Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Spain La Palma The Black Beaches of La Palma
AO Edited

The Black Beaches of La Palma

Volcanic rocks ground down into sand make this Spanish beach as black as night.

La Palma, Spain

Added By
CoolCrab
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
The beach.   Pxhere/Public Domain
The beach.   Schreib-Engel/Public Domain
The beach.   Marc Ryckaert/cc by 3.0
The Black Beaches of La Palma   Xavixavir / Atlas Obscura User
  Xavixavir / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

The island of La Palma is a beautiful place for rest and relaxation. It is significantly less busy than the other Canary Islands and is still full of untouched nature. One of the more unique sights on the islands is its characteristic black beaches.

These beaches are not black because of dirt or neglect. Instead, the color comes from the fact that this is a volcanic island and the sand is made up of finely ground-up lava rocks. Like the other Canary Islands, La Palma is a volcanic island that is the result of millions of years of volcanic eruptions. 

The base of the island rests about half a mile below sea level in a rather steep decline, meaning that normal sand does not sweep up from the bottom. Instead, the beaches are made of fine pieces of lava rock that also make up the island, resulting in a pitch-black beach. 

The advantage that this sand has over normal sand is that it absorbs heat much better than its lighter cousin, resulting in a much warmer beach that is comfortable to be on even at lower temperatures. However, this sand is often described as being sharper than normal sand and therefore slightly uncomfortable when it gets into your clothes, so beware of that. Despite its dirty appearance, the sand is completely clean and does not stain clothes.

Related Tags

Color Nature Beach Beaches

Know Before You Go

It is best to go during the summer if you want to enjoy the beach and take a swim.

Community Contributors

Added By

CoolCrab

Edited By

Nikki Vargas, Xavixavir

  • Nikki Vargas
  • Xavixavir

Published

November 1, 2018

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
The Black Beaches of La Palma
6 Calle Punta de la Arena
La Palma, 38712
Spain
28.652391, -17.760103
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

'Los Tios'

La Palma, Spain

miles away

Los Cancajos Salt Factory

La Palma, Spain

miles away

The Tidal Waterspout of Los Cancajos

La Palma, Spain

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of La Palma

La Palma

Spain

Places 28
Stories 3

Nearby Places

'Los Tios'

La Palma, Spain

miles away

Los Cancajos Salt Factory

La Palma, Spain

miles away

The Tidal Waterspout of Los Cancajos

La Palma, Spain

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of La Palma

La Palma

Spain

Places 28
Stories 3

Related Stories and Lists

12 Natural Wonders You Can Visit Via Public Transportation

List

By Michelle Cassidy

Related Places

  • Luca Picciau/REDA&CO/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

    La Maddalena, Italy

    Spiaggia Rosa (Pink Beach)

    Crushed coral and crystals give the sand its signature coloration.

  • Fernandina Beach, Florida

    American Beach Nana Sand Dune

    The largest sand dune in Florida sits inside the state's first Black-owned beach.

  • Beach at Basin Head

    Souris, Prince Edward Island

    Singing Sands Beach

    A walk along this white sand beach creates a symphony.

  • Hundred Year Stone

    Keswick, England

    Hundred Year Stone

    This unusual sculpture is sometimes partially, sometimes fully, submerged.

  • The Pensacola Lighthouse on Naval Air Station Pensacola. “Pensacola Lighthouse”

    Pensacola, Florida

    Pensacola Lighthouse

    A striking lighthouse with views of the Gulf of Mexico and of a military air show.

  • Johnson Beach, part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore.

    Pensacola, Florida

    Johnson Beach

    A pristine beach on the Gulf of Mexico with deep ties to Pensacola’s Black community.

  • Grimsby, Ontario

    Grimsby Beach Cottages

    The Painted Ladies of Ontario aren’t your average beach homes.

  • Sunset on Waites Island.

    Waites Island, South Carolina

    Waites Island

    A wildlife-filled oasis just off the coast of Myrtle Beach.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.