Sights · Our pick in the Canary Islands
Roque de los Muchachos Observatory
One of the great observatories
The Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias’ observatory on the summit ridge of La Palma.

Photo Credit
Image courtesy of © H. Zell · CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia CommonsOur take
- Stars
- Views
- Address
- Garafía, La Palma, the Canary Islands
- Website
- iac.es
About Roque de los Muchachos Observatory
The Roque de los Muchachos Observatory, run by the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias, stands high on La Palma and houses, in the IAC’s words, the four telescopes that begin a new era in the exploration of the extreme universe (iac.es).
Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Roque de los Muchachos Observatory before you go.
Last checked: November 2026 How we choose
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What’s nearby
Distances from Roque de los Muchachos Observatory are approximate, measured in a straight line (as the crow flies). Times are approximate too: walking at about 80 metres a minute, cycling at about 12 km/h and driving at typical city-traffic speeds. Traffic and routes vary.
Key sights
- Teide National Park133 kmCar or taxi 208 min
- San Cristóbal de La Laguna156 kmCar or taxi 242 min
- Fundación César Manrique423 kmCar or taxi 643 min
- Jameos del Agua436 kmCar or taxi 661 min
Location
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