Aeropuerto de La Palma-Santa Cruz (SPC) sits on the island's south-east coast, the arrival point for a rugged, volcanic corner of the Canaries. From here, car hire at Aeropuerto de La Palma-Santa Cruz with Enterprise gives you a simple way to reach the rest of the island.
Santa Cruz de La Palma, the island's capital, lies a short drive from the airport along the coast. It is a working port town with a compact old quarter of cobbled streets, balconied houses and a harbour that still handles ferries and cargo. The wider area mixes narrow town streets with steep, green hillsides that rise quickly inland, a sign of how mountainous La Palma is. Beyond the capital, the island opens into banana plantations, pine forest and volcanic ridges, with the coastline changing character every few kilometres.
La Palma is small on a map but slow to cross in practice. Roads climb and wind through mountains and forest, and the island has no train line. Vehicle rental at Aeropuerto de La Palma-Santa Cruz gives you a level of freedom that buses cannot match, since services between towns run infrequently. With a hire car, you can head south to the volcanoes near Fuencaliente, or west to Los Llanos de Aridane and the coastal town of Tazacorte. Both are a fair distance from the airport. If you are travelling as a group, a 7-seater people carrier or SUV can make sense for the steeper mountain roads and smaller viewpoint car parks. Whether you are visiting family, working across the island or simply want to see more than one coastline in a day, driving yourself removes the guesswork. There is no timetable to wait around for.
Roque de los Muchachos marks the highest point on La Palma. From here, you look down into the vast Caldera de Taburiente, a crater ringed by pine forest and volcanic rock. The drive up brings some of the best views on the island, and clear nights here are well known among astronomers. Marked paths follow part of the crater's edge for those who want to stretch their legs.
In the south, Fuencaliente is home to the Teneguía volcano and the older San Antonio crater, both reminders of how recently this island was still forming. Nearby are the Salinas de Fuencaliente, salt pans that have been worked beside the sea for generations and are still in use today.
On the west coast, Puerto de Tazacorte is a small fishing harbour backed by a long stretch of black volcanic sand. It makes a good stop for lunch by the water or a swim before the drive back across the island. Evenings here often draw a small crowd for the sunset.
In La Palma the steep terrain and winding roads mean journeys often take longer than the map implies. It is worth building plans around one full trip out, rather than several short stops. It is an island that suits driving and taking in the views at your own pace.