Palm trees, volcanoes, lakes and beaches; the Canaries' fabulous scenery promises an exciting mix of exploration, adventure and relaxation – but which is the best Canary Island to visit?
Whether you’re looking to go hiking across volcanic landscapes, cycle the winding mountain roads or kick back in a boutique beachside hotel, there's a perfect Canary Island for you.
Perhaps you’re after some winter sun, looking for a new Spanish holiday destination
to visit or simply want a gorgeous island escape for your next holiday. Well, we’ve brought you the ultimate guide to choosing the right Canary Island for you.
Before you decide on which of the Canaries is best, we’re delving into the details so you’re clued up on these sun-kissed isles before you book…
Where are the Canary Islands?
A sultry Spanish archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean, the Canary Islands lie 80 miles off the northwest coast of Africa, and are closer to Morocco than mainland Spain, hence the glorious year-round climate. Spanish is spoken across all islands, while Canarian dishes such as papas arrugadas, salt-wrinkled potatoes served with mojo picón are served alongside typical Spanish tapas in every bar and restaurant.
How many Canary Islands are there?
There are eight islands in the Canaries archipelago: Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, La Palma, La Gomera, El Hierro, and La Graciosa. Each has own culture, vibe and colourful charm, from the lively party resorts of Tenerife, the starry dark skies of La Palma to the volcanic plains of Lanzarote and Gran Canaria, there's a Canary Island suitable for every taste.
How can you reach the Canary Islands?
There are various ways to get to the Canary Islands, the most popular is flying. From the UK, flight times are between four and five hours from London, Manchester, Birmingham and Glasgow airports. You can also reach the islands by ferry, from Cádiz and Huelva on mainland Spain, where crossings take between 30 and 38 hours.
Across the Canaries archipelago, there are 16 ports making it easy to hop between the islands. The main hubs are in Tenerife, Lanzarote and Gran Canaria, where you can board inter-island ferries to the smaller islands of La Gomera, El Hierro and La Graciosa.
If you want to travel in style, there are several cruise lines who have itineraries taking in one or a few of the Canary Islands, including Cunard and P&O cruises which depart from Southampton.
Which is the warmest Canary Island?
All of the Canary Islands enjoy a similar climate with mild winters around 18-22C and summer temperatures reaching the late 20s. Thanks to its close proximity to the Sahara Desert, Lanzarote is considered the hottest of the islands, where the mercury easily reaches 30C and higher in the summer.
W've narrowed down the highlights of each sunny Spanish island so you can find the right one for you this season...
Gran Canaria - travel to Latin America in four hours
From the rugged mountains of north to the volcanic black-sand beaches and desert plains of the south, Gran Canaria's terrain is so diverse it's often called 'a miniature continent'. Moments from the beautiful beaches and lively resorts, you can discover spectacular lava formations, custard-coloured mountain villages and some of the best hiking routes in Spain.
Las Palmas in Gran Canaria is still home to the 15th-century Cathedral of Santa Ana and the house where Christopher Columbus is said to have plotted his voyage to Latin America, so it’s no surprise that the local accent is closer to Latin American Spanish.
Another similarity is the cuisine. One of the tastiest - yet simplest - dishes here is potatoes with mojo sauce (red or green). Potatoes are native to Latin America and were brought over to the Canaries centuries ago. The salted, fluffy jackets served with garlicky, spicy sauce are exquisite and you’ll find them on offer all over the island.
Fuerteventura - where fortune favours the bold
Stark volcanic landscapes, rippling blonde-sand beaches and the perfect conditions for windsurfing, kiteboarding and sailing, a holiday in Fuerteventura manages to combine adventure, culture and relaxation in a seamless fashion.
The second largest of the Canary Islands, adventurers tend to head to the Corralejo Natural Park for exhilarating off-road buggy tours of the sand dunes or to surf off the east coast. Alternatively, you can relax onboard a leisurely dolphin and whale-watching cruise, which launch from Corralejo's pretty waterfront.
Learn more about the fortunate isle in Betancuria, the original capital of the island, a quirky Spanish town famed for its 15th-century Mudejar-style architecture and local art scene. Venture a few miles outside of town and you'll find the Insta-darling Mirador Morro Velosa, which famously has the best panoramic views on the island.
BROWSE HOTELS IN FUERTEVENTURA
La Gomera - soak up cultural wonders
Food is the star of the show in La Gomera’s capital, San Sebastián, where restaurants serve octopus, papaya, tuna, cuttlefish watercress soup, and golfio con miel (a kind of nougat made with roasted barley and corn, plus sweet honey and figs). Toasted golfio is actually sprinkled into coffee and wine here, too.
There are also plenty of traditional, open-air ceramics workshops on pretty La Gomera, which has a long history of craftsmanship. Look out for the red pots, which take their fiery colour from a natural ochre pigment.
San Sebastián is the place to go for boutiques and markets where you can browse artisanal gifts - like Gomeran castañets called chácaras, wooden cutlery made from Lausilva trees and baskets made from banana stems.
Don’t miss the Feria Insular de Artesanía, also held in the capital, which brings together artisans from all over the island and the rest of the archipelago.
El Hierro - an eco-travel haven
Lesser-known El Hierro is a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve, suited to those looking for a quieter, sustainable break. Over 50 per cent of this little island is covered in pristine wilderness and progressive regulations preserve its natural beauty.
For example, the island's energy is completely renewable, powered by waterfalls and the wind, and there are restrictions on building anything taller than two stories, to protect the spectacular views.
And it's not just on ground level that you’ll find wonders on El Hierro. The island has a fantastic underwater volcanic landscape, which can be explored by scuba diving. Look out for turtles, tuna, stingrays, dolphins, barracudas... and the occasional (peaceful) whale shark.
You won’t want to leave without exploring the island’s unique natural swimming pools, created when ancient lava flows cooled and walled in the seawater around the coast.
Arrive in El Hierro by ferry from Tenerife to Puerto de la Estaca in the north of the island in under three hours.
Tenerife - active holidays in an exotic paradise
Tenerife is the largest Canary Island, and possibly the most popular, thanks to the stunning El Teide, Spain’s highest peak and a breathtaking UNESCO-protected national park that's perfect for hiking.
It’s also well-known for its gorgeous beaches which, as it’s just off the coast of West Africa, are perfect for swimming - even in November and January.
Other highlights of a visit include the annual Carnival de Santa Cruz, a festival with parades, dancing and colourful costumes which marks the start of Lent - and goes on for a fortnight.
And if you want to keep the party going, choose an all-inclusive resort. Costa Adeje is famous for its nightlife scene, waterparks and stunning beaches, or for somewhere more relaxed, check out Los Gigantes, with scuba diving and serene mountain views, or the West Coast Playa de la Arena, with its quiet hiking trails and sleepy black-sand beaches.
La Palma - for a romantic stargazing break
La Palma is the world’s steepest island, which naturally means that the views are incredible! For example, a short walk down to the unspoilt Playa de Nogales in the west of the island offers dramatic views of its cliffside Atlantic beach.
La Palma’s wild, solitary beaches are the perfect place to throw your worries to the wind and enjoy time with a loved one.
And there’s more to explore by hiking across the island’s trails in search of secret waterfalls and natural craters. Head into Caldera de Taburiente National Park for some of the best trails, like the 13km hike to Los Colores Waterfall. Visit during rainier seasons to catch the falls in their full vibrancy. You’ll hardly believe it’s all natural.
And it’s not just during the day that you’ll be able to treasure the views. As a Starlight Reserve, La Palma is one of the best places in the world to observe the night skies. Roque de los Muchachos Observatory is located 2,400 metres above sea level and offers crystal-clear views of the stars.
Lanzarote - out-of-this-world landscapes
Otherworldly Lanzarote was born out of fiery volcanic eruptions, but now it offers plenty of luxury comforts in its charming whitewashed stone villages.
Thanks to the rocky terrain, delicious wines are produced in the bodegas of Geria, Lanzarote’s warm wine-growing region. We can’t get enough of the elegant blue bottles at Vega de Yuco, where you can taste wines and tour the bodega.
The island is also known for its award-winning cheeses. Goat and sheep’s cheeses are popular, and naturally smoked with paprika and golfio - that toasted corn flavour we mentioned earlier.
You can’t visit Lanzarote without checking the works of artist César Manrique, a Lanzarote local who magnified the island’s crazy natural wonders with artistic shapes and bold colours. His botanical cactus garden is an absolute delight to visit on a sunny day, and the Cesar Manrique Foundation, set up in a former house of his, shows Manrique’s genius blending of architecture into the volcanic rock, with rooms built into volcanic bubbles and crafty tunnels joining them.
Timanfaya National Park is a wonderland of jagged, ochre landscapes and lava fields that will make you feel you’ve travelled to another planet, despite only being a short flight away from the UK. We love its nickname too: the Fire Mountains.
La Graciosa - get off the beaten track
La Graciosa has been a Canary Island for just a few years, but don’t let its small size put you off. It’s a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site, made all the more special by the fact that its beaches are secluded, restaurants feel as if you’re the first to discover them and the roads are all unpaved, making sure you really do take the path less travelled.
Some tourists choose to travel the 'Gracious Island' by bike, to explore its most special and hidden corners. There are three bike routes which cross the island north to south, taking you to the main beaches and points of interest. And don’t worry, the island is mostly flat, so you can simply pedal on and enjoy the views.
Here, you can spend time at the secluded beaches, like Playa de las Conchas, with its warm tidal lagoon, and Playa Francesa, with its sand dunes and turquoise waters. Travelling from beach to beach is the best way to explore, looking out for natural arches, wildflowers and restaurants on your way.
And since it’s a protected marine reserve, wildlife flourishes in the tranquillity of La Graciosa, so remember to look out for rare seabirds and the cute monk seal that calls this island home.
The best way to get there is on a ferry from Lanzarote, which takes half an hour.
