Canary Islands Holidays

Where are the Canary Islands? The Canary Islands are off the coast of northwest Africa, near the southern tip of Morocco and north of Western Sahara. Tenerife, the largest, and Gran Canaria are two of the most central islands, while Fuerteventura and Lanzarote are the closest to mainland Africa.

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Tenerife  This is the largest and most popular island, with tropical forests, hiking trails and over 200 miles of volcanic coastline. Costa Adeje is one of the island’s newest resort areas – you’ll have sands that rival nearby Playa de Las Américas but a little more peace and quiet. Guía de Isora is the ultimate tranquil retreat where you can enjoy time away from the busier coastal resorts – head into the mountains for a scenic walk or hike, take a seafront stroll by the deep blue waters and tuck into superb Canarian cuisine in the local restaurants.

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La Gomera Take a 40-minute ferry ride across the water, and you’ll find La Gomera, a refreshingly peaceful and unspoilt mountainous island. It may be tiny, but it still packs a punch – you can see Tenerife and Mount Teide from its east coast, and it’s a great spot for discovering stunning natural landscapes, either on a day trip or from one of its picturesque coastal hotels. The island has been listed as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and is a paradise for walking and hiking; you’ll see rolling valleys, misty forests, pebble beaches and dramatic cliffs. 

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Fuerteventura  Fuerteventura is an excellent choice if you’re travelling with young kids or looking to try watersports. It has stunning dunes, turquoise waters, unspoilt beaches and cool, refreshing breezes. We recommend heading to the island's northern tip for Corralejo; this former fishing village is in a beautiful setting by the Corralejo Dunes Natural Park, where the dunes can be up to 50 metres tall and stretch right down to the ocean. The small and uninhabited Lobos (‘Wolves’) Island, home to a nature reserve and open for day trips, is also just a ten-minute ferry ride away.

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Lanzarote Another family-friendly island is Lanzarote, home to long, golden beaches and fun-filled resorts with loads of activities. Playa Blanca has some of Lanzarote’s best beaches –soft, white sands and calm waters. Puerto Calero is one of the island’s glitzier parts; it has a chic marina filled with luxury yachts, indulgent spas, numerous gourmet restaurants and boutique shops, dive centres and superb golf courses. For something a little different, get out and explore the island’s unique landscapes, awarded World Biosphere Reserve status by UNESCO; whether it’s rusty-red craters or volcanic vineyards, you’ll surely find some otherworldly-looking spots.

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Food & drink In the Canaries, you’ll find plenty of hearty meat and potato-style options, including puchero canario, a broth similar to the typical Madrid stew, which is drained and served as soup for a first course, with its meat and vegetables for the second course – ingredients are typically pumpkin, cabbage, sweet potatoes, pork, and beef. Papas arrugadas, or ‘wrinkled potatoes’, are a popular side dish, where baby potatoes are boiled in salt water until soft, giving them wrinkles and a salty crust. There’s also mojo picón, a spicy sauce containing red or green pepper, olive oil, cumin, garlic, salt and vinegar, and bienmesabe, a tempting dessert made from egg yolks, ground almonds, cinnamon and honey.

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