Somewhere Wonderful in the Canary Islands Is Waiting

Before the global pandemic, the Canary Islands saw a large number of international tourists visit throughout the year. The subtropical climate, abundance of beaches and important natural attractions made this an easy choice for anyone looking for a cheap holiday where sunny days are almost guaranteed.

Even though there are seven main islands, only four are true tourist hotspots. So while there’s plenty to see and do, especially for nature lovers, on the other three – La Gomera, La Palma and El Hierro – we’ve picked out the highlights from the UK’s favourite Canary Islands. If you really want to explore the region as a whole, you could always opt for an island-hopping tour to take it all in.

Lanzarote has a reputation as the party island of the Canaries. The large airport sees its fair share of package-holiday passengers and youngsters heading to the nearest club, but there’s more to it than the night scene. Take the tunnel of Atlantis, the largest underwater volcanic tunnel in the world, which was forged by an eruption on the island around 20,000 years ago. The mountains in the north are a good spot to view of the surreal landscape that resulted from the eruption, although even at ground level you can see traces.

After years of decline, the tourism boom of the 1980s changed the fortunes of Fuerteventura for ever. Visitors came for the beaches, which are some of the best in the region, and the rich history of Puerto del Rosario, the capital. Desert and sand dunes that formed in the central region of the island have become a popular attraction – you can even drive through them. If you do visit, make sure you sample some majorero, the local cheese made of goat’s milk.

If you want to get a sense of Spanish city life while on an island holiday, then the Gran Canaria capital, Las Palmas, is the place to head to. You’ll find some of the best beaches and restaurants here, as well as a great sense of culture amid the streets of what is the ninth largest city in Spain. There are plans to connect the rest of the island to the Las Palmas via a new train route, but until then, you can get around quite easily by car or bus.

The largest and most populous island of all the Canaries, Tenerife can feel during peak season as if it was purpose-built for tourists. The key to making the most of your experience, if you want to leave the confines of your hotel, is to head inland. Away from the admittedly beautiful coastline is a rarely seen side of the island where lush massifs, undulating ravines and incredible valleys create an awe-inspiring landscape.

Gethin Morgan contributed additional reporting to this article.