Like the rest of the Canary Islands, La Palma has its origin in the numerous volcanic eruptions that occurred in the ocean floor. The Caldera de Taburiente is the largest geographic feature on the island. It is an impressive depression that exceeds the 1,000 M. in height and has a diameter of 8 Km. It is located in the northern part of the island and opens up to the southwest through the Barranco de las Angustias. In one of its summits is the highest point of the island, the Roque de Los Muchachos, which reaches 2,426 meters above sea level.

The national park presents geological formations of high interest, where the ancient lavas of the basal complex and the more modern series of lava of the vertical walls can be found. The material that dominates in the park is the basalt, dark in colour and with the presence of crystallized minerals, such as olivine and pyroxene. The large slopes and rocky walls, the presence of numerous dikes, the roques, ridges and ravines, the different streams, the great depression of La Caldera and the existence of a multitude of waterfalls, have led to a large number of scientific studies, due to the interest in these natural values.

During the past 150,000 years, the volcanic activity has been transferred to the southern sector of the island, due to the migration to the south of the magmatic source. The last volcanic eruption was the one of the Teneguía volcano and it took place in 1971.

Throughout history there have been various theories about the origin of La Caldera. In the nineteenth century, there was the hypothesis of the lifting, on the basis of which the formation was created due to the force exerted by the magma at depth on previous lava streams and a subsequent collapse. In the twentieth century, in the decade of the 80's, it was developed a new theory based on periods of activity interspersed with erosions and landslides. Finally, in the 90's the formation of the Caldera is postulated through giant landslides.