The most extraordinary side of Spain lies in the Atlantic off the West African coast. Where it says Canary Islands, there is a guarantee for a dream vacation. But which one suits you? We introduce all the islands.
The Canary Islands are literally outsiders. Far away from mainland Spain in the Atlantic off the West African coast, the archipelago consists of seven main islands and other smaller ones. The Canary Islands belong politically to Spain, but geographically to Africa. This creates a special climate. The temperatures are constantly between 20 and 28 degrees Celsius, which makes a holiday possible all year round.
These are the Canary Islands
The main islands of the Canary Islands are Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Tenerife, La Gomera, La Palma and El Hierro (from east to west). The best known are the eponymous island of Gran Canaria and Tenerife, followed by Fuerteventura and Lanzarote. But the smaller islands of La Gomera, La Palma and El Hierro are also booming, especially among individual tourists.
Sub-islands of the Canary Islands are Alegranza, La Graciosa, Montaña Clara, Lobos, Roque del Este, Roque del Oeste and uninhabited rocky islands such as Anaga, Salmor and Garachico.
By the way: Lanzarote and Fuerteventura are closest to the African continent. As such, they tend to be the warmest islands in the Canary Islands.
Tenerife: A lot of variety
Tenerife is the largest island of the Canary Islands and also has the highest mountain in Spain: the 3715 meter high Pico del Teide, which proudly towers over the island and is the third largest island volcano in the world. It is an example of the diversity of the island: rough mountains and rock formations of volcanic origin exist alongside a barren and desert-like landscape in the south.
On Tenerife you will find some classic holiday regions, in most of them there are - similar to Mallorca - many German-language offers. The most famous tourist resorts are Los Cristianos and Playa de las Americas in the south of the island and Puerto de la Cruz in the north.
Everything is possible on the largest island of the Canary Islands, whether you are looking for hustle and bustle or a break, parties or hikes, cute guesthouses or all-inclusive clubs. Only the direction of the compass sets a small trend: while the north is rather humid and green and offers great hiking routes, the climate in the south is drier and people like to celebrate on the long sandy beaches.
While the climate in the south is drier and the long sandy beaches are good and plentiful party hotspots, the north is rather humid and green - and also a little quieter. It offers a fantastic backdrop for hikers and cyclists, for example in the Anaga Mountains in the north-east or in the Teno Mountains in the north-west.
Tenerife is the most beautiful island for your vacation...
if you like to have variety on vacation instead of just lying on the beach. Because the island has so much to offer, you can swim in the sea and hike in the morning, shop and go sightseeing in the afternoon and party in the evening.
Gran Canaria: Island for explorers
Gran Canaria is one of the most famous of the Canary Islands and also gave the archipelago its name. At first glance, one might think that the island is very similar to Tenerife. After all, it is also big and has a similarly wide range: beaches, parties, culture and nature. Anyone who spends their holidays here will find everything, because tourism is important on Gran Canaria. That's why you can check in at the all-inclusive hotel as well as cruise around the island individually. There are many restaurants, cafés, bars and beach bars on the island - nightlife included.
The nights are long, especially in the nightlife districts in the south, such as Playa del Inglés or Maspalomas.
Beautiful: Maspalomas on Gran Canaria
But the nature on Gran Canaria is also exciting: because the island is large, there are desert-like areas as well as high mountain massifs and landscapes with European, African and American vegetation. That's why Gran Canaria is also called "the small continent". In no time it can happen that you are in another climate zone. Perfect for a road trip!
Also typical of Gran Canaria are the so-called Barrancos, deeply incised, mostly dry rivers that often reach the coast.
Gran Canaria is the most beautiful island for your vacation...
if you don't want to do without the wide range of offers on a classic holiday island, but are still looking for adventure. Gran Canaria is the ideal island for a road trip (also for beginners), as it is never far from lonely nature to the next village.
Lanzarote: The island with that certain kick
The fascinating natural scenery attracts many vacationers to Lanzarote. The volcanic origin of the island is still clearly visible everywhere and accounts for the rough "moon landscape" charm. One example is the Timanfaya National Park, which was created when volcanic eruptions in the 18th century formed lava formations up to 40 meters high. Temperatures of 100 degrees Celsius still prevail below the surface today!
There's even a restaurant that uses volcanic heat to cook the food. Special features like these clearly make Lanzarote an island with a certain kick.
You can find even more traces of the island's volcanic history in the Jameos del Agua caves. Formed by volcanic eruptions, the subterranean cave system shows the power of lava. Today the caves are artistically designed and an absolute highlight as are the island's volcanic beaches, all of which are rough, rocky and dark grey. One of the most beautiful settings can be found in the El Golfo Lagoon, where a lagoon has formed in a volcanic crater, the water of which glows green due to algae.
Although the island is very well developed for tourism, it has retained its originality. 40 percent of the island is protected landscape and there are around 100 volcanoes.
Lanzarote is the most beautiful island for your vacation…
if you are not looking for picture book beaches on vacation, but for the extraordinary. The volcanic island is rougher than the other Canary Islands, but also much less crowded and you will find more peace and quiet instead of hustle and bustle.
Fuerteventura - Island for surfers
Fuerteventura is more of a desert than a volcanic island. At first glance, the island appears very barren and the landscape rather desert-like. Only when the rainy season begins in February and March does it briefly turn green on the island. Fuerteventura is the second largest island in the Canary Islands and the oldest one: it was formed around 20.6 million years ago.
Fuerteventura is known for a wide range of sports on vacation. Surfers flock to the beaches where the wind blows steadily, while divers discover a magical underwater world. That's why surfers like to call Fuerteventura the "European Hawaii". If you want, you can also go horseback riding, play tennis or golf. But the highlight are the beaches: Fuerteventura has the longest beaches in the entire archipelago.
Fuerteventura is the most beautiful island for your vacation...
if you like to be in, on and under water. Whether wind or kite surfing, standard surfing or on a SUP board: With its great wind conditions and long beaches, Fuerteventura is a travel destination for everyone who likes water sports.
La Palma: Island for nature lovers
La Palma is a small island full of special features. It is one of the "youngest" islands in the archipelago but still around two million years old. The form is exciting: La Palma rises 6,500 meters from the seabed at a depth of 4,000 meters. This makes La Palma one of the steepest islands on earth with a rugged coast and only a few sandy beaches.
A highlight in the opposite sense of the word is the Caldera del Taburiente National Park, where there is a huge volcanic crater nine kilometers in diameter and 770 meters deep. If you drive to the Mirador de la Cumbrecita viewpoint, you will marvel at this natural wonder from the best perspective.
Another special feature of the island is the starry sky. It is particularly clear to see on La Palma. Because fewer people live on the island and accordingly fewer lights burn at night, the nights are enormously impressive. With a bit of luck you can see the Milky Way with the naked eye!
La Palma is the most beautiful island for your vacation...
if you like being in nature and looking for a mix of beach and mountains on vacation. Because of the pronounced volcanic landscape on La Palma, you can go on great hikes and get to know the island from different sides.
La Gomera: The authentic island
Are you always looking for something extraordinary and special on holiday and do you like to avoid tourist clichés? Then La Gomera is the right island for you. Because here you will discover the original side of the Canary Islands.
The Garajonay National Park with its evergreen cloud forest covers about ten percent of the area of La Gomera, but the rest of the island is also very green. Since there are several vegetation zones, nature is extremely diverse: laurel forests grow in the north, Phoenician juniper and the Canary Island palm in the south. The ecosystem of the Garajonay National Park has been under special protection as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1986.
The Mirador del Morro de Agando viewpoint in the Garajonay National Park
Folk customs are cultivated on La Gomera. In the mountain valleys of the island there is still a peculiar whistling language that can be compared to yodeling in the European Alps.
La Gomera is the most beautiful island for your vacation...
if you're not in the mood for uniformity, but for variety. The island is ideal for individual travelers and is much quieter than the neighboring islands, precisely because tourism is much less developed.
El Hierro: The Nature Island
El Hierro is the smallest of the Canary Islands, but it does great things: the island has enjoyed UNESCO protection as a biosphere reserve since the year 2000. Fair treatment of natural resources is important to the islanders.
With just under 1000 guest beds, there is definitely no mass tourism on El Hierro. On perhaps no other Spanish island will you experience such a sustainable and natural holiday. In addition, the landscape makes a lot possible: You can dive into natural swimming pools, hike through volcanic rocky landscapes or just chill.
El Hierro is the most beautiful island for your vacation…
if nature conservation and sustainability are important to you on vacation and you reject tourist hotspots. With just under 1000 guest beds, there is definitely no mass tourism on El Hierro.
La Graciosa: The smallest island is only 29 square meters
La Graciosa, the smallest and northernmost island of the Canary Islands, is just 29 square meters and is inhabited by 695 people. Only since 2018 has "the graceful one", as the name translates, been recognized as the eighth inhabited island of the Canary Islands by statute of autonomy. The main town is the fishing village of Caleta del Sebo, where most of the islanders live.
La Graciosa is still an insider tip: tourism has been trickling so far, holidaymakers can expect a lot of nature and tranquility. There is only one paved road and no hotels, but a handful of guesthouses and holiday apartments. If you want to visit the island, take the ferry from Orzola in northern Lanzarote and reach La Graciosa in 20 minutes.
La Graciosa is the most beautiful island for your vacation…
if you want to experience a real insider tip and be as cool as a cucumber.
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