Santa Cruz de la Palma Holidays: Castles, Beaches and Climate
Provincia de Santa Cruz de Tenerife · Canary Islands · Spain · 15,674 residents · on the coast
Castle of Santa Catalina
Maroparque
Monasterio Cisterciense de la Santísima Trinidad_02_ies.jpg/500px-La_Palma_-_Santa_Cruz_-_Avenida_de_Las_Nieves_%2B_Museo_Naval_del_Barco_de_La_Virgen_(Castillo_de_la_Virgen)_02_ies.jpg)
Museo Naval del Barco de la Virgen
Mirador Barranco del CarmenSanta Cruz de la Palma is the capital of La Palma, a coastal town of around 15,700 people set barely 18 metres above the Atlantic in the Canary Islands. For British travellers, the appeal starts with the journey: La Palma airport, which has direct flights from the United Kingdom, is about 4 miles away, roughly a six-minute drive. Once there, almost everything is close at hand. The town beach lies a few hundred yards from the centre, the Castle of Santa Catalina and the Museo Naval del Barco de la Virgen sit within half a mile, and a string of miradors look down over the ravines that cut into the hills behind the town. It suits a culture-minded holiday as well as a family one.
Why go
- La Palma airport, with direct UK flights, is only about six minutes' drive from town.
- The Castle of Santa Catalina and the naval museum are both within half a mile of the centre.
- July and August are almost completely dry, with daytime highs of 30 to 31°C.
Top sights in Santa Cruz de la Palma
Castles, museums and seafront beaches
The town's best-known sight is the Castle of Santa Catalina, about 0.3 miles from the centre, and it pairs naturally with the Museo Naval del Barco de la Virgen, a naval museum around 0.4 miles away that works well with children. A second fortress, the Castle of San Carlos, lies about 1.5 miles out, and the Monasterio Cisterciense de la Santísima Trinidad, a Cistercian monastery, is roughly 1.4 miles away. For families, Maroparque, an animal rescue centre, is under a mile from town.
The Playa de Santa Cruz de La Palma is right on the doorstep at about 0.1 miles, while Playa de Bajamar (1.3 miles) and the Costa de Miranda shoreline (1.4 miles) give you alternatives a short hop away. Above town, viewpoints such as the Mirador Barranco del Carmen, La Concepción viewpoint, the Mirador de Carretera Timibucar and the Mirador Barranco de Los Gomeros, all within about 1.5 miles, look out over the ravines and coast.
Tours and tickets for the area can be booked directly from this page, where you will find a selection of activities to compare.
- 1Castle of Santa Catalina
- 2Playa de Bajamar
- 3Maroparque
- 4Castle of San Carlos
- 5Monasterio Cisterciense de la Santísima Trinidad
- 6Museo Naval del Barco de la Virgen
- 7Mirador Barranco del Carmen
- 8Playa de Santa Cruz de La Palma
- 9Costa de Miranda
- 10La Concepción viewpoint
- 11Mirador de Carretera Timibucar
- 12Mirador Barranco de Los Gomeros
1castle- 3zoo
- 5monastery
Monasterio Cisterciense de la Santísima Trinidad
1 mile from the centre · Photo
- 6museum
Museo Naval del Barco de la Virgen
In the centre · Photo
- 7viewpoint
Mirador Barranco del Carmen
1 mile from the centre · Photo
8beachPlaya de Santa Cruz de La Palma
In the centre · Photo
10viewpointLa Concepción viewpoint
1 mile from the centre · Photo
11viewpointMirador de Carretera Timibucar
In the centre · Photo
12viewpointMirador Barranco de Los Gomeros
1 mile from the centre · Photo
Playa de Bajamar
beach · 1 mile from the centre
Castle of San Carlos
castle · 1 mile from the centre
Costa de Miranda
beach · 1 mile from the centre
Tours & tickets in Santa Cruz de la Palma
Guided tours, day trips and tickets in and around Santa Cruz de la Palma can be booked in advance, priced in GBP.
See tours & tickets (opens GetYourGuide in a new tab)Where to stay in Santa Cruz de la Palma
Staying by the sea or the centre
Santa Cruz de la Palma is compact and sits right on the coast, so the distinction between seafront and town centre is a short one: the town beach, the Castle of Santa Catalina and the naval museum all fall within about half a mile of each other. Staying centrally puts the main cultural sights within walking distance.
With a population of around 15,700, this is a capital town rather than a large resort, so expect a working town atmosphere rather than late-night strips. If you want quieter surroundings, Breña Alta and Breña Baja lie just a few miles inland and south. This page shows live hotel prices so you can compare options across the area.
Hire a car
The easiest way to reach Santa Cruz de la Palma and the villages around it is a hire car from La Palma (SPC), about 6 min away.
Best time to visit Santa Cruz de la Palma
When to go to Santa Cruz de la Palma
- 22°CJan88 mm
- 22°CFeb43 mm
- 24°CMar45 mm
- 25°CApr30 mm
- 25°CMay50 mm
- 26°CJun82 mm
- 30°CJul1 mm
- 31°CAug2 mm
- 27°CSept49 mm
- 28°COct45 mm
- 26°CNov50 mm
- 22°CDec70 mm
Highlighted months are the sweet spot for warm, dry weather.
April, May and July offer the most pleasant conditions. In April and May highs reach around 25°C with only seven rain days a month, while July turns hot and almost entirely dry, with highs of about 30°C and barely a millimetre of rain.
August is the hottest month, peaking around 31°C with nights near 23°C, and it is just as dry as July. The wettest periods are winter and, perhaps surprisingly, June: January brings around 88 mm over 13 rain days and June about 82 mm over 12 days. Even so, winter highs hold at roughly 22°C, so the town remains mild all year for anyone escaping a British January.
Full monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 22°C | 15°C | 88 mm | 9 h |
| Feb | 22°C | 15°C | 43 mm | 10 h |
| Mar | 24°C | 16°C | 45 mm | 11 h |
| Apr | 25°C | 17°C | 30 mm | 12 h |
| May | 25°C | 17°C | 50 mm | 12 h |
| Jun | 26°C | 19°C | 82 mm | 12 h |
| Jul | 30°C | 21°C | 1 mm | 13 h |
| Aug | 31°C | 23°C | 2 mm | 12 h |
| Sept | 27°C | 20°C | 49 mm | 11 h |
| Oct | 28°C | 21°C | 45 mm | 10 h |
| Nov | 26°C | 18°C | 50 mm | 9 h |
| Dec | 22°C | 16°C | 70 mm | 9 h |
Averages 2015–2024. Highlighted months are the sweet spot for warm, dry weather.
Getting there from the UK
Flights and ferries from the UK
The nearest airport is La Palma (SPC), which has direct flights from the United Kingdom. It lies about 4 miles from town, a drive of roughly six minutes, which makes this one of the easiest island capitals to reach once you land.
As La Palma is an island, there is no drive from Calais. If you are already in the Canaries, ferries run to La Palma from Los Cristianos, about 77 miles away on Tenerife, and from Santa Cruz de Tenerife, about 93 miles away, which also links to Las Palmas, La Gomera and El Hierro.
By air
- La Palma (SPC)4 miles, about 6 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
By car and ferry
Nearest ferry ports: Los Cristianos (77 miles), Santa Cruz de Tenerife (93 miles).
Santa Cruz de la Palma is good for
Around Santa Cruz de la Palma
Day trips across La Palma
Distances on the island are short. Breña Alta is about 2.5 miles away, with Breña Baja and Puntallana both roughly 3.7 miles from town, making them easy half-day outings.
Crossing to the west of the island, El Paso is around 7.5 miles away and Los Llanos de Aridane, the largest nearby town with over 20,000 residents, is about 9 miles. Tazacorte lies roughly 10.5 miles away, while the small coastal settlement of Puerto Naos and the village of Tijarafe are each about 11 miles from Santa Cruz.
Tips from Robin
Practical tips before you go
Pack for both seasons if travelling outside high summer: June and the winter months bring a dozen or so rain days, even though temperatures stay in the low to mid 20s.
The airport is so close that a late-evening arrival need not cost you a night; you can be in town within minutes of landing. And because this is a modest capital of around 15,700 people rather than a purpose-built resort, it pays to plan beach days around the town beach or nearby Playa de Bajamar.
Questions people ask
Are there direct flights from the UK to Santa Cruz de la Palma?
Yes. La Palma airport (SPC) has direct flights from the United Kingdom. It sits about 4 miles from Santa Cruz de la Palma, roughly a six-minute drive, so you can reach the town centre very quickly after landing.
What is the best month to visit Santa Cruz de la Palma?
April, May and July are the most pleasant months. Spring brings highs of around 25°C with about seven rain days, while July is hot and dry at around 30°C with almost no rainfall at all.
Is Santa Cruz de la Palma good for families?
It works well for families. The town beach is right by the centre, Playa de Bajamar is about 1.3 miles away, Maroparque animal rescue centre is under a mile from town, and the Museo Naval del Barco de la Virgen is about 0.4 miles away.
Does it rain much in Santa Cruz de la Palma?
Rain falls mainly in winter and June. January sees around 88 mm over 13 days and June about 82 mm over 12 days. By contrast, July and August are almost completely dry, with just one rain day each.
Can I get to Santa Cruz de la Palma by ferry?
Yes, from elsewhere in the Canaries. Ferries reach La Palma from Los Cristianos, around 77 miles away on Tenerife, and from Santa Cruz de Tenerife, about 93 miles away, which also connects to Las Palmas, La Gomera and El Hierro.