Los Indianos festival draws record 70,000 crowd in La Palma
Santa Cruz de La Palma hosted one of its biggest and most international editions of Los Indianos yesterday, Monday, attracting more than 70,000 revellers according to the capital’s council. The city, which normally has a population of around 15,000, more than quadrupled its size for the day as residents, visitors and thousands of cruise tourists transformed the streets into a vibrant, talcum-powder-filled celebration.
The influx was boosted by the simultaneous arrival of two transatlantic cruise ships, whose passengers joined the festivities shortly after docking. Their presence added to the cosmopolitan mix that has become a hallmark of this iconic carnival event.
The day began at 10:30am with the eagerly awaited reception of La Negra Tomasa in the main Carnival arena, while the traditional ceremony of La Espera unfolded in the atrium of the town hall.
When La Negra Tomasa, portrayed once again by 86-year-old Víctor Lorenzo Díaz, finally appeared, the square erupted. Capacity was reached early, with entrances closed due to the sheer volume of people arriving by land, sea and air.
A commemorative plaque was also unveiled, temporarily renaming the Plaza de España as Plaza de La Habana, an act attended by the Consul of Cuba in the Canary Islands, Alejandro Padrón.
La Negra Tomasa arrives in the capital of La Palma and the 'Plaza de La Habana' (Source: El Time).
An Atmosphere Described as “the UN Embassy of Cuba”
One attendee summed up the scene as “the UN headquarters of Cuba”, pointing to the diversity of nationalities filling the streets. Nearly everyone adhered to the traditional dress code: white clothing, linen suits, Panama hats and, of course, handfuls of talcum powder — the defining element of Los Indianos.
This year, the already characteristic white haze mixed with a layer of calima, creating a dense, almost surreal atmosphere that reduced visibility to just a few metres and amplified the unique aesthetic of the celebration.
A Signature Event of the Atlantic Carnival
With its blend of humour, Caribbean influence and Canarian folklore, Los Indianos once again positioned La Palma at the centre of Atlantic carnival culture. Despite the overwhelming turnout, the event unfolded with the joyful, exuberant spirit that has turned it into one of the Canary Islands’ most distinctive celebrations.
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