Roque de los Muchachos Visitor Centre

It is at 2,426 m, beside the observatory road, in the municipality of Garafía, and is run jointly by the Cabildo of La Palma, the Garafía Town Council and the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias. It is the stop that explains what the telescopes you see around you do, and the meeting point for the guided visits to the observatory. On your own it takes about 45 minutes, and it also works in winter, when visits to the telescopes are suspended.

Three rooms, from the sky to Garafía

You enter through a lobby with an auditorium, a shop and a large touch table with information on each of the observatory's telescopes. The first room, Canarias, a window onto the Universe, tells why the islands were chosen for the big telescopes. The second, Exploring the Universe, goes through the science done here. The third, Back to Earth, comes down to Garafía, the municipality that surrounds you, with its traditions, its way of life and its heritage. Guided visits are available on request, and there is an audiovisual room.

What it costs and who doesn't pay

General admission costs €15. Residents of the Canary Islands, large families, pensioners over 65 who live in Spain and groups of at least ten people who book three days ahead and come with their own guide pay €7.50. Admission is free for under-12s, older people and pensioners who live on La Palma, people with disabilities, unemployed residents of Spain and school groups with a booking. At the door you must show the document that proves it, and only one discount per person applies. Payment by card only. At reception they sell vouchers for two or three of the island's tourist centres, such as the El Tendal Archaeological Park or the Caños de Fuego volcanic caves, with half price at the second and third. If you do the telescope visit with Ad Astra, its ticket also gives you half price here for seven days.

Open all year except four days

It opens every day from 10:00 to 16:30 in winter and from 10:00 to 17:30 in summer, and closes on 24, 25 and 31 December and 1 January.

No café up here

Free parking for cars, buses and bikes, drinks and light food machines and a defibrillator; there is no café, so bring food if you are spending the day up here. The building is adapted for reduced mobility. Outside, cap, sun cream and sunglasses; in winter, a coat. You go up to the Roque by car or taxi. From here, the summit of the Roque is about 5 km along the road. On the centre's website are the rules and the form to book its astronomical observation platform.