Where is the best place to relax in the Canary Islands? Holidays in the Canary Islands with children: going to the islands of eternal spring Where is the best place to relax in the Canary Islands.

01.03.2024

The Canary archipelago was born thanks to volcanoes that spewed lava onto the surface of the young planet in prehistoric times. This is why most of the beaches on distant islands have a black tint. An amazingly beautiful combination of colors is not the only charm of the archipelago, which belongs territorially. When asked when is the best time to go on vacation, each resident will answer with a smile and advise not to check the calendar too much. The blessed landmass in the Atlantic Ocean off the west coast is most often called the Islands of Eternal Spring, and therefore almost 13 million annual tourists are evenly distributed here across all four seasons.

Let's take a look at the map

Seven large inhabited islands, among which the largest is , and six small ones, you can easily find on the map to the west of the Moroccan coast. Geographic latitude largely determines the climate of the archipelago, but other natural factors invariably participate in shaping the weather in the Canaries:

The eastern islands - and - are considered the driest. The reason is the proximity of the Sahara Desert and the sirocco winds that periodically blow from there, bringing sandstorms and intense heat.
Northeast trade winds, on the contrary, provide the islands with moisture and soften the heat. The opposition of air currents provides optimal conditions for relaxation even at the height of summer.
The Atlantic influences the climate in its own way. The cold current in the area of the islands and the constant anticyclone over the neighboring Azores cause low precipitation.
On the large islands, the mountainous terrain helps create a special microclimate, and even in the middle of winter you can find a place where the air temperature does not drop below +25°C.

Absolutely most days of the year in the Canary archipelago the weather is dry and sunny. Average temperatures on the coast range from +15°C in winter and from +25°C in the summer months. The absence of sharp temperature fluctuations and other weather features make the Canaries an ideal holiday destination for a traveler with almost any climatic preferences.
Not too large fluctuations in water temperature in the Atlantic in the Canaries region allow divers to do their favorite activity almost all year round. The cold current provides good visibility to the water.

Beach holidays and its features

Fans of the islands of eternal spring know that it is better to relax on the Canary beaches when the water warms up to at least +19°C. The cold current of El Golfo makes water procedures possible only at the end of April. Before this, the ocean seems too cold and you are unlikely to be able to enjoy swimming comfortably. At the height of summer, thermometers show about +25°C in coastal waters and the swimming season lasts until the end of October.
The air becomes especially pleasant for sunbathing much earlier. You can sunbathe on the beaches of the Canaries even in winter, but gusts of wind often force brave souls to cover themselves with towels. It becomes much more comfortable on the black volcanic sand closer to April. In mid-spring, the mercury confidently reaches +25°C by 10 a.m., and shortly before the May holidays, the Canary Islands become a favorite holiday destination for golden age tourists and those who do not welcome the too hot sun.
The “high” beach season in Tenerife and Grand Canaria is considered to be July-August and the first half of autumn. During the day, thermometers can show up to +30°C at this time, but the famous northeastern trade winds make it very easy to tolerate high temperatures. By the way, Canary volcanic sand has its own characteristic features. Even in the afternoon heat of July, its temperature remains pleasant, and therefore on the black beaches of the Canaries you can sunbathe comfortably without a sun lounger and allow children to make Easter cakes without fear of burns.

Tenerife. Definitely first violin

Among its brother islands, Tenerife is the most popular, frequently visited, large and densely populated. It is located almost in the center of the island chain. Despite the relatively small size of the island, the climate in its south and north has some differences. The reason for this is the mountain range stretching from east to west.
The northern part of Tenerife is more humid and cooler, and in the south there are more sunny days; rain falls only in the winter months and then extremely rarely. The average air temperature in July reaches +29°C, and in winter and in the northern regions the thermometers do not drop below +20°C even at night.
In Tenerife, you can choose a holiday destination in accordance with your own aesthetic and color preferences. The north will appeal to fans of fine pebble beaches and black volcanic sand. If you are one of the adherents of classic beach canons, choose southern resorts, where the shores are covered with sand brought by dust storms from the Sahara Desert.

Variegated calendar

The Canarian tourist does not live by the beach alone, and therefore even in winter it can be quite crowded. The reason for such popularity of the archipelago is the schedule of its holidays and public events, which attract tens of thousands of fans of spectacular spectacles.
The most grandiose Canarian event is the winter carnival in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. He rightfully deserved the second step of the podium among world shows of this level, second only to the festival in. The Canary Festival attracts about a million people each year, and its week-long program is developed and prepared throughout the year. The holiday program includes colorful processions, the election of a queen, dance and costume competitions, fireworks and special ceremonies that have existed for tens and hundreds of years.
If you want to fly to the Canaries for the carnival, book your tickets and hotels several months in advance to avoid overpaying. Although even in this case, the chance of finding a flight and an inexpensive hotel at the end of February and beginning of March is usually very small.
If you didn’t manage to get to the carnival, don’t be upset! There are many other colorful festivals in the Canaries that are worth seeing:

At the end of January, Tenerife traditionally hosts participants in the music festival De Música de Canarias.
In February, the almond blossom season begins and the Fiesta de almendro en flor festival takes place on the island of Grand Canaria, symbolizing the arrival of spring. The main treat in cafes and restaurants these days is almond wine and desserts prepared with the addition of aromatic nuts.
You can taste delicious cheeses at the beginning of May at the Flower Cheese Festival in the town of Guia in Grand Canaria. The feast is accompanied by folk dances and performances by folk singing groups.
Local florists cover the streets of La Laguna and La Orotava with carpets of fresh flowers in late spring and early summer. This is the time of the Feast of Corpus Christi in Tenerife.
It is best to get acquainted with the art of winemaking in September, when the residents of Tenerife remember the Savior during the Cristo de los Dolores.
You will be taught how to fish with your hands in the second week of September in Grand Canaria. The holiday in Laguna also introduces other ancient rituals accepted in the archipelago.
You can easily just make noise for no reason and legally on November 29 in the northern regions of the island of Tenerife. On this day, local residents remember St. Andreas in a special way. They build noisy devices from scrap materials and compete in the streets and squares to see who can make the loudest noise.

The huge number of holidays in the Canary Islands is another reason to plan a trip there. Whenever you find yourself on the islands of eternal spring, you will be guaranteed a good mood and a lot of pleasant impressions.

Useful observations

Canarian winds make it possible to endure the heat relatively easily, but they also often cause sunburn.

Protect your skin with high factor creams and suitable clothing. Do not neglect protection even in winter, because the sun on the islands is always very active!

When choosing the best time to fly to the Canaries, take into account the popularity of the islands among tourists not only but throughout the world. Be sure to book your plane tickets and hotel rooms well in advance.

During the “high” season, there is a high probability of a lack of empty seats, and the prices for the remaining ones may seem completely inhumane.

If you value the opportunity to go shopping on vacation, it is better for you to fly to the Canary Islands when the traditional sales start. This usually happens in mid-summer and right after the Christmas holidays. However, in other seasons, shopping in Tenerife or Grand Canaria is still profitable, because the islands are a free economic zone.

Take a tour of history by visiting Vegueta, the historical quarter of the capital. It was from here that the development of the island began in the 15th century. Sights will be found at every turn: do not miss the Casa de Colon, St. Anne's Cathedral, the town hall and other interesting buildings, as well as the market square.
Hide from the city noise in the largest nature reserve on the island - Nublo rural Park. On its territory there are observation platforms, picnic fields, secluded beaches, campsites and many charming small villages where you can spend the night and eat.

LANZAROTE

There are 300 volcanoes, which is why Lanzarote is often called the “island of fire-breathing mountains.” Of course, filmmakers could not pass by the alien landscapes - episodes of the films “The Mysterious Island”, “One Million Years BC”, “Clash of the Titans”, “Exodus: Kings and Gods” were filmed here.

The best resort for families with children is Playa Blanca, and windsurfers have also chosen Costa Teguise.

Canary Islands (map)

Here you will find:

Amazing tropical landscapes with volcanoes, waterfalls and valleys made of solidified lava

Clear and soft ocean waters

Volcanic black sand beaches

Sea of exotic fruits

A huge number of prehistoric monuments

Top level service

Ideal spots for surfers and divers.

The Canary Islands are officially considered an autonomous province of Spain, which includes 7 large islands and several small ones. The list of large islands includes: El Hierro, La Palma, La Gomera, Tenerife, Lanzarote, Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura.

Canary Islands on the world map

Interesting fact!

The capital of the Canary Islands changes every 4 years. This title is transferred between the cities of Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.

Where are the Canary Islands

These islands of volcanic origin are located in the Atlantic Ocean. They are part of "Macronesia" along with islands such as Madeira and the Azores to the north and the Cape Verde Islands to the south.

In the center of the seven large inhabited Canary Islands is the island of Tenerife - the largest of all. The islands of La Gomera, Hierro and Palma are located in the western part. The third largest Canary Island - Gran Canaria - is located east of Tenerife. On the eastern part you can find the islands of Fuerteventura and Lanzarote.

Canary Islands (video)

Weather in the Canary Islands

The prevailing wind here is the trade wind, which blows between the tropics all year round. Thanks to the trade wind and warm sea currents, the climate in the Canary Islands is quite mild.

At the same time, it would be useful to remind you that the air temperature in these places can suddenly drop in just 10 minutes.

Water temperature in the Canary Islands

Temperatures in the Canary Islands by month

Canary Islands in January

Tenerife+20 C, Fuerteventura+20 C, Gran Canaria+21 C, Lanzarote+19 C, La Palma+19 C.

Tenerife+14 C, Fuerteventura+13 C, Gran Canaria+15 C, Lanzarote+13 C, La Palma+13 C.

Water temperature: Tenerife+19 C, Fuerteventura+19 C, Gran Canaria+19 C, Lanzarote+19 C, La Palma+20 C.

Canary Islands in February

Maximum temperature (daytime): Tenerife+20 C, Fuerteventura+20 C, Gran Canaria+21 C, Lanzarote+19 C, La Palma+19 C.

Minimum temperature (at night): Tenerife+14 C, Fuerteventura+14 C, Gran Canaria+15 C, Lanzarote+13 C, La Palma+13 C.

Water temperature: Tenerife+19 C, Fuerteventura+18 C, Gran Canaria+19 C, Lanzarote+18 C, La Palma+19 C.

Canary Islands in March

Maximum temperature (daytime): Tenerife+21 C, Fuerteventura+21 C, Gran Canaria+22 C, Lanzarote+21 C, La Palma+20 C.

Minimum temperature (at night): Tenerife+15 C, Fuerteventura+14 C, Gran Canaria+15 C, Lanzarote+14 C, La Palma+14 C.

Water temperature: Tenerife+19 C, Fuerteventura+18 C, Gran Canaria+19 C, Lanzarote+18 C, La Palma+19 C.

Canary Islands in April

Maximum temperature (daytime): Tenerife+22 C, Fuerteventura+22 C, Gran Canaria+23 C, Lanzarote+21 C, La Palma+20 C.

Minimum temperature (at night): Tenerife+15 C, Fuerteventura+15 C, Gran Canaria+16 C, Lanzarote+13 C, La Palma+14 C.

Water temperature: Tenerife+19 C, Fuerteventura+18 C, Gran Canaria+19 C, Lanzarote+18 C, La Palma+19 C.

Canary Islands in May

Maximum temperature (daytime): Tenerife+24 C, Fuerteventura+23 C, Gran Canaria+24 C, Lanzarote+23 C, La Palma+22 C.

Minimum temperature (at night): Tenerife+16 C, Fuerteventura+16 C, Gran Canaria+17 C, Lanzarote+16 C, La Palma+15 C.

Water temperature: Tenerife+20 C, Fuerteventura+19 C, Gran Canaria+20 C, Lanzarote+18 C, La Palma+20 C.

Canary Islands in June

Daylight lasts 14 hours.

Maximum temperature (daytime): Tenerife+26 C, Fuerteventura+25 C, Gran Canaria+26 C, Lanzarote+25 C, La Palma+24 C.

Minimum temperature (at night): Tenerife+18 C, Fuerteventura+18 C, Gran Canaria+18 C, Lanzarote+18 C, La Palma+17 C.

Water temperature: Tenerife+21 C, Fuerteventura+20 C, Gran Canaria+21 C, Lanzarote+20 C, La Palma+21 C.

Canary Islands in July

Daylight lasts 14 hours.

Maximum temperature (daytime): Tenerife+28 C, Fuerteventura+27 C, Gran Canaria+27 C, Lanzarote+27 C, La Palma+26 C.

Minimum temperature (at night): Tenerife+20 C, Fuerteventura+19 C, Gran Canaria+19 C, Lanzarote+19 C, La Palma+19 C.

Water temperature: Tenerife+22 C, Fuerteventura+21 C, Gran Canaria+22 C, Lanzarote+21 C, La Palma+22 C.

Canary Islands in August

Daylight lasts 13 hours.

Maximum temperature (daytime): Tenerife+29 C, Fuerteventura+27 C, Gran Canaria+28 C, Lanzarote+28 C, La Palma+28 C.

Minimum temperature (at night): Tenerife+21 C, Fuerteventura+19 C, Gran Canaria+19 C, Lanzarote+19 C, La Palma+20 C.

Water temperature: Tenerife+23 C, Fuerteventura+22 C, Gran Canaria+23 C, Lanzarote+22 C, La Palma+23 C.

Canary Islands in September

Daylight lasts 12 hours.

Maximum temperature (daytime): Tenerife+28 C, Fuerteventura+26 C, Gran Canaria+27 C, Lanzarote+26 C, La Palma+26 C, La Gomera+28 C, El Hierro+27 C.

Minimum temperature (at night): Tenerife+21 C, Fuerteventura+19 C, Gran Canaria+20 C, Lanzarote+19 C, La Palma+20 C, La Gomera+21 C, El Hierro+20 C.

Water temperature: Tenerife+23 C, Fuerteventura+22 C, Gran Canaria+23 C, Lanzarote+22 C, La Palma+24 C, La Gomera+23 C, El Hierro+24 C.

Canary Islands in October

Daylight lasts 12 hours.

Maximum temperature (daytime): Tenerife+26 C, Fuerteventura+26 C, Gran Canaria+26 C, Lanzarote+25 C, La Palma+26 C, La Gomera+26 C, El Hierro+25 C.

Minimum temperature (at night): Tenerife+19 C, Fuerteventura+18 C, Gran Canaria+19 C, Lanzarote+18 C, La Palma+18 C, La Gomera+19 C, El Hierro+18 C.

Water temperature: Tenerife+23 C, Fuerteventura+22 C, Gran Canaria+23 C, Lanzarote+22 C, La Palma+23 C, La Gomera+23 C, El Hierro+23 C.

Canary Islands in November

Daylight lasts 11 hours.

Maximum temperature (daytime): Tenerife+23 C, Fuerteventura+23 C, Gran Canaria+24 C, Lanzarote+22 C, La Palma+24 C, La Gomera+23 C, El Hierro+23 C.

Minimum temperature (at night): Tenerife+17 C, Fuerteventura+17 C, Gran Canaria+18 C, Lanzarote+18 C, La Palma+16 C, La Gomera+17 C, El Hierro+17 C.

Water temperature: Tenerife+22 C, Fuerteventura+21 C, Gran Canaria+22 C, Lanzarote+21 C, La Palma+22 C, La Gomera+22 C, El Hierro+22 C.

Canary Islands in December

Daylight lasts 10 hours.

Maximum temperature (daytime): Tenerife+21 C, Fuerteventura+21 C, Gran Canaria+22 C, Lanzarote+20 C, La Palma+20 C.

Minimum temperature (at night): Tenerife+15 C, Fuerteventura+14 C, Gran Canaria+16 C, Lanzarote+14 C, La Palma+14 C.

Water temperature: Tenerife+20 C, Fuerteventura+20 C, Gran Canaria+20 C, Lanzarote+20 C, La Palma+21 C.

Climate of the Canary Islands, Spain

Since the Canaries are located close to the African continent, and more specifically to the Sahara Desert, a tropical trade wind, moderately hot and dry climate prevails here. On the islands, the Shergi wind blows from the Sahara, bringing with it heat and sand.

The influence of the African continent is softened by constant trade winds that blow from the northeast and bring moisture to the islands. In addition, the climate on the islands is milder due to the Atlantic Ocean, as well as due to the cold Canary Current.

It's also worth noting that the Canary Islands are quite mountainous, so the climate is influenced by altitude and topography. It is worth noting that the highest islands are Tenerife, La Palma and Gran Canaria. Here, at an altitude of 2,000 meters, you can even see snow.

The climate and weather in the north are slightly different from the more southern islands. The northern islands have denser greenery and higher humidity levels, while the southern islands are drier.

Visa to the Canary Islands

To get to the Canary Islands, citizens of the Russian Federation need a Schengen visa. It is worth noting that Spain is part of the Schengen zone.

To apply for a visa, the following documents are required:

* International passport - its validity must expire no less than 4 months from the start of the trip.

* 4 photos.

* A copy of every page (even blank ones) of the internal passport and international passport. If there are canceled passports, they must also be provided, or you can provide a certificate from OVIR (Visa and Registration Department) about their seizure.

* Information about hotel accommodation (copy of reservation) or villa rental agreement.

* Copies of tickets or their reservation.

* Medical insurance.

* Documents from the place of work with information about income, length of service, position and vacation period.

Children need a birth certificate.

Students need a certificate from their place of study.

For non-workers, documents confirming the solvency of the stayer are required, for example, a credit card or bank statement.

It is worth noting that there are four types of Schengen visa: A, B, C and D (national).

Types A and B refer to transit stay:

A - stay in the transit area of the airport

B - transit up to 5 days with the ability to leave the airport.

If you want to holiday in the Canary Islands for a few days, then you need a Schengen visa C, which allows multiple entries into Spain.

There are 4 options for visa C:

C1 - gives you the opportunity to stay in the Canary Islands for 30 days.

C2 (multi) - allows you to vacation in the Canaries for 90 days, but it opens for 180 days.

C3 (multi) - allows you to stay on the islands for up to 90 days, but it is valid for almost a year.

C4 (multiple) - its validity is up to 5 years, but the decision to obtain such a visa is made in the capital of Spain - Madrid.

Spain is quite loyal to tourists from Russia, who often receive a “Multi” visa. However, such a visa is usually obtained by those who have already visited the Canary Islands on a C1 visa.

International airports of the Canary Islands

* Tenerife South (Tenerife Sur).

* Gran Canaria (Aeropuerto de Gran Canaria).

* Lanzarote (Aeropuerto de Lanzarote/Arrecife Airport).

* Fuerteventura (Aeropuerto de Fuerteventura).

* La Palma (Aeropuerto de La Palma).

There are no direct flights from Moscow and St. Petersburg. You can take it with a transfer in one of the following cities: Berlin, Brussels, Madrid, Prague, Munich, as well as in other cities.

Origin of the name of the Canary Islands

Some people mistakenly believe that the name of these islands comes from canaries, but it’s just the opposite - the birds got their name in honor of the Canary Islands.

The name Las Islas Canarias (or Canary Islands) comes from the Latin "Canariae Insulae", which literally means "Isles of Dogs". According to the ancient Roman scientist Pliny the Elder, these places received this name due to the large number of large dogs living there.

But there is another version, which says that the “Dog Islands” got their name not because of their four-legged friends, but because of the large colonies of sea lions that previously lived nearby, which were called canis marinus or (sea dogs).

The third version says that among the Guanches - the indigenous population of the archipelago - dogs were sacred animals.

Holidays in the Canary Islands

The largest island of the Canary archipelago is Tenerife. There is a huge selection of vacation spots here, both for those who like to retire and for those who like to have fun from the heart.

The island of Puerto de la Cruz is more suitable for those who like to connect with nature and relax in a calm environment. But it is worth noting that the coast on this island is steep and rocky, and there are almost no beaches, so most vacationers prefer to swim in the pools at their hotels.

The island of Gran Canaria, like Tenerife, offers guests a varied holiday. There are many major tourist centers with a large number of hotels, apartments, shops, restaurants and attractions. Perhaps the main attraction of the island is the Dunes (Dunas de Maspalomas), which can be considered a miniature copy of the Sahara Desert. There is very clean golden sand, on which a 5 km long beach has been developed.

The best beaches of Tenerife (photos)

Las Teresitas Beach

This beach is known for its incredible scenery that looks like something out of a postcard. The artificially created wide beach with golden sand is very popular among tourists. The sand was brought here from the Sahara, since the island itself is covered with dark, volcanic sand.

In addition, the beach is located very close to the capital of the island, Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Nearby there is a fishing village where you can see what real, traditional Tenerife looks like. The beach is decorated with palm trees and they even say that in this place people lose track of time. Thanks to the built stone dam, which protects the beach from large waves, the water in this place is warmer than in other places in Tenerife.

Playa El Bollullo Beach

This beautiful beach has retained its naturalness - rocks, soft volcanic sand, crystal clear water and, at times, big waves. It is located in the La Orotava valley in the northern part of Tenerife. Getting to the beach takes some patience, but once you get there you will appreciate the amazingly beautiful secluded place. Several narrow paths lead here, along the sides of which you can see banana plantations. After the paths there are steep steps leading to a place with volcanic sand.

This picturesque beach attracts with its large waves, black volcanic sand and clear water. The sand and rocks nearby create a beautiful, wild picture of untouched Spain. The beach seems to be separated from the rest of the world thanks to the rocks that surround it. Winds blowing from the ocean bring with them large waves that attract surfers and kayakers.

Bollullo beach is located quite far from civilization, but despite this, you can find stands with food and drinks here. It is, of course, advisable to take food and drinks with you.

Los Gigantes Beach

Perhaps the most beautiful beach on the west coast of Tenerife with untouched nature. Here, huge cliffs ranging from 300 to 800 meters in height plunge into the warm waters of the Atlantic Ocean. At this location you can take a boat trip that starts at the harbor, where you can also find several restaurants and bars. Los Gigantes Beach is made up of dark sand and is home to a variety of establishments serving traditional Canarian dishes.

Playa Jardin Beach

The name of the beach can be translated as "garden beach" or "garden beach", and this beautiful place stands out for the beautiful flora that surrounds it, including many palm trees and cacti. Perhaps the most interesting thing about this beach is the large garden with coconut and banana trees, from which the beach gets its name.

This exotic mixture appeared thanks to Cesar Manrique, a Spanish artist and architect who dreamed of creating a beautiful man-made coastline.

2.5 million euros were spent on creating the beach. It took 4,000 concrete blocks to build the pier, and 230,000 cubic meters of volcanic sand were needed to create the breakwater. The waves here are quite high, which attracts surfers and kayakers. It is worth noting that due to its clean sand and clear water, Hardin Beach has received the highest Blue Flag rating several times.

Beach of the Americas

Playa de las Americas is a resort created artificially in the 1960s near the town of Los Cristianos. Here you can find many bars, nightclubs, restaurants and attractions. Beach of the Americas, located in this resort area, is considered by many to be the best beach in Tenerife. It was artificially created and the sand was brought here from the Sahara Desert.

The beach has all the amenities - it is very large, always clean, golden sand, sun loungers, umbrellas, volleyball and basketball fields and much more.

La Caleta Beach

At the height of the season, when all the beaches are filled with tourists, you want to find a place where you can calmly relax on clean sand and swim in crystal clear water. La Caleta is a beach that is mostly known only to locals, but it is nonetheless a gem of the island of Tenerife.

La Caleta is an hour's drive from Beach of the Americas. Here you will find several traditional fish restaurants. The beach is covered on both sides by defensive bastions: the forts of Santa Catalina and San Sebastian. It is worth noting that this is where Christopher Columbus began his journey to the West Indies. The water here is always warm and calm, but you may not see cabanas or restrooms.

El Duque Beach

On this beach there is one of the best hotels on the island of Tenerife - Bahia del Duque, which is included in the list of the 100 best hotels in the world. In addition to it, there are other luxury hotels, as well as shopping centers and various restaurants.

The service here is at the highest level - the beach is equipped with stylish cabins, developed infrastructure, clean sand and clear water. The beach itself is 700 meters long and 40 meters wide. Previously, there was black volcanic sand here, but later, when they decided to improve the beach, the sand here acquired a light gray tint.

La Tejita Beach

La Tejita boasts several records: it is the longest beach on Tenerife, as well as the widest on the island. In addition, only La Tejita and the neighboring El Medano beach have natural yellow sand, which was blown by the wind from the African coast.

Also, this is the only well-maintained naturist beach in Tenerife. However, it is worth noting that this part of the beach is specially fenced with a stone wall.

Abama Beach

Abama Beach is located on the west coast of Tenerife, near the town of Guia de Isora. Many also consider it one of the best on the island. As a rule, there are not many vacationers here, since few people know about it, and the beach itself is covered by a reef.

Here you can find a small bay and golden sand. Since the beach is municipal, everyone can use it. However, the infrastructure in this place is created mainly for guests of the Abama Hotel, which is located nearby. There are sun loungers, umbrellas, towels and even coolers. In addition, a monorail transparent funicular elevator was built on the beach, which takes guests directly down to the beach.

If you are not a hotel guest, you will have to go down a steep hill or use the observation bypass path, along which you will need to walk about 1 km.

The best beaches of Gran Canaria island

Maspalomas beach

This beach is considered the best on the island. It is located near beautiful sand dunes. Typically, you won't find many vacationers on the beach itself, but you can often spot people strolling along the coastline. Both the beach and the bottom are sandy.

It is worth noting that Maspalomas is the largest beach on the island of Gran Canaria, and its size is so large that it is never full, no matter how many vacationers arrive here. There are calm waters and huge golden sand dunes. It is also worth noting that Maspalomas is also famous for its ancient 55-meter lighthouse, which has stood here since the arrival of the first tourists.

Playa del Ingles

Many people compare this beach to Ibiza due to the large number of nightclubs, cafes, supermarkets and many other places where tourists gather. In fact, Playa del Inglés is an extension of Maspalomas beach.

The beach is sandy, as is the bottom. The name of the beach translates as “English Beach”, but why it was called that way is unknown. Moreover, despite its name, the beach has a huge number of German, Scandinavian and Spanish bars.

The beach is 2,700 meters long, 10 meters shorter than the neighboring Maspalomas beach, making Playa del Inglés the third longest beach on the island.

Alcaravaneras Beach

This beach is located in the city of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. You can relax peacefully on the golden sand of the beach. But, if you like active recreation, you can play volleyball on the beach, for example.

The waters here are calm, so people also come here to practice sailing and canoeing. Nearby you can find several bars and cafes, as well as kiosks where you can buy refreshing drinks. The beach is equipped with sun loungers and showers.

Amadores Beach

Warm water, a crescent-shaped beach, lots of bars, shops and restaurants - this place seems to have been artificially created by the tourism industry, and in fact it is. Previously, there was nothing here, and in 15 years a beautiful beach with sun loungers, umbrellas and lifeguards appeared from scratch. Here you can relax with children; this place is not suitable for those who like a relaxing holiday - it is often crowded.

Anfi del Mar Beach

A beautiful beach that stands out for its coral sand, which was brought to this place from the Caribbean region. Anyone can relax here, since all beaches in Spain are public. The beach is located on the territory of the resort complex, from which a well-trodden path leads to the beach.

Initially, Anfi del Mar was planned as a private beach for clients of the resort complex, but according to Spanish laws, all beaches must be municipal, that is, accessible to everyone. There are shops, bars and restaurants here.

Las Canteras Beach

This beach is a large strip of golden sand. It is located in the center of the island's capital, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. The beach is 3.5 km long and is very popular among both tourists and locals. There are many shops, bars and restaurants here.

It is also worth noting that Las Canteras is protected by the natural reef of La Barra, thanks to which the waters in this place are calm, and together with the warm soft sand, this is an excellent place for families with children.

In the southern area of the beach you can find a large number of shops that sell equipment and accessories for almost all water sports. In addition, there are surf schools and camps for athletes of various levels.

Melenara Beach

This secluded beach is located near the town of Telde. The sand here is imported dark yellow, clean and soft. Melenara is famous for its restaurants, which have a huge selection of seafood. If you're staying in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and the weather is cloudy, this beach will be the closest place to enjoy the sun.

El Confital Beach

This pristine natural beach was once lined with hundreds of illegal structures, which were demolished to restore the beach to its natural appearance. Confital is one of the rockiest beaches on the island. It's also worth noting that this is home to some of the best tube waves in Europe, so it attracts a lot of surfers, many of them local.

San Agustin Beach

San Agustin is not a very large beach - its length is 670 meters. The sand here is dark gray and the shore has a slight slope. This place is popular among scuba diving enthusiasts. On the beach you can find cafes, shops and restaurants. The beach is part of the resort of the same name, which is quieter than Maspalomas/Playa del Inglés.

Winds often blow here, so the waves are larger than on other beaches. Despite this, you can come here with adult children.

Puerto Rico Beach (Playa de Puerto Rico)

This spacious beach is protected from the winds. Puerto Rico is a city beach where golden sand was specially brought, and today it is the center of water entertainment on the island of Gran Canaria. Nearby you can find the Atlantis water park. The name of the beach suggests that it is similar to the beaches of Costa Rica - palm trees, golden sand, azure skies and crystal clear water.

Beaches of Fuerteventura island

Sotavento Beach

The eastern part of the island contains its longest beach, known as Sotavento. The length of its coastline is 30 km. In fact, this beach is made up of several smaller beaches, including beaches such as Matoral, Butijondo and Sotavento itself. To relax on the beach, it is better to take an umbrella, since there are no trees nearby that can protect you from the Sun.

The World Windsurfing Championship is held here every year between July and August. Divers will be delighted to dive in the strait between Lobos and Fuerteventura.

If you want to try deep sea fishing or just love boat trips, then visit the places near the beaches of Playa de Corralejo and Morro del Jable.

Corralejo

Located in the north of the island of Fuerteventura, this beach stretches for several kilometers along sand dunes that are part of the Corralejo National Park.

Juan Gomez Beach

Located in the southern part of the island, this beach has pebbles from the black volcanic rocks of La Pared.

Viejo Rey Beach

This long beach, stretching for about kilometers, is more popular with surfers and naturists. The sand here is golden and the winds blow often.

Beaches of Lanzarote

Playa Blanca Beach

On the island of Lanzarote, Playa Blanca is considered one of the best beaches. The name of the island translates as "white beach". The sand here is golden and the beach itself is located at the end of the harbour. This is a great place to relax with children. Next to Playa Blanca is Playa Papagayo Beach.

Playa Dorada Beach

In the east of the island is Playa Dorada. This beach is well equipped and can delight vacationers with restaurants, shops, and water sports centers.

Beaches of Puerto del Carmen and Costa Teguise

The resorts of Puerto del Carmen and Costa Teguise, which are located in the southeast of the island, are often windy, which attracts windsurfers.

Other

In addition to the above beaches, Lanzarote also has many other beautiful beaches: Punta del Papagayo, Quemada, Arrecife, Charco del Palo, Playa de la Canteria, Graciosa, Famara and La Santa.

Beaches of La Palma island

This small island of volcanic origin, covered with greenery, has long been called “Isla Bonita”, which translates as “beautiful island”. Another nickname for the island is “isla verde”, which translates as “green island”.

The island has a very long black sand beach, lots of cafes, restaurants and shops.

Charco Verde Beach

A little further south is Charco Verde Beach, which attracts with its picturesqueness and warm sand. Usually families with children relax here.

Los Cancajos Beach

In the east of the island, in the resort area of Los Cancajos, there is a beach of the same name, considered the most popular in this region. Most of La Palma's hotels are located here, so the promenade offers many restaurants, spas and shops. The beach has showers, toilets, rental of sun loungers and umbrellas, as well as Red Cross lifeguards, parking, and even a diving center. Los Cancajos is also accessible for the disabled.

Entertainment in the Canary Islands

Siam Park, Tenerife - the largest theme park in Europe

There are a huge number of water attractions here, which amaze not only with their variety, but also with their size. For example, the attraction called "Lazy River" is the largest of its kind. It allows you to travel around all the attractions of the park.

In addition to attractions, there are:

Pavilions with sea lions

Oriental bazaar on stilts

Tea Ceremony House

Real Thai restaurants.

Loro Parque Zoo, Tenerife

* 4,000 species of parrots that live in a special pavilion shaped like an Arabian palace.

* Oceanarium where you can see killer whales.

* Penguinarium, where you can see penguins.

* A transparent tunnel in which you can watch stingrays, sharks and various tropical fish swimming overhead.

* A large zoo with huge pavilions where you can see gorillas, jaguars, tigers and turtles.

Jungle Park, Tenerife

* A huge number of animals can be seen here, including lions, tigers, monkeys and crocodiles.

* Every day there is a show of trained eagles in the park.

* In special pavilions you can see parrots, monkeys and lemurs. Here, animals are allowed to be fed with special treats that are sold on site.

* You can ride the Jungle Raid, which is an 800-meter track similar to a roller coaster.

* You can also visit observation decks in the park to admire unforgettable views.

Natural Park of Corralejo, Fuerteventura

* Desert landscapes, sand dunes and the Montaña Roja volcano

* Lots of exotic birds (vultures, canaries) and reptiles.

* 2 hotels were allowed to be built in this protected area.

* Beaches for surfers, kitesurfers and divers.

* Ferries to the neighboring island of Lobos.

Aqualand water park, Tenerife

* Many water attractions for every taste for children and adults: "Kamikazes", "Twister".

* Show of trained dolphins.

* Changing rooms, sunbeds, wardrobe, doctor, souvenir shop.

* Restaurants and cafes.

Oasis park, Fuerteventura

* The park area is 80 hectares.

* Beautiful botanical garden with amazing rare plants

* A zoo where animals are kept in spacious areas.

* Mini-farms.

* Rare plants, including “living fossils”.

* Electric cars for more convenient walks through the vast areas of the park.

* Camel riding excursions.

*You can purchase certain types of plants and flowers.

* There is an observation deck near the beautiful cactus garden, which offers views of the entire park.

* Animal shows.

Los Gigantes Cliffs, Tenerife

This place is a steep cliff that goes deep into the ocean. Against the backdrop of the small towns below them, the cliffs of Los Gigantes - which are more than 500 meters high - seem simply giant - a fact that is reflected in their name.

* There are several small black sand beaches near the cliffs.

* The winds create good conditions for surfers.

* The natural bay formed by the Los Gigantes cliffs is favored by dolphins and whales, which can be seen and photographed.

Salt Museum (Museo de la Sal), Fuerteventura

This museum is a small demonstration and production complex located in the western part of the island of Fuerteventura, in a place called Salinas del Carmen. Here tourists can see how the process of extracting salt from the sea takes place.

* At the entrance, tourists are greeted by the skeleton of a large whale.

* In one room of the cozy house there is an exhibition where you can learn more about the history of the sea salt extraction process and all the technology, as well as see many photographs and even a film.

* In another hall, located in the open air, tourists can see everything in practice - rows of pools filled with sea water and special filters made of baked clay. If we add the sun to this, we get all the ingredients needed to extract salt.

* You can buy sea salt here.

Teide National Park (Parque nacional del Teide), Tenerife

* The park is located on the slopes of the Teide volcano.

* Unique landscapes created by the volcano.

* Rare plants, many of which grow only in these places.

* The Los Roques de Garcia rocks, which have an amazing shape, have become a symbol of the island.

* The summit of Teide is the highest point in all of Spain.

* The local landscapes are similar to those on Mars, which is why this place attracts creators of space sagas.

* The park is very popular between April and June as most of the plants bloom during this time.

Jameos del Agua Cave, Lanzarote

* The cave is part of a larger cave complex located in the north of Lanzarote, and is an extension of the amazing underground gallery called Cueva de los Verdes.

* Usually caves are left in their original form, but this place was specially converted into a unique natural and cultural complex, where the beauty of nature is intertwined with the extraordinary ideas of architects.

* The cave is a connection of two grottoes. Where they connect is an open gallery containing a beautiful artificial lagoon with blue water.

* The stone steps leading to the small grotto are decorated with exotic plants and unusual man-made ornaments.

* In the center of the grotto there is an underground lake inhabited by rare albino crabs.

* A concert hall was built in a large cave.

* There is also an underground restaurant called Jameo Chico.

Shopping in Tenerife and other islands

The Canary Islands are a free economic zone, which means prices here are much lower than in other European countries.

On the islands you can buy:

Crocodile leather accessories

Clothing from Spanish designers

A huge number of inexpensive souvenirs

Hand-made products

Decorations made from local pine for the interior

Pearls (natural, artificial).

*Shops in the Canary Islands have sales that start in mid-July and early January. The biggest sales take place in the city of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, where there are many shopping centers.

* In the resort town of Las Americas there is the Safari shopping center, where there are many boutiques of famous world brands (Versace, D&G).

* Shopping in the bazaars of the Canary Islands can be called a separate entertainment. Among the most popular bazaars are:

Flea market located near the port in Las Palmas (open on Sundays)

- "Nuestra Señora de Africa" and "Santa Cruz de Tenerife" - markets open every day

The Puerto de Mogán market is located in Gran Canaria and is open only on Fridays.

Transport in the Canary Islands

* Modern highways.

* Public transport:

In Tenerife these are TITSA buses, and in Gran Canaria they are Global buses.

Tram connecting the cities of Santa Cruz de Tenerife and San Cristobal de la Laguna.

Airplanes are a convenient way to travel between islands. Airplanes fly daily from Tenerife and Gran Canaria to the rest of the Canary Islands, except La Gomera.

Ferries for passengers and cars. They connect the islands of La Gomera, Tenerife, Gran Canaria and Fuerteventuroa.

Hydrofoils make regular trips between the islands.

* Taxi (metered).

The Canary Islands remain one of the most popular beach destinations among Russian tourists. They attract vacationers with unique landscapes, long sandy beaches, ample opportunities for active recreation and luxury hotels, among which stand out Iberostar hotels in the Canary Islands .

For several years in a row, dozens of beaches on the Canary Islands have received the prestigious Blue Flag award for environmental cleanliness.

The beaches in the Canaries are natural - with black volcanic sand, and artificial, covered with sand imported from the Sahara, the Dominican Republic or mined from the ocean floor.

The Canary archipelago consists of seven islands, the most popular of which is Tenerife. Here is the highest point in Spain - the Teide volcano and famous beaches with black sand, which is believed to have healing properties. Thus, black sand can be found on Las Arenas beach, surrounded by rocks and picturesque vegetation. Another “black” beach is Playa Jardin, a city beach in Puerto de la Cruz in the north of Tenerife. The largest beach area on the island is Playa Las Vistas, almost a kilometer long, which is located in the city of Arona.

It is on the island of Tenerife that the largest tourist centers in the archipelago are located, where all conditions for a comfortable stay are created, for example, five-star hotels of the IBEROSTAR chain: Grand Hotel El Mirador, Anthelia, Grand Hotel Mencey. They are suitable for tourists who want to receive the highest level of service.

Gran Canaria is the third largest island of the archipelago, also popular with tourists. The local sandy beaches are framed by cliffs and dense tropical vegetation. The island has two Blue Flag beaches. One of them is Maspalomas, a 12 km long beach famous for its sand dunes formed naturally by the Sirocco winds from the Sahara. The second famous beach is Playa del Ingles with golden sand, also part of the Maspalomas resort. It is chosen by young tourists because it has many clubs and bars, as well as sailing opportunities.

The second largest island of the archipelago, Fuerteventura, boasts beautiful white sand beaches, virtually untouched by civilization. Hotels on this island are suitable for tourists who prefer a quiet and secluded holiday. The most beautiful and longest beach of the island is Playa de Sotavento de Jandia, 30 km long on the Jandia Peninsula. There are many excellent hotels nearby, including those for families with children, for example IBEROSTAR Playa Gaviotas Park 4*. Another famous beach is the small Playa del Caseron in the province of Olivia, awarded the Blue Flag. There are also “black” beaches in Fuerteventura - La Pared and Playa de Ajuy.

The Canary Islands are located in the Atlantic Ocean, near the African continent. Political games and conquests in the Middle Ages led to the Spaniards capturing the islands, and since then they have not given them back to anyone. Yes, the Canary Islands belong to Spain. In this post I want to share my review of my holiday in the Canaries.

Contents:

What are the Canary Islands?
Who is vacationing in the Canaries?
Visa to the Canary Islands

Excursions in the Canaries

We are used to calling these islands the Canaries and drawing pictures in our heads of an inaccessible vacation for millionaires. The Canaries, Seychelles... They were so inaccessible in the 90s, when the first new Russians in crimson jackets mastered them. Many still consider the Canary Islands to be something exotic, on a par with the Maldives and the Philippines. By the way, travel agencies are adding fuel to the fire and offering trips to the Canaries along with “bounty islands”. In fact, everything is completely different.

Firstly, millionaires left the Canary Islands long ago and bought themselves spacious mansions in Sicily, Bali, etc. It seems to me that the new Russians hung out in the Canaries because of the popular timeshares at that time. Talented sellers offered new Russians, who suddenly found a lot of money, but didn’t really see or know anything, to acquire the right to relax in the best hotels in the Canaries for many years for ridiculous money. It is clear that no one read the conditions that were written under the asterisk, the transactions were formalized, and the Canaries became wildly famous in Russia.

Those times have passed, and the Canary Islands have become accessible to mere mortals, especially since air communications with Europe are excellent. The main thing is to throw pictures of tropical resorts out of your head and understand that you are going to volcanic islands, not far from Africa. I don't want to say that the islands are not beautiful, they are divine! But their charm has nothing to do with tropical jungles and coconut trees on the ocean. The Canaries are more like an alien terrain, which has long been chosen by directors for shooting science-fiction blockbusters. Here, like nowhere else, you can feel the power of nature and the elements, but at the same time, the cheerful local population, excellent cuisine and good atmosphere create such comfort that you don’t want to leave at all.

What are the Canary Islands?

Although politically the Canaries belong to Spain, they have nothing in common with the continental country. Spain is Europe, and the Canaries are islands lost in the Atlantic Ocean, located closer to Africa than to Europe. The population there is European, the assimilation of the ancient Guanche peoples with the Spanish dons Pedro and Cormilites was one hundred percent successful. There are no more Guanches left, and in the Canaries there live good-natured and cheerful Spaniards who accept you everywhere as a relative or best friend.

Essentially, living in the Canary Islands means living on a volcano. After all, millions of years ago, powerful volcanoes rose from the ocean floor and formed islands. But don’t be afraid, even though volcanoes are active, they are sleeping. Of course, they are monitored by specially trained people; volcanoes cannot suddenly flood the entire island with lava, so there is no threat to tourists.

The following inhabited islands are currently known:

Tenerife
Gran Canaria
Lanceroti
Fuertoventura
La Gomera
Frontera
La Palma

There are six more very small islands that cannot be called inhabited.

Scientists say that relatively soon, another island may come to the surface.

The most popular Canary island is Tenerife. Tourism has existed there for more than a hundred years, so Tenerife knows how to welcome and please tourists. Tenerife has a huge number of beautiful beaches (mainly in the south of the island) of various colors. You can choose whether you want to swim on a beach with golden sand, or maybe you prefer black volcanic beaches?

In the north of the island there are practically no wide sandy beaches, but the coastline is picturesquely indented with rocks. That's very beautiful! And in the beautiful town of Garachico, lava pools are formed in the ocean. Well, that is, once upon a time, lava flowed from a volcano into the ocean and small pools were formed from frozen pieces of lava, which filled the ocean. People just added ladders to go down, and please swim!

I would call the owner of Tenerife a huge volcano Teide, the top of which is visible even from neighboring islands. You can climb to the crater of the volcano, believe me, it’s a whole adventure.

There are various amusement parks for families with children in Tenerife. Water parks, exotic zoos with shows of killer whales, dolphins, sea lions, a penguinarium and an aquarium, a butterfly park, a botanical garden, an eagle park, a miniature park and much more. And in one of the water parks there is a mega extreme slide for adults, claiming to be the largest in Europe, the descent from which goes through a tunnel with sharks.

I can talk about Tenerife for hours, because I love this island with all my heart.

From Tenerife you can go on an excursion to the neighboring small La Gomera island. This island is notable for the fact that it has preserved unique forests that cannot be found anywhere else. They say this is exactly the vegetation that existed during the life of dinosaurs.

Other islands of the Canary archipelago are less popular, especially among Russian tourists, but this does not mean that they should be forgotten.

On the island Lanzaroti there is a unique volcano park where you can see various lava rocks and get acquainted with the local flora and fauna. And as a tourist attraction, try dishes in a local restaurant cooked on fire from the bowels of the earth (yes, yes, they are literally fried on a volcano).

Gran Canaria Island Europeans love it more, especially young people. On the island you can have a great time on the beaches, ride around the natural attractions of the island and have a blast at night in bars and clubs.

There is also La Palma island.

Recently, more and more tourists have begun to vacation in the Canary Islands. Fuertoventura island, whose beaches are recognized by some sources as one of the best in Europe. I’m also flying to this island soon to see from my own experience whether the snow-white sand there is as in the photographs, whether there are such gorgeous dunes and a feeling of complete freedom and happiness.

In general, all of the listed islands, not only Tenerife, have excellent infrastructure for tourism, amusement parks, water parks and, of course, amazing national parks. In some of them, the feeling of being in the Star Wars movie does not leave you.

When is the best time to go on holiday to the Canary Islands?

You can holiday in the Canary Islands all year round. The islands are in a state of eternal spring, but in some months spring feels more like summer. For example, Tenerife is increasingly called the island of eternal spring, because throughout the year the temperature here ranges from +20 to +28; you will not find temperatures below 40 degrees here. The ocean is suitable for swimming from July (not always) until November, and then the water temperature drops to 19-20 degrees, not everyone can cope with such an invigorating element. This information is relevant for heat-loving tourists, because many swim perfectly even at 20 degrees. However, this does not mean that there is nothing to do in the Canary Islands and that it is not worth going in winter. Many people enjoy celebrating the New Year in the Canaries, because compared to Russia, it’s a real summer here: you can walk around in a T-shirt, sunbathe and swim in a heated pool (some even risk getting into the ocean). Remember the Russian film “On the Sea”, the story is just about the Canary Islands.

It’s especially great to vacation in the Canaries in the fall, when it’s already quite cool and rainy in Europe. We were in the south of Tenerife in October. The ocean and air temperature were approximately the same (about 25 degrees), so swimming and sunbathing was a pleasure. In addition, the climate here is dry, the heat does not bring stickiness and unpleasant sensations. I called the south of Tenerife in October an island with an ideal climate. But in the north it was already raining in the evenings, the ocean was not calm...

In general, roughly speaking, the rule applies to the Canary Islands: where there is less greenery, it is much warmer and drier. Logical?

Who is vacationing in the Canaries?

Contrary to stereotypes, the Canary Islands are predominantly visited by Europeans and many retirees. It's quite simple to explain. The islands have an excellent climate for senior citizens, without extreme heat and humidity, the budget airline Ryanair flies here from many large cities of the European Union, and the flight is only 3-4 hours.

Young people are also present, but in certain resorts and islands. There is fun in Las Americas in Tenerife and on the island of Gran Canaria. But still, this is quite a specific kind of fun. As a rule, these are groups of overfed Englishmen who can’t see anything further than their noses, and then they scream at night. In general, it’s still not worth going to the Canaries to party. And don’t believe the printed guides that tell you that Las Americas has mega discos and lots of fun. There is a street with several typical bars, a couple of clubs where there are people only on weekends (in October).

It's great to go to Tenerife for a romantic holiday, excursions, good cuisine and just “not giving anything”. Ideally, with a group of friends, a large family, or just the two of you.

I didn’t meet any outright rednecks in Tenerife, which was a huge plus for me.

How to get to the Canary Islands: Tenerife, Gran Canalia, La Palma, Lanzaroti, Fuertoventura

From Moscow there are direct flights only to Tenerife. If you are ready to shell out a tidy sum for a flight with Transair or Aeroflot, then welcome, here you can see the prices. I haven’t heard about charters in Tenerife; tour operators include flights with these two airlines in package tours to Tenerife.

But this is all boring and not interesting, because you can organize a magnificent and varied vacation on your own, and even save a decent amount.

Much cheaper from Moscow you can fly with a European airline with a transfer. Iberia, Vueling Airlines, Air Europa fly to Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzaroti with a transfer in Madrid or Barcelona. Sometimes AirBerlin offers reasonable prices with a transfer in Germany.

It will not be possible to fly to Fuertoventura this way, because nothing from Russia flies there. However, this does not mean that we cannot see with our own eyes the famous endless white dunes against the backdrop of the blue ocean. I give examples of how you can arrange a flight to Fuertoventura.

Find a ticket from your city to Barcelona or Madrid, and then find a flight to Fuertoventura from Iberia, Vueling Airlines, Air Europa, Ryanair. For example, this year I managed to buy a direct flight to Madrid with Aeroflot for 14,000 rubles, and a Ryanair ticket to Fuertoventura for 58 euros one way (I will fly back to Madrid with Lanzaroti for 98 euros). In total, the tickets cost me, taking into account the complex route, about 21,000 rubles.

This method is relevant for all the Canary Islands. By the way, you can easily stay a couple of days in Madrid or Barcelona, because you plan your trip yourself and decide when to fly.

There is another way to buy a ticket to the Canary Islands even cheaper. To do this, you can find a cheap ticket to Vienna, Tallinn, Oslo, Stockholm, Dusseldorf, Berlin, and then buy a ticket to the Canary Islands and back from Ryanair.

In general, I recommend looking at the website of this low-cost airline, seeing which cities in Europe it flies from to the island you need, and writing them down. And then open any booking system (for example, Aviasales) and find an inexpensive flight to Europe. If you do this half a year before departure, then there is a chance to fly to the Canaries for ridiculous money.

The fact is that in half a year you can usually buy a round-trip ticket to the European cities I listed for 5-6 thousand.

A friend of mine who books tickets and suffers from travel mania often flies to the Canaries with AirBerlin. He buys a ticket to Berlin or Dusseldorf separately (from 4,000 rubles for half a year), and then buys a ticket to the island separately from them.

As you can see, there are many ways to get to Tenerife, Gran Canalia, La Palma, Lanzaroti, Fuertoventura and very inexpensively.

You can search for offers from most airlines and major agencies on the Aviasales website - this is an aggregator of all offers.

A direct flight to Tenerife will take about 7 hours. If you fly with a transfer in Spain, then it is about 5 hours to Madrid and about 3 hours to the island.

Visa to the Canary Islands

The Canary Islands belong to Spain, and Spain is part of the Schengen Agreement, so you need a Schengen visa to enter the Canaries.

It is very easy to obtain a Spanish visa because there is an official visa center.

You need to go to the official website of the Spain visa center (website:), collect documents for a visa according to the list, fill out an application form (here is a sample:) and come during business hours to submit documents. Hurry, while the Spaniards give everyone multiple visas for half a year.

Hotels, apartments and villas in the Canary Islands

Needless to say, there are plenty of accommodation options in the Canary Islands?

First you need to decide whether you want to live in a large hotel with swimming pools and animation? Do you need all inclusive? Or maybe a small house in the wild would be better? Or an apartment near the beach? There are also luxury villas with a private pool.

As they say, to each his own.

Advice. Look at the hotel's renovation date and distance to the beach, not the ocean. There are often hotels that are located almost on the shore, but you have to walk 15 minutes to the beach. And the date of renovation is important, because most hotels were built 30-40 years ago.

Here you can choose and book a hotel:

Villas in Tenerife

Apartments in Tenerife

Hotels for family holidays in Tenerife

Hotels for romantics in Tenerife

Fuertoventura

Lanzaroti

Gran Canaria

La Palma

Why go, what to do in the Canaries

You should go to the Canaries for a beach holiday when the ocean is warm. But besides the image of a seal, there is something to see in the Canaries.

Each popular island has amusement parks and water parks. Exotic animals, penguinariums, aquariums are collected on a huge area, shows with funny sea lions and dolphins are held, and in Tenerife there are even shows with obedient killer whales, eagles and hawks. Botanical gardens and butterfly parks are popular here. They are very well maintained and pleasant to walk through.

But the best feature of the Canary Islands is the national parks. You will drive among Martian landscapes, painted lava, learn a lot about volcanoes, and in Tenerife you can climb to the very top of Teide at an altitude of about 3,700 meters. Roads leading to the sky, roads above the clouds await you...

The Canaries have gorgeous white dunes (in Fuertoventura), lava pools in the ocean (Tenerife), black sand beaches, laurel forests, impressive viewing platforms, and a lot of interesting and unusual things. For extreme sports enthusiasts, there are hiking routes in the gorges, and there are routes through volcanic parks.

In addition, the islands have very beautiful towns with narrow streets, small colorful houses and a rich history.

This is brief and in general, if you talk about all the attractions of each island, you will have to write a multi-page treatise. J

The Canary Islands are also famous for their excellent shopping. There is no VAT here, so prices are significantly lower than in mainland Europe. Every popular island has large shopping centers, but I’m not talking about two-story Mango and Zara - they are there at every turn.

Renting a car or traveling by public transport in the Canary Islands?

If you have the opportunity to rent a car, then definitely do it. The Canaries have excellent roads, there are no problems with parking and there are quite a few cars. For those who are afraid of serpentine roads, there is almost always an alternative direct road, albeit a longer one. We drove a lot along serpentine roads, but I didn’t see anything really terrible: two cars can pass everywhere normally, there are guardrails. Probably the most serious serpentine we saw was during the ascent and descent to the city of Garachico in Tenerife, and even then, there were just a lot of turns, no cliffs.

The cost of renting a car per day starts from 20 euros, with an automatic machine it is slightly more expensive – 35-40 euros.

The most popular rental company in the Canary Islands is Cicar (http://www.cicar.com/EN). They have good prices and include full insurance.

We booked an Opel Astra with an automatic transmission online, and received a black Volvo S60 diesel with a white leather interior at no extra charge. The car turned out to be just super, it consumes very little fuel, it pulls well on uphill turns, and the comfort is excellent. Our friends ordered an Opel Corsa with manual transmission, which is what they received. A cheerful, brand new car arrived.

By the way, it is worth noting that in the Canaries gasoline costs much less than in continental Europe, approximately 1 euro. In general, my brother's car is very profitable.

In addition to Cicar, all major international rental companies are represented in the Canaries (Hertz, Sixt, Avis, Easycar, etc.). Search Google for “rent cat tenerife” and you will see offers.

If you can’t take a car, you can see the island using public transport.

Here is the schedule of all Tenerife buses (website), and here is a list of routes with a detailed description of each (external link)

And free branded buses go to popular amusement parks. See their schedule on the parks website.

Bus schedule for Gran Canaria (official website)

The bus schedule on La Palma can be found here (pdf file)

Bus timetable for Lanzaroti ( official site)
Bus schedule for Fuertoventura ( official site)

Excursions in the Canaries

Well, the last way to explore the sights of the Canary Islands is to buy excursions from tour operators, local agencies or private guides. In Tenerife, I have prepared an overview of the offered excursions with prices and links to the seller (view excursions in Tenerife)

National cuisine in the Canary Islands

Spanish cuisine is, of course, common in the Canary Islands. All restaurants are ready to feed you the freshest gazpacho, meat, rabbit, fish, shrimp, octopus in various designs and divine paella.

I remember an incident when we were sitting in a cafe near the hotel and waiting for paella for two. In this establishment, national Spanish dishes were prepared according to all the rules, which means they took a long time. At the next table sat the Spaniards, who were clearly having a business lunch. They ate several servings of meat, snacking on it with salad, but when they brought out our paella, they stopped eating their food and began to defiantly sniff and show with gestures what the right choice we had made. In general, I noticed that Canarians love to make a show out of food.

If you live in an apartment, you can fill your belly with seafood. Supermarkets sell fresh king prawns (6-8 euros per kg), fresh octopus (9 euros per kg), and a huge variety of fish (from 2 euros). Well, where would Spain be without jamon, fresh bread, delicious cheese and ripe vegetables?

It was funny how we tried to defeat the octopus. We bought it twice and tried not to overcook it, otherwise it would turn out rubbery. But, as you understand, all attempts were unsuccessful, because the octopus must be beaten well and cooked for a long time))) This is not colmar.

Very tasty small bananas grow in the Canaries; you can buy them in any supermarket.

And the real brand of the islands has become Canary-style potatoes. Small tubers are boiled in sea water in their skins until the water has completely evaporated, and then served with national green (mojo) and red sauces.

Prices in restaurants are lower than in Barcelona, prices in stores are lower than in Moscow. In general, the Canaries are very suitable for lovers of good and tasty food.