Many charter and discount flights from Europe.
Portuguese ferry company Empresa de Navegação Madeirense operate between Madeira and the Canary Islands that takes 24 hours, €85 one-way.
Get around. Renting a car is the best option. Buses and taxis are more expensive than in the mainland. Ferries (Fred Olsen, Transmediterránea and Armas) go between the islands. Binter or Canaryfly fly between islands and are adequately fast as you are likely to spend more time at the airport than in the plane itself.
CANARIES WEST (Tenerife, Gomera, La Palma, El Hierro)
TENERIFE (pop 900,000)
The largest island and most popular tourist destination (5.77 million tourists in 2016). It suffers under low cost mass tourism from the Europe.
Its oldest mountain ranges are young compared to its neighbouring islands.
Teide National Park. World Heritage Site. Teide-Pico Viejo stratovolcano (3,718 m) is the highest peak on Spanish soil. Rising 7,500 m above the ocean floor, it is regarded as the world’s third-tallest volcanic structure. A ‘sea of clouds’ forms a visually impressive backdrop to the mountain. Teide is of global importance in providing evidence of the geological processes that underpin the evolution of oceanic islands.
Teleférico Teide. Access
Punta del Hidalgo Lighthouse
International Tenerife Memorial
Pico Viejo and intervening black lavas viewed from the summit of Pico Teide.Loro Parque. (Parrot Park) world’s most important parrot collection with over 300 species, seal, dolphin, aquarium and zoo (gorillas, chimpanzees, tigers, jaguars, flamingos)
Tenerife Botanical Garden, Puerto de la Cruz
La Cueva del Viento. Extensive lava tube system.
Playa de las Americas. Beach
SANTA CRUZ de TENERIFE Capital and home to the Canary Island Parliament.
Further resorts are for example Santa Cruz, and Playa de las Americas.
British tourism arrived here over a century ago and today ‘el Puerto’ has a wide span of magnificent hotels to suit all tastes and budgets. In addition to its old world charms it offers some of the best visitor attractions in the islands.
Museum of Nature and Man
TEA Tenerife Espacio de las Artes. Modern art museum in contemporary building.
Correillo La Palma. Maritime/Ship Museums. Old steamship La Palma which was build the same year and in the same shipyard as the Titanic. A mixed cargo and passenger steamer, length 67.10 m, retired in 1976. Plans are to restore the ship to working order which would make it the oldest functioning motor vessel in the world.
Castillo de San Cristobal
Auditorio de Tenerife Seafront arts complex and auditorium housed in an landmark building with futuristic curving design.
SAN CRISTOBAL de LA LAGUNA. Third most populous city with a well preserved historic centre around the old fishing port full of narrow cobbled streets and dotted with colonial architectural gems, one of the few places where the locals still work, eat and drink.
World Heritage site. It was founded in the late 15th century on an inland plateau 550 m above sea level next to a lagoon. The property includes two original town centres each belonging to a different time of history: the so-called Upper Town is the initial founding site next to the lagoon, and has an unplanned urban structure; and the Lower Town, one kilometre to the East, which is designed on a grid. It is the first ideal territory-town, being designed according to philosophical principles and Royal regulations, organized around a founding square known as Plaza del Adelantado.
Of the 1470 buildings at San Cristóbal de La Laguna, 627 public and private classified buildings are preserved. Of the set of the classified buildings, 361 were built between the 16th and 18th centuries and belong to the so-called Mudéjar architecture, 96 are from the 19th century, and 170 are from the first half of the 20th century. San Cristóbal de La Laguna was the direct precursor of the settlements in the Americas under Spanish rule during colonial times. The Castilians founded 8 such grid-plan towns on the Canary Islands.
A fusion between pre-conquest indigenous people (in ethnographic features and traditional culture) and those from Portuguese, Castilian, and Mudéjar architecture and town-planning. Religious architecture (sculptures, paintings, gold and silver articles, textiles, sumptuary objects, and furniture) is preserved, which also testifies to a cultural interchange with the Hispanic, Portuguese, North-European (especially Flemish), Italian, and American spheres.
Casa Salazar
San Cristobal de la Laguna Cathedral
LA GOMERA
The Magic Isle, is a paradise for hikers. It is shaped like an orange that has been cut in half and split into segments. The terrain is rough, which has left deep ravines or barrancos between them. These barrancos, in turn, are covered by the laurisilva (laurel rain forest). The local wine has a distinct taste, and is often accompanied with a tapa (snack) of local cheese, roasted pork or goat meat. Other cultural dishes include almogrote, a cheese spread, and a syrup extracted from palm trees called miel de palma.
The local people have a unique way of communicating across deep ravines by using a whistled speech called Silbo Gomero. This whistled language is indigenous to the island, and its existence has been documented since Roman times.
San Sebastián. Capital
Garajonay National Park World Heritage Site. Laurel forest covers some 70% of this park, situated in the middle of the island of La Gomera. The presence of springs and numerous streams assures a lush vegetation resembling that of the Tertiary, which, due to climatic changes, has largely disappeared from southern Europe.
The Canary Islands are high, volcanic islands and the first to receive the rains arriving from the west, and have thus retained the remnants of a rich and luxuriant forest — the laurisilva or Laurel forest — on their windward peaks. Next to the Laurisilva of Madeira (Portugal), Garajonay National Park preserves an outstanding example of this unique vegetation, which remains almost permanently shrouded in clouds and mist. These forests are relict ecosystems, living remnants of the old rainforests and warm temperate forests that occupied much of Europe and North Africa during the Tertiary. Today, they are a refuge for an exceptional number of endemic species, which in many cases are also threatened.
Fogs are vital for the forest, producing the necessary moisture essential for the survival of this lavish green environment located within an otherwise arid island. The forest only survives thanks to the high humidity and mild temperatures, which fluctuate little during the year.The forest is geographically unique, as remnants of this type of vegetation are only found in the Macaronesian Islands (the Canaries, Madeira and the Azores).
This insular laurisilva is characterised by the evolution of a large number of endemic species of fauna and flora, which in some cases are threatened. Two relict and endemic species of birds, the White-tailed Laurel Pigeon and the Dark-tailed Laurel Pigeon, are endemic to the Canaries.
LA PALMA (pop 86,000)
Formed from volcanic activity.
Santa Cruz de la Palma* (pop 18,000)
Los Llanos de Aridane* (pop 20,000)
Cumbre Vieja*, a volcanic ridge that dominates the southern part. Formed by numerous volcanic cones built of lava and scoria. Active but dormant, with the last eruption occurring in 1971 at the Teneguia vent, located at its southern end.
Caldera de Taburiante National Park. The caldera is about 10 km across, and in places the walls tower 2000 m over the caldera floor. The highest point is the Roque de los Muchachos on the northern wall, at 2426 m altitude, which can be reached by road. The Cumbrecita is at a lower point in the south-eastern part of the caldera’s rim. In the south-west, the caldera opens to the sea, through a riverbed called the Barranco de las Angustias. The Cumbre Nueva is a ridge that starts at the caldera and continues to the south. The caldera originated some 2 million years ago, with a massive shield volcano about 20 km in diameter. The caldera was not formed by an explosion of that volcano, however, but by erosion starting from the volcano’s original crater.
During the Spanish conquest of the Canary Islands in the 15th century, the caldera was the site of the last stand of the indigenous people of the archipelago, a branch of the Guanches known as Benahoaritas. It proved impregnable to the invading Spaniards, and they only defeated the Benahoarita by luring their leader out on the pretext of holding talks.
La Palma National Park*.
EL HIERRO
“The edge of the world”. It is also known as the Meridian Island, and
Valverde. Capital.
Orchilla Lighthouse
CANARIES EAST (Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote)
GRAND CANARIA. The third largest island and second most popular (after Tenerife) receiving 4.22 million tourists in 2016. It has the highest population density with 540 inhabitants per km². With tourists can get a bit crowded. Green and steep in the north, dry and flat in the south.
RISCO CAIDO and the SACRED MOUNTAINS OF GRAN CANARIA CULTURAL LANDSCAPE World Heritage Site. Located in a vast mountainous area in the centre of Gran Canaria, sheltered by the Caldera de Tejeda, and formed of cliffs and ravines and volcanic formations in a landscape of rich biodiversity. The landscape includes a large number of troglodyte settlements — habitats, granaries and cisterns — whose age is proof of the presence of a pre-Hispanic, extinct insular culture that seems to have evolved in total isolation culture over 1500 years, from the arrival of North African Berbers, around the beginning of our era, until the first Spanish settlers in the 15th century. The troglodyte complex also includes cult cavities and two sacred temples, or almogarenes — Risco Caído and Roque Bentayga — where seasonal ceremonies were held. These temples are thought to be linked to a possible cult of the stars and Mother Earth.
Traditional practices such as transhumance, terrace-farming installations, and water management installations. The Libyco-Berber inscriptions.
LAS PALMAS. Its capital city has the shared title of capital of the Canaries.
Atlantic Center of Modern Art
Casa de Colon. House museum.
Museo del Queso Majorero
Museo Elder of Science and Technology.
Museo Nestor. Small museum showing work of Spanish artist Nestor.
Museo Naval
Castillo de la Luz. Restored stone fort with permanent collection of artist Marin Chirino – steel sculptures
Cenobio de Valerón. Vestiges of the Past. Series of caves used as a communal granary until the 15th century. Very interesting and unique.
Jardín Botánico Canario Viera y Clavijo. 500 plant species native to the Canaries, including trees, cacti and succulents.
Poema del Mar (aquarium)
Maspalomas Lighthouse. Landmark 1890s lighthouse, popular for sunset, beach, shops and bars near.
FUERTEVENTURA
Second largest island but relatively thinly populated with only 100k inhabitants. Also fewer attractions and no mass tourism. Paradise for windsurfing. The only Canary Island with natural golden sandy beaches rather than naturally black volcanic sand
Puerto del Rosario*. Capital, is fairly laid back, few architectural gems.
Jandia Lighthouse. Built in 1864, has museum and viewing deck. Great sunset spot.
Tefia Windmill. Wood frame with 6 vanes built on a white stone rectangular base.
Playa de Cofete.
Villa Winter. The Dark Side. Built in 1937 by German engineer Gustav Winter known for his link with the Nazi party. Most of the stories are a hoax.
LANZAROTE
About half the size of Gran Canaria and also of volcanic origin, but low lying and arid.
ARRECIFE. Capital draws most of the 2.9 million tourists visiting Lanzarote annually.
Aquarium
Cactus Garden
Museo Aeronáutico de Lanzarote
Museo Atlantico (Underwater Museum in the NM Bizzarium series). Sculptures including human figures and a refugee boat accessible on a dive tour.
Monumento al Campesino (NM Bizzarium series). El Arado, 1976 to recognize the agricultural worker. Poor views. White fertility sculpture was constructed from disused water tanks and dedicated to the conejero farmers who work so hard to produce crops from the volcanic land in Lanzarote. It stands 15 metres high and visitors can take the path to climb up the steps to the base of the monument for a panoramic view.
Cueva de los Verdes
Timanfaya National Park. A spectacular volcanic landscape in the west of the island The island, along with others, emerged after the breakup of the African and the American continental plates. The greatest recorded eruptions occurred between 1730 and 1736.
GRACIOSA (pop 650)
The smallest inhabited island in area and population, only 29 km² in size
Caleta de Sebo Capital and located a few km to the north of Lanzarot
Go Next. There are no regular ferries to the surroundings (Madeira, Morocco, Azores), but flights are available.
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NOMAD MANIA Spain – Canary Islands (Gran Canaria, Tenerife, Lanzarote)
Borders: Canary islands (sea border/port)
Festivals: Canary Islands: Bajada
Vestiges of the Past: Cenobio de Valerón
Islands
GRAND CANARIA
World Heritage Sites: Risco Caido and the sacred mountains of Gran Canaria Cultural Landscape
Lighthouses: Maspalomas Lighthouse
Villages and Small Towns: Teror
Vestiges of the Past: Cenobio de Valeron
LAS PALMAS European Cities World Cities and Popular Towns
Airports: Las Palmas (LPA)
Museums
Atlantic Center of Modern Art
Casa de Colon
Museo del Queso Majorero
Museo Elder
Museo Nestor
House Museums/Plantations: Casa de Colón
Castles, Palaces, Forts: Castillo de la Luz
Botanical Gardens: Jardín Botánico Canario Viera y Clavijo
Aquariums: Poema del Mar
Maritime/Ship Museums: Museo Naval
LANZAROTE
Airports: Lanzarote (ACE)
Villages and Small Towns: Teguise
World of Nature: Timanfaya
Aquariums: Aquarium
Aviation Museums: Museo Aeronáutico de Lanzarote
Botanical Garden: Cactus Garden
Bizzarium:
Museo Atlantico (Underwater Museum)
Monumento al Campesino
Caves: Cueva de los Verdes
FUERTEVENTURA
Airports: Fuerteventura (FUE)
Lighthouses: Jandia Lighthouse
Windmills: Tefia Windmill
Beaches: Playa de Cofete
The Dark Side: Villa Winter
CANARIES WEST
TENERIFE
World Heritage Sites: Teide National Park
Airports
Tenerife North (TFN)
Tenerife South – Reina Sofia (TFS)
Railway, Metro, Funiculars, Cable Cars: Teleférico Teide, Tenerife, Tenerife Tram
World of Nature: Teide
Entertainment/Things to do: Loro Parque
Zoos: Tenerife: Loro Parque
Botanical Gardens: Puerto de la Cruz: Tenerife Botanical Garden
Caves: La Cueva del Viento
Beaches: Tenerife: Playa de las Americas
Maritime/Ship Museums: Tenerife: Correillo La Palma
SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE
Museums
Museum of Nature and Man
TEA Tenerife Espacio de las Artes
Castles, Palaces, Forts: Castillo de San Cristobal
Modern Architecture Buildings: Auditorio de Tenerife
SAN CRISTOBAL de LA LAGUNA
World Heritage Sites: San Cristóbal de La Laguna
Castles, Palaces, Forts: La Laguna: Casa Salazar
Religious Temples: Tenerife: San Cristobal de la Laguna Cathedral
Lighthouses: Punta del Hidalgo Lighthouse
Monuments: International Tenerife Memorial
LA GOMERA
World Heritage Sites: Garajonay National Park
World of Nature: Garajonay
LA PALMA
Airports: La Palma (SPC)
Villages and Small Towns: Santa Cruz de la Palma
World of Nature: Caldera de Taburiante
Lighthouse: Faro de Fuencaliente
EL HIERRO
Airports: El Hierro (VDE)
Lighthouses: El Hierro: Orchilla