The Canary Islands are a favorite destination for European tourists, where they can escape the cold weather and lack of sun at any time of year, but especially during winter. A good example is Scandinavians very assiduous to the islands during the wintertime. The Canary Islands have more than 500 beaches of all types and for all tastes. From crowded beaches in summer and with all the services, to small hidden coves and landscapes that make tourists fall in love.
Eight islands in the Atlantic Ocean: El Hierro, La Palma, La Gomera, Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote, and La Graciosa, where visitors are stunned by its beaches, ancient forests, majestic volcanoes, impressive cliffs, beautiful reefs, and the hospitality of the locals.
There are a lot of things to do and places to see in the Canary Islands for national and international tourists, and we have listed a few highlights of each island, but you can find lots more information online.
- Gran Canaria is one of the most well-known islands and frequented by tourists, as around five million people visit the island annually. Las Palmas de Gran Canaria is the capital of the island and the most populous city of the archipelago. The city also has one of the most important ports in Spain and the European Union, Puerto de la Luz y Las Palmas.
The most famous beaches are Maspalomas, La Cantera and El Inglés, but there are many more on the island. In Maspalomas, you can enjoy the spectacular landscape offered by its dunes in perfect harmony with its beautiful beaches. While La Cantera is considered the most beautiful urban beach in the Canary Islands and offers activities for the whole family, from the practice of water sports such as snorkeling or surfing to boat trips. El Inglés beach is much more crowded and is the ideal place for British tourists.
You should not miss the opportunity to visit the old town of the city, go shopping on Triana Street (taxes are 7%), visit the House Museum of Christopher Columbus and the Canarian Town. Do not forget to taste the local cuisine with typical dishes such as the famous ‘papas arrugás’ and the ‘mojo picón’, in addition to goat and rabbit meat, to finish with an essential souvenir, a bottle of Arehucas rum, which has a special flavor because it is sweetened with cane honey, another product made in the land.
- The island of Tenerife in addition to being famous for its carnival, also offers a wide range of activities, from its wonderful beaches, natural parks, and attractions to the varied gastronomy. If the holidays are with family and children, Tenerife has the largest water park in Europe, Siam Park, which has also been chosen by Tripadvisor as ‘the best park in the world’ for the seventh consecutive year. And without a doubt one of the special and magical activities is to take a boat ride to enjoy whale watching, which can be seen a lot, along the coasts of Tenerife.
The Teide National Park, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, is a must-visit. Here you can do hiking trails, visit the Hermitage of Our Lady of the Snows, climb the peak of Mount Teide, make the route of the viewpoints, climb the cableway, and simply marvel at the views.
- Lanzarote offers beautiful beaches such as Playa Quemada, Playa Grande, Playa del Jablillo, Playa Flamingo, Playa Papagayo, among others, as well as coves with crystal clear waters. Also, there are several places that will please everyone, for example, walk the streets of the fishing village of Punta Mujeres with its white houses, blue doors like the sea, and the walls decorated with colorful flowers, without forgetting its beautiful natural pools of seawater. Nor can miss the ‘jameos de agua’, it is a collapsed roof in a volcanic tube that has formed a hole in the surface, like the impressive ‘Cueva de los Verdes’ with 7000 meters long and that was formed after the eruption of the volcano La Corona.
A different alternative is to visit the Cactus Garden which has more than 4000 specimens brought from all over the world and try a cactus burger in the cafeteria.
- El Hierro, La Gomera, La Graciosa, and La Palma are the other four islands of the Canary archipelago that offer visitors wonderful natural landscapes, virgin beaches, dream forests, and volcanic areas to exploit and enjoy, and to be direct contact with nature.