the lizard skeleton, a species now extinct on the island
Cardos - good variety, very tight squeeze fortunately optional as neither of use could get close, we found the nativity scene !, you know you are near the entrance because of the dead animal smell
Rincon I (Gofio) - old gypsum floored tunnel accessed in Barranco side by climbing up old tree trunk
Susi - a small tube with a lot of variety, tube maze, aa flooring, lava sump
We took a day off and hiked round Cumbrecito and up to Pico Bejenado. Fantastic views of the Caldera. Some petroglyphs. Good view of the foehn effect on the ridge as the trade wind cloud from the east side spills over to the west.
Cestos - our last cave - very different requiring SRT to go down an old lava vent into a large chamber, the walls of which are old ash layers - very crumbly but beautiful colours. We did a survey of the chamber and afterwards played with a DistoX and PocketTopo demonstrating their use to the local club.
Finally drove up to the volcano summit to admire the observatories and a cloud filled caldera before heading to the airport. We flew with Thomson direct out of Manchester.
We rented a house through homeaway.co.uk, had a free pick of fresh oranges, avocados, clementines and almonds from the attached small-holding
2wd car hire was with Cicar which is fully comprehensive
Would like to thank Octavio, Jennifer and Martin for their company during the week.
Anyone wanting to visit La Palma for the caving, hiking or both - I recommend it.
Lots of lava tubes still to be found and loads of trails through the pine forests and raw geology.
Get in touch with Octavio via the local cave club facebook page above.
Octavio has a 4wd, can guide you to some caves and arrange permissions - he is currently out of work at the moment so suggest you come to an arrangement with him for the guiding. His 4wd will save you the cost of hiring your own 4wd and hs is very knowledgeable about the caves and their formation which greatly enhanced our appreciation.
We intend to visit again.