La Palma Weather in March - A warm first month of Spring

Although it marks the start of spring, March can still be a cold month all over Europe and many countries still get a lot of snow at this time of the year. This is not the case in the Canary Islands, as the weather slowly starts to warm up and the rain chances drop.

La Palma is the westernmost island in the Canaries and due to its topography, it is a popular destination for nature lovers, who come here for hiking in the mountains. 

The weather in March is sometimes very unpredictable, with some days of rain or storm, as the weather makes the transition from winter to spring. 

Weather averages for March in La Palma

These temperatures are measured at the meteorological station in La Palma Airport (close to the island's capital - Santa Cruz de La Palma), on the east coast of the island.

• RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE: 34.2°C
• AVERAGE HIGH TEMPERATURE: 21.2°C
• DAILY MEAN TEMPERATURE: 18.5 °C
• AVERAGE LOW TEMPERATURE: 15.7 °C
• RECORD LOW TEMPERATURE: 10.2 °C
• AVERAGE RAINFALL: 32.5 mm
• AVERAGE RAINY DAYS: 4
• MEAN MONTHLY SUNSHINE HOURS: 177
• MEAN DAILY SUNSHINE HOURS: 6
• SEA TEMPERATURE: 19 °C

What is the weather like in La Palma in March

The east coast of La Palma is usually more susceptible to rain than the west coast and this is pretty much the case all throughout the year. 

This means that if you want to increase the chances of sunny days during your stay, you should choose your accommodation close to the sea, preferably right on the coast, somewhere between Tazacorte and Puerto Naos. 

March is already warmer during the day compared to January and February, so your chances of beach days increase, although the ocean temperature is still at its lowest.

See our recommendations for the best things to do in La Palma

Average temperatures

• The average temperature is 18.5 °C, which is a mean value calculated between the average high temperature during the daytime of 21.3 °C and the average low temperature of 15.7 °C.

With a daily mean of almost 19°C in March, you can usually be in just a T-shirt or a dress during the day, when the sun is out and there's no wind. 

If you plan to go hiking or walking, either in Cumbre Vieja or Caldera de Taburiente, you should always have with you a water repellant jacket and also you should wear hiking boots, as the weather can change really fast and you have to be prepared.

Rainfall

• The average rainfall in March: 32.5 mm

The amount of rain the island gets continues to drop considerably in March, with only 32.5 mm of rainfall (compared to 54 mm in February).

Rain usually happens during the course of 4 days in March, so there aren't that many chances for rain to spoil your holiday. 

Sea temperature

• Average sea temperature in March: 19°C

The ocean temperature drops to around 19°C and this is the lowest water temperature throughout the year.

It is still too cold to swim in the ocean and the outdoor pools are cold as well unless they are heated. 

Sunshine hours and daylight hours

• Daily hours of sunshine: 6

The average daily hours of sunshine increase in March, getting to around 6 hours, which means that you can do more with your day, while on holiday in La Palma.

Even if you can't swim, you can still sunbathe either in Playa de Tazacorte and Playa de Puerto Naos on the west coast, or Playa Los Cancajos and Playa de Santa Cruz de La Palma on the east coast.

You can see more info about the best places to stay in La Palma, which can help you choose the best area on the island depending on what you plan to do while you're there. 

Events in March

Depending on the year, in March you can sometimes celebrate the carnival in La Palma, with the Fiesta de Los Indianos as the largest event on the island, or you can celebrate Easter and the Semana Santa (Holy Week).

If you love the Spanish culture, don't miss the carnival in the capital (Carnaval de Los Indianos), as it is really unique and special, very different from the celebrations organized in the larger islands.

Should you come on holiday to La Palma in March?

If you're looking for temperate weather, with T-shirt temperatures but not overly hot, then YES, you should come to La Palma in the Canary Islands in March.

Early spring is still relatively tourist-free, with no crowds anywhere and pristine beaches all to yourself. But the main attractions on La Palma are the beautiful trails hidden in the mountains, and for hiking the weather can be ideal, as the chances of rain are considerably lower compared to winter.

If you're looking for a place where the weather is guaranteed to be sunny and hot, then you should still wait a few months before coming to La Palma, until summer comes and the days are warm and dry all over the island.