April 26, 2024

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The Canary Islands, Spain: a Complete Travel Guide

The Canary Islands, Spain: a Complete Travel Guide

When I moved to Madrid from the US approximately 15 years back, most of my fellow expat friends took vacations to popular Spanish towns like Seville or Barcelona.

But not me. 

In lieu of castles in La Mancha or the weaving streets of Andalusia, I desired to commit every free moment on the Canary Islands, a volcanic archipelago that’s normally regarded to be Spain’s Hawaii.

The location has held this kind of limitless intrigue that I’m wanting to invest in a household on the Canaries to eternally get pleasure from these islands — my only holdup is that I won’t be able to make a decision which one to connect with home. 

A woman posing in front of lush green scenery in the Canary Islands

I have been viewing the Canary Islands often for 15 a long time.

Courtesy of Lori Zaino


The Canaries are produced up of seven key islands: Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, El Hierro, La Gomera, and La Palma. Just about every is distinctive, with yr-round sunshine and no wet season. This is an introduction to familiarize your self with each individual island:

  • Tenerife: The most made island. Arrive for browsing, black- and white-sand beaches, hikes to the greatest peak in Spain, and lively, intercontinental eating and nightlife.
  • Gran Canaria: A person of the larger islands, chill out and get pleasure from its Sahara-type sand dunes and family members-welcoming seashores.
  • Fuerteventura: A standout for remote golden-sand beach locations that are fantastic for lounging and windy waves for surfers.
  • Lanzarote: House to volcanic hikes, wine tasting, culture and art, and a far more lavish, higher-stop vibe for travelers seeking all the extras.
  • La Palma: Nicknamed La Isla Bonita, or, beautiful island, right here you may locate astrotourism, climbing, and distant black-sand seashores.
  • El Hierro: Anticipate eco-pleasant tourism, a regional feel, and diving and snorkeling in crystal-obvious waters.
  • La Gomera: Savor magical woodland hikes and a no-frills, classic food items scene.

The sand dunes of Fuerteventura, Canary Islands

The Canaries are home to remarkable landscapes, like the a person on Fuerteventura.

Rubén Acosta for Insider


This manual will emphasize some of the best points of interest, cuisine, and accommodations on every island to help you come to a decision which place(s) is right for you and how to prepare your go to. Here’s anything you need to know about touring to the Canary Islands via the eyes of a community. 

Examine Insider’s tutorial to visiting the Canary Islands

My strategies on how to get to and all around the Canary Islands, based on 15 a long time of viewing

→ I’ve invested hundreds of nights in Canary Island hotels. These 10 are some of the most charming destinations you may ever keep.

→ Here’s where by to obtain the most reliable area meals on the Canary Islands

→ How to strategy the ultimate Canary Island itinerary: the greatest shorelines, mountaineering, and one particular-of-a-variety functions

→ The Canary Islands are open to people, but this is what you really should know about restrictions, weather, and the greatest time to go