Puntos de Interés
Municipality
El Paso
El Paso, a municipality located on the island of La Palma, is part of the province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, in the Canary Islands. Strategically located in the centre of the island and stretching from the Caldera de Taburiente to the southern border with Fuencaliente, this locality encompasses the territories of the Aridane Valley, the Cumbre Nueva and the Cumbre Vieja. It is the largest municipality and the only one on the island without a coastline.
This municipality is made up of several urban and rural localities, distributed in seven neighbourhoods: El Barrial, Las Manchas, Paso de Abajo (the administrative centre), Tacande, Tajuya and La Rosa, each with their own neighbours’ associations. Some neighbourhoods, such as Las Manchas and Tajuya, share administration with Los Llanos and were affected by the eruption of the Tajogaite volcano in September 2021.
The name "El Paso" has its origin in the pre-Hispanic paths traced on the summit, formerly used by Benahoarita shepherds, who had temporary settlements in the area, as evidenced by numerous nearby rock engravings. Later, the area was occupied by Castilian troops, who distributed the land to the settlers. Historically linked to the colonisation and agricultural development of La Palma, El Paso formed part of the historical comarca of Aridane, until 1837, when it was separated from Los Llanos de Aridane, obtaining the status of town in 1910.
The town has elements of typical Canarian architecture in its historic centre, such as the Monterrey Theatre and the Museum of Silk. It is also home to the Caldera de Taburiente interpretation centre and the Cumbre Nueva Natural Park.
Despite the challenge faced when the tobacco factory closed, El Paso's economy has found new industrial opportunities. Agriculture, centred on vineyards, banana plantations, almond trees and vegetables, plays a crucial role, although livestock farming has seen a decline. In recent years, tourism has experienced something of a boom, thanks to the natural beauty of the area, with the municipality home to some of the most visited places on the island, such as the Roque de los Muchachos, the Caldera de Taburiente National Park, the Route of the Volcanoes, in the Cumbre Vieja Natural Park, or the oldest Canary Island pine tree in the world, over 1000 years old, located on one of the summits of Cumbre Nueva, next to the Shrine of the Virgen del Pino. The municipality's festivities take place in the second week of August, in honour of the Virgen del Pino, with the traditional 'Fiesta en el Monte’ mountain festival, which includes a Eucharist, procession, horse races and the outstanding Encuentro Internacional de Versadores, celebrating the musical and poetic tradition. There is also the traditional Cena de Magos, or Magicians’ Dinner, with cultural, sporting and religious events.
In terms of gastronomy, El Paso stands out for its cheeses and the famous mojo palmero sauce, which is served with the famous papas arrugadas, skin-on potatoes. Traditional dishes include puchero canario, a stew containing meat, chickpeas and potatoes, as well as fresh fish such as vieja and Cherne. Don't miss the typical sweets, such as truchas de batata or mini sweet potato pies, and sugared almonds. Local wines include the white varietals like Malvasía and Listán Blanco, which perfectly complement the island's culinary fare.