Santa Cruz de la Palma

Santa Cruz, the capital of La Palma, is located along the east coast of the island, on the edge of the volcanic crater, around a bay protected from the winds and suitable for the landing of ships.

A central hub of the trade routes between Europe and America, Santa Cruz was founded in 1493 and since the 14th century has attracted numerous merchants and bankers to the extent that it became the third largest port in the Spanish Empire after Seville and Antwerp.

The historic districts in the centre are La Luz, San Telmo, San Sebastián, El Puente, Benahoare, La Alameda, La Calle Real, El Pilar and El Marquito, while the more peripheral ones are Calsinas, Velhoco, Las Nieves, La Dehesa, La Encarnación, El Planto, El Carmen and Mirca.

Things to do in Santa Cruz de la Palma

This beautiful colonial town boasts beautiful 16th- and 17th-century buildings and structures typical of the Canarian architectural tradition famous for their wooden balconies. Also of note are the religious buildings, including the Santuario de Nuestra Señora de Las Nieves and the Church of San Francisco.

Small and pretty, Santa Cruz is traversed by Calle Real, a cobbled street lined with small shops, historic buildings and squares. Plaza de Espana is the nerve centre of the city and is surrounded by beautiful buildings including the town hall, built in the 16th century, the Casa de Salazar and the Church of El Salvador.

The Virgen Castle, the only surviving example of military architecture, offers splendid views of the city and the bay.

Where to stay in Santa Cruz de La Palma

Santa Cruz de La Palma is one of the best places to sleep on the island. Being the capital, it is also the most developed town on the island, with all amenities and even a pleasant historic centre, as well as a beautiful, fully equipped black sand beach. You can therefore take advantage of the town’s amenities to use it as a base for sleeping, bearing in mind that you can choose from all kinds of facilities, mostly flats and holiday homes. There are also a few hotels, though in a distinct minority.

As for where to stay in the city, be aware that Santa Cruz de la Palma is quite small, so whatever you choose you will never be too far from the beach or the centre. However, we recommend sleeping near the harbour in case you arrive on the island by sea with a ferry arriving late in the evening, or conversely if you have to leave La Palma with an early morning ferry.

Recommended hotels in Santa Cruz de la Palma

We offer a selection of hotels at Santa Cruz de la Palma to suit all categories of travellers. The most booked by tourists are the sea-facing hotels, often right on the beach. If you want to play it safe, choose one of the following: they are among the most booked hotels in Santa Cruz de la Palma, sorted by number of reviews.

Apartments and vacation homes in Santa Cruz de la Palma

If you prefer space, privacy and the ability to prepare your own meals to a hotel holiday, book a holiday home at Santa Cruz de la Palma. We recommend a few below, but in this case we advise you to book early because houses and apartments for rent at Santa Cruz de la Palma are in high demand.

How to get to Santa Cruz de La Palma

Santa Cruz de La Palma is located on the east coast of the island, more or less in the middle. Its harbour ‘overlooks’ Tenerife and La Gomera, which is why ferries to and from the other Canary Islands are numerous and frequent. In particular, the town is connected with Los Cristianos, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and Arrecife, the capital of Lanzarote, as well as with Cadiz.

If, on the other hand, you arrive in La Palma by plane, to get to Santa Cruz de La Palma you simply have to take the LP-5 road heading north for only 6 kilometres, and you will arrive at your destination in no time.

Santa Cruz de la Palma Weather