ABORA EXPEDITIONS:

TRAVELLING TO EXPLORE THE SKY.

An astrotourism journey is not simply about observing stars, but about learning how to read the sky and understand our place in the universe. It is an educational and sensory experience that invites us to slow down, switch off artificial light, and recover an ancestral relationship with the night. The sky becomes a classroom, a map and a living narrative.

Since the dawn of civilisation, the stars have been both compass and teacher. Ancient cultures looked to the heavens to navigate, measure time and organise life on Earth. From the earliest human settlements, the sky was the first reference through which humanity sought to understand the world.

For ancient mathematicians and astronomers, the sky was a living equation. Observing celestial patterns gave rise to geometry, timekeeping and the first forms of cosmology. The position of stars and constellations enabled early navigators to cross open seas long before maps existed, reading the movement of the firmament as a precise language. Lunar cycles shaped agricultural calendars, determining when to sow and harvest, and aligning human activity with natural rhythms. Looking to the sky was not merely an act of contemplation, but a practical and philosophical necessity: understanding the order of the universe in order to bring meaning and balance to life on Earth.

A well-designed astrotourism journey weaves together scientific knowledge, emotional experience and a deep connection to place. During the day, travellers prepare: they learn how the cosmos works, why certain regions of the world are privileged for astronomical observation, how ancient cultures navigated by the stars, and how landscape, geology, climate and sky are intrinsically linked. When night falls, the experience transforms. Telescopes, naked-eye observation, guided storytelling and conscious silence allow knowledge to be absorbed through emotion and contemplation.

La Palma offers the ideal setting for this type of journey. Its altitude, stable atmosphere, minimal light pollution and strong scientific tradition turn every clear night into a living educational experience. Here, the sky is not something to be “consumed”; it is interpreted, respected and protected.

What does it mean to be a Starlight destination?

Being Starlight is not a conventional tourism label. It represents an ethical, scientific and educational commitment to protecting the night sky as a shared heritage of humanity. A Starlight destination guarantees:

• Exceptionally high-quality skies for astronomical observation.

• Active legislation against light pollution.

• Scientific outreach and environmental education programmes.

• Experiences led by trained and certified professionals.

Travelling to a Starlight destination means becoming part of a culture that understands the night as a common good, not a resource to be exploited.

The true value of astrotourism lies in its power to transform. By observing galaxies, nebulae and constellations, travellers expand their sense of scale, place everyday concerns into perspective, and awaken a deeper curiosity for science, nature and human history.

In La Palma, astrotourism becomes a complete experience: living science, volcanic landscapes, ancestral culture and a protected sky come together in a coherent narrative. A journey that is not only remembered, but one that changes the way we look at the world… and at the sky itself. When you engage in astrotourism, remember: it is far more than looking at stars, it demands depth, awareness and true value within the experience.