Holidays to the Canary Islands serve up year-round sun, big-name resorts and scenery worthy of the big screen.
Knockout scenery
The Canaries are actually the tips of a volcanic mountain range, which explains the crazy mix of scenery – the islands showcase everything from tropical forests and moon-like lava deserts, to giant sand dunes. And then there are the beaches, which tick off white sandy sweeps and black-sand coves.
Tenerife and Gran Canaria
The biggest island is Tenerife, which does a nice line in lively resorts, shopping streets and please-everyone attractions. It’s also home to Mount Teide, Spain’s highest mountain. Further west, Gran Canaria’s been dubbed a continent in miniature, thanks to its diverse landscapes. It’s also got upbeat beach resorts like Playa del Ingles and Puerto Rico to its name.
Fuerteventura and Lanzarote
Turning the tempo down a notch, there’s Fuerteventura. This place is big on sand. Not only has it got towering dunes, but it’s also home to the longest beaches in the Canaries. Lanzarote, meanwhile, is quietly confident, lining up Blue Flag beaches, an other-worldly volcanic landscape and buzzing resorts.
La Palma
Last but not least, La Palma is the place for a taste of the Canaries of old. This tiny, off-the-radar island is all quiet coves, cobbled streets and volcanic peaks.
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Fuerteventura
Fuerteventura is one of the more organic Canary Islands. It’s a no-added-sugar sort of place, where the buildings are low-rise and the landscape has been shaped by biology rather than builders. But that’s not to say nothing goes on here. In fact, as most of the Canaries creak to life around mid-morning, Fuerteventura has been up for hours catering for the people who want to fit it all in.
Gran Canaria
The third-largest island of the Canaries, Gran Canaria is part of the world’s vintage collection, because it’s been attracting holidaymakers since the 19th century. And, with its collection of long, sandy beaches and hidden coves, its legendary, round-the-clock nightlife and its traditional hamlets, it seems that this spot will be a popular holiday destination for years to come.
Lanzarote
Even though it’s a volcanic island, Lanzarote boasts many resorts – such as Playa Blanca, Costa Teguise, Puerto del Carmen and Playa de los Pocillos – with stunning, white-sand beaches. These long stretches of sand have been attracting people to the island since the Seventies. In fact, Lanzarote helped to create the concept of the classic beach break. Nowadays, the beaches all feature tonnes of watersports .
AT A GLANCE
- Sunbathe on the sands of Dunas de Corralejo National Park, Fuerteventura
- Explore the apocalyptic scene in Lanzarote’s Timanfaya National Park
- Tackle the white-water rides at Siam Park waterpark, Tenerife
Weather
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WHEN TO GO
The Canary Islands score highly when it comes to weather. Tenerife gets a generous supply of sun – up to 11 hours a day in summer. Summer temperatures in the south can rocket to the early 30s, and in winter, the mercury rarely drops below 19˚C. Head north, though, and things can be a bit more humid, with occasional showers in the mix. Over in Gran Canaria, you can expect sizzling summer temperatures – the mercury tops 35°C in July and August, with the rest of the summer staying a toasty 25°C. Winter’s a good bet, too – the thermometer rarely dips below 20°C. In Lanzarote, you’ll see summer temperatures of around 25°C, while in winter the mercury hovers at around 16°C. Temperatures on Fuerteventura tend to stick somewhere between 20°C in winter and 25°C in summer – although August sometimes sees the mercury topping 30°C. There’s always a cooling breeze, though, thanks to the island’s trade winds. Summer temperatures in La Palma creep up to the high 20s, while in winter the thermometer rarely drops below the 17°C mark.
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Aphrodite
Imagine this. You’re lying on a sun-soaked deck. Ocean breezes ruffle your hair. And when you look up, you see two soaring…
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Loro Parque
Feel like spreading your wings a bit? Tenerife is only an hour by sea from Gran Canaria and home to the award-laden LoroParque…
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