Canary Islands
Top Tips
Mountains
Hop on a cable car and swoosh up to the summit of Pico del Teide
(Spain’s highest point, set in Tenerife’s rural heart),
or hike up the lush green slopes of Tamadaba on Gran Canaria.
Volcanoes
Take a coach tour through the incredible lunar landscape of
Lanzarote’s Timanfaya National Park, or saddle up to see
volcanic craters and lava lakes from atop a camel.
Sand and surf
Play Lawrence of Arabia on the 400-hectare swathe of dunes at
Maspalomas in Gran Canaria, sprawl out on the unspoilt Playa de
Papagayo in Lanzarote, or take to the surf at La Caleta de Farmara
(also on Lanzarote).
Fiestas
Boogie on down in Santa Cruz, Tenerife - it’s home to the
best carnival north of the equator. Or hit the beachside bars in
buzzing Las Palmas, the capital of Gran Canaria.
Wining and dining
Topple up for a tipple - the wineries of Lanzarote and Gran Canaria
might not be world-class, but they make up for it in charm and
cheerful eats to accompany your bottle.
Canarian food is pretty tasty, too - a mix of Spanish, Portuguese and African influences. Tuck into papas arrugadas (wrinkly potatoes), spice up your life by sampling the fiery sauce known as mojo, and stock up on fresh fruit and veg at the many farmers’ markets.
César Manrique’s legacy
Explore the exhilarating work of famed Lanzarote architect
César Manrique, which is dotted all over the north of the
island. Don’t miss the Mirador del Río, a cliffside
viewing platform with sublime views across the ocean.
Golf
Swing a club at the Real Club de Golf in Las Palmas, the oldest
course in the whole of Spain, or one of the other world-class
courses on Gran Canaria and Lanzarote. Over on Tenerife is
Buenavista, an oceanside course designed by Seve Ballasteros.