Todoque: Volcanic Caves, Nature and Local History on La Palma

Todoque is associated with the Tubo Volcánico de Todoque natural monument. It lies underground on the western slope of La Palma between Las Manchas and Todoque, south of the Aridane Valley, in the municipality of Los Llanos de Aridane. Designated as ZEC ES7020018, the Tubo Volcánico de Todoque is part of the Natura 2000 network of the Canary Islands.

Nature

Underground, the ZEC ES7020018 Tubo Volcánico de Todoque comprises three cave sections belonging to two branches of a lava flow. This lava flow formed during the eruption of the San Juan volcano in 1949. At 560 metres in length, Todoque I is the longest named section of the cave system. Todoque II is a named cave section measuring 157 metres in length.

Specimens of three troglobiont species adapted to the subterranean environment have been recorded in Todoque I: Loboptera teneguia, Anataelia troglobia and Apteranopsis tanausui. Cueva del Vidrio is the easternmost known section of the lava tube and lies outside, but immediately adjacent to, the ZEC ES7020018 Tubo Volcánico de Todoque. Cueva Verde is a volcanic cave approximately 40 metres long.

The information on the formation, sections and lengths can be read separately and used as straightforward guidance for planning your own day. The natural-history species names focus on a different aspect from the geological information on lengths and locations.

Visitors and Trails

The “Caños de Fuego” visitor centre is located on the Ctra. El Hoyo–Todoque road. Floating walkways provide access to the “Cueva de Las Palomas” lava tube after the visit. One time-related restriction is also important for planning your routes: in the area around Todoque, the official GR-130 between Los Llanos and Jedey is currently impassable due to the 2021 volcanic eruption.

When comparing a holiday apartment in Todoque, you can check the travel dates, room category and cancellation conditions as separate comparison fields on the respective listing pages. These three details can be compared independently with your own travel plans. Travel dates define your own period, the room category describes the classification offered, and cancellation conditions concern the conditions applicable to the respective offer. In Todoque, this keeps the choice of accommodation separate from the caves, trails and historical references described here; these topics can be weighted independently. Depending on your travel plans, the time frame may matter more than the room layout or the arrangements for changes.

More Local Pages

More local pages: Los Campitos, Jedey and Puerto Naos.

Local History

The church of Todoque was built by the settlement's residents in 1964. During the pilgrimage of the Virgen de Las Nieves, a memorial monolith was unveiled on the site of Todoque's former square. The bell tower of the church of Todoque became a symbol of the resistance of a community strongly connected to its homeland.

For the main travel overview: Los Llanos De Aridane.