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Marina La Palma is located in the harbour of Santa Cruz de La Palma, the capital of the Canary Island of La Palma, on the east coast of the island and only a few minutes' walk from the old town. Here you can read how to get to the marina from the airport and by ferry, where to park and shop, what wind to expect, which sailing destinations lie between the western Canary Islands and what skippers should bear in mind when entering.
The essentials at a glance
- La Palma airport is less than 10 kilometres south of the marina, about 15 minutes by car, and bus line 500 connects the airport and town.
- The fast ferry from Los Cristianos in the south of Tenerife docks in the same harbour and takes around two and a half hours.
- Behind the marina is a large car park with a taxi rank and bus stop, and you can reach the nearest supermarket on foot in a few minutes.
- The north-easterly trade wind blows all year round, particularly steadily in summer. San Sebastián de La Gomera is around 50 nautical miles away.
Where is Marina La Palma located?
Marina La Palma is located at the northern end of the harbour basin of Santa Cruz de La Palma, sheltered behind the large breakwater of the ferry and cargo harbour. It adjoins where the waterfront road Avenida Marítima ends. It is around 600 metres north to Plaza de España in the heart of the old town.
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More InformationThe marina has its own entrance with a gate within the main harbour. It is operated by Calero Marinas together with the local sailing club, the Real Nuevo Club Náutico de Santa Cruz de La Palma. Marina guests are allowed to use the club's pool. The harbour itself comes under the authority of the state port authority of Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
Arriving for the trip start at Marina La Palma
Santa Cruz de La Palma is compact, with the airport, ferry terminal and old town all close together.
From La Palma Airport to the marina
The island's airport is on the east coast south of the capital, less than 10 kilometres from the marina. By taxi or hire car you drive north on the coastal road towards Santa Cruz and arrive in about 15 minutes. You'll see the marina in the harbour basin as you enter the town.
Without a car, take bus line 500 run by the island operator TILP. It stops directly outside the airport arrivals area and goes to Santa Cruz. As things stand (November 2026), the last bus from the airport into town leaves at 11:15 pm, and the first bus from Santa Cruz to the airport at 5:30 am. The nearest stop is in the car park behind the marina. The marina office can book a hire car for you, which will be brought to the marina.
By bus or ferry
From Tenerife, the Fred. Olsen Express fast ferry runs from Los Cristianos in the south of the island directly to the port of Santa Cruz de La Palma. The crossing takes around two and a half hours, and cars can be taken along. As things stand (November 2026), it sails daily, up to twice a day. A free shuttle bus run by the shipping company connects the city centre of Santa Cruz de Tenerife with the Los Cristianos ferry port, and you reserve your seat on it when you book. Naviera Armas ferries also call at the city's port. The ferry terminal is in the same harbour basin as the marina.
TILP buses operate around the island, known as "Guaguas" in the Canary Islands.
Parking
Directly behind the marina there's a large car park, around 200 metres from the pontoons. There you'll also find the taxi rank and bus stop, so you only need to carry luggage a short distance to the pontoon. The marina can telephone for a taxi to the airport on your behalf.
Showers and sanitary facilities
There are showers at the marina, reserved for boat crews with a berth. Access is by marina card. You can arrange laundry through the marina office.
Shopping for the trip
The nearest supermarket is a Spar in Calle Virgen de la Luz, around 300 metres from the marina; a SuperDino is similarly close. On foot you're there in about five minutes. The Udaco and L'Amúri supermarkets are in the town centre around 1.1 kilometres north of the marina. For a big shop with lots of drinks, drive or take a taxi to HiperDino, the largest supermarket nearby, around 1 kilometre north of the marina.
Doctor, pharmacy and emergency services
The nearest pharmacy is Farmacia Alameda, around 1.1 kilometres north of the marina at Plaza de la Alameda. In the town centre, around 900 metres from the marina, there's also the Hospital Nuestra Señora de Los Dolores clinic. The public island hospital, Hospital General de La Palma, is in the neighbouring municipality of Breña Alta, around 15 minutes by car from the marina. Which pharmacy is on duty at night and weekends is shown on the pharmacy chamber's duty rota search, which also covers La Palma.
- 112: free emergency number for all emergencies, round the clock, also in English and German
- VHF channel 16: Emergency at sea. Sea rescue is coordinated by Salvamento Marítimo, whose centre covering the western Canary Islands is in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
- VHF channel 09: Marina watch, manned round the clock, also for emergencies in the harbour
What does Marina La Palma offer?
Marina La Palma has 180 berths for boats from 8 to 20 metres, more than 100 of them intended for visitors. Electricity and water are available at every berth.
The berth costs 0.38 euros per square metre per day (as at November 2026), the same for monohulls and catamarans. The area is the length overall multiplied by the beam. If you pay in advance on arrival for your whole stay, you get a discount of 10 per cent from 15 days, 20 per cent from 30 days and 30 per cent from 90 days. Wi-Fi is included in the berthing price. In addition, there are state charges for leisure craft, which are also calculated per square metre per day; sailing boats up to 12 metres length overall are exempt from the fee for navigation marks (Tasa de ayuda a la navegación). The 7 per cent Canary Islands tax IGIC is added to the berth and the leisure craft charge.
Equipment
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | Dársena de Embarcaciones Menores, Port of Santa Cruz de La Palma, 38700 Santa Cruz de La Palma |
| Berths | 180 for boats from 8 to 20 m, of which over 100 for visitors |
| Berthing fee | €0.38 per m² (length × beam) per day, plus state charges and 7% IGIC (as at November 2026) |
| Entrance | 20 m wide, 4.5 m depth at lowest water level, with gate and light |
| VHF channel | 09 (marina, round the clock), 06 (port control) |
| Contact | Marina office +34 922 410 289, caleromarinas.com |
| Electricity and water | at every berth, single- or three-phase depending on berth size |
| Fuel station | at the reception pontoon next to the marina building |
| Technology | Boat berth for smaller and medium-sized motor boats, crane via the harbour office, maintenance and repairs by a business at the marina |
| Service | Wi-Fi, luggage trolleys, storage rooms, laundry service, mail collection |
| Distances | Plaza de España approx. 600 m, airport under 10 km |
There are restaurants and shops on the quay. The fuel station is open Monday to Saturday from 8:30 to 19:30, Sundays until 15:30. Larger boats are lifted from the water by the fishing cooperative using their travel lift directly next to the marina.
What is the weather like for sailing in Santa Cruz de La Palma?
The weather for sailing is dominated by the north-easterly trade winds all year round; in summer they blow particularly consistently. Winds from south-west to west are rare.
Between the high islands the trade wind often becomes noticeably stronger than it appears in harbour. The Spanish meteorological service AEMET issues a yellow warning for coastal phenomena from force 7 onwards along the coast. Unlike the Mediterranean, there are tides: twice a day the water rises and falls in the Canaries by an average of around 1.6 metres, and by almost 3 metres at spring tide. For those joining a trip as crew, this means: the sailing area has a season all year round, with the wind most reliable in summer.
Which destinations can you reach from Marina La Palma?
From Marina La Palma, La Gomera, El Hierro and the south of Tenerife lie in long day passages of around 50 to 70 nautical miles; you can reach the west coast of La Palma by rounding the southern tip of the island. The nautical miles are rounded distances over water on the usual course; the chart applies for precise planning.
San Sebastián de La Gomera, around 50 nm: The capital of La Gomera lies south-east of La Palma and has a marina directly beside the ferry harbour. With the north-easterly trade wind you usually sail there on a reach.
Tazacorte, around 31 nm: The harbour on the west coast of La Palma lies in the lee of the island. The route leads south around the Punta de Fuencaliente and then north along the west coast. As things stand (November 2026), the harbour's breakwater is being extended so that there is less swell inside.
El Hierro, around 54 nm to the harbour of La Estaca on the east coast: The smallest and westernmost island of the Canaries lies south of La Palma. It is around 65 nm to La Restinga at the southern tip of El Hierro.
Los Cristianos on Tenerife, around 67 nm: The ferry harbour in the south of Tenerife is a natural destination for the passage eastwards. We present a harbour on the east coast of Tenerife in the profile of Puerto Deportivo Radazul , and the harbours of Gran Canaria in the profile Las Palmas.
What can you do on a harbour day in Santa Cruz de La Palma?
The old town of Santa Cruz de La Palma is protected as a historic ensemble and begins a few minutes' walk north of the marina. You don't need a car for a day in port, and there is a bike hire right next to the marina. The tourist information office is on the Plaza de la Constitución opposite the post office, about three minutes' walk from the marina.
Plaza de España and Calle Real: The Plaza de España is considered the most significant Renaissance ensemble in the Canary Islands. This is where the Calle Real begins, the main street and the heart of the old town. Around the Calle Real stand the churches of El Salvador, Santo Domingo with valuable Flemish art, and San Francisco. In the San Francisco monastery, the island museum shows a collection of fine art. The town was founded in 1493 and later became an important trading port.
Balconies on the Avenida Marítima: Along the waterfront road Avenida Marítima, houses with colourful wooden balconies line up, the best-known photographic motif of the city.
Barco de la Virgen: At the Plaza de la Alameda, around 1.2 kilometres from the marina, stands the replica of a caravel. It was built in 1940 for the festival of the Bajada de la Virgen; inside, a maritime museum displays navigation instruments, models and documents from five centuries.
Playa de Santa Cruz de La Palma: The city beach of black volcanic sand was opened in 2017. There are showers, sunshades and space for windsurfers and kitesurfers.
Castillo de Santa Catalina: The fortress once protected the island from pirate attacks. The cannons of the Castillo de la Virgen de las Nieves have been restored, and they are fired every five years for the Bajada de la Virgen.
For skippers: Berthing and sea weather at Marina La Palma
Before entering, you report to the harbour control on VHF channel 06 and to the marina on channel 09. The marina opens the gate in the entrance, after which you berth at the reception pontoon below the marina office.
Registration and Berthing
How arrival works:
- Port control: Because ferries and cargo ships operate in the harbour, you must report on VHF channel 06 to Santa Cruz de La Palma port control when entering and when leaving.
- Marina: On channel 09, you request the marina for permission to enter. The channel is manned round the clock.
- Gate: The marina entrance has a 14-metre-high steel gate with a traffic light, illuminated at night. When red, the gate is closed or moving, and you must not enter. Opening takes about eight minutes.
- Reception pontoon: When green and after clearance, you proceed to the floating pontoon opposite the entrance, directly in front of the marina building. The staff on the pontoon will take your lines; they are on duty round the clock.
- Papers: In the office, you hand in the completed registration form and present the boat's registration, insurance and the owner's or skipper's passport. You can also download the form in advance from the marina's website.
Berths can be reserved in advance via the marina's booking portal ; you can reach the marina office by phone on +34 922 410 289.
Harbour rules
The marina is located in a biosphere reserve and asks for consideration at the pontoons. You must not anchor in the harbour approaches. Swimming, diving, fishing, jet skiing and dinghy sailing are prohibited in the harbour and approaches. Loud music, running engines and banging halyards at the pontoon are unwelcome; the gates to the pontoons remain closed. Dinghies, outboards and bicycles must not obstruct the pontoons.
Approach
The end of the main breakwater is marked by an 8-metre-high green tower with the light Fl.G.5s, 16 metres high and visible for 5 nautical miles. The marina is at the northern, inner end of the harbour basin. On the way there, watch out for ferries and cargo ships manoeuvring in the harbour. The marina entrance is 20 metres wide and 4.5 metres deep even at lowest water. The fuel berth is to the right of the reception pontoon.
Which marine weather forecast applies off La Palma?
The authoritative source is the marine weather forecast from the Spanish meteorological service AEMET. You can receive it via the VHF marine radio service of the sea rescue service Salvamento Marítimo and on the AEMET sea weather page.
The coastal forecast extends to 20 nautical miles offshore. For passages between the islands, the NAVTEX station Las Palmas transmits offshore forecasts and warnings in English on 518 kHz and in Spanish on 490 kHz. Get the forecast before every leg to the neighbouring islands, because in harbour you often notice little of a strong trade wind outside.
Trips from Santa Cruz de La Palma on Törnfinder
In November 2026 there are 4 trip dates on Törnfinder with departure or destination in Santa Cruz de La Palma.
All current offers are in the trip overview. Trips throughout the archipelago can be found under Sailing in the Canary Islands, further sailing areas under Sailing in Spain.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get from La Palma airport to the marina?
By taxi or hire car in about 15 minutes; the distance is less than 10 kilometres. Without a car, bus line 500 runs from the airport to Santa Cruz; a stop is located in the car park behind the marina.
Where do I park at trip departure in Santa Cruz de La Palma?
In the large car park directly behind the marina. The taxi rank and bus stop are also there.
Are there showers in Marina La Palma?
Yes, for boat crews with a berth; access works with the marina card. A laundry service is available through the office.
Where do I shop for the trip in Santa Cruz de La Palma?
At the Spar in Calle Virgen de la Luz, about 300 metres from the marina, or in the supermarkets in the town centre. For a big shop, you drive to the HiperDino about 1 kilometre north of the marina.
Can I travel by ferry from Tenerife to La Palma?
Yes, the fast ferry runs from Los Cristianos in the south of Tenerife in about two and a half hours directly into the harbour of Santa Cruz de La Palma. The landing stage is in the same harbour basin as the marina.
On which VHF channel can Marina La Palma be reached?
On channel 09, round the clock. The port control of Santa Cruz de La Palma, with which you report when entering and leaving, monitors channel 06.
