Car Rental in La Palma

Why rent a car in La Palma?

San Miguel de La Palma is a great island to explore. Smaller and less visited than Tenerife, Gran Canaria or Lanzarote, it has a special, relaxed atmosphere. Visitors who come to La Palma enjoy its stunning volcanic landscapes, accessible coastline, and many unique museums and protected areas. After seeing La Palma, it is easy to travel to one of the other Canary Islands. 

Top ways to enter La Palma

• La Palma Airport: A small, but active airport, it served 1.4 million travelers in 2018. The airport has flights by nearly 20 different airlines, connecting the island to the other islands in the Canaries, mainland Spain, and European countries like the United Kingdom, Germany, and the Netherlands. The airport is located in the village of Breña Baja about 10km (6.2 miles) south of Santa Cruz de la Palma, the largest town on the island. La Palma Airport should not be confused with Palma Airport serving Mallorca in the Balearic Islands.
• Tenerife South-Reina Sofia Airport: The largest of the two international airports serving the island of Tenerife, it handled 11 million travelers in 2018. The airport is served by more than 30 airlines with most of the flights provided by Ryanair, TUI Airways, easyJet, and Jet2.com. 
• Tenerife North Airport: The other Airport on Tenerife has flights by around 15 different airlines, including low-cost carriers like Norwegian Air and Vueling. In addition to hosting flights to and from many European countries, there are also connections with countries like Morocco in North Africa and Venezuela in South America. The airport handled 5.4 million travelers in 2018.
• By sea: It is easy to reach La Palma from the neighboring islands, especially Tenerife, La Gomera, and El Hierro. There is a frequent ferry service to and from most of them, and it is even possible to take a ferry to Cadiz on the mainland of Spain. Nevertheless, ask your rental car provider if they permit taking a rental car on a ferry and whether it’s possible to pick up a rental car on one island and then drop it off on another - some providers permit that while others don’t. Another option is to fly to a neighboring island, then take a ferry to La Palma from there and pick up a rental car after arriving on La Palma.

City facts

• Like the rest of the Canary Islands, La Palma has a tropical semi-arid climate. The average high temperature is 27°C  (80°F) in September, the warmest month, and 21 °C  (70°F) in January and February, the coldest months. There is almost no precipitation from May to mid-September while November and December are the wettest months. One of the two westernmost Canary Islands, La Palma is farther from the mainland of Africa than the other islands. It is, therefore, less influenced by the Sahara Desert - less dry and less warm. 
• Thanks to the height of its mountains and the relative remoteness of the island, La Palma is home to a number of space observatories. Most are on the top of Roque de Los Muchachos, the highest point of the island. Standing at a height of nearly 2,500m (8,200 feet) above sea level, the summit is usually above the clouds and therefore provides a clear view of the sky. The largest telescope on La Palma is the 17m (56 feet) MAGIC telescope which observes cosmic gamma rays. Tourists can join one of a number of observatory tours to learn more about space exploration on La Palma. 

Top sights and activities

• Santa Cruz de la Palma. The capital - and, in truth, only city - on the island, Santa Cruz is a scenic little place. The city has interesting historic architecture that’s quite different from mainland Spain as well as beautiful marinas and some of La Palma’s best restaurants and accommodation.
• Caldera de Taburiente National Park. The number one attraction of La Palma is undoubtedly its nature, and there’s no better place to appreciate it than this protected area. Taking up a significant portion of the island, the reserve is home to stunning volcanic landscapes, thick pine woods, and even temperate cloud forests. Unique animals like the La Palma giant lizard (which, for a while, was considered extinct) and Graja bird, a type of chough, live there. Located about 27km (17 miles) west of Santa Cruz, the park can be reached in about 35 minutes.
• Archaeological Museum. Before the Spanish came to the Canary Islands, the archipelago was inhabited by the Guanches, people related to the Berbers of North Africa. Colonized and eventually assimilated, the Guanches eventually ceased to exist as a separate group, but many of their traditions still survive on the islands. The La Palma Archaeological Museum is dedicated to this heritage - visitors can learn about the island’s original inhabitants, their living conditions, and their culture through different exhibits and artifacts. The museum is in the town of Los Llanos some 30km (18 miles) west of Santa Cruz and can be reached in about 40 minutes.

Traffic and parking

• Speed limits - 50km/h (31mph) in built-up areas, 90km/h (56mph) on most standard roads, 100km/h (62mph) on standard roads that are either one-way roads, roads with more than two lanes for at least one direction of traffic and roads with shoulders more than 1.5m wide, and 120km/h (74mph) on motorways (called autovías in Spain).
• The car’s documentation and proof of insurance have to be inside the vehicle at all times.
• The driver and all passengers are required to wear seatbelts.
• Children up to the age of 12 and measuring less than 135cm traveling on the front seat of a car must be seated in a child restraint system adapted to their size and weight.
• Unnecessary use of car horns is prohibited.
• The legal alcohol limit is 0.05% for experienced drivers and 0.02% for novice drivers.
• The emergency number is 112.

Toll roads

Most of the roads in Spain are toll-free. Toll roads are called ‘carretera de peaje’. On maps and road signs, all toll roads have to include a letter P after the road type. The payment method may vary depending on the road, but most will accept cash. Regardless of the region, the average estimated price is €9.5 ($11.25) per 100km by car. See the official Spanish toll road website for prices and more information.

Ideas for day trips

• Roque de los Muchachos. The highest point of the island, “the rock of the boys” can be seen from practically anywhere on La Palma. Locals say that on a clear day, the neighboring islands of Tenerife, La Gomera, and El Hierro are visible from the top. Accessible by car for most of the year (except in winter when snowfall actually occurs on the mountaintop), El Roque is 43km (27 miles) northwest of Santa Cruz and can be reached in about 1 hour and 20 minutes.
• La Zarza y La Zarcita Culture Park. A unique place, the culture park is home to a number of ancient stone structures that date back for millennia. The stones are marked with undeciphered engravings, and researchers assume that the place had a ritualistic importance, perhaps in connection with the solstice festivals of antiquity. Fragments of stone tools have also been found here. Located in the northern part of the island, La Zarza is 58km (36 miles) from Santa Cruz and can be reached in about 1 hour and 15 minutes.
• Wine Museum. For centuries, wine-making was one of the main occupations of the inhabitants of La Palma. Wine was made not only for personal use but also exported to mainland Europe and other parts of the Spanish Empire. In this small, unique museum in the village of Las Machas, visitors can learn about this history, compare old and modern winemaking techniques, and, if they’re traveling with a friend who can drive, even sample the delicious local drink. Located 34km (21 miles) southwest of Santa Cruz, the wine museum can be reached in about 45 minutes.
• Los Tilos Laurel Forest. Taking up a section of the island’s northeast, Los Tilos is one of La Palma’s most scenic landscapes. Estimated to be about 20 million years old, this mountainous woodland has some challenging climbs, but the magnificence of giant ferns and laurisilva make the experience worth it. Make sure to pay a visit to the Interpretation Center which tells more about species of local flora and fauna and has a model of a rainforest.
• The Volcanic Route. Another route taking you through ancient and stunning landscapes, the Volcanic Route is, for many visitors, the main reason to come to La Palma. While there’s no denying it can be quite a physical challenge, the opportunity to gaze directly into several volcanic craters makes the trek worth it.

Most popular cars

The most popular rental car in La Palma is the VW Polo, although many travelers also go for the Fiat 500 and the Renault Clio. The most popular rental car types are economy, mini, and compact. 

Further destinations

• Tenerife. The largest of the Canary Islands, Tenerife is an amazing destination for adventure tourism. The island is home to El Teide, an active volcano that, at 3,718m (12,198 feet) is the highest mountain in Spain. The mountain is surrounded by Teide National Park, a stunning protected area with unique landscapes and opportunities for hiking and trekking. Corona Forestal National Park and Teno Rural Park, both home to thousand-year-old canyons and cliffs, are also worth checking out.
• La Gomera. Even smaller and quieter than La Palma, La Gomera is a tranquil place with well-preserved historic towns, misty forests, and beautiful long valleys. Thanks to the island’s size, it’s very easy to stay in its pretty capital San Sebastián de La Gomera, get a rental car, and explore the rest of La Gomera on day trips.
• Gran Canaria. A synonym for an amazing beach holiday, Gran Canaria is a real tourist hotspot. The beaches in the south are generally considered to be more touristy and family-friendly while those in the north are pristine and more wild and quiet. Gran Canaria is also a great hub of surfing and scuba diving, with opportunities for everyone from beginners to seasoned pros. 
• El Hierro. The smallest of the main Canary Islands, El Hierro is truly off the beaten track, but that doesn’t mean it is not worth visiting. Despite its relatively small size, it is home to a dizzying variety of landscapes that include lush forests, volcanic highlands, and even a small desert-like area. Native species include the threatened El Hierro giant lizard which is one of the island’s symbols. To get here from La Palma, you will need to either fly or change ferries in Tenerife.

Note: It is possible to take a ferry from La Palma to other islands in the Canaries, but it’s important to check the ferry schedule and book the tickets in advance - some routes are not active during the winter months, so you might need to either fly or take connecting ferry rides.

While it is possible to take a rental car on some ferries, many rental car providers won’t permit it, so it’s important to ask them in advance. An alternative plan can be to drop off your car in La Palma, go as a foot passenger, and then pick up a new rental car at the port of your destination.

Car rental prices in La Palma

• Small cars - from $8 per day
• Medium cars - from $10 per day
• Large cars - from $15 per day
• SUVs - from $9 per day
• Vans - from $21 per day

Money-saving and other tips

Get a great rental car in La Palma by following these simple tips:

• Compare the rates of different rental car providers
• Book your rental car well in advance
• Plan your route before you go
• Know your fuel and mileage requirements
• Visit during the month when the rental prices are the cheapest. According to our data, visiting La Palma is the cheapest in June when renting a car is about 76% cheaper than the yearly average.