CALDERA DE BANDAMA

The caldera or crater of Bandama forms a perfect bowl, 1 km across and 200m deep, with no way out at the bottom. Its steep but gentle seeming slopes are made up of dark grey ash, but the floor of the crater is patchily fertile, containing a single farm with chickens and goats, figs, oranges, palms and potatoes. You can walk down into the crater (about one hour) from the tiny hamlet of Bandama, taking a path past the church. Take care, though, as the steps soon peter out. Bandama, named after Dutchman Daniel van Damm, who arrived in 1560 and planted vines here, has a small bar which serves excellent roast pork and red wine.

There are superb views from the immediately adjacent Pico de Bandama mirador.  The peak itself being a large pimple on the volcanic rim. The mirador is popular with coach parties during the day and courting couples at night, with some resulting wear to the crater's upper slopes.

On the seaward side, there are lofty views over the two Tafiras and to Las Palmas. On the west side of the crater is the Club de Golf Bandama, the oldest golf club in Spain, founded in 1891 by the British community who settled in Santa Brigida and the neighboring Tafiras. The club moved from Las Palmas to this marvelous site on the edge of the crater in 1956. The accompanying Hotel Golf Bandama, comfortable but seriously sporty, is owned by a naturalized Spanish Swede and patronized mostly by Scandinavians, Japanese and the local upper classes.