1. The port
2. on foot
4. Rental Car
5. Taxis
7. Excursion tips for La Palma
8.2 Get Your Guide
8.3 Viator
La Palma
La Palma is the northwesternmost of the Canary Islands and stands out with impressive landscapes, imposing volcanoes, dense forests, and quiet beaches. La Palma has about 84,000 inhabitants, with nearly 16,000 living in the capital, Santa Cruz de la Palma. We explored Santa Cruz on our own; the city is not very large and is easy to explore on foot.
The port
The port of Santa Cruz de La Palma is the gateway to the "Isla Bonita." It is remarkably close to the city center, which is just a few minutes' walk away. Cruisers appreciate the relaxed atmosphere and direct access to the historic old town with its famous balcony houses. Besides the cruise terminal, the port serves as a vital hub for ferries to neighboring islands. The harbor entrance offers a picturesque view of the island's lush green mountain slopes. Thanks to its compact size, the port area is ideal for exploring on foot, providing a perfect starting point for island excursions.
On foot
La Palma offers space for up to three cruise ships along a pier approximately 1 km long, though usually only one ship is docked here. On the pier, there is a cruise terminal where several car rental companies have their offices.
The city begins directly at the harbor exit and is easily accessible on foot. At the Plaza de la Constitución, you will find the tourist information office in a glass pavilion, with a taxi stand located right next to it. Just a few meters further, a right turn leads you directly into the pedestrian zone of Santa Cruz.
Shuttlebusse
Despite the proximity to the city, shuttle buses are used on the pier to take cruisers to the parking lot near McDonald’s.
Rental Car
The offices of various car rental companies are located inside the cruise terminal. Here, you can rent a car directly or pick up your reserved vehicle. However, I would always recommend booking in advance.
Taxis
Taxis are available in front of the port for exploring the island. Taxi La Palma offers various tours for up to 8 people; you can check the prices on their website. Nestor Acosta-Hernadez also offers tours in his taxi via his website, La Palma Tours.
Public transport
La Palma also has a well-developed bus network; however, the bus company's website is unfortunately very confusing and only available in Spanish. You can find all the timetables on a website run by a German couple.
Excursion tips for La Palma
La Palma can be explored very well independently. Here you can see the highlights awaiting you.
Book shore excursions
Meine Landausflüge
Meine Landausflüge offer you fantastic cruise trips at the most popular ports worldwide. Typically, they are available in much smaller groups and at more affordable prices than the cruise line’s own excursions. All our options are carefully selected to guarantee you an unforgettable outing experience.
- Small group sizes
- Punctual return guarantee
- Convenient pick-up and drop-off service from/to the port
- Money-back guarantee for itinerary changes and port cancellations
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the tour (Flex option up to 60 minutes before the tour start)
GetYourGuide
With GetYourGuide, you can book land excursions in small groups, often at better prices than those offered by cruise lines. All experiences are carefully selected and reviewed by experts. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start of the excursion.
Viator
Viator, a Tripadvisor company, is one of the world's leading online marketplaces for travel experiences. The platform provides travelers with access to more than 300,000 activities, including guided tours, day trips, attraction tickets, and exclusive experiences in thousands of destinations worldwide. A key advantage for users is the millions of authentic traveler reviews that help in making informed choices.
Viator is known for its high flexibility:
- offering free cancellation on many bookings up to 24 hours in advance.
- Additionally, the "reserve now, pay later" option provides financial freedom during trip planning.
