What to pack for a holiday in La Palma
As with any holiday, what you choose to pack depends on the season and your planned activities. But if you’re going to the Canary Islands the good news is you can probably expect sun, no matter what time of year you’re going.
We visited La Palma at the end of November and while we did experience a little rain and the temperature rarely topped 22ºc, it was still very warm and we had plenty of beach days. Honestly, I expect the weather to be a little warmer as we’ve been to Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, and Tenerife in November and had glorious sunshine. What I have learned from those trips is that the evenings can be cooler and windy, and the hikes around volcanoes are often a different climate to the beaches on the coasts – even if you’re only driving a few miles!
Bearing in mind that I knew we would be hiking, hitting beaches, and staying in the capital Santa Cruz de La Palma which has plenty of nice bars and restaurants, this is what I packed for three weeks in La Palma in November.
What to pack for the daytime in La Palma
During the daytime in La Palma in November the temperature was around 20ºc. If we were hiking, I wore shorts, a sports bra, a light top and brought a layer of a jumper or jacket and a raincoat.
I needed all of these options! If we were wandering the town, light trousers and a t-shirt or vest top were sufficient. And at the beach, a bikini and a light cover-up like a linen shirt and denim shorts was appropriate.
On my feet, trainers and Birkenstocks were fine in all settings. For some hikes you might prefer hiking boots but I tend to wear my Hoka running trainers.
What to pack for the evening in La Palma
Evenings in La Palma can be cooler in November – around 15-17ºc. We found that many of the small restaurants had most of their seating outside to be prepared and bring a layer. The bars and restaurants are nice (I didn’t go out in my hiking gear, although people do) but not so fancy that I needed to pack anything especially for evenings out. My daytime wear plus a jumper or jacket were fine. There’s really no need to pack fancy dresses or heels for an evening in La Palma as you’ll definitely stick out as the only one wearing that kind of thing!
What to pack for hiking in La Palma
Many of the hikes in Tenerife are along or around volcanoes, so sensible shoes are a must. I wouldn’t have done any of our hikes in La Palma wearing sandals or flip flops, even the hikes through forests. The ground is steep, slippery, and uneven. And it’s not worth putting strain on the small island’s emergency services by not coming prepared.
Pack appropriate trainers or boots, and whatever you usually wear to hike. I usually just wear gym clothing like leggings or shorts, a sports bra, a light top, and then an extra layer like a jumper if it’s likely to be cloudy and cold. A rain coat is also a must as many volcano hikes in La Palma will have you literally walking through the clouds!
Similarly, if you're planning to go stargazing at night you will definitely need layers and trousers as it gets very cold in the mountains after dark. The higher you go, the colder it gets – but the better your chances are of seeing the Milky Way!
My full clothing + essentials packing list for La Palma:
On top:
Three vest tops
Two day-evening tops
Three t-shirts
A linen shirt
Two sports bras (for hikes)
On the bottom:
One pair of jeans
Two pairs of light trousers
Three or four pairs of shorts (including for hikes)
On your feet:
One pair of sandals
Two pairs of trainers
Running/hiking shoes
Outer layers:
One long-sleeved t-shirt
One sweatshirt
One light jacket
A rain jacket
The rest:
A sun hat
Enough socks and underwear for the duration of your trip
Hiking socks if needed
4 bikinis
A beach towel
A sarong/beach cover-up
Sunglasses
A backpack
An evening bag
A beach bag
Everything else:
A European plug adapter and chargers for all your electronics.
All your daily toiletries plus SPF.
Entertainment like books, games, and tablets or laptops if you need them.
A reusable water bottle.
A bank card like Monzo or Starling with low or no exchange fees. We didn’t need cash in La Palma, even for taxis.
Your driving licence and a credit card if you’re hiring a car.
Your passport!
Ready to plan your trip? Check out our list of the best things to do in La Palma here.