El Paso is an active little town with quite a buzz about it! At its heart you can sit outside at one of the street cafes which is where the locals meet. Or at one of benches along the street and watch the world go by, which is exactly what the retired farmers are doing. With a great mix of locals including busy workers, friends and neighbours greeting each other in the street, a good helping of expats and of course tourists wondering what they should look at next, it makes for interesting watching.

Location
El Paso is the most central town on La Palma, even though it’s located in the west. The nearest neighbour to El Paso is the city of Los Llanos de Aridane and although they are very definitely two separate municipalities, the two are linked by a narrow steep road lined with colourful houses jammed in each side. However the main LP1 road follows a more circuitous route which takes longer but is considerably easier on the nerves. 

Main points of interest in El Paso
Caldera de Taburiente National Park
Natural Park of the Cumbre Vieja and Refugio el Pilar
La Cumbrecita and Visitor Centre
Pico Bejanado
Volcanoes
Cascada
Road Tunnels
La Fajana pre-Hispanic Rock Engravings
Virgin del Pino small church and revered ancient pine tree
Silk Museum
Market
Churches

Fiestas in Barlovento

Last two weeks in May: La Cruz de las Canales
Two Sundays before Corpus Christi: procession led by the image of Sacred Heart of Jesus. The streets are carpeted with tapestries made of flower petals, seeds and crushed egg shells.
Two Sundays in August and September: Nuestra Senor del Pino (Our Lady of the Pine). A bigger celebration is held every three years whereby the statue of Our Lady of the Pine is brought down from the chapel to the centre of town.
First Sunday in September: El Pino which is the devotion to the Hermitage of the Virgen with poetry, food and horse racing
First half of September: fiesta in honour of San Nicolas

Beaches and sea water swimming pools
The nearest beaches from the centre of El Paso are:

1. El Puerto de Tazacorte 14km, 25 minutes by car
2. Puerto Naos 13km, 19 minutes by ca

Facilities in El Paso

Supermarkets (supermercados) – there are two large supermarkets, the Hiper Dino in the centre of the town and the new Spar at the east end of town.
Post Office (Oficina Correo), Calle Manuel Taño. Open 08.30 – 14.30hrs Monday - Friday. 09.30 – 13.00hrs Saturday
Banks (Banco) - two in Avenida Islas Canarias: Banco Santander Open 08.30 – 14.30hrs and La Caixa 08.15 – 14.00hrs both with ATMs.
Chemists (Farmacia),
Farmacia Jurado Pérez, Calle Tanausú 14
Farmacia Jurado Pérez, Calle Manuel Taño 13
There is always a chemist open all hours of the day or night in Los Llanos and Santa Cruz. All chemists display information regarding the locations of duty chemists.
Library (Biblioteca) – Avenida Islas Canarias. 09.30 – 13.30hrs and 17.00 – 20.00hrs. Summer, mornings only.
Churches (Iglesias) and Ermitas (Chapels)
Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de Bonanza, Calle General Franco
Ermita de Nuestra Señora de Bonanza, Calle José Mariá Brito Peréz
Ermita de la Virgen del Pino, Calle Virgen del Pino
Iglesia de San Nicolás de Bari (Las Manchas)
Ermita de San Martin de Porres, Calle Barial de Abajo – service in English every Sunday
Health centre (Centro de Salud) – Avenida José Antonio. Open 08.00 – 20.00hrs Mon – Fri. 09.00 – 17.00hrs Saturday.

 Restaurants

Bodegon Támanca – LP2, San Nicolas. A restaurant inside a huge, huge cave which is also winery.
El Sombrero - at the junction of the LP3 and LP2, Cruce de Tajuya.
Franchipani – LP3 south of El Paso Carretera Dos Pinos, 57.
Balcón de Taburiente – Camino Cantadores no 2, Los Barros.
La Abuela – LP3 just south of El Paso, Carretera General de Tajuya.
La Cascada – LP3 near the Visitor Centre and with a great view of the Cascada clouds as they drift down from the ridge.

Walking trails in and around El Paso

 LP1 Reventon Pass between El Paso and Santa Cruz right across the ridge of the Cumbre!
GR131 Volcano Route between El Pilar and Los Canarios de Fuencaliente – a 6hr linear walk
Mirador de la Cumbrecita – a 1hr partly circular walk
Pico de Bejanado – a linear walk there and back
LP13 Caldera de Taburiente – linear walk starting from Los Brecitos using shuttle service