El Paso, La Palma: Holiday Guide for UK Travellers
Provincia de Santa Cruz de Tenerife · Canary Islands · Spain · 7,543 residents
El Paso is an inland town of around 7,543 people, set at 641 metres above sea level in the Canary Islands province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. It is a short hop from La Palma airport, which has direct flights from the United Kingdom, and it sits within a few miles of Los Llanos de Aridane, Tazacorte and Puerto Naos. The town's best-known site is El Hoyo y Peña del Diablo, an archaeological site just outside the centre. Its upland position shapes the weather: summers are dry and warm, with August highs around 31°C, while the winter months stay mild at around 18°C by day. It suits travellers who want a quieter base with the coast close by.
Why go
- La Palma airport, with direct flights from the UK, is only an 11-minute drive away.
- July and August are almost rain-free, with daytime highs of 29°C to 31°C.
- El Hoyo y Peña del Diablo, an archaeological site, lies about a mile from town.
Top sights in El Paso
Archaeology and island excursions
The headline sight is El Hoyo y Peña del Diablo, an archaeological site roughly 1.5 km, or about a mile, from the centre of El Paso. It is the town's main cultural draw and an easy first outing on arrival.
Beyond that, El Paso works best as a base for exploring the surrounding towns and the wider island. Tours and tickets for activities in and around El Paso can be booked directly on this page, where you will find the current options listed.
1archaeological site
Tours & tickets in El Paso
Guided tours, day trips and tickets in and around El Paso can be booked in advance, priced in GBP.
See tours & tickets (opens GetYourGuide in a new tab)Where to stay in El Paso
An inland base above the coast
El Paso is not on the coast; it sits at 641 metres, so staying here means a quieter, upland base rather than a seafront one. With a population of around 7,543, it is a small town where evenings are calm.
If you would rather be nearer the water or somewhere livelier, Los Llanos de Aridane, the larger neighbouring town of over 20,000 people, is just 2 miles away, and Puerto Naos is about 5 miles off. This page shows live hotel prices so you can compare options in El Paso and nearby.
Hire a car
The easiest way to reach El Paso and the villages around it is a hire car from La Palma (SPC), about 11 min away.
Best time to visit El Paso
When to visit El Paso
- 18°CJan58 mm
- 18°CFeb41 mm
- 21°CMar28 mm
- 23°CApr43 mm
- 22°CMay79 mm
- 24°CJun80 mm
- 29°CJul4 mm
- 31°CAug4 mm
- 24°CSept53 mm
- 26°COct69 mm
- 23°CNov63 mm
- 18°CDec48 mm
Highlighted months are the sweet spot for warm, dry weather.
July and August are the best months to come. They are the hottest and by far the driest: July averages 29°C by day with just 4 mm of rain over a single rainy day, and August reaches 31°C with 4 mm across two rainy days. Nights stay mild, at 17°C to 19°C.
The wettest stretch by rainfall is May and June, at around 79 to 80 mm each, while January has the most rainy days, 13 on average. Winter is mild rather than hot, with highs of 18°C from December to February and lows of 10°C to 11°C. Sea temperature figures are not available for this inland town.
Full monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 18°C | 11°C | 58 mm | 9 h |
| Feb | 18°C | 10°C | 41 mm | 10 h |
| Mar | 21°C | 11°C | 28 mm | 10 h |
| Apr | 23°C | 13°C | 43 mm | 11 h |
| May | 22°C | 13°C | 79 mm | 11 h |
| Jun | 24°C | 14°C | 80 mm | 12 h |
| Jul | 29°C | 17°C | 4 mm | 13 h |
| Aug | 31°C | 19°C | 4 mm | 12 h |
| Sept | 24°C | 15°C | 53 mm | 10 h |
| Oct | 26°C | 17°C | 69 mm | 9 h |
| Nov | 23°C | 14°C | 63 mm | 9 h |
| Dec | 18°C | 11°C | 48 mm | 8 h |
Averages 2015–2024. Highlighted months are the sweet spot for warm, dry weather.
Getting there from the UK
Flying in from the United Kingdom
The nearest airport is La Palma (SPC), about 8 miles from El Paso, and it has direct flights from the United Kingdom. The drive from the airport takes around 11 minutes, so you can be settled in very quickly after landing; car hire makes the most sense for getting about.
For ferry connections, Los Cristianos is around 82 miles away and runs routes to La Palma, San Sebastián de la Gomera and El Hierro, which is useful if you are combining El Paso with another island.
By air
- La Palma (SPC)8 miles, about 11 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
By car and ferry
Nearest ferry ports: Los Cristianos (82 miles).
El Paso is good for
Around El Paso
Easy trips from El Paso
Los Llanos de Aridane is the closest neighbour at about 2 miles, and with over 20,000 residents it is the largest town nearby. Tazacorte lies around 3 miles away, and the small settlement of Puerto Naos, home to fewer than 1,000 people, is about 5 miles off.
Heading further, Tijarafe and Breña Baja are both around 6 miles away, as is Breña Alta. Santa Cruz de la Palma, a town of over 15,000, is about 7 miles from El Paso, and Puntallana is roughly 11 miles away.
Tips from Robin
Practical points before you go
At 641 metres, El Paso is higher than the coastal towns around it, so pack a warm layer for evenings outside the summer months, when lows drop to 10°C or 11°C.
Rain is spread across much of the year, with May, June and the autumn months all fairly damp, so if dry weather matters, book for July or August. As a small town of around 7,543 people, El Paso is quiet, and a hire car makes it far easier to reach the airport, the coast and neighbouring towns.
Questions people ask
Are there direct flights from the UK to El Paso?
The nearest airport, La Palma (SPC), has direct flights from the United Kingdom. It is about 8 miles from El Paso, and the drive takes around 11 minutes, making it a very convenient arrival point for a holiday here.
What is the best month to visit El Paso?
July and August are the best months. They are the warmest and driest of the year, with highs of 29°C to 31°C and only around 4 mm of rain each month, spread over one or two rainy days.
Is El Paso on the coast?
No, El Paso is an inland town at 641 metres above sea level. The coastal settlement of Puerto Naos is about 5 miles away and Tazacorte around 3 miles, so the sea is within easy reach by car.
What is there to see in El Paso?
The main sight is El Hoyo y Peña del Diablo, an archaeological site about a mile from the town centre. Tours and activity tickets for El Paso and the surrounding area can be booked on this page.
How warm is El Paso in winter?
Winters are mild rather than hot. From December to February, daytime highs average 18°C, with night-time lows of 10°C to 11°C. January is the rainiest month by number of days, with around 13 rainy days on average.