Explora Journeys in Santa Cruz de La Palma

Santa Cruz de La Palma is the capital of the greenest, least developed of the main Canary Islands, founded in 1493 and once the third busiest port in Europe behind Antwerp and Seville. The reward of the day is the old town itself, a tight grid of cobbled streets, carved wooden balconies hanging over the sea, and colonial churches, all of it a few steps from where the ship ties up.

What to do on a day in Santa Cruz de La Palma

• Calle O'Daly (Calle Real), the pedestrian main street threading the old town past colonial mansions, boutiques, and cafes
• Plaza de España, the Renaissance heart of the city with its 16th century fountain, the town hall, and the church of El Salvador
• Iglesia Matriz de El Salvador, the 16th century parish church holding Flemish religious art from the port's trading heyday
• The carved wooden balconies along Avenida Maritima, overhanging the waterfront, a signature of Canarian architecture
• Barco de la Virgen, the full-size stone replica of a caravel near the port that houses the Naval Museum on the island's maritime past
• Castillo de Santa Catalina, the 16th century coastal fort guarding the harbor

Getting ashore

The cruise pier sits right beside the old town, so you walk off the ship and into the center in roughly 10 to 15 minutes with no shuttle needed. The historic core is small and flat enough to cover on foot, and one day is plenty for the town; an excursion up to the Caldera de Taburiente viewpoints is the trade-off if you want the island's volcanic interior instead.

When to book the ship's excursion vs your own →

Weather and when to visit

• October to April (main Canaries cruise season). Typically mild and spring-like, often around 20 to 24 C by day, with more cloud and the chance of a passing shower than the eastern Canaries, since La Palma catches more moisture off the trade winds.
• May to September (warmer months). Typically warm and drier, with daytime temperatures often in the mid to high 20s C and steady Atlantic trade-wind breezes.