Join us for a La Palma astrophotography tour where we’ll photograph some of Europe’s most impressive night skies over seascapes, volcanoes, lush vegetation and rugged peaks.
We are running this tour in May of 2026, during the best time of year to photograph the Milky Way on the Isla Bonita!
(Single ocuppancy)
Couples sharing a room are eligible for a discount.
On this La Palma photo tour, we’ll focus on Milky Way and landscape photography over Europe’s darkest skies. La Palma is a Starlight Reserve and a UNESCO biosphere reserve, making it one of the best places in the world for stargazing and Milky Way photography.
During this La Palma photography workshop, we’ll dive right into the vast variety of landscapes on this beautiful island. We’ll watch the Milky Way rise above the sea of clouds in Roque de los Muchachos, stand on the edge of an ancient volcano in Pico de la Cruz, stargaze right next to massive telescopes used by space agencies around the world, also get the chance to visit the interior of one of these telescopes and learn about their research, and explore the dense laurisilva forests with their lush green trees and waterfalls.
We’ll personally help you capture the best possible images. We’ll show you the best techniques to shoot the Milky Way, from the basics to more advanced skills like using star-trackers, and we’ll do post-processing sessions so you can bring your images to life!
While this photo tour is primarily focused on astro shooting at night, we will also have time to capture sunrise, sunset, and daytime images, schedule and conditions permitting.
Our La Palma astrophotography tour itinerary can be flexible, and we’ll adjust the plan according to weather conditions. We’ll always keep you updated with any changes to the itinerary.
Our tour takes place during the best time of the year to capture the Milky Way arch over the volcanic landscapes of La Palma, when our galaxy is visible from around 11:00 PM to sunrise. If there are clear skies, we will spend as much time as possible shooting the night sky.
We will sleep in the morning, focus either on post-processing or scouting in the afternoon and evening, and shoot some fiery sunsets when conditions allow.
Our journey begins in the enchanting island of La Palma, one of the world’s top stargazing destinations. We’ll meet around midday at our cozy hotel, where you’ll get to know your fellow adventurers and receive a warm welcome and orientation.
In the afternoon, we’ll check your gear to make sure everything’s ready for the magical nights ahead.
As golden hour approaches, we’ll head to the island’s southernmost point: Fuencaliente, a surreal landscape of volcanic earth, salt flats, and an iconic lighthouse. As the sun dips into the Atlantic, we’ll scout compositions before diving into our first Milky Way shoot beneath La Palma’s famously dark skies.
We’ll rise early to photograph a hidden coastal arch near the airport, framed by jagged volcanic rock and crashing waves—an underrated gem and a perfect place to greet the day.
After a relaxed morning and some free time, we’ll ascend to Pico de la Cruz, one of La Palma’s most breathtaking high-altitude viewpoints. Here, we’ll photograph the Caldera de Taburiente surrounded by a rolling sea of clouds—a photographer’s dream.
Once the stars come out, we’ll split into smaller groups to allow for more creative space. You’ll capture otherworldly nightscapes under some of Europe’s darkest skies, with dramatic volcanic terrain as your canvas.
On day 3, in the afternoon, we’ll hold our first editing class, where we’ll walk through essential techniques like panorama stitching and Milky Way enhancement. You’ll receive access to the recorded session to review at your own pace later.
As evening sets in, we’ll venture to Mirador de los Andenes, perched dramatically on the rim of the Caldera. Here, we’ll scout Pared de Roberto, a surreal location where twisted rock formations become centerpieces under the stars.
Depending on conditions, we’ll divide into smaller groups again to make the most of the evening. With the clouds far below us and the stars shining overhead, the night sessions here are always unforgettable.
The morning is yours to rest, recharge batteries, and review your favorite shots so far.
In the afternoon, we’ll sit down with you to help you edit your Milky Way images. We’ll rotate offering one-on-one advice and recommendations to make the most of your Astro images.
At night, we’ll return to Pico de la Cruz, this time to explore new angles and compositions under the stars. With crystal-clear skies and alien-like landscapes, this is one of the best places on Earth to bring your astrophotography vision to life.
Today, we take a deep dive into the cosmos with a private visit to Roque de los Muchachos Observatory. Accompanied by a local astrophysicist, we’ll explore the grounds of Gran Telescopio Canarias (GTC) and the giant MAGIC & LST telescopes, learning how professionals observe the stars from this extraordinary place.
After a break at the hotel, we’ll head back up for a unique night session, using the shimmering telescope mirrors as reflections for Milky Way compositions—a blend of science, art, and celestial beauty.
You can rest in the morning or enjoy some downtime in the charming surroundings.
In the afternoon, we’ll gather for our second editing class to refine your shots and take your Milky Way processing to the next level.
As the sun begins to set, we’ll drive to Llano del Jable for golden hour, followed by the natural arch at Puntalarga, where we’ll shoot sunset among the ancient lava flows. Later in the evening—after some rest—we’ll head out again for a final night shoot at either Mirador de los Andenes or Pared de Roberto, depending on weather and group preference.
On Day 7, we’ll spend the morning resting or reviewing your favorite moments.
We’ll meet in the early afternoon for a group lunch and our final class, where we’ll do a group image review and answer any remaining questions.
As the sun begins to dip, we’ll travel to either Garafía, where sea stacks rise from crashing waves, or the incredible Porís de Candelaria, a hidden fishing village built into a cave on the cliffside—an iconic La Palma scene. Our final Astro session will depend on previous conditions, serving as a perfect backup if we had any cloudy nights.
After breakfast and hotel check-out, we’ll make a final scenic stop at Mirador de la Concepción, where we’ll enjoy sweeping views over Santa Cruz de La Palma and the Atlantic coast.
We’ll say our goodbyes here—with cameras full of unforgettable images and memories of starry nights on one of the most magical islands on Earth.
Deposit: $1,500 USD
A $1,500 deposit is required to reserve your spot for this photo tour. You can also pay in full at any time. The remaining balance is due 120 days before the start date of the tour. If the remaining balance is not paid in full by the due date, you will lose your spot.
What you learn during the photo tour will vary according to your goals and skills. Your instructors are professional photographers with extensive experience who will help you take your photography to the next level:
Some of the post-processing techniques that you can learn with our included tutorials are:
Francesco Dall’Olmo will be the tour leader and he’ll make sure that you capture the best possible images during this trip.
Francesco is a landscape, Astro, and professional time-lapse photographer. He is also an expert in La Palma, where he has traveled extensively and run many La Palma Capture the Atlas Astrophotography tours over the last years.
He has traveled all over the world to photograph the night skies, capturing breathtaking images in Atacama, Patagonia, and all over Europe. He has also helped multiple photographers improve their skills in countless photography tours and workshops.
Francesco will show you how to best capture the landscapes of La Palma, from the basics to advanced techniques like star-tracking, stacking, star reduction, focus stacking, panoramas, and other landscape and night photography tips.
Nacho Fernandez will be your photography co-leader and instructor, ensuring you achieve the best results from your landscape and astrophotography sessions. He will guide you through composition, technique, and post-processing, helping you refine your skills in capturing breathtaking Astro and landscape images.
A dedicated astrophotographer, Nacho has spent years mastering advanced editing techniques. As a passionate educator, he leads international photography tours with Capture the Atlas and offers personalized 1-on-1 editing coaching to help photographers elevate their post-processing skills.
Beyond photography, Nacho is committed to creating a welcoming and supportive learning environment. His experience leading teams and working with people ensures an engaging atmosphere where photographers can experiment, grow, and push their creative boundaries.
We will send you a complete list of everything we recommend bringing on this tour before the trip. Below is a summary of things you might need:
You may be interested in this guide, where you can dive deeper into photography equipment for traveling.
Some optional items, if you are focused on advanced MW photography, are:
*While zoom lenses are acceptable for this workshop, prime lenses are recommended for Milky Way photography. Some of the best lenses in this range are:
You can get them either from your camera brand or from third-party manufacturers like Rokinon or Sigma.
*This astrophotography workshop focuses on Milky Way nightscapes and not on deep-sky imaging. However, you can bring a telephoto/telescope and take your own deep-sky photos if you like.
You can find more information in our list of best lenses for the Milky Way and best cameras for astrophotography.
Temperatures are mild and pleasant in the Canary Islands, so there won’t be extreme heat conditions.
However, during this photo tour, we will experience many drastically different environments. We’ll go from sea level to the highest point on the island at 2,426 meters (7,959 feet) in a matter of a couple of hours. We also have to consider that temperatures can drop at night, especially at higher altitudes.
For this reason, we recommend bringing the following clothing:
Some optional items that are highly recommended are:
You will find more items and details on the official list of recommendations that we provide upon registration.
The currency in Spain is the Euro. We highly recommend getting euros in your home country, although, if that is not possible, you can always purchase some at the airport in Santa Cruz. Credit and debit cards are accepted in most places in La Palma, but there are still many businesses that only take cash, especially when it comes to small amounts.
La Palma is part of Spain and follows the visa regulations of the Schengen Area. Depending on your nationality and the length of your stay, you may need a visa. Please make sure to check the visa requirements for your country of residence before your trip. If you need any assistance, we’re happy to guide you through the process.
Update on ETIAS:
A new travel authorization system called ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorization System) is expected to launch in the last quarter of 2026. Once implemented, travelers from many countries — including those who currently do not require a visa, such as the United States and Canada — will need to apply for ETIAS before entering the EU.
Since this requirement won’t be in effect during our tour, no ETIAS application is needed at this time, but we encourage you to stay informed about future travel requirements for upcoming trips. You can find more details on the official ETIAS website.
During this La Palma photo tour, we will stay in a hotel in Los Cancajos, close to La Palma’s capital, Santa Cruz de la Palma, in private rooms with private bathrooms. This hotel is close to most of the photography locations on this trip, and its location will give us the flexibility to move around the island according to the weather patterns. Additionally, we’re just a quick drive away from Santa Cruz de la Palma where we can go for lunch sometime and also to get souvenirs.
The standard room included is a private room with private bathroon. We also offer a tour discount of $600 for couples sharing a room – $300 each).
All rooms include seaview so you can relax and enjoy the ocean breeze during the resting time.
All transportation and fuel are included during the tour. We’ll be travelling in a comfortable passenger bus, with a professional, local driver. The bus will give us plenty of space to travel comfortably with the luggage and camera backpacks, and having a professional driver will ensure we arrive at the locations on safely and on time.
This is not a hiking photo tour, and most of the locations will be a short walk away from the parking lot. However, we’ll sometimes be walking on flat to moderately uphill paths to find the best compositions. These paths are mainly gravel and rocks. The only short hike we’ll do during this photo tour is to the top of Pico de la Cruz, which is a 15-minute walk uphill from the parking lot. We will also be driving multiple hours a day to get to and from locations.
For this reason, we recommend being in good physical shape in order to enjoy this tour to the fullest.
You should book your flight to/from Aeropuerto de la Palma (SPC).
The price of round-trip flights to La Palma from Europe is around $100-300 USD and flights from the US cost approximately $400-700 USD.
The main direct flights to La Palma are from Madrid and Barcelona with Iberia Express and Vueling airlines. These flights sometimes are not available until 6-7 months before the start of our tours.
You might also find direct flights to La Palma from European cities such as Frankfurt, Berlin, Düsseldorf, Stuttgart, Hamburg, Munich, Brussels, London, Zürich or Amsterdam, with companies such as Lufthansa, FlyEdelweiss, TUI, Cóndor, Easyjet and Eurowings.
Airline ticket prices will depend on the airport you are flying from. We recommend this article to help you find the best flights to La Palma Airport from your current location.
*If you don’t find flight options now, it might be because the local flights from Madrid & Barcelona are not available yet. We recommend waiting until 6 months before the tour to check and book these flights.
Meals are not included in the price of this tour except breakfasts in the hotel.
Every day, we’ll have a big meal at lunch or dinner in one of the local Spanish restaurants. Spanish food is delicious, and you’ll love the local dishes from the Canary Islands, so this will also be one of the highlights of this La Palma photo tour.
We recommend preparing to spend about $30-$40 USD on food per day.
Our workshops are completely centered on photography: finding the best lighting conditions during the trip and creating an intensive experience that is conducive to learning and taking the best images.
Our workshops are limited to small groups with a ratio of no more than six students per instructor. This is also an important factor for providing the attentive instruction you need during the tour.
During this workshop, we will photograph the famous locations in this destination as well as some hidden gems that we have discovered while exploring in the past that are rarely visited or photographed.
We will discuss your goals before the tour so we can create a dedicated instruction plan for you. It doesn’t matter what your age is or your skills are; we will design your plan and provide you with materials before, during, and after the workshop so the learning process is not limited to just the tour.
We have spent years designing national and international photo tours with successful results, helping photographers with everything from the simple task of getting off Auto to the ambitious goal of capturing complex images.
Beyond the photography, our photography workshops help build strong bonds that last forever. After our trip, you’ll feel like you have been with a group of friends rather than on a standard tour. We are thankful to have plenty of repeat clients who keep traveling and learning with us.
Whether you are experienced or just starting out in photography, you are welcome, and I am convinced that you will progress quickly. Together, we will send you home with a thorough knowledge of many photography areas from the basics to multiple advanced techniques.
Most shooting locations in La Palma will require walking between 15-20 minutes from the parking lot, sometimes on uneven terrain like rocks or gravel, and at night when we shoot the Milky Way.
We’ll often scout the locations before nightfall so we can be well acquainted with them before it gets dark, so we recommend being in good physical shape to be able to enjoy this experience.
There is no age limit. This trip is perfect for anyone over 18 years old who wants to photograph the Canary Islands landscapes with us.
Non-photographer companions are welcome to join the tour, and they need to book a spot under the same price and conditions as any other participant. (We don’t allow non-participant companions tagging along with the group). We have had plenty of non-photographer companions over the years and all of them enjoyed an amazing experience. As long as they enjoy nature, beautiful landscapes, and are a bit patient with the schedules of a photo tour, joining the trip can be a great experience regardless of the shooting.
Capture the Atlas is drone friendly. However, drones are not allowed in most of the locations we’ll visit. We do not recommend bringing a drone on this photo tour. However, if you decide to bring it, you’ll be flying your drone at your own risk. Prince is an experienced drone pilot and can help you with your drone photography.
We have had the opportunity to work with and help countless photographers over the last years:
All astrophotographers in Europe and a big part of the world travel yearly to La Palma as part of their night photography pilgrimage to capture the beauty of the night skies.
There aren’t many places in the world where you can go from sea level to above the clouds in a relatively short drive, enjoying one of the most mesmerizing views on this planet when our galaxy rises above the clouds.
Pair this with stunning seascapes, endemic forests and flowers, and, of course, the yummy Spanish food, and you have the perfect recipe for a memorable trip!
Dan
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