Destinations
The best way to see the Canary Islands
By Kitty Corrigan
With year-round sun, breathtaking scenery and fascinating history it’s hardly a surprise that the Canary Islands are a favourite for us Brits. But why limit yourself to one island when you can visit them all on a cruise? Here’s what makes each island so special.
Lanzarote
In Lanzarote, where the lunar landscape creates an other-worldly feel, you can feast on chicken cooked directly over an extinct volcano in the Timanfaya National Park that still fires up to an incredible heat: energy saving and awe-inspiring. The island is also a centre of art and culture. You'll find works by Picasso, Miró and other important Spanish artists in the 18th-century San José Castle in Arrecife, and in Tahiche, a must-see is the building constructed on five volcanic bubbles, dedicated to the Lanzarote painter, architect and sculptor, César Manrique.
The stats: Population 163,230; 327 square miles; fourth largest island.
The weather: Hot climate with cooling sea breezes. Average daytime temperatures from 20o in January to 28o in August and September.
Gran Canaria
The capital, Las Palmas (not to be confused with the island of La Palma) is filled with sub-tropical fruits, flowers and, of course, palm trees, and an abundance of cafés and restaurants. A walk to Santa Ana Cathedral, an architectural masterpiece of Gothic, Renaissance and neo-classical styles, is a must.
Start the day on Gran Canaria with locally grown coffee – it’s the only place in Europe with its own coffee plantation and on some on-shore excursions you can even drop in and taste some. The same goes for the wine – and the black volcanic soil adds a certain something to the flavour of both these favourite beverages. Vines were introduced in the 1400s and Shakespeare is said to have received a bottle of 'Canary' wine as part of his salary. He even appears to have given it a free ad in Henry IV Part II where Mistress Quickly tells Doll Tearsheet, 'But, i' faith, you have drunk too much canaries, and that’s a marvellous searching wine, and it perfumes the blood'.
The stats: 600 square miles; population 846,717 (40% of total inhabitants of the Canaries).
The weather: Year-round temperate climate. Average daytime temperatures from 16o in January and February to 23o in August.
La Palma
The lush vegetation of La Palma makes it the greenest of the islands, and its dark skies also make it a popular stargazing location. In the extensive forested region you'll find species of trees that no longer exist in the rest of Europe, and the island is also green in the environmental sense, partly because it farms in the traditional way and puts sustainability at the heart of its way of life.
Take a walk through the Los Tilos forest – meaning “laurel forest” this is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. A one mile guided hike is a wonderful way to see ancient laurels, lime trees and giant ferns before you continue your walk along a beautiful stretch of coast to San Andres y Sauces.
Another exciting excursion is heading off the beaten track on a 4X4 bus to marvel at the volcanic vistas – an adventure through volcanic scenery which even includes a flowing lava river.
In the old quarter of Santa Cruz, the capital, you can meander along cobbled streets with wooden balconies overhead. A must-see is the replica of Christopher Columbus' ship, the Santa Maria, inside the Naval Museum.
The stats: Population 84,338; fifth largest of the islands at 273 square miles.
The weather: Climate is mild and sunny most of the year, with some rainfall in autumn and winter. Average daytime temperatures from 18o in January and February to 25o in August, September.
La Gomera
I was glad of my walking poles on La Gomera, because the trails are steep and the terrain can be rough and stony, but there's a great range of walks on this small, less touristy island, with the reward of wonderful views. In the Garajonay National Park you can hike through the labyrinth of green forests and woodland with a local guide, right up to El Alto de Garajonay, the highest point on La Gomera, 4,878 feet above sea level. From the summit, on a clear day, you may be able to see Mount Teide on Tenerife and the islands of La Palma and El Hierro. Some of the species that grow here have completely disappeared in other parts of the world: one example is Erica Arborea, a heather plant that can grow to a height of over 50 feet.
Also unique to the island is its whistling language, Silbo Gomero, which in the past enabled communication across valleys and ravines – at some restaurants they will even demonstrate it for you.
The stats: Population 22,361; third smallest of the islands at 143 square miles.
The weather: Mild all year, with pleasant sea breezes. Average daytime temperatures from 16o in January and February to 22o in August.
Fuerteventura
Known as 'the Caribbean of the Canaries', Fuerteventura is known for its white sand beaches, unlike the black beaches on other islands. The name Fuerteventura refers to strong winds, fuertes vientos, which might explain the number of sand dunes that have formed over the centuries. The island is famed for its cultivation of aloe vera, the plant the Egyptians called 'the plant of immortality' – in fact you can visit the Aloe Vera Factory to learn more about this plant and even buy some products.
The capital, Puerto del Rosario, has a 19th-century church, an interesting old quarter, and distinctive statues and murals, so it's good for art lovers, too.
The stats: Population 124,000; second largest island at 640 square miles.
The weather: Hot all year, with a dry, subtropical climate. Average daytime temperatures from 18o in January to 26o in August.
Tenerife
The largest and most populous of the Canaries is Tenerife, dominated by Mount Teide, a dormant volcano and the highest peak in all of Spain at 12,188ft. Walking poles came to my rescue again here - some might prefer the option of the cable car to the top.
The south of the island is the busiest, with its popular resorts, restaurants, bars and hotels. In the north the temperature is cooler and the mountainous landscape more varied. The old quarter of Santa Cruz de Tenerife is good for leisurely wandering, with well-preserved buildings such as the colonial Church of the Immaculate Conception. The 18th-century Palacio de Carta is worth seeing for its Baroque and Neoclassical architecture, and gardeners will be inspired by the botanical gardens in Puerto de la Cruz. It's also the only place in Europe where bananas are grown. Tenerife exports 26,000 tonnes every year, and banana wine is a favourite tipple.
The stats: Population 965,857; 785 square miles. 42.7% of the total population of the Canaries live here.
The weather: Dry year-round climate, warmest in the south. Average daytime temperatures from 20o in January to 29o in August.
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