La Palma’s salt fields
In the south of the island of La Palma you will discover these curious salt fields, which have been declared an Official Site of Scientific Interest owing to the fact that many migratory birds use the site to rest. One of the most visited parts of all La Palma, here the earth, air and water join forces to form the salt fields of Fuencaliente, a hugely valuable human landscape where the contrasts of the white of the salt, the blue of the sea and the black of the volcanic earth paint a picture of immense beauty. Nature’s colour palette paints the salt fields in a spectacular manner.
Flor de Sal harvested in Fuencaliente
The sea water is trapped between stone and mud which forms a labyrinth where the sun evaporates off the liquid, leaving behind the salt. This produces incredible colour effects from yellow to blue, passing through hues of pink. The small, sparkly crystals are collected by hand and formed into small pyramids, which are dried by the air. In the Jardín de la Sal, a themed restaurant, you can learn about the production process and purchase high-quality products such as the Flor de Sal, or Salt Flower, the purest form of salt.