Astrophotography Adventure in La Palma: Our Journey to Capture Stunning Night Skies in a Stargazer’s Paradise
Despite Challenging Weather and Sleepless Nights, We Captured La Palma’s Unforgettable Night Skies.
La Palma | A Night on Roque de Los Muchachos
Don’t miss my video 'La Palma | A Night on Roque de Los Muchachos', where I’ve compiled all my timelapse footage into one stunning final video. This video captures an 'entire night' on La Palma, starting with timelapses of the sunset, transitioning to the rising stars, and concluding with calming timelapses of dusk.
La Palma, often referred to as the 'beautiful island' of the Canary Islands, is a true gem for nature lovers, adventurers, and especially astrophotographers. With its untouched landscapes, dramatic volcanic terrains, and some of the clearest night skies in the world, La Palma offers the perfect setting to delve into the mysteries of the universe. Thanks to strict light pollution regulations and renowned observatories, the island has become a haven for anyone seeking to capture the sparkle of the stars and the beauty of the cosmos. It’s a place where every glance at the sky inspires a sense of wonder.
But why La Palma? The island stands out as one of the best spots in Europe for astrophotography due to its unique combination of factors. Its high altitudes, remote location, and minimal light pollution make La Palma a haven for stargazing. The island is home to the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory, one of the world’s most advanced astronomical research facilities, emphasizing its prime status for astronomical observation. What truly sets La Palma apart, however, are its strict lighting regulations. Villages and houses must follow stringent rules to ensure minimal light pollution. Additionally, the airspace over La Palma is restricted for commercial airlines during nights which is further preserving the dark skies. Additionally, the weather on the mountain is exceptional year-round, with clear skies and stable conditions that provide perfect astrophotography opportunities no matter the season. This ideal combination of natural beauty, favorable weather, and dedicated efforts to protect the night sky make La Palma a photographer’s paradise.
At the end of May 2025, a friend and I headed to La Palma. The nights were still long, which is perfect for astrophotography, but unfortunately, the flowers that could have made for cool foreground subjects hadn't bloomed yet. However, I managed to combine the trip with a working trip, which was a nice bonus. As we approached La Palma by plane, the island came into view, with its majestic mountains reaching out above the clouds in a stunning display. We flew to Santa Cruz, La Palma, via Vienna and Madrid, and once there, we rented a small car to explore the island.
We didn’t stay in the capital but chose a small village in the west of the island called Los Llanos as our base. From the village, it took us 1.5 hours one way to reach the top of Roque de los Muchachos—a journey we planned to optimize on future visits. While astrophotography was our primary focus, we spent some time exploring the island as a side activity during our six-day trip. One of the highlights was visiting the hidden gem of Cueva de Poris de la Candelaria, a unique coastal cave housing a small, picturesque village. We also wandered through Tazacorte, known for its colorful facades and tranquil black sand beaches. Another unforgettable stop was the Los Tilos bridge, which spans the dramatic Barranco de las Angustias and offers breathtaking views of the steep gorge below. Additionally, we explored the volcanic landscapes of Cumbre Vieja, contrasting beautifully with the lush greenery of the Los Tilos rainforest. Each destination revealed a different side of La Palma’s charm, making our journey even more memorable.
Tip: A car with enough power
If you plan to visit the stunning Cueva de Poris de la Candelaria, be sure to choose a car with enough power to handle the steep roads leading down to this hidden gem. Unfortunately, our small rental car couldn’t make it back up the incline—it stalled halfway despite our best efforts. We had to unload all our luggage to lighten the load and then accelerate as much as possible to finally get it moving again. Save yourself the trouble and opt for a vehicle that’s built for the challenge :D
Focus: Astrophotography
Our trip to La Palma had a clear focus: astrophotography. Instead of exploring the island during the day, we dedicated our nights to chasing clear skies, with destinations like the iconic Roque de los Muchachos as our base. Unfortunately, the weather didn’t cooperate as much as we had hoped. While La Palma is known for its generally clear skies, we arrived during an unusually rainy period—the heaviest rainfall in five years. This was great news for the island but posed a significant challenge for us, as thick clouds frequently obscured the night sky. Despite these setbacks, we made the best of it, spending all five nights up in the mountains. On some nights, we had to leave earlier when it became clear luck wouldn’t be on our side, but on others, we stayed until dawn, hoping for a break in the clouds. The last night proved to be the most rewarding, with perfect weather conditions allowing us to capture some stunning photos and timelapses. Though the trip was marked by challenges, the experience was unforgettable and well worth the effort.
Roque de los Muchachos Observatory
One of our main locations during the night was the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory, one of the most renowned astronomical observatories in the world. Located at an altitude of over 2,400 meters, it offers some of the clearest skies in Europe, making it a prime spot for professional and amateur astronomers alike. The observatory is home to several advanced telescopes, including the Gran Telescopio Canarias (GTC), the largest optical-infrared telescope in the world. Its remote location and strict light pollution regulations ensure optimal conditions for stargazing and astrophotography. Additionally, the observatory plays a key role in international astronomical research, contributing to significant discoveries about the universe.
During the day, you can enter the area of the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory, but from dusk to dawn, access is prohibited to avoid disturbing the observations. However, even from outside the restricted area, there are excellent views of the telescopes, especially the large reflection telescopes. A few prime viewing spots are located along the nearby road, offering a spectacular perspective. It’s fascinating to watch the telescopes as they move and track the night sky. We took advantage of this by creating some cool timelapses, incorporating the telescopes’ movements along with reflections of the stunning night sky.
Roque de los Muchachos
Roque de los Muchachos itself was more than just a prime location for astrophotography—it was a destination in its own right. The views from the top are truly breathtaking, especially when clouds form below, giving the valley a surreal, almost mystical appearance. The sight of the misty valley beneath the mountain felt like something out of a dream. Even though the spots on the edge of the mountain were even colder than we anticipated, we pushed through the harsh conditions, using every ounce of energy to capture some stunning photos. It was a challenging yet rewarding experience, and the beauty of the place made it all worth it.
Note that parking is limited, and only a few spots are close enough to the edge with just a short walk. In warmer seasons, one might consider hiking longer distances or using some of the mountain huts as shelter.
Some results
The main highlight of our trip is the collection of timelapse, which you can find featured in my timelapse video 'La Palma | A Night on Roque de Los Muchachos'. Additionally, I’ve shared some of the results below, though I’d like to note that a second trip is already in the works (join now ...) to capture even more stunning footage—this time with the hope of better weather conditions. Stay tuned for even more breathtaking astrophotography!
Torchlit Dreams: The Arching Milky Way at Roque de los Muchachos
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Cosmic Welcome: Observatorio Astrofisico Sign Under the Stars
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Final thoughts
La Palma is truly an amazing island, offering breathtaking landscapes and a unique atmosphere that’s perfect for stargazing and photography. Despite the unexpected bad weather during our trip, we managed to capture some incredible pictures and create memorable timelapses. The challenges only added to the adventure, and we’re more determined than ever to return and experience the island under clearer skies. La Palma has so much to offer, and we can’t wait to test the conditions again and push our astrophotography to new heights.
