Cheap flights to La Palma
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Quick summary
Country
Spain
Continent
Europe
Airport
SPC
Currency
Euro (EUR)
Time zone
UTC+0 (UTC+1 during summer time)
Deals already spotted to La Palma
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Why track La Palma with SniperAir
La Isla Bonita: volcanoes, forests and a sky made for stars
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La Palma, nicknamed "La Isla Bonita" (The Beautiful Island), is the most north-westerly island of the Canary Islands. It covers 708.32 square kilometres, the fifth largest of the eight main islands, and had a population of 84,338 at the start of 2023, of whom 15,522 lived in the capital, Santa Cruz de La Palma (Wikipedia EN). Its highest point, the Roque de los Muchachos, stands at 2,426 m, second in the Canaries only to the Teide massif on Tenerife (Wikipedia EN, ES, DE). In 1815 the German geologist Leopold von Buch visited the island, and it was after seeing the Taburiente caldera here that the Spanish word caldera entered the vocabulary of geology (Wikipedia EN). The whole island has been a UNESCO biosphere reserve since 2002, after Los Tilos was listed in 1983 (Wikipedia ES, FR). This guide presents La Palma as open sources describe it; SniperAir tracks flight prices to SPC, compares them with the route's real price history and alerts you when one falls below your budget.
Airport and getting into town
An airport 8 km from the capital, linked to the other islands and to Europe
La Palma - La Palma Airport (SPC)
La Palma Airport (SPC) lies in Breña Baja and Villa de Mazo, about 8 km south of Santa Cruz de La Palma (Wikipedia EN, FR). Wikipedia (EN) says it is served mainly by inter-island flights from Tenerife and Gran Canaria, with some flights to major European cities and charter flights from mainland Europe, such as Germany, the United Kingdom, Scandinavia and the Netherlands. Wikipedia (ES) adds several weekly frequencies with Madrid and Barcelona. These links vary with the season, so we publish no list and no timetable. The island also has ferries from the port of Santa Cruz to Tenerife (Wikipedia ES; Wikivoyage EN).
Distance airport to capital: about 8 km (Wikipedia EN, FR). Santa Cruz-Tenerife ferries: from 2 to 5 hours depending on the vessel (Wikipedia ES); about 3 hours to Los Cristianos (Wikivoyage EN). No fares published.
A short road, the LP-5, joins the airport to the island's road network (Wikipedia DE). For a price alert, watch SPC; depending on your home airport, connections via Tenerife or Gran Canaria may also exist, which you should check before booking. Entry conditions, travel advice and flight links can change depending on your country of departure: check your own government's official recommendations before you book.
Landmarks
Observatories, waterfront, craters and caldera
La Palma is best known for its landscapes. Here are seven places to look for first, described as open sources present them.
Roque de los Muchachos and its observatories
At the island's summit, 2,426 m above sea level, stands the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory, one of the world's premier astronomical observatories (Wikipedia EN). A mountain road, the LP-4, about 48 km long, climbs to the site (Wikipedia ES, DE). Wikivoyage (EN) notes that night access is restricted because of the observatory and that the road can close for a few days in winter because of snow. A visitor centre was inaugurated there in December 2021 (Wikipedia EN).
Santa Cruz de La Palma and its waterfront
The capital was founded on 3 May 1493 after the conquest of the island (Wikipedia ES). Its harbour became one of the great stopovers between Europe and the Americas, and in the 16th century the island held, after Antwerp and Seville, the privilege of trade with America (Wikipedia ES). The town was sacked in 1553 by the French corsair François Le Clerc and then fortified; the Castillo de Santa Catalina survives among its old defences (Wikipedia ES).
The Avenida Marítima and its wooden balconies
Wikipedia (ES) calls the Avenida Marítima, with its popular wooden balconies, one of the best-known views of the city and its most characteristic image. Wikivoyage (EN) describes old buildings, cobbled streets and Canarian balconies along the avenue. In town, the Plaza de España, with the church of El Salvador and the town hall, forms the archipelago's main Renaissance ensemble (Wikipedia ES).
The Cumbre Vieja and the Ruta de los Volcanes
In the south, the Cumbre Vieja is a volcanic ridge formed by numerous cones of lava and scoria, and it remains active: since records began, eight eruptions have occurred there, including 1949 and 1971 (Wikipedia EN). The 1971 Teneguía eruption lasted 24 days, from 26 October to 18 November (Wikipedia ES). The Ruta de los Volcanes, which follows the ridge through the southern half of the island, is one of its great attractions (Wikipedia ES); Wikivoyage (EN) calls it demanding and dusty on hot days.
A landscape shaped by the 2021 eruption
On 19 September 2021 a new volcano erupted on the Cumbre Vieja after several seismic crises (Wikipedia EN, FR). It lasted about three months, 85 days according to Wikipedia (EN) and officially declared over on 25 December 2021 according to Wikipedia (FR). It profoundly affected many residents and caused significant damage. We give no damage figures here, because estimates differ between sources. A Special Commissioner for the island's reconstruction was created in 2022 (Wikipedia EN). Ask the local authorities about any areas still subject to restrictions before you go, and visit with respect for the people who live there.
The Caldera de Taburiente
At the heart of the island, the Caldera de Taburiente is a vast erosion crater about 9 km wide and 1,500 m deep, ringed by mountains (Wikipedia EN, FR, DE). It is a national park, one of the four in the Canaries (Wikipedia EN, FR), declared in 1954 (Wikipedia ES). According to Wikipedia (EN) it can be reached only on foot, through the deep Barranco de las Angustias, and Wikivoyage (EN) warns that the riverbed is dangerous during winter flash floods.
One of the best night skies
Clouds that form between 1,000 and 2,000 m act as a mirror and stop light pollution from the coastal towns from interfering with stargazing (Wikipedia ES). To protect the quality of the sky, Spain passed a law on astronomical sky quality in 1988, which also governs street lighting and air traffic above the observatories (Wikipedia ES). Wikipedia (DE) mentions a Starlight Reserve on the island, and the island's tourist board promotes astrotourism (visitlapalma.es).
Other places on La Palma: the Los Tilos laurel forest, listed as a UNESCO biosphere reserve in 1983 (Wikipedia ES); the La Fajana natural seawater pools in Barlovento (Wikipedia ES); the Fuencaliente lighthouse in the south, where the Transvulcania ultramarathon starts (Wikipedia DE; Wikivoyage EN); and the terraced banana farms of the north-east coast (Wikivoyage EN). Wikivoyage (EN) also mentions the GR-130, a circular route around the island that needs at least seven days.
Museums and culture
Culture and heritage: island museum, theatres and festivals
Island museum and convents
In Santa Cruz, the church and former Dominican convent of San Francisco house the Museo Insular, and the church of Santo Domingo is part of the city's religious heritage (Wikipedia ES). Wikipedia (ES) also stresses the importance of sculpture and paintings imported from Flanders and the Americas. We give no fare and no opening hours.
Theatres and noble houses
The capital has two theatres, the Teatro Circo de Marte and the Teatro Chico (Wikipedia ES, DE). Calle O'Daly and the Calle Real hold buildings of great interest, such as the Palacio Sotomayor and the Casa Principal de Salazar with its four storeys of balconies (Wikipedia ES). Street names such as O'Daly (an Irishman) or Vandale (a Fleming) are reminders of the port's cosmopolitan past (Wikipedia ES).
Festivals and traditions
Carnival, with Los Indianos on the Monday, is Santa Cruz's main festival; the Fiestas Lustrales of the Descent of the Virgen de las Nieves, the island's patron, take place every five years, in years ending in 0 or 5 (Wikipedia ES). Its Holy Week is the only one in the archipelago declared a Festival of Regional Tourist Interest (Wikipedia ES). Dates and programmes change, so check before you book.
Food and drink
Papas arrugadas, mojo, goat and volcanic wines
Dishes and sauces
Wikipedia (ES) presents La Palma's cooking as one of the most elaborate in the archipelago, especially for desserts and mojos, the sauces served with many dishes. Papas arrugadas, potatoes cooked unpeeled in heavily salted water, accompany fish and meat (Wikipedia ES). Wikivoyage (EN) lists goat as a local staple: cabrito (young goat, usually fried) and cabra (older goat, usually stewed). Gofio, a roasted and ground grain flour, is a traditional staple (Wikipedia DE).
Sweets and drinks
Wikivoyage (EN) mentions bienmesabe, a very sweet dessert of ground almonds in honey, and barraquito, an espresso with condensed milk, sometimes with a shot of liqueur. The almond trees of Puntagorda bloom in February or March (Wikipedia DE). The island makes wine, historically the sweet malvasia of the young volcanic soils in the south, and rum (Wikipedia ES, DE; Wikivoyage EN).
Crops and produce
Bananas are the island's main crop (Wikipedia EN, ES, DE); oranges, avocados, vegetables and grapes for wine are also grown (Wikipedia EN, ES). A cigar factory exists in El Paso (Wikipedia ES). We name no address and no brand; ask locally.
Getting around
Hire car, buses, ferries and trails
A car is the most practical
Wikivoyage (EN) says a hire car is the best way to reach remote areas. The road network exceeds 500 km, all asphalted but very winding (Wikipedia ES). The LP-3, the Cumbre road, crosses the island from east to west through two tunnels under the Cumbre Nueva; the LP-4 climbs to the Roque de los Muchachos (Wikipedia ES, DE).
Buses and taxis
Wikivoyage (EN) finds the buses reliable, though drivers may speak little English. Taxis are described as expensive and mainly worthwhile for short trips. We publish no fares.
Ferries and hiking
Ferries leave from the port of Santa Cruz, the island's only passenger and freight port, for Tenerife and other ports (Wikipedia ES). For walkers, the island has a network of trails (visitlapalma.es); camping in the Caldera de Taburiente needs a permit (Wikivoyage EN).
Budget and precautions
Budget, safety and general precautions
Price level
The open sources we consulted give no recent, cross-checked price ranges for La Palma, so we publish no amounts. The currency is the euro.
Nature, weather and terrain
In the mountains conditions change quickly: snow is possible at altitude in winter, flash floods can hit ravines, and in summer the calima, a hot Saharan wind, can disrupt air traffic (Wikipedia ES, DE; Wikivoyage EN). Wikipedia (DE) also notes that forest fires have hit the island in some summers. Follow local authorities' instructions, especially in areas affected by the 2021 eruption. The emergency number is 112 (Wikivoyage EN).
Flights, entry rules and insurance
SniperAir tracks prices and alerts you; it does not sell or book tickets. Entry rules, travel advice and health cover depend on your country of departure and can change: check your own government's official recommendations before you book.
When to go
A mild climate all year, with sharp contrasts by altitude
Winter
Coastal temperatures stay mild, around 18 °C according to Wikipedia (FR), but the summits can see frost and snow (Wikipedia ES); high-altitude roads may close for a few days (Wikivoyage EN).
Spring
A transitional season: the almond trees of Puntagorda flower in February or March (Wikipedia DE) and the Fiesta de la Cruz on 3 May marks the founding of Santa Cruz (Wikipedia ES, DE).
Summer
The lowlands of the west and south are drier and sunnier (Wikipedia ES); Wikipedia (FR) gives about 25 °C in summer, and Wikipedia (DE) about 23.5 °C in August and September at the airport. The calima can push temperatures higher (Wikipedia DE).
Autumn
Rain is concentrated in autumn and winter (Wikipedia FR); the northern and eastern slopes are damper and cloudier than the western and southern lowlands (Wikipedia ES).
The climate is shaped by the Atlantic Ocean, the trade winds and the relief (Wikipedia ES, DE): a sea of clouds often forms on the slopes exposed to the trade winds, while the summits, usually above that layer, are markedly colder than the coast (Wikipedia ES). The island's tourist board describes a mild climate of about 22 °C all year (visitlapalma.es), and Wikipedia (DE) gives an annual mean of 20.3 °C at the airport. The sources do not agree on exact seasonal values, so we publish only orders of magnitude.
By length of stay
What to do on La Palma depending on your length of stay
The essentials
Santa Cruz and the Avenida Marítima, the road to the Roque de los Muchachos and the observatories, with an evening under the stars if the weather allows.
Volcanoes and caldera
Add the Caldera de Taburiente, the Ruta de los Volcanes and the south of the island, with Fuencaliente.
Around the island
Wikivoyage (EN) mentions the GR-130, a circular route of at least seven days; add Los Tilos, the north-east coast and the La Fajana pools.
In pictures
La Palma in pictures
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FAQ
Frequently asked questions about flights to La Palma
How far is SPC airport from Santa Cruz?
La Palma Airport (SPC) is about 8 km south of Santa Cruz de La Palma, in Breña Baja and Villa de Mazo (Wikipedia EN, FR).
Can I reach La Palma by ferry?
Yes: ferries link Santa Cruz de La Palma with Tenerife, taking from 2 to 5 hours depending on the vessel (Wikipedia ES). Check timetables before you travel.
What should I see first on La Palma?
The Roque de los Muchachos and its observatories, the Caldera de Taburiente, the Cumbre Vieja and its volcano route, and Santa Cruz with its wooden balconies, according to Wikipedia (EN, ES, FR) and Wikivoyage (EN).
What happened in 2021?
A volcano erupted on the Cumbre Vieja on 19 September 2021 and was officially declared over at the end of the year (Wikipedia FR, EN). Ask the local authorities about any restricted areas.
What are the entry requirements for Spain?
They depend on your country of departure and can change: check your own government's official recommendations before you book.
How many days do you need on La Palma?
Three days cover the essentials, five let you add the caldera and the southern volcanoes, and seven or more allow a trip around the island.
How much does a flight to La Palma usually cost?
The price depends mainly on your departure city, the time of year and how far ahead you book. The "opportunities" section above shows real examples of prices SniperAir has already detected to this destination.
How do I get alerted when a flight to La Palma drops below my budget?
Create an alert profile with your departure airport, La Palma (SPC) as the destination and your maximum budget. You are notified automatically as soon as a matching price is detected. SniperAir monitors and alerts, it does not sell or book tickets.
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