On the island of La Palma, northwest of the Tijarafe region, there is a corner that is practically unknown to most tourists. This is Porís de Candelaria, a picturesque town hidden away in the shelter of a huge volcanic cave and which is accessed by a road that challenges even the most experienced drivers. This enclave, bathed by the Atlantic and surrounded by ancient legends, represents a piece of history that remains practically intact over time.
Poris de Candelaria has always been a fishermen’s shelterwhere its white houses stand beneath the imposing cave that shelters them. During the day, the sun illuminates the cave and the sea seems to whisper stories of fishermen and forgotten legends. While the beach, with its crystal clear waters, invites you to take a refreshing swim, even if the bravery of the Atlantic remembers that the nature here It’s as beautiful as it is unpredictable..
The legend of Poris of Candelaria
However, this corner of Tijarafe is also known for the legend that surrounds this unique town, whose protagonist is the Virgin of Candelaria already some Portuguese sailors.
Tradition has it that centuries ago a group of Portuguese sailors were sailing near La Palma when a violent storm storm He surprised them on the high seas. Disoriented and likely to be shipwrecked, they took refuge in this cave. According to legend, as soon as they placed the image of the Virgin of Candelaria, the storm miraculously ceased. However, every time they tried to bring the image back to the ship, the storm broke out again, so they decided to leave it there.
The small image of the Virgin remained in this enclave for years, becoming object of veneration for local fishermen, who considered her their protector. However, over time, this figure was moved to the Church of Our Lady of Candelaria in the center of the city of Tijarafe, where it can still be visited today. The church, located in the main square of the towncontinues to be every year a place of devotion and celebration in honor of the patron saint, whose history is linked to the waters of Porís de Candelaria.
How to get to Poris de Candelaria
Arriving in Porís de Candelaria is an authentic experience adventure. From the city of Tijarafe, you have to travel a narrow and winding roadwith barely room for a car.
The journey begins in Tijarafe, from where you have to take the local road that goes down towards the coast where, as the road advances, the vegetation becomes less dense and the sea begins to appear on the horizon. After several kilometers of sharp curves and steep slopesthey meet two parking lots. The first parking lot is located higher up and is an option if we could not park in the second one, located about 500 meters lower. The latter is closer to the cave, but as it is limited in space, it usually fills up quickly, especially in high season or the weekend.
If we could park in the lower parking lot it would only be a short walk of about five minutes along a path that leads directly to the cave. At a brisk pace, it shouldn’t take us long, but we’ll probably stop several times to drink photographssince the landscape is worthy of admiration.
On the other hand, although traveling by car is much more comfortable and faster, one of the best ways to get to Porís de Candelaria is walk. In La Palma there are more than a thousand kilometers of trails and one of the most recommended to reach this hidden town is the circular route “PR LP 12.2”, which starts from Tijarafe.
This route, of approximately 10.3 kilometers (round trip), offers a unique experience in which we can enjoy not only the destination, but also the journey. Although the walk may take a few minutes four hours Overall, it is important to consider irregularity of the course, the difficulty is therefore taken into account average. It is not an easy walk, but it is accessible to those who are used to walking on steep terrain.
