A Sunday in the skies of La Palma: telescopes from inside by day, guided stars by night.

La Palma protects its sky so that the telescopes of the Roque de los Muchachos can work, and this plan uses it twice: by day you enter one of those telescopes and at night you look through a small one with a guide. It is designed for a Sunday, because Ad Astra usually runs its visits on Thursdays and Sundays and because the works on the LP-4 at Mirca cut the road on weekdays. You set out from Los Cancajos, next to the airport, and return there.

The day, hour by hour

9:00 · Up to the Roque. On the LP-4 from the east coast: about 47 km of bends that cross the sea of clouds when there is one. Fill the tank beforehand, since there is no petrol station up there, and bring the day's lunch.

10:30 · Inside a telescope. You meet Ad Astra in the visitor centre car park and drive up in convoy behind the guide. Almost two hours among the domes, with entry to one of the telescopes that are available: the Gran Telescopio Canarias, the MAGIC telescopes or those of the CTAO. Bring a cap and a coat.

12:30 · The visitor centre. Three rooms on why the Canary Islands are a window on the universe and on Garafía, in about 45 minutes. With the Ad Astra ticket you pay half.

13:30 · The summit. Nine minutes by car to the Roque car park, a picnic and the 600 m trail to the Espigón, looking out over the Caldera. No vertigo and take it slowly: you are at 2,400 m.

16:15 · La Cumbrecita. You go down to El Paso and climb the 7 km to the viewpoint. From 16:00 no booking is needed for the car, and the afternoon light enters the Caldera from the side.

18:15 · Dinner at the Parador. Canarian cooking with Tenerife and La Gomera across the sea. Book and ask for an early table.

19:45 · Stars with a telescope. From the AstroLaPalma office in Los Cancajos, in your car behind the guide or in their transport (€55). Two hours at a mountain viewpoint, chosen that night according to the clouds.

23:30 · Head back.