Piscinas de La Fajana: Natural swimming pools in Barlovento

The Piscinas de La Fajana are the most beautiful natural swimming pools on the north coast of La Palma – carved into black lava rocks, overlooking the open Atlantic, 550 meters below Barlovento. The descent takes approx. 45-60 minutes, the ascent approx. 60-90 minutes. At the pool: a restaurant, showers and a view of the surf.

The Fajanas are not tourist pools, but natural lava pools that are filled by the Atlantic and used for swimming when the sea is calm. Swimming is dangerous when the surf is high – the pools are then closed or it is risky to enter. Always check the current status.

Starting point: Barlovento. Descent via the LP-SL 41 downhill to the coast. 4.5 km, moderate, but not to be underestimated – sure-footedness and a solid baseline level of fitness are required, because there are a few metres of elevation to overcome both downhill and uphill. The La Fajana restaurant is the destination – with pool access, showers and Canarian cuisine right on the Atlantic.

La Fajana at a glance

Getting There and the Descent

Barlovento lies on the LP-1 north coast road. From the centre of Barlovento in the north-east of the island of the island, the path descends around 4.5 km through lush green vegetation on the steep coast to the sea pool — signposted La Fajana. Walking time: downhill around 45–60 minutes, uphill around 60–90 minutes. Alternatively, drive to the car park at the coast (the road is very narrow — not suitable for nervous drivers). Walking down from Barlovento is the more enjoyable option: from Barlovento is the more pleasant option: the descent through banana terraces and dragon tree groves is almost as beautiful as the destination itself.

The Pools: lava, Atlantic, silence

The La Fajana lava basins are cut into the basalt rocks of the north coast – some entirely natural, others lightly enhanced. The water comes directly from the Atlantic: when the sea is calm, seawater flows over the edge of the rocks into the pools, and when the swell is up, it crashes over the rocks. The water is clear, cool (approx. 22°C in summer), salty. The pools have different depths – from the shallow children’s area to the deep swimming area.

The La Fajana restaurant right by the pool offers Canarian cuisine: fresh fish, papas arrugadas, mojos. The terrace overlooks the open Atlantic and the coast. After a swim and lunch here, you’ll understand why La Fajana is the favourite coastal spot on the north coast for locals.

Surf warning and safety

The north coast of La Palma is the most exposed coast on the island: no bay, no reef, no protection from the open Atlantic. During a north-easterly swell, the surf crosses the cliff edge and makes the pools dangerous. La Fajana closes the pools when the surf is high. Always check the current conditions before hiking down – a a 550m climb back up with closed pools is frustrating.

Best swimming conditions: Summer (June–September) with a calm Atlantic. In winter the pools are often closed or rough. Local websites and the La Fajana restaurant provide information about the current surf situation.

The descent: banana terraces and dragon trees

The descent from Barlovento to La Fajana leads through one of the most beautiful terraced landscapes on the north coast. Banana plantations, vines, vegetable gardens and occasional dragon trees accompany the path downhill. The dragon trees of the Barlovento region are among the oldest and most powerful on the entire north coast of La Palma. If you have time on the way down, take a look at these trees – some are several hundred years old.

The walk back up after swimming is strenuous – 550 m with the sun on your back and a full stomach. The tried-and-tested strategy: arrive early, swim, eat, climb up when the heat subsides (from 4 p.m.). If you don’t have a car, you can take a taxi — but walking makes the experience more complete.

La Fajana and the GR-130

The Piscinas de La Fajana are located at the foot of the Barlovento cliffs – below the area through which the GR-130 stage 3 runs. From above, on the Camino Real, you can see La Fajana as a narrow strip of coast far below. If you go on the GR-130 stage 3 (Barlovento – Santo Domingo) and plan a rest or swim day beforehand, the ideal combination is: Day 1 La Fajana, day 2 GR-130 stage 3. Barlovento as a base for both.

Best travel time

Season	Character	Note
Summer (June–Sept)	Best swimming conditions; calm Atlantic	High season for La Fajana
Spring (March–May)	Often still rough seas; Terraces fresh green	Swimming conditions variable
Autumn (Oct–Nov)	Atlantic warmer; Surf is growing	Last good month for swimming
Winter (Dec-Feb)	Frequently closed due to surf	Descent as a walk is still nice

Combinable tours

Tour	Data	Character
GR-130 Stage 3: Barlovento – Santo Domingo	28.1 km, difficult	Major north coast stage from Barlovento
PR-LP 8: Pico de la Cruz → Barlovento	11.9 km, difficult	Descent route to Barlovento
Tunnel hike Marcos y Cordero → Los Tilos	11.1 km, difficult	Los Tilos tour accessible from Barlovento

Frequently Asked Questions

The Fajanas: New Coastline from the Tajogaite

On La Palma, the term fajana (coastal platform) refers to a flat lava coastal zone created when a lava flow reached the sea. The most well-known fajanas on La Palma formed in 2021, when the Tajogaite lava flow flowed into the ocean and created a new coastline. The Piscinas de La Fajana near Barlovento lie on an older fajana — basalt rock shaped by earlier eruptions and worked over decades by the Atlantic, forming natural pools.

The name La Fajana for the natural pools near Barlovento is thus a geographical description: they sit on the old fajana coastal strip of basalt lava. The pools are partly naturally formed, partly lightly shaped to make the edges safer. This combination of volcanic geology and infrastructure makes the Piscinas de La Fajana a typically Canarian bathing experience — nature, with the right amount of human touch.

The La Fajana restaurant: fresh fish on the Atlantic

The La Fajana restaurant is the only dining option on the north coast between Barlovento and Los Sauces at coastal level. It has been known by locals for decades and offers fresh fish, vieja (parrotfish), lapas (limpets) and Canarian classics. The terrace faces directly onto the pools and the open Atlantic. Opening times: check in advance — the restaurant does not open daily and has seasonal times.

A visit to the Piscinas de La Fajana can be ideally combined with the GR-130 stage 3 (Barlovento – Santo Domingo): Day 1 swim down to La Fajana, day 2 hike the big north coast stage. Barlovento as a base for both days. The holiday homes in Garafía (near Santo Domingo) and in Tijarafe can be reached by taxi or bus from Barlovento in 30-45 minutes.

For children, La Fajana is one of the best excursion destinations on the north coast: shallow pools for small children, deeper pools for older ones, and a restaurant right next to it. The 550m drop might put some parents off – but the road is passable (albeit narrow) by car, and there is space in the car park below. As a day trip with children: drive down in the morning, have lunch and swim, return in the afternoon.

Barlovento: greenest community and ideal base

Barlovento is the greenest municipality in La Palma – kept lush all year round by the trade winds and surrounded by lush laurel forests. From the town centre at approx. 565 m you have a wide view over the north coast and to the Laguna de Barlovento in the volcanic crater. The town itself offers restaurants, a church and bus connections. Barlovento is ideal as a base for visiting La Fajana: you sleep upstairs, climb down for the day and come back well-rested in the evening.

The Laguna de Barlovento – the reservoir in an old volcanic crater – is another excursion destination that can be combined with a visit to La Fajana: Walk around the Laguna in the morning (flat and easy), head down to La Fajana for a swim at midday, and make the climb back in the afternoon. This is a complete Barlovento day without a car.

If you are staying overnight in Garafía and want to visit La Fajana: Barlovento is about 20 km east of Santo Domingo de Garafía — reachable by bus (line 120) in about 40 minutes. La Fajana is also a realistic day trip from Garafía if you leave early enough.