ES - Canary Islands

When to go:
Any time of year is good for visiting the Canaries. The sun shines all year round. The thermometer fluctuates slightly. High season in the Canaries coincides with winter when Europe is immersed in the cold. Prices soar during the Christmas holidays but also during the carnival and Easter holidays and in the summer period (July September). If you belong to those lucky few who can plan their holidays in low season, do not hesitate to do it. Since there is less confusion, you can do without booking the room, you will find better services and, to top it off, you will save a lot on the price of the accommodation.

Territories and tourist destinations.
The Canary archipelago is made up of seven major islands distinct in eastern and western as shown below:

Western Canary Islands (Santa Cruz de Tenerife Province):
Tenerife – Major island of the archipelago, Tenerife also grabs the largest tourist flow thanks to the beauty of its landscapes and the many leisure opportunities. Renowned is the carnival that takes place on the streets of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, its capital. Its most popular seaside resort is Los Cristianos.
La Gomera – Of volcanic origin, La Gomera is the closest to Tenerife. Roundish in shape, it has a very rough territory, engraved by deep and very fertile valleys. Its coast is high and rocky with beaches that are difficult to reach. In fact, a coastal road is missing and you must necessarily go from the inside. Playa Santiago is the center where the few tourists from La Gomera gather to hunt for sunbathers but the island is above all a paradise for those who love hiking. The Garajonay National Park extends to the center of the island and is crossed by paths that wind through gorges with lush vegetation. In addition to walking, they can also be traveled by bicycle.
La Palma – Northwest of La Gomera, La Palma has an even more luxuriant vegetation thanks not only to the volcanic soil but also to more abundant rainfall which entertain abundant sources of fresh water. La Palma is also an island made of high mountains that fall directly into the sea between steep cliffs. Its capital is Santa Cruz de la Palma, a town of 30,000 inhabitants with a small but fascinating historic center. Its southern part is more arid, dominated by a volcanic landscape that forms the Caldera National Park and banana plantations where small black beaches like pitch open up. The interior of the island presents the rocky landscapes of the Caldera de Taburiente established as a national park while the north is covered with tropical forests that form the Los Tiles reserve.
El Hierro – The westernmost of the Canary Islands is a small island of 270 km². Beaten by incessant winds, El Hierro presents landscapes of rocks and volcanic lava. The wide gulf that opens on the southern side is called “Mar de las Calmas” and is renowned for its exceptional seabed. Those who practice scuba diving stay in La Restinga, a small center near the “Punta de los Saltos”, the southern tip of the island. On the opposite side opens “El Golfo” in the shape of a crescent and the remains of an ancient crater today submerged. The coasts of “El Golfo” are characterized by natural salt water pools closed by lava rocks.
Map of the Canary Islands.svg
Eastern Canary Islands (Province of Las Palmas):
Gran Canaria – To the east of Tenerife, Gran Canaria is a densely populated island despite a predominantly mountainous territory. Its capital is Las Palmas, a city of about 500,000 inhabitants with substantial ethnic minorities, especially Moroccans but also Chinese and Indians. Its coast is generally high and engraved by coves and coves that host beautiful beaches. The most renowned seaside resorts of Gran Canaria are Playa del Inglés and Maspalomas, attached to each other. Further east is Puerto de Mogán, another seaside resort with a more exclusive and also more peaceful character.
Fuerteventura – East of Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura is closest to the African coast and has desert landscapes. The sun hits hard and the winds often blow impetuously, made appreciated by windsurf enthusiasts who gather every year on the beaches of Corralejo in the far north and in front of the small Isla de Lobos and the other of Playa de Sotavento de Jandía, on the side opposite, at the southern end of Fuerteventura, facing the African coast.
Lanzarote – Separated from Fuerteventura by a short stretch of sea where the small Isla de Lobos is located, Lanzarote has landscapes dotted with countless volcanic cones interrupted here and there by oases full of palm trees. Its capital is Arrecife but tourists prefer the nearby Teguise with its beautiful seabed, perfect for scuba diving and even more the centers of the south, Playa Blanca, Puerto Calero and Puerto del Carmen, the largest seaside resort in Lanzarote thanks to its long golden shore. .
A short stretch of sea separates the north of Lanzarote from Isla Graciosa, another volcanic island with pristine beaches and sheltered from mass tourism. Still further north are the tiny Isla de Montaña Clara and Isla de Alegranza, both uninhabited and part of a natural park closed to tourism.