This picturesque village is difficult to access but is extraordinarily attractive because of its location.
The Canary Islands are one of Spain’s major tourist destinations. The area’s excellent climate, stunning beaches and several protected natural areas offer visitors a wide range of activities to enjoy. In addition, the local gastronomy and culture add to the attractions, as do the diverse cities and small towns and villages with their own distinct character.
Masca (Tenerife), Tejeda (Gran Canaria), Agulo (La Gomera), San Andrés y Sauces (La Palma) and Valverde (El Hierro) are in many guidebooks and also in the minds of many tourists. Many other of the almost ninety municipalities throughout the region also have their own particular charm, but only one of them boasts this very unique town.
Although not everyone knows it, the Canary Islands have a village hidden inside a cave, and visitors can even walk around it. This secret gem is on the island of La Palma and TikTokers, like Sara of @lamochiladesara, have recommended the area for its beauty.
The village in question is Porís de Candelaria in the municipality of Tijarafe – in the northwest of the island – and is located hidden inside a natural cave. Its characteristic white houses with blue doors and windows were built, as the island’s tourist website states, by locals ‘who were looking for a respite from the oppressive summer heat’.
The town was once a fishing village but now the houses are generally used as second homes. They are located at the water’s edge with no services whatsoever.
In fact, there is no internet, no restaurants or shops, and no litter bins. Those who know it say that the best thing to do is to see a sunset from inside Porís.
“I assure you that you will fall in love with it”, says TikToker Sara, who adds: “The island is also a marvel, for me, the most special and with the most diverse landscapes in Spain”. She said the village is uninhabited and calls on visitors to be especially respectful of its unique environment.
The only way to get there is on one of the island’s many footpaths, by boat or by private car. The drive down to the village is very steep – it’s about four kilometres of downhill and curves at the edge of the sea.
Porís de Candelaria can go unnoticed for those who don’t know where to look. A secret carried among birds flying downwind, underlining clouds and cliffs. The wider municipality of Tijarafe is located among pine and almond trees in the northwest of the island of La Palma.
Surrounded by land dedicated to cultivating the Canary Island banana, Tijarafe offers endless possibilities. The volcanic nature of La Palma, meanwhile, offers imposing landscapes boasting cliffs, ravines and caves.
