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It's not just the year-round sunshine that makes holidays to the Canary Islands so popular – it's also the sand dunes, the volcanoes, and the cutting-edge art.
Black and gold
With award-winning beaches, whitewashed towns, and knockout scenery, it’s easy to see why the Canaries are so popular. Floating off the west coast of Africa, these Spanish islands are an exotic blend of two continents. Think sweeping sand dunes, dramatic mountains and tropical forests. You can unroll your towel on a golden beach, swim in a black-sand bay, and hike up a volcano – all in one day.
A tale of two islands
As part of your cruise and stay holiday, you can book a retreat in Gran Canaria or Tenerife. If you’re taking the kids, Blue Flag beaches and family-friendly attractions mean that Tenerife’s Costa Adeje and Maspalomas in Gran Canaria are the best options. Meanwhile, the sleepy town of Puerto de la Cruz in Tenerife has a cute harbour and a long stretch of sand. Or you could stay in Gran Canaria’s quiet spot, Meloneras, for traditional streets and delicious seafood.
Mount Teide
In the centre of Tenerife, you’ll find the world’s third-largest volcano and the highest mountain in Spain. Over 3,700 metres tall, Mount Teide towers above the rest of the island. You can walk the National Park trails, or take the cable car to the top for spectacular views. Surrounded by other-worldly scenery of hardened lava and deep craters, this place is the backdrop for several classic sci-fi movies.
Desert dunes
Stretching from Maspalomas to the ocean, Gran Canaria’s sand dunes are an impressive sight to behold. The sea breeze means this Saharan-like landscape constantly changes shape, so the white dunes will never be the same twice. Wander across the undulating sands, or travel by camel for a better view.
Places To Stay In Canary Islands View all places to stay »
Tenerife►
As the most popular Canary Island, Tenerife knows a thing or two about summer holidays. The secret of its success starts with its beaches. On the island’s south coast, big resorts like Playa de las Americas, Los Cristianos and Costa Adeje have something going on around the clock. There are white sands and watersports to see you through the day and a world’s worth of restaurants and bars to move you through the night.
La Palma►
Of all the Canaries, La Palma sings the softest. Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura shout about what they’ve got, which means purring La Palma often gets overshadowed. But that’s where its appeal lies. This quiet island is far from Spain's madding crowd, and you won’t find any of the tell-tale marks of mass tourism here.
Fuerteventura►
With more than 150 swathes of sand to its name, holidays to Fuerteventura, in the Canary Islands, are all about the beach. Its coast morphs from the empty sweeps at Cofete to the busy, bar-lined stretches in Jandia. Then there’s the Parque Natural de Corralejo to think about. Unravelling along the coast for 10 kilometres, this national park is a huge expanse of rolling sand dunes.
La Gomera►
As far as the Canary Islands are concerned, La Gomera is one of the quieter ones. Covering an area of just 146 square miles, this tiny lozenge of land is often overshadowed by the all-singing all-dancing reputations of the larger Canaries.
Gran Canaria►
As far as holiday destinations go, Gran Canaria is part of the world’s vintage collection. The third-largest Canary Island first appeared on the Spain tourism radar as far back as the 19th century, and it’s gone from strength to strength ever since.
Lanzarote►
The Canary Island of Lanzarote has been in the business of sun, sea and sand breaks since the Seventies. In fact, as one of Europe’s first mainstream holiday destinations, it helped to invent the classic beach break. Take one look at this Spanish hotspot and you’ll see what made it the perfect prototype. The main resorts of Puerto del Carmen, Playa de los Pocillos, Costa Teguise and Playa Blanca are hemmed by long ribbons of sand, and their shores are excellent for watersports.
Lanzarote
The Canary Island of Lanzarote has been in the business of sun, sea and sand breaks since the Seventies. In fact, as one of Europe’s first mainstream holiday destinations, it helped to invent the classic beach break. Take one look at this Spanish hotspot and you’ll see what made it the perfect prototype. The main resorts of Puerto del Carmen, Playa de los Pocillos, Costa Teguise and Playa Blanca are hemmed by long ribbons of sand, and their shores are excellent for watersports.
