A cluster of Spanish islands situated in the Atlantic Ocean, the Canaries are closer to the coast of Morocco than Spain or anywhere else in mainland Europe. They’ve only been officially Spanish since the 1400s, and before then they were inhabited by actual native locals, as well as giant lizards and giant rats- and other endemic species which don’t seem to exist any more. The Canaries have a reputation for being the perfect package holiday destination, (spoiler alert- most of the islands are indeed, great for that), but there is far more to this place than the beachfront resorts that first meet the eye. These islands hold a whole ginormous range of landscapes, climates and people. So which is the best Canary Island to visit? Well, that very much depends on what you’re after.
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Tenerife: the big one
The biggest of the Canary Islands, Tenerife also has the most inhabitants, the biggest number of tourists (around five million per year), and is home to some absolutely stunning beaches. So if it’s a family holiday or a short break in the sun that you’re after, then Tenerife could well be the Canary Island for you.
However; I personally am all about the nature of this beautiful island.
The crowning glory of Tenerife also happens to be the third largest volcano in THE WHOLE ENTIRE WORLD. Not only is it an extremely large volcano, it’s also the highest point of elevation in the entire of Spain. You know, big is beautiful and all that jazz.
Mount Teide is the name of this glorious and very much active volcanic snow-capped beast, and it sits at the centre of the island within Teide National Park. Legend has it that the devil captured the god of the sun and stuffed him inside the volcano for a bit, until the supreme God came along and helped them get the sun god back out again (poor thing). Many an ancient offering to these gods have been found buried in the surrounding areas. Pretty awesome I’d say.
The entire National Park is a stunning place to visit, and there’s so many hiking paths across the pine-forested slopes that you could spend days trekking across the wilderness. It’s also a brilliant spot for a road trip.
The capital of Tenerife (and in fact of the entire Canaries), is Santa Cruz de Tenerife, a city with a surprisingly urban vibe. There’s street art all over the place, some delicious food to enjoy and some beautiful hotels to check out (check out the Hotel Emblemático Suites for an alternative European city break), and the crown jewel of the city is the Auditorio de Tenerife, home to the Tenerife Symphony Orchestra. This white building looks a lot like a Trojan helmet perched casually on the waterfront.
Read my full guide to Santa Cruz de Tenerife
La Gomera: the old-fashioned one
The circular island of La Gomera is only 50 minutes away by ferry from Tenerife, and yet it couldn’t be further apart in terms of busy-ness. La Gomera remains off-the-radar for many visitors to the Canary Islands, and this is evident in the sleepy atmosphere of the colourful villages in valleys and on mountains.
This relatively small island (only 25km in diameter) was the last place that Christopher Columbus called before he sailed on to the New World of the Americas. He liked it so much that he ended up staying for an entire month, and unlike several of the other Canary Islands, the landscape round here hasn’t changed all that much since then.
This is really the best Canary Island to visit if you’re wanting a quiet, more off-the-beaten-path adventure, although quiet certainly doesn’t mean that the landscape is without drama. With rocky expansive canyons, prehistoric forests swathed in moss, and an ancient language made up of simply whistling, La Gomera still packs a punch.
La Palma: La Isla Bonita
La Palma is another fairly quiet island, and I’m going to go out on a limb and say that this is my current favourite of the Canary Islands. The island is much more green and fertile than the more southerly islands, and is full of fruit trees, (particularly bananas aplenty) and tropical flowers galore. I am basically in love with the place.
There are hundreds of footpaths and tracks connecting pine-covered mountains, calderas, valleys and waterfalls, so for those who appreciate getting out and about and generally being astonished at the great outdoors- this place is perfection. The Caldera de Taburiente National Park is a must visit; head all the way up the Roque de los Muchachos for some breathtaking views above the clouds.
Although all of the islands in the archipelago are volcanic, La Palma is widely considered to be the most active volcanic island of the Canaries. In recent times, increasing numbers of tiny earthquakes have been felt on La Palma, causing a mild panic about whether this means a volcano eruption at some point in the near future. All I’m saying is: I do hope not.
Aside from the terrible repercussions it would have on the islanders (and potentially people further afield too), this is one of the most stunning places I have ever seen. It deserves to stay pretty!
Gran Canaria: nightlife and nature
Before arriving in Gran Canaria on a cruise ship, the only thing I knew about the island was that there are a lot of package holidays available there. I’d also seen plenty of Facebook pictures during my sixth form days of girls holidays or lads holidays, which strongly put me off of the idea of two things: group holidays with The Girls (too much drama), and Gran Canaria as a whole. But I was completely wrong to make such silly presumptions about this lovely island.
Home to some beautiful beaches and with over a third of the island being a protected UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Gran Canaria contains sand dunes, forests and ravines perfect for exploring. I’m happy to say there is much more to this place than my Facebook feed would have once had me believe- although the nightlife is definitely a draw for visitors too!
Gran Canaria is also great for surfing, which I decided to try one day while we were docked in the city of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. It didn’t go amazingly, I’ll be honest. It was the first time I’d ever been surfing and in reality despite being in the water for around two hours it was 99% me being battered by the waves and 1% standing up/crouching in the style of my nephew when he needs the toilet. We hired surfboards and wetsuits from Dreamsea Surf School near the beach and then proceeded to the beach barefoot, dodging piles of dog mess that careless owners had carelessly left lying around the street. Good one, careless owners.
So there I was, beginners surfboard strapped to my ankle, wetsuit on, barely able to tuck the board under my arm, but ready to take on the waves with every ounce of energy I had in me. (The attitude I had towards surfing was more like the attitude you’d have going into war, to be honest. GRIM DETERMINATION.) I actually began to shout at the waves in fury, then at my surfboard, then at myself. One of the things that gets me right riled up is when I can’t do something within the first 5-10 minutes of trying, and then I generally find it impossible to stop trying until the job is done. And that, my friends, is where the element of exhaustion comes in, particularly as a rather small human being attempting to battle the actual ocean.
Needless to say I’m not a professional surfer quite yet, but considering I’m actually rather terrified of open water I was genuinely rather proud of myself for even trying.
Lanzarote: the other-worldly one
I’ve grown to really love this little crazy-looking island, where my grandad once lived. Whilst visiting my grandad in Puerto del Carmen it was all about drinking leche leche (that’s a Canarian coffee made with condensed milk) at The Galleon, lazing by the pool, and doing the classic holiday activity of swimming with sea lions (true story). If you’re wanting a relaxing holiday in the Canary Islands, Lanzarote may well be the one for you.
And nowadays, I’ve uncovered even more of what Lanzarote has to offer. Its volcanic lunar landscape, the architecture of Cesar Manrique, and the green cacti and succulents spreading across the vast expanse of land; everything combines to make this island pretty darn tootin’ unique.
Once known just for the classic family holidays and as Retirement Central Station for ex-pats (why they are called ex-pats and not immigrants I will never truly understand), Lanzarote is also good for those wanting to get outdoors- cyclists love it, and there are some awesome beaches for surfing as well.
(Some of them more dangerous than others- I was invited to go to after my first Gran Canaria surfing escapade, but the invitation was followed up with ‘the waves there are supposed to be amazing! Someone died surfing there last week!’). I politely declined.
La Graciosa: the quiet one
La Graciosa is a tiny island just off of the northeast tip of Lanzarote, so close that you can see it from the shore (or from the Mirador del Río). Thanks in part to its minuscule size and in part due to its lack of fresh water sources- desalinated water is piped over from Lanzarote, which also has no fresh water of its own- the population is tiny, too.
Only 700 people live on the arid island, and the few roads across La Graciosa are really just sandy pathways. There’s also no airport here; to reach the island, take a ferry from Órzola in Lanzarote. The journey takes about 25 minutes.
There are no hotels here, but it is possible to stay on the island- either in private accommodation like an airbnb or guesthouse, or at one of La Graciosa’s camp sites.
Fuerteventura: the beach babe
The arid island of Fuerteventura is probably the ultimate holiday destination in the Canary Islands if you’re after beautiful beaches. Don’t get me wrong, every island has its own stunners, but Fuerteventura’s white and golden sands seem almost endless. The island is also a hotspot for water sports fanatics, and its shores are perfect for surfing, windsurfing and kite surfing.
This arid island is only 77 miles from the African coast, and occasionally is swept up in the Saharan Air Layer- or ‘calima.’ The calima happens when wind blows sand from the Sahara Desert across the Atlantic towards the Canaries, creating intense heat and low visibility. Don’t get me wrong, pals- the calima can affect any and every island in the archipelago, but being the closest to the African coast, this is where you’re most likely to experience it. Thankfully I’ve only ever seen the dust cloud as a (still very ominous looking) rolling ball of sand on the horizon; I for one would not want to be caught in a sand-blanket.
El Hierro : the baby
At a mere 1.2 million years old, El Hierro is the youngest of all the Canaries. What a little cutie.
This peaceful island is another off-the-radar location in the Canary Islands. That is, unless you’re a diver. El Hierro is a world-renowned diving spot, thanks in part to a new volcano which sprang up underwater, following a 134 day long volcanic eruption in 2011-12. The eruption was hardly felt on land, but it massively affected the biodiversity of the ocean here- in a really positive way. The lava attracted all kinds of organisms, which attracted all kinds of fish, and next thing you know the flora and fauna in the waters of El Hierro was even more astounding than before.
So, which one of the Canary Islands actually is the best one to visit? Well, that depends what you’re after.
For the best beaches, head to Fuerteventura. For nightlife and a younger vibe, Gran Canaria. If you want to explore the great outdoors, head over to Tenerife or La Palma, and for a much quieter vibe, venture on down to La Graciosa or La Gomera. And for a little bit of everything (whilst feeling a bit like you’re on the actual moon), Lanzarote might float your boat.
Whichever one of the Canary Islands you go for, I guarantee that there is so much more than meets the eye; and I can’t wait to go back later this year.
More ports of call on Spanish soil
Palma de Mallorca, the Gem of the Balearic Islands
Making the Most of One Day in Málaga
LOGISTICAL STATISTICALS
- Due to the masses of tourists that come to enjoy the sun every year, most of the islands’ airports are served by a plethora of airlines offering a plethora of prices, meaning if you book at the right time you can get there and back from mainland Europe very cheaply.
- Although I’ve never done it, it’s also possible to get ferries between some of the islands. Just so ya know.
- Coffee is cheap! Food is cheap! I feel like this is worth mentioning.
- Although in general The Canaries are full of English-speakers, I’d still highly recommend brushing up on your basic Spanish before you visit, especially if you’re wanting to get a bit more off the beaten path. Firstly out of politeness, and secondly because in order to learn from the locals, Spanglish is sometimes the best way forward.
Want to hear about when I finally revisit the Canary Islands!?
I loved Tenerife and Gran Canaria from my younger partying days and your post makes me want to return and explore!
Nice one Al! Xx
Cheers my dears! I want to go back and explore mainly for the sunshine at this stage 😂😂 BRING BACK SUMMER! Xxx
Nice picture from my Tenerife. Actually Canaries comes from Canaan from the bible story fo wild dogs when mainland Spaniards arrive they saw the dogs and connected with the name . Nothing to do with the islands. Mount Teide is the sacred mountain of the Guanches the original inhabitants of the island and it is in Guanche meaning mountain of fire as it is a volcano at 3 718 meters high. Thanks for spreading the islands around ::) Cheers
Oh that’s interesting that it’s from the bible story! Thanks for sharing that info, I do appreciate it!
Well not a bible only, it goes down generation to generation stories from grandparents mine from Candelaria and Pajara ,in Tenerife. Cheers
Love the photos and info. I’m hoping to go to Tenerife for my honeymoon in May!
Ahhh nice!! It’s a lovely place, I’m sure you’ll have a great time 😆🎉