Night Photography in La Palma: Learn to Photograph the Stars
La Palma is an extraordinary destination for night photography and astrophotography. Its dark skies and varied landscapes provide excellent opportunities to photograph the night sky and combine the stars with the island’s natural scenery.
Join our guided night photography tour in La Palma and learn how to capture night landscapes, stars and, when conditions allow, the Milky Way. This hands-on experience is designed for photography enthusiasts who want to explore the possibilities of nightscape astrophotography.
At AstroLaPalma, we have been organising astronomy and science outreach activities since 2012. This experience combines knowledge of the night sky, practical photography techniques and carefully selected locations based on the conditions each evening.
What Will You Learn on Our Night Photography Tour?
This activity is designed for people who already understand the basic functions of their camera and want to get started with, or improve their skills in, night landscape photography.
- Understand how to photograph the night sky and La Palma’s landscapes.
- Use your camera’s manual settings in low-light conditions.
- Practise adjusting ISO sensitivity, aperture and exposure time.
- Learn how to combine terrestrial landscapes with a star-filled sky.
- Discover basic astronomy concepts that can help you plan your photographs.
- Understand how weather conditions influence night photography.
No previous knowledge of astronomy is required, but you should have a basic understanding of photography and know how to operate your camera.
Night Photography Tour: Practical Information
| ACTIVITY | Guided night landscape and star photography tour in La Palma. |
| DURATION | Approximately 5 hours. |
| PRICE | €49 per adult. |
| GROUP SIZE | Minimum 3 and maximum 6 participants. |
| LANGUAGE | Spanish or English, subject to availability. |
| MEETING POINT | Our office at Travesía de Los Cancajos, 2, Local B1, 38711 Breña Baja, La Palma. |
| DEPARTURE TIME | Departure time varies depending on the season and sunset time. The exact time is printed on your ticket. Please check it carefully and arrive at least 10 minutes early. |
| LOCATION | The observing and photography location is selected according to the weather and photographic conditions. The final location may be decided on the day of the activity, shortly before departure. |
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| AVAILABILITY | Scheduled activities during the summer and on request outside the summer season, subject to availability. For enquiries or group bookings, please email info@lapalmastars.com. |
What Camera and Lenses Do You Need to Photograph the Stars?
To make the most of this experience, you will need a camera that allows you to adjust exposure time, aperture and ISO sensitivity manually.
Recommended equipment:
- Camera: preferably a DSLR with manual settings, ISO 3200 or higher and exposure times of up to 30 seconds.
- Lenses: preferably a wide-angle lens, such as 14–24 mm, or focal lengths of 24, 35 or 50 mm, depending on the type of photography.
- Aperture: fast lenses, such as f/2.8 or f/1.4, are particularly useful.
- Tripod: essential for stable long-exposure photography.
- Red-light torch: recommended for handling your equipment at night.
If you are unsure whether your equipment is suitable, please contact us before booking.
Night Photography Tour: Terms and Conditions
- Booking: tickets are valid only for the named participant, date and time shown on the ticket. Tickets are non-transferable.
- Punctuality: please arrive at the meeting point at least 10 minutes before departure. The activity starts on time, and late arrivals are not entitled to a refund.
- Transport: transport is not included. Participants must have their own vehicle or a rental car.
- Weather conditions: the activity is subject to weather and safety conditions. Partial cloud cover does not necessarily mean cancellation if the main photography objectives can still be achieved.
- Communication: if any changes or cancellations occur, AstroLaPalma will contact participants using the mobile phone number provided during booking. Please keep your phone available and check your messages before travelling to the meeting point.
- Cancellation by AstroLaPalma: if the activity must be cancelled due to adverse weather or other circumstances preventing it from taking place, we will offer an alternative available date. If rescheduling is not possible, the amount paid will be refunded.
- Cancellation by the customer: you may cancel your booking up to 72 hours before the scheduled start, subject to a 20% administration fee deducted from the amount paid. Cancellations made less than 72 hours before the activity are non-refundable.
- Cancellation requests: must be submitted by email to info@lapalmastars.com.
- Observatory: this activity does not take place inside the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory, which is not open to the public at night. If you would like to visit the facilities, please see our daytime Observatory visits.
- Emergencies outside office hours: +34 622 805 618. Please send a text message.
Book Your Night Photography Experience in La Palma
Discover how to photograph La Palma’s starry skies and night landscapes with guidance from AstroLaPalma. A practical small-group experience designed to help you learn, experiment and enjoy night photography.
Check the available dates in the booking calendar on this page. For enquiries outside scheduled dates or customised group activities, contact us at info@lapalmastars.com.
You can also read our Frequently Asked Questions and booking instructions.
Legal Information and General Booking Conditions
Before booking, please read our basic data protection information, general booking conditions, privacy policy and legal notice.
Additional information
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