SeaTV · Spain · Canary Islands · La Palma · Marina Santa Cruz
Marina La Palma (Santa Cruz de La Palma) — The “Isla Bonita” Marina · Astronomy + Caldera + Volcano Country
28°40.5’N · 17°45.8’W · Marina La Palma · located at the head of the commercial Port of Santa Cruz de La Palma on the E coast · 180 berths sized 8-20 m (some sources up to 25 m) · 100+ visitor berths · min draft 2 m · max draft 4 m · 4.5 m at lowest tide entrance · 14 m steel gate at entrance illuminated at night with green/red traffic light · 20 m wide entrance · gate operation ~8 minutes · VHF Ch 9 (marina) + Ch 6 (port control 2 NM out) · +34 922 410 289 · operated jointly by Real Club Náutico + Calero Marinas · inaugurated 2010.
The “Isla Bonita” · UNESCO Starlight Reserve · Caldera de Taburiente National Park · Roque de los Muchachos Observatory · 2021 Cumbre Vieja eruption (E coast unaffected operationally)
Marina La Palma is the gateway to “La Isla Bonita” — the Beautiful Island. Located at the head of the commercial port of Santa Cruz de La Palma on the E coast, the marina sits in the heart of the historic island capital · the city’s colonial-era waterfront streets, museums, restaurants, and shops are within a few minutes’ walk · the airport is 15 min by car. The marina holds 180 berths for boats 8-20 m (some sources cite up to 25 m), with over 100 berths designated for visiting cruisers, individual water + electricity (single + 3-phase 220-380V) at every berth, 24h security, fuel dock + truck delivery, sewage disposal, customs/immigration, showers, laundry, free Wi-Fi, supermarket, car rental, and bars/restaurants. The marina was inaugurated in 2010 as a result of the port extension and remodelling work, and is jointly managed by the Real Club Náutico and Calero Marinas (the Lanzarote-based group that runs Puerto Calero). For sailors the entry is unique among Canary marinas: a 14 m-high steel gate regulated by a green/red traffic light · the gate operation takes ~8 minutes · entry is via VHF Ch 9 to “Marina La Palma” only when the green light shows. For visitors the island is the appeal: La Palma is the greenest, most volcanically active, and most astronomically clear of the Canaries · home to the Caldera de Taburiente National Park (a vast erosion-cauldron 8 km wide and 1,500 m deep) · the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory (one of the best-positioned astronomical observatories in the world, at 2,396 m) · and the recent Cumbre Vieja eruption (Sept-Dec 2021), the longest historical eruption on the island, which produced new black-sand beaches on the W coast.
⚠ Reality check before you arrive:
→ ⚠ Steel gate entry — UNIQUE on the Canaries · 14 m gate · ~8 min operation · MUST request entry via VHF Ch 9 only when green light shows
→ ⚠ Two-channel VHF protocol · Ch 6 to Santa Cruz Port Control when 2 NM out for port permission · Ch 9 to Marina La Palma after for gate access
→ ⚠ Heavy ferry + cargo traffic in the commercial port · Fred Olsen + Naviera Armas to Tenerife + Gran Canaria · cargo to mainland Spain
→ ⚠ Sept-Nov peak season · book ahead · transatlantic stopover season
→ ⚠ 2021 Cumbre Vieja eruption · the W coast (banana plantation district) was severely affected · the marina + Santa Cruz on E coast were operationally unaffected · day-trips to the lava fields are now possible + popular
→ ⚠ Schengen + Canary VAT regime · Border Police office at Santa Cruz Port Terminal weekday mornings until 14:00 · each passport holder must present in person
⚓ Marina La Palma at a Glance
Coordinates
28°40.5’N · 17°45.8’W
Berths
180 (100+ visitor)
LOA range
8-20 m (some sources 25 m max)
Draft
Min 2 m / Max 4 m · 4.5 m at lowest tide entrance
Entrance gate
14 m high steel · 20 m wide · 8 min operation
VHF
Ch 9 (marina) + Ch 6 (Port Control · 2 NM out) + Ch 16 (distress)
Phone
+34 922 410 289
Tower light
Fl.G.5s16m5M (green tower at end of port breakwater)
Address
Dársena de Embarcaciones Menores · Puerto de Santa Cruz de La Palma · 38700
Inaugurated
2010
Distance · La Palma Airport (SPC)
~10 km · 15 min
Best for
Astronomy · Caldera hike · volcano-tourism · pre-Atlantic stopover
Approach & Entry — The Two-Channel Procedure
Step 1 — Approach the port
→ Approach Santa Cruz de La Palma from the SE / E · the port is on the E coast of the island
→ Look for the green tower light Fl.G.5s16m5M at the end of the main breakwater (8 m high green tower)
→ Call “Santa Cruz de La Palma Port Control” on VHF Ch 6 when 2 NM out · request permission to approach the port
→ ⚠ Watch for ferry + cargo traffic · this is an active commercial port
Step 2 — The marina gate
→ Marina entrance is framed by a 14 m-high steel gate, illuminated at night, with green/red traffic light visible.
→ If RED light: the gate is closed or being operated · DO NOT approach.
→ Call “Marina La Palma” on VHF Ch 9 (24/7) to request entry · gate opening procedure takes ~8 minutes.
→ If GREEN light: proceed at slow speed through the 20 m-wide entrance · 4.5 m depth at lowest tide.
→ Reception pontoon is opposite the entrance · below the marina office · staff will help with lines.
Santa Cruz de La Palma — The Town
Santa Cruz de La Palma is one of the best-preserved colonial towns of the Canaries. Founded in 1493 by Alonso Fernández de Lugo, the town flourished in the 16th-17th centuries as the third-busiest port of the Spanish Empire (after Seville and Antwerp), and the wealth from the Atlantic trade routes is still visible in the wooden Canarian balconies, the cobbled streets, and the colonial mansions.
Within 5-15 min walk from the marina:
→ Calle Real (Calle O’Daly) · the pedestrian main street · colonial-era mansions + balconies + churches
→ Plaza de España · Renaissance plaza · 16th-century cathedral (Iglesia de El Salvador) + town hall
→ Casa Salazar + Casa Sotomayor · 17th-century palaces with characteristic Canarian wooden balconies
→ Barco de la Virgen (Museo Naval) · full-scale replica of Columbus’s Santa María built into the seafront wall · maritime museum inside
→ Castillo de Santa Catalina · 16th-century coastal defence fort
→ Mercado Municipal · the local market for produce, cheese, fish
→ Avenida Marítima · seafront promenade · several Canarian seafood restaurants
Local specialties to try:
→ Mojo palmero · the Palma version of the Canarian sauce · less spicy, more aromatic
→ Quesillo · La Palma’s distinctive caramel flan
→ Vino Malvasía · La Palma volcanic-soil wines · DOP · Shakespeare’s “Malmsey wine”
→ Bananas (Plátano de Canarias DOP) · the W coast banana plantations supply most of mainland Spain
The Inland — Caldera, Observatory, Volcano
Caldera de Taburiente National Park
→ Massive erosion crater · 8 km wide · 1,500 m deep · the centre of La Palma
→ Pine forest (Pinus canariensis) · waterfalls · the headwaters of three river basins
→ Hike from Los Brecitos to Barranco de las Angustias · ~7 hr · the classic crater traverse · 1,000 m descent through the centre
→ Mirador de la Cumbrecita · accessible viewpoint · 30-min drive from marina
Roque de los Muchachos Observatory
→ 2,396 m altitude · highest point on La Palma · above the cloud inversion layer
→ One of the world’s most important astronomical observatories · WHT (William Herschel Telescope), GTC (Gran Telescopio Canarias, the world’s largest single-aperture optical telescope at 10.4 m diameter), MAGIC + LST gamma-ray telescopes
→ UNESCO Starlight Reserve · the entire island · strict light-pollution laws
→ Guided observatory tours available · pre-book months ahead
→ Stargazing nights are exceptional — La Palma’s clear skies routinely rank among the top 3 in the world
Cumbre Vieja 2021 Eruption
→ 19 September – 13 December 2021 · 85 days · the longest historical eruption recorded on La Palma
→ ~1,600 buildings destroyed on the W coast · banana plantations, villages of Todoque + La Laguna largely lost
→ New black-sand beaches formed where lava reached the Atlantic · the new Tazacorte / Charco Verde lava deltas
→ ⚠ Marina + Santa Cruz on E coast were operationally unaffected · the eruption was on the W ridge
→ Volcano-tourism day-trips are now possible · hot lava fields, the new beaches, and the Visitor Centre at Las Manchas
Marina Services
Berth services (every berth):
→ Water + electricity (single + 3-phase 220-380V) · 24h security · free Wi-Fi · individual shower-card access
→ Reception pontoon for arrivals · marina office above the arrivals pontoon (Mon-Fri 09-13 / 17-21 · Sat 09-13 · closed Sun)
Other services:
→ Fuel dock + truck delivery · sewage disposal
→ Customs + immigration · designated Spanish port of entry · Border Police office at Santa Cruz Port Terminal weekday mornings until 14:00
→ Laundry · supermarket · car rental · bars/restaurants at the marina or in walking distance
→ Customs assistance for parts import (Feligar agency) · +34 922 412 389
→ Mail receivable at marina office · address: Oficina de Capitanía de Marina La Palma · Dársena de embarcaciones menores del Puerto de Santa Cruz de La Palma · 38700
⛵ Day Sails & Cruising
Around La Palma (calm-weather only — N coast is exposed):
→ Los Cancajos · ~10 min drive S of marina · golden-sand beach + reef snorkelling
→ Tazacorte (W coast) · ~25 NM around the S corner · banana-port harbour · fishing village
→ Puerto Naos (W coast) · ~30 NM around · resort beach · close to the 2021 lava fields
→ ⚠ N + W coasts are exposed to Trade Winds · cruise the perimeter only in settled forecasts
Inter-island and onward:
→ La Gomera (Marina San Sebastián) · ~50 NM SE · Columbus departure island
→ El Hierro (Puerto de La Estaca) · ~60 NM S · the smallest + westernmost main island
→ Tenerife (Santa Cruz) · ~80 NM E
→ Gran Canaria (Las Palmas) · ~140 NM SE · ARC departure port
→ Madeira (Funchal) · ~270 NM N · 2-3 day passage · the next archipelago N
Contact & Emergency
Marina La Palma: Dársena de Embarcaciones Menores · Puerto de Santa Cruz de La Palma · 38700
Phone: +34 922 410 289 · Operator: Real Club Náutico + Calero Marinas joint venture
VHF: Ch 9 (Marina La Palma · 24/7) · Ch 6 (Santa Cruz Port Control · 2 NM out) · Ch 16 (distress)
Office hours: Mon-Fri 09:00-13:00 + 17:00-21:00 · Sat 09:00-13:00 · Sun closed
Emergency: 112 · Ambulance: 061 · Fire: 080
Maritime SAR: 900 202 202
La Palma General Hospital: +34 922 185 999
Port Authority: +34 922 412 121 · Port Police: +34 677 530 755
La Palma Airport (SPC): ~10 km · 15 min
Tourist Office: Plaza de la Constitución · +34 922 412 106 · Mon-Fri 09:00-14:00 / 16:30-19:30 · Sat 09:00-14:00
Border Police (passport stamps): Santa Cruz Port Terminal · weekday mornings until 14:00 · each passport holder must be present
⛵ Continue Exploring the Canary Islands
→ La Gomera · Marina San Sebastián — 50 NM SE · Columbus departure island · 335 berths
→ Marina San Miguel (Amarilla Marina) — Tenerife S · 85 NM SE · 344 berths
→ Las Galletas · Marina del Sur — Tenerife S · 176 berths · whale-watching
→ Marina Tenerife (Dársena Pesquera) — Santa Cruz N · workboat refit
→ Santa Cruz Marina (Marina del Atlántico) — Tenerife capital · 300 berths · superyachts
“Marina La Palma is the gateway to La Isla Bonita the Beautiful Island · twenty eight forty point five north seventeen forty five point eight west · located at the head of the commercial port of Santa Cruz de La Palma on the east coast in the heart of the historic island capital · the city’s colonial era waterfront streets museums restaurants and shops are within a few minutes walk and the airport is fifteen minutes by car · the marina holds one hundred eighty berths for boats eight to twenty meters with over a hundred berths designated for visiting cruisers · individual water and electricity single and three phase two twenty to three eighty volts at every berth twenty four hour security fuel dock plus truck delivery sewage disposal customs and immigration showers laundry free Wi Fi supermarket car rental and bars and restaurants · inaugurated in twenty ten and jointly managed by the Real Club Náutico and Calero Marinas the Lanzarote based group that runs Puerto Calero · for sailors the entry is unique among Canary marinas a fourteen meter high steel gate regulated by a green red traffic light and the gate operation takes about eight minutes so entry is via VHF channel nine to Marina La Palma only when the green light shows · the two channel protocol is channel six to Santa Cruz Port Control when two miles out for port permission then channel nine for gate access · for visitors the island is the appeal La Palma is the greenest most volcanically active and most astronomically clear of the Canaries home to the Caldera de Taburiente National Park a vast erosion cauldron eight kilometers wide and fifteen hundred meters deep and the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory at twenty three hundred ninety six meters one of the best positioned astronomical observatories in the world with the world’s largest single aperture optical telescope at ten point four meter diameter · the entire island is a UNESCO Starlight Reserve with strict light pollution laws · the recent twenty twenty one Cumbre Vieja eruption was on the west ridge and the marina on the east coast was operationally unaffected so volcano tourism day trips are now possible to the new black sand lava delta beaches · order the mojo palmero and the quesillo caramel flan and the Vino Malvasía DOP volcanic wine the same Malmsey Shakespeare wrote about · this is the island where you go to look up at night.”
— SeaTV · Canary Islands · La Palma · Marina Santa Cruz · The “Isla Bonita” Marina
