The main season for northern European visitors is just starting on La Palma. Not only Thomson, but also Easy Jet are now offering direct flights to the island from the UK. Cruise ships will also be calling on a regular basis throughout the autumn and winter.
The wildfire back in August has blackened pine forests in the south, making the drive down the western flank from Las Manchas to Fuencaliente rather depressing, but otherwise, not much of the burnt area is visible from the island's roads. As a safety precaution, and to enable the local authorities to assess the damage, all hiking paths in the southern summits are currently closed.
The whole of the northern half of the island, including the Caldera de Taburiente National Park, is totally unaffected by the blaze.
Here is some promotional writing to whet your appetite before your visit:
http://www.hellocanaryislands.com/users/robert-burton/
