Official Language:
Spanish
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Currency:
EURO
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Population:
Approximately 1.6 million people call the Cunary Islands home.
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Weather:
Climate and current weather information for Canary Islands: The climate in the northern islands of the Canaries is subtropical; the south of the islands tends to be hotter and drier, although rainfall is generally low throughout the islands. Canary Islands there is eternal springtime. Temperatures between the seasons vary only some 53°F/6ºC, the monthly average temperatures are from 64°F-75°F (18ºC to 24ºC).
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The Canary Islands are culturally and geographically Spanish, but these islands are all unique and each offers tourists a different flavor. The Canaries have long served as a retreat off the coast of Africa; a place for Europeans to enjoy respite. However, today they are able to stand alone as tourist destinations and trading meccas where visitors from around the world come specifically to enjoy the way of life here.The Canary Islands are made up of seven major islands that extend into a 300-mile chain. Located west of Morocco, in the Atlantic Ocean, the islands include: Fuerteventura, Gomera, Gran Canaria, Hierro, Lanzarote, La Palma, and Tenerife. The Canary Islands are officially part of Spain. At one time only a link between the Old and New World, the Canary Islands today are a destination favorite for travelers from around the world. The largest amount of tourists are Europeans. Popular for its beaches, and the fact that each island offers a different landscape, the Canary Islands are old fishing villages and colonial towns with a taste of local life. The local life comes alive during Carnival, which is during February/March. This is the largest celebration in the Canary Islands and is held in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Cruise ships that call at the Canary Islands usually call at one of the following ports: Las Palmas, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, and Arrecife are easy to navigate on foot, however any excursions to the outlying areas should be take by a tour operator.
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Attractions |
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The most in-your-face activity in the islands is beach-lazing, but you don't have to look hard for more active pastimes. Mountain bikes are readily available, and the islands lend themselves to cycling. Plenty of tracks in the country are fine for hiking, and by the coast conditions for surfing and windsurfing are excellent. For windsurfers, the Bahía de Pozo Izquierdo is the best beach on Gran Canaria, which is the windiest of all the islands. The swimming is generally better in summer, as the Atlantic has powerful swells in winter. Go snorkelling or scuba diving and you might see rays, grouper, barracuda, turtles, tropical fish and the occasional shark. Deep sea fishing and sailing are good for those with a little more money to spend, and the fishing off Gran Canaria is excellent
Isla de Lanzarote:
Located on the island of Lanzarote. This is the most easterly of the Canary Islands.It hardly ever rains on Lanzarote, so all the water you drink and wash in is likely to be desalinated sea water. It's an incredibly arid place, and at first glance may not appear to offer much, but Unesco has declared the entire island a biosphere reserve. The volcanic terrain is bizarre, and it's worth taking your time to move around the island away from the three main resorts. It's not worth spending much time in the capital, Arrecife, as Cueva de los Verdes & Jameos del Agua are probably the main attractions. The first is a 1km (0.6mi) long chasm that is the most spectacular part of an 8km (5mi) lava tube, formed by an eruption 5000 years ago. There is a beautiful azure lake in the middle of the Jameos del Agua, another lava tube. Bars and a restaurant have been installed around the lake as well as a concert hall seating 600, with wonderful acoustics. Tiny, blind crabs live in the water.
The Parque Nacional de Timanfaya on the south of Lanzarote experienced one of the world's greatest volcanic eruptions in 1730. The eruption lasted for six years and spewed thousands of tons of molten rock into the air. The 52 sq km (20.3 sq mi) park is almost like a scene from a science fiction movie, with twisted and swirling mounds of solidified lava sticking up like warped licorice sticks, punctuated by volcanic cones. The restaurant in the park cooks its food on a volcano-powered barbecue.
Lanzarote is 200 km (124 mi) northeast of Gran Canaria, and you can fly there from many international destinations and from Gran Canaria, Tenerife and La Palma. Ferries make regular connections with nearby Fuerteventura, and less regularly with Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
Parque Nacional de Garajonay:
The island of La Gomera's outstanding natural attraction is the ancient laurisilva (laurel forest) at the centre of the 4000 hectare (9880 acre) Parque National de Garajonay. Cool Atlantic trade winds clash with warmer breezes, creating a constant ebb and flow of mist through the dense forest, and as little light penetrates the canopy, moss and lichen grow everywhere. Forest like this grew over most of the Mediterranean until the last ice age, which wiped it out. Most visitors head for the Alto de Garajonay, the island's tallest peak, from where you are rewarded with great views. Another good stop is La Laguna Grande just off the highway. The park is about 13km (8mi) west of the capital, San Sebastian de la Gomera, and daily buses serve all the main destinations on the island. La Gomera's new airport has flights to and from Gran Canaria and Tenerife. Ferries head to Tenerife and El Hierro.
Playa del Inglés & Maspalomas:
This is the party part of the Canaries, where millions of sun-starved snowbirds from northern Europe congregate year-round to sun, swim, do the sex thing and break each other's heads open. From lager louts to Swedish sun-worshippers, they're all here within a couple of kilometres of suntan oil-soaked sand and tour operator-infested city blocks. When you tire of the beach scene, you can try a host of theme parks like Palmitos Park, a subtropical oasis crammed with exotic flora and 1500 species of birds; Mundo Aborigen, with about 100 model Guanches posed to look how the real thing used to; or Sioux City with, believe it or not, good and bad guys shootin' each other up for your entertainment. The dunes at Maspalomas are probably one of the best parts of the beach and are a protected park. That doesn't stem the tide of the great unclad from the nearby nudist beach wandering through after a hard bake. At the heart of Playa del Inglés is Yumbo Centrum, a four-level shopping jungle with international food, traditional breakfasts from various parts of Europe and all sorts of goods on sale. Around the block you will find banks, doctors, supermarkets, telephone and fax offices and laundrettes. By night the area transforms into the gay capital of Europe on hols, with gay bars, drag shows, saunas and sex shops doing a roaring trade. Bus 66 goes to the airport hourly until about 9.15pm, and buses also link regularly with other points along the south coast of the island and up to Las Palmas. Playa del Inglés is on the southern tip of Gran Canaria, just over 40km (24mi) south of Las Palmas.You will be amazed at the friendliness that this island exudes. The people of Tenerife are known for their eagerness to share their colorful cultures and traditions with outsiders. It is not uncommon for locals to invite tourists to outdoor festivals and performances. And certainly, tourists are encouraged to participate in the festivities that happen year round. Music, dance, food and sporting events play into everyday life in a way that makes each moment here feel like a true tropical celebration.
Santa Cruz de Tenerife:
The largest of the seven Canary Islands and one of the busiest ports in Spain, its long harbour sees countless container ships, cruise liners and a host of inter-island ferries and jetfoils. Everything of interest lies within about 1km (0.6mi) of Plaza España. The town has three museums, of which the Museo de la Naturaleza y El Hombre is easily the most interesting. It houses several Guanche mummies and skulls, a handful of artefacts, and a natural sciences section. The Museo de Bellas Artes is home to an eclectic mix of paintings by Canarian and Flemish artists, including Breughel, and war buffs will probably enjoy the Museo Militar de Almeyda, displaying the cannon that supposedly blew off Nelson's arm when he attacked Santa Cruz. Home to plenty of duty-free shops, resort hotels, and many great restaurants and bars. Tenerife is home to a varied plant life, large mountains, and extensive areas where agricultural products are grown. The coast is rocky and lined by cliffs in many places. Beautiful beaches with soft, clean sand outline this beautiful island. Tenerife is home to approximately 220,000 people. Cruise ships arriving in Tenerife dock at the Port of Santa Cruz on the island's northeast side. From there the shopping district is close, and buses and taxis run frequently. Buses are the cheapest way to travel and do a surprisingly efficient job of getting from destination to destination. Both can be easily accessed on any main road.
This is aclassic tropical island where the climate is always spring-like. Mild, balmy air drifts across the shores and invites tourists to spend their time outdoors soaking up the warm, moist air and sunshine. Tenerife has fertile ground that is especially conducive to agriculture and botany. For that reason, you will find countless different types of plant life, fruits and vegetables growing all over the island. From its banana plantations to its lush tropical gardens to its rocky coast and dramatic cliffs, the natural elements of Tenerife will undoubtedly overwhelm your senses. Diversity is key to the island's scenic charm. You may spend the morning touring a humid botanical garden inland and the afternoon hiking in the cool wind along the stunning coast.
The Iglesia de San Francisco is a gorgeous baroque church built in the 17th and 18th centuries, and the austere façade of the Teatro Guimerá nearby belies a sumptuous interior. The city's oldest church is the Iglesia de Nuestro Senora de la Concepción, which has a beautiful bell tower. African slaves were traded at the 17th century Castillo de San Juan on the waterfront. When you've had it with sightseeing, the Parque Maritimo Cesar Manrique has pools you can take a dip in and sun lounges where you drink in front of a beautiful view. There are two airports on Tenerife and you can fly there from the Spanish mainland, a host of international destinations and all the other islands. Youcan also go by ferry, hydrofoil or jetfoil from all the other islands. Santa Cruz is 95km (59mi) north-west of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
Cañadas del Teide Officially declared a National Park.
Volcanic Mountains/Santa Cruz de Tenerife Visitors to the mountains will also get the chance to view the massive, 12,270-foot El Teide. This is the tallest mountain in Spain.
La Concepción Church This is the most important church. Baroque works of art and most valuable reminders of Canary history fill this church.
Watersports The Canary Islands offer plenty of water sports including water skiing, parasailing, sailing, and wind surfing.
Hiking Hiking is popular in the Canary Islands. While on Tenerife, head for the El Tiede's National Park. Here you will find approximately 21 marked trails of varying degree of difficulty. The Valley of La Orotava, is another great hiking option with terrific areas to explore and unbelievable views.
Canarian Wrestling Known as Lucha Canaria, this is a spectator sport that is a favorite throughout the islands. Originating with the original inhabitants of the islands and continuing today with teams of 12 competing.
Betancuria:
In 1405 Jean de Béthencourt thought this the best place to set up shop, on Isla de Fuerteventura, and he gave his name, corrupted over time to Betancuria, to a tiny settlement of his house and a chapel. The island's proximity to the North African coast meant that North African and European pirates overcame the town's natural defences several times and sacked it, and only 600 people live there now. You can see ruins of the island's first monastery, built by the Franciscans, and the 17th-century Iglesia de Santa María watches over the centre of the settlement. Pirates destroyed the original gothic building in 1593. A short walk from the church is the Museo de Arte Sacro, containing religious art, gold and silverware. The Casa Museo de Betancuria houses a mildly interesting collection of Guanche artefacts.A couple of kilometres north of town is the Mirador Morro Velosa, which offers mesmerising views across the island's weird, barren landscape. South of town is the Vega del Río de Palmas, a dry watercourse that is nevertheless wet enough below the surface to keep a stand of palms going.You can fly to Fuerteventura from Gran Canaria and Tenerife and via charter flights from mainland Spain and several other European centres. Once you reach the capital, Puerto del Rosario, you may have to hire your own transport, given the poor state of public transport on the island.
Isla de El Hierro:
El Hierro is about as far as you can get from the tourist hordes, bars, international restaurants and oil-streaked, cavorting naked Swedes. It is a rural island largely untouched by tourism, and the green farmland divided by rough stone walls is more reminiscent of the Irish countryside than a subtropical beach resort. The capital is Valverde, the only Canaries capital not on the coast, and it's a lovely, red-roofed town of about 1600. The walking is good on the island, and you can pass through hamlets such as Echedo, in the heart of wine-growing territory, or the cheese-producing village of Isora. In the damp and misty centre, some of the towns have been deserted, but a few herdsmen still run small flocks of sheep, goats and some cattle.You can fly to the island from Tenerife, Gran Canaria, and there are also frequent ferries. El Hierro is about 245km (152mi) west of Gran Canaria.
Parque Nacional de la Caldera de Taburiente:
This was the fourth national park declared in Spain, in 1954. Its massive wall of volcanic rock is about 10km (6mi) in diameter, and its only real opening, the aptly named Barranco de las Angustias (Gorge of Fear) lies to the south-west. The walls drop away in some places as much as 2000m (6560ft). The park covers 4690 hectares (11,584 acres) and at its lower levels is covered by dense thickets of Canary Island pine. Landslides are not infrequent as the forces of erosion are hard at work. Although calderas are volcanic craters, Caldera de Taburiente is not a crater but the result of slow excavation by erosion over millions of years.The park is easily accessible by bus or car from Santa Cruz de la Palma, 8km (5mi) to the east.
Las Palmas:
Located on the island of Gran Canaria. Las Palmas is the largest and most active city in all of the Canary Islands with. It is also the major point of arrival for charter flights. The capital, offering the attractions of a large city; excellent hotels, night clubs, and international shows.Located on the circular island of Gran Canaria, Las Palmas is one of three distinct areas that exist in this region. Las Palmas is the capital, and is home to 370,000 inhabitants. It is a shipping port and a thriving, fast-paced business center. The south coast is completely different, with glorious white-sand beaches that stretch for miles. Next is the interior of the island, which is rural and fairly plain. A multicultural and diverse region, tourists, sailors, shoppers, and heavy traffic make it an incredibly bustling port city. The city is lined on one side with docks that house huge container ships. On the other side, four-and-a-half mile long Canteras Beach stretches down the shore. Las Palmas connects two waterfronts of the Gran Canaria Peninsula that stretches for six miles. The northern end of the peninsula is the portion that sees the most action. However, the southern end is where the majority of noteworthy and interesting sights are located. The Plaza Santa Ana is a great place to start your tour of Las Palmas. The bronze dog statues in the plaza are intriguing, and have an interesting history. Ancient explorers found a rare breed of dog on the Grand Canaria Island, and they named the island after these dogs, not after the yellow songbird, as one might presume. This particular breed of mutt is named Canum in Latin, hence the name Canary. Years later, however, the aforementioned birds were, in fact, named after the island.
Santa Cruz de la Palma:
Located on the island of La Palma. This is the most westerly of the Canary Islands. Santa Cruz de la Palma is home to approximately 18,000 people. The seaside avenue circles sea. Visitors will find modern buildings next to large old houses with large wooden balconies which are typical of the island. Cruise ships dock off shore and carry passengers into town by tender.
Santa Cruz is a small town, and most points of interest lie within a few blocks of the waterfront Avenida Marítima. The heart of the old town and the prettiest part of it lies around Plaza España and Calle de O'Daly. On O'Daly you'll find the 17th-century Palacio de Salazar, now home to the tourist office, and along both sides of the street is a mix of shops, bars and offices, most of them in centuries-old Canarian mansions. On the rise behind the Plaza Constitución is the modest 16th-century Ermita de Nuestra Señora de la Luz, one of Santa Cruz' few small chapels. Some beautiful old houses lie on the waterfront, brightly painted and with a wonderful assortment of balconies. If you go north along Calle de O'Daly you come to the heart of old Santa Cruz, with the 16th-century ayuntamiento (town hall). The hall's interior has magnificent tea tree ceilings, as does the nearby Iglesia Salvador, which dates from the same period. At the Tienda de Puros Roque you can see cigars being hand made.There are air connections to Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and El Hierro. Some flights link Santa Cruz direct to mainland cities in Spain, and ferries sail to Tenerife and Gran Canaria.
Columbus HouseThis is the residence of the first governor of the island and home to an interesting museum about the history of Columbus displaying several of his belongings, including his drawings, journals and a portrait.
Canary MuseumHome to the most complete collections of the traces left by the Guanches. These were the pre-Spanish inhabitans of the islands.
Museum of Natural HistoryMagnificent zoological examples with traces of history on the original population.
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More Information |
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Useful Links About Canary Islands:
Canary Islands Travel Information
http://www.canaryislandsinfo.com/
www.canary-islands.com/
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