Roque de los Muchachos, El Paso

Name: Roque de los Muchachos
Address: El Paso, Spain
Telephone: +34 922 60 52 00

#1 among attractions in El Paso

Nature, Natural attraction, Top attraction, Lookout, More...

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Photo details 1. Wikipedia / CC BY-SA 3.0 / Lviatour / URL • 2. Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 / Frank Vincentz / URL • 3. Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 / Llez / URL • 4. Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 / Frank Vincentz / URL • 5. Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 / Llez / URL • 6. Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 / ThomasLendt / URL • 7. Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 / Rufus46 / URL

Facts and practical information

Perched on the edge of the Caldera de Taburiente National Park, the Roque de los Muchachos is an iconic natural monument in the municipality of El Paso, nestled on the beautiful island of La Palma, Spain. This majestic peak, rising to an altitude of 2,426 meters, is not only the highest point on the island but also one of the most astonishing viewpoints in the entire Canary Islands archipelago.

Roque de los Muchachos is renowned for its breathtaking landscapes and clear skies, making it an unbeatable destination for both nature enthusiasts and astronomy aficionados. The summit offers panoramic views of the surrounding ocean and neighboring islands, with the opportunity to witness some of the most stunning sunsets and sunrises.

The Roque de los Muchachos Observatory, located near the summit, is an astronomical observatory home to one of the most extensive fleets of telescopes in the Northern Hemisphere. This makes the site particularly attractive for stargazing and has garnered international acclaim for its contributions to astronomical research.

For visitors, Roque de los Muchachos is accessible by road, with a well-maintained route leading to the top. Along the way, there are several viewpoints and picnic areas where tourists can stop to appreciate the island's natural beauty. Hiking trails also crisscross the area, offering a more adventurous approach to reaching the summit and exploring the diverse flora and fauna of La Palma.

Due to its high elevation, the temperature at Roque de los Muchachos can be quite cool, even in summer, so visitors are advised to bring warm clothing. The site is also part of a protected natural area, so tourists should respect the environment and stay on designated paths.

Alternative names: Elevation: 2423 mProminence: 2423 mCoordinates: 28°45'15"N, 17°53'6"W

Address

El Paso Spain

Contact

+34 922 60 52 00

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Day trips

Roque de los Muchachos – popular in the area (distance from the attraction)

Nearby attractions include: Isaac Newton Telescope, Isaac Newton Telescope, Roque de los Muchachos Observatory, MAGIC.

1.1 kmNE
Observatories and planetariums
Isaac Newton Telescope, La Palma
18 min walk • The Isaac Newton Telescope or INT is a 2.54 m optical telescope run by the Isaac Newton Group of Telescopes at Roque de los Muchachos Observatory on La Palma in the Canary Islands since 1984.
1.1 kmNE
Observatories and planetariums
Isaac Newton Telescope, Garafía
18 min walk • The Isaac Newton Group of Telescopes or ING consists of three optical telescopes: the William Herschel Telescope, the Isaac Newton Telescope, and the Jacobus Kapteyn Telescope, operated by a collaboration between the UK Science and Technology Facilities Council, the Dutch NWO and the Spanish IAC.
1.4 kmNW
Observatories and planetariums
Roque de los Muchachos Observatory, La Palma
23 min walk • Roque de los Muchachos Observatory is an astronomical observatory located in the municipality of Garafía on the island of La Palma in the Canary Islands, Spain.
1 kmNW
Observatories and planetariums
MAGIC, La Palma
16 min walk • MAGIC is a system of two Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes situated at the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory on La Palma, one of the Canary Islands, at about 2200 m above sea level.
~790 mNE
Observatories and planetariums
William Herschel Telescope, La Palma
13 min walk • The William Herschel Telescope is a 4.20-metre optical/near-infrared reflecting telescope located at the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory on the island of La Palma in the Canary Islands, Spain. The telescope, which is named after William Herschel, is part of the Isaac Newton Group of Telescopes.
~420 mW
Observatories and planetariums, Shopping
Galileo National Telescope, La Palma
7 min walk • The Galileo National Telescope, is a 3.58-meter Italian telescope, located at the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory on the island of La Palma in the Canary Islands, Spain.
~740 mNE
Observatories and planetariums
Swedish Solar Telescope, La Palma
12 min walk • The Swedish 1-m Solar Telescope is a refracting solar telescope at Roque de los Muchachos Observatory, La Palma in the Canary Islands. It is run by the Institute for Solar Physics of Stockholm University.
~700 mNE
Observatories and planetariums
Dutch Open Telescope, La Palma
12 min walk • The Dutch Open Telescope is an optical solar telescope located on Roque de los Muchachos Observatory, La Palma. With a main mirror of 45 centimeters, it can reach an 0.2 arcsec resolution for sustained periods. For further optimization of the images, the DOT uses the image despeckle mechanism.
1 kmNE
Observatories and planetariums
Jacobus Kapteyn Telescope, La Palma
17 min walk • The Jacobus Kapteyn Telescope or JKT is a 1-metre optical telescope named for the Dutch astronomer Jacobus Kapteyn of the Isaac Newton Group of Telescopes at the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory on La Palma in the Canary Islands, Spain.
1.1 kmNE
Observatories and planetariums
Mercator Telescope, La Palma
18 min walk • The Mercator Telescope is a 1.2 m telescope at the Observatorio del Roque de Los Muchachos on La Palma. It is operated by the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium, in collaboration with the Observatory of the University of Geneva and named after Gerard Mercator, famous cartographer.
1 kmNW
Observatories and planetariums
HEGRA, La Palma
17 min walk • HEGRA, which stands for High-Energy-Gamma-Ray Astronomy, was an atmospheric Cherenkov telescope for Gamma-ray astronomy. With its various types of detectors, HEGRA took data between 1987 and 2002, at which point it was dismantled in order to build its successor, MAGIC, at the same site.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Which popular attractions are close to Roque de los Muchachos?

Nearby attractions include Galileo National Telescope, La Palma (7 min walk), Carlsberg Meridian Telescope, La Palma (11 min walk), Dutch Open Telescope, La Palma (12 min walk), Swedish Solar Telescope, La Palma (12 min walk).