Flying to La Palma
Flying to La Palma
The adventure can begin at the travel agency. It happens less often than it once did, but the Canary Island of La Palma is still occasionally confused with Palma, the capital of Mallorca, or with Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. The airport codes make the distinction clear: La Palma Airport is SPC, Palma de Mallorca is PMI, and Gran Canaria Airport near Las Palmas is LPA. Check carefully to make sure you land on the right island.
Travellers who choose La Palma have several ways to reach the island. Seasonal direct flights operate from various European cities, while connections via Gran Canaria or Tenerife are available throughout the year. Iberia also connects Madrid (MAD) directly with La Palma (SPC). The route operates on many days of the week and, during some periods, daily, making Madrid a practical connecting point as well. As frequency can vary by season, check the service for your exact travel date. Current direct routes are listed in our La Palma 24 flight schedule.
La Palma is not a mass-tourism destination. That has one small drawback: flights are often more expensive than trips to the larger neighbouring islands of Tenerife or Gran Canaria. Package holidays can therefore be good value, although arranging the journey yourself can also pay off if you compare baggage rules, connection times and, on Tenerife, the airport codes TFN and TFS.
From the airport to your accommodation
The final stage of the journey runs from the airport, around eight kilometres south of Santa Cruz de La Palma, to your accommodation. Package-holiday guests are usually collected by their tour operator. Other travellers can choose between a rental car, public bus, taxi or a pre-booked transfer.
If you have reserved a rental car with La Palma 24, the meeting and return details are in your confirmation. The paperwork is dealt with quickly and without fuss. Remember your driving licence, identity document and booking papers.
The island buses are known on La Palma as „Gua Guas“. Route 500 links the airport with Santa Cruz de La Palma via Los Cancajos, where passengers can connect with services to other parts of the island. TILP provides timetables, fares, travel cards and live information. Check the last connection carefully, especially in the evening.
Taxis are, of course, available outside the terminal. Fares are metered and supplements may apply depending on the starting point, destination or luggage. For longer journeys it still pays to do the sums: depending on your holiday plans, a rental car may be more convenient and economical. Aena publishes current details.
La Palma Airport (SPC)
Package-holiday guests are often met in the terminal by their representative. In addition to the check-in areas, there is Aena and tourist information, lost property, medical assistance, cash machines, a pharmacy, shops and food outlets. Locations and opening hours can change; consult the current Aena airport guide. One old tip remains useful: do not arrive entirely without cash, as a cash machine is not always close at hand in remote places.
Planning connecting flights
There are many ways to reach La Palma. If no suitable direct flight is available, the usual alternative is to travel via Gran Canaria or Tenerife. With separate tickets, allow enough time to collect and recheck baggage; on Tenerife a transfer between TFN and TFS may also be necessary. As connections change and new options appear, we collect further routes in the La Palma 24 Journal.
Official travel information
La Palma Airport (Aena) · TILP bus network · Binter · Canaryfly