Los Indianos, Santa Cruz de La Palma

Los Indianos is the Carnival Monday party of Santa Cruz de La Palma, the island's capital: the whole town dresses in white — linen suits, guayaberas, Panama hats, lace parasols and old suitcases — and throws talcum powder to Cuban music. It recalls, with irony, the "indianos", islanders who emigrated to Cuba and Latin America and came home showing off their new wealth. In 2026 the city council counted more than 70,000 people, in a town of around 15,000 residents.

When is Los Indianos 2027?

Los Indianos is always held on Carnival Monday, so the date moves with Easter. In 2027 Ash Wednesday falls on 10 February, which makes Carnival Monday 8 February 2027 — the date already shown on the official Canary Islands and La Palma tourism calendars. The Ayuntamiento de Santa Cruz de La Palma usually confirms the programme and poster at the start of the year, so check before booking. The children's version, Los Indianitos, is held as part of the same carnival.

What happens on the day?

• The arrival of La Negra Tomasa. The festival's emblematic character, created by Víctor Lorenzo Díaz Molina ("Sosó"), arrives at the town-hall square (Plaza de España) to start the party.
• The parade. Revellers move between the port area on Avenida de los Indianos and Plaza de La Alameda, with the historic centre packed in between.
• Talc everywhere. The air turns white. A popular story says it began with a spoiled cargo of flour; historians point to much older carnival customs of "empolvarse" mentioned in 17th-century documents, and talc replaced flour in the second half of the 20th century.
• Music and food. Sones, guarachas and guajiras play from stages and bars, alongside traditional sweets such as sopas de miel and buñuelos, and cane rum.

How to prepare

• Dress code: white, ideally period-style. Even simple white clothes are fine; costumes in other colours stand out.
• Protect your eyes, lungs and gear. Talc gets into everything. Sunglasses or goggles help, and people with asthma or allergies should consider a mask. Use a waterproof bag or cover for phones and cameras.
• Arrive early. In 2026 entrances to the main square were closed once capacity was reached, and calima combined with talc cut visibility to a few metres.
• Book transport and rooms early. Visitors arrive by plane and inter-island ferry, and cruise ships may be in port the same day; accommodation in the capital fills quickly.

The festival is the island's carnival highlight, and the same town hosts the five-yearly Bajada de la Virgen de las Nieves (next in 2030). Combine a visit with the Caldera de Taburiente or the La Palma island guide. If you prefer giant parades and galas, the Santa Cruz de Tenerife carnival is a short flight or ferry away.