Stargazing with telescopes from a summit viewpoint

Two hours with a Starlight guide and amateur telescopes under one of the most protected skies in the world. It leaves from Los Cancajos, next to the airport, and goes up to one of the island's astronomical viewpoints, almost always in the mountains; the guide decides each night according to the clouds, because often the sea of clouds covers the coast and leaves the summit clear.

What the night is like

The guide teaches you to recognise the constellations with a pointer and then you look through the telescopes, shared among the group: planets, clusters, nebulae and galaxies depending on the time of year. If the sky allows, you take home a digital photo. It is given in Spanish or English.

Price and booking

With AstroLaPalma it costs €35 from age 12 and €25 for ages 4 to 11, going in your own car behind the guide. With transport from Los Cancajos it is €55 per adult, with very few places: book early. The time depends on sunset and is on the ticket; you must be at its office, in the Hotel Las Olas building, 15 minutes beforehand. You can cancel up to 24 hours ahead with a 20% charge; if the company cancels because of the weather, it offers you another date or refunds your money.

What to bring

Closed shoes, long trousers, a jumper and a warm jacket. The company reckons 12 to 15 °C on summer nights and 2 to 6 °C on winter ones. Check the moon phase before booking: with the Moon high, faint objects are lost.