Canary Islands Travel Guide

28° 17′ 30″ N, 16° 37′ 45″ O

Canary Islands in a few words...

The Canary Islands are best known as a winter sun destination, a place to relax on the beach for a week or two and work on your tan with a cocktail in hand. But away from the beaches and coastal resorts, these islands are home to high mountains, dense evergreen forests, bizarre rock formations and countless kilometres of trails. Mt Teide on Tenerife is the highest mountain in Spain and the highest point in the whole Atlantic Ocean, its lofty summit sits 3718m above sea level. The peak is a tough hike even for experienced walkers, the crumbly volcanic rock combined with high altitude and hot sun mean reaching the summit of this mountain is a big achievement.

Although the islands are part of Spain, they have not one but two Capitals of their own. Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Tenerife and Gran Canaria used to be in separate provinces and when they merged into one, both cities decided to keep the capital title. The President of the Canaries must now move his office between the two islands every four years.

15:10 GMT +1

local time

Santa Cruz / Las Palmas

capital city

7,493

area in km²

Spanish

main language(s)

Highlights in Spain

La Palma

Nicknamed "Isla Bonita", La Palma is undoubtedly the most varied island of the whole archipelago. High peaks in the centre of the island give way to primary forest in the north and volcanic landscapes in the south. South American culture is very apparent on the island with Cuban and Venezuelan influences in its gastronomy and cigars.

La Gomera

A small island just an hour from Tenerife, it is undoubtedly the one that has best preserved the rich cultural heritage of the Guanches, the first inhabitants of the island. Here the "silbo" persists, the whistling language and movements based on the salto del pastor where elegant shepherds jump from terrace to terrace at the end of their poles.

Tenerife

The largest island in the archipelago, Tenerife is best known for Mt Teide, the highest point in Spain at an altitude of 3,718 m, the ascent of which is a challenging hike. But Tenerife is also home to the primary forests of the Anaga massif, the Masca canyon and the cliffs of Los Gigantes. A paradise of surprising natural wonders.