If islands fascinate you, then you can go on a trip to the Canary Islands. The Canary Islands, a benchmark destination, consists of seven islands and innumerable smaller islands. They belong to Spain but are closer to Africa. These islands are known for their pristine beaches and festivals. You will find sand dunes, volcanic mountains, tropical forests, towns, Baroque-style churches, canyons, islets, and many more places to explore. A host of exciting things to do in the Canary Islands will make your trip memorable.
The archipelago of the Canary Islands
The Canary Islands, a benchmark destination, is an archipelago of seven main islands and hundreds of smaller islands. The seven main islands are
- Gran Canaria
- Tenerife
- Fuerteventura
- La Palma
- Lanzarote
- La Gomera
- El Hierro
Some smaller islands are:
- La Graciosa
- Alegranza
- Isla de Lobos
- Montaña Clara
- Roque del Oeste
- Roque del Este
Places to visit in the Canary Islands
The Canary Islands have some magnificent tourist attractions. Some of the topmost ones are shown below.
Teide National Park, Tenerife
Tiede is a volcanic mountain and Tiede National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The crater of this mountain resembles a strange eerie landscape. You will find the remains of volcanic activity like lava boulders, lava fields, jagged rocks, and volcanic stone. You can drive through this crater or go up on the cable car and see the giant volcanic crater from the top.
Timanfaya National Park, Lanzarote
This national park is still an active volcano. You can go to the top of the volcanic mountain and see the crevices and cracks spewing hot water vapor and geysers.
Beaches of Gran Canaria
Gran Canaria is an island of beautiful beaches. The most spectacular beach on the island of Gran Canaria is Maspalomas. It has sand dunes, which change their shape and size according to winds and the sea. There are more beautiful beaches in the southern part of Gran Canaria. You can go diving, snorkeling, sailing, and windsurfing on these beaches.
The Beaches of Tenerife
The southern coast of Tenerife has some spectacular beaches. You will find many water sports activities to do here like jet skiing, and windsurfing. Beaches like Playa de las Teresitas are best for families. El Medano has exciting kiteboarding and windsurfing activities.
Loro Park, Tenerife
One of the most famous tourist attractions in the Canary Islands is Loro Park. This park was originally meant for parrots, but over the years it was developed into a modern zoo. Loro Park has Europe’s biggest dolphin show and the largest indoor penguin exhibition in the world. You will find jungle gorillas and various exotic animals and birds at Loro Park.
Parque Nacional de Garajonay, La Gomera
La Gomera is a volcanic island that has dense forests, deep canyons, and volcanic valleys. Garajonay National Park is a world heritage site with steep terrains, misty cloud forests, dense vegetation, and indigenous plants and animals.
Caldera de Taburiente National Park, La Palma
La Palma is a beautiful island in the Canary Islands archipelago. You will find volcanic mountain peaks and sandy beaches on La Palma. The Caldera de Taburiente National Park has a volcanic peak whose caldera has walls that rise to 2000 m. You can reach the rim of this caldera by road and view the ocean and the volcanic mountain.
Santa Cruz de la Palma
This seaside town of Santa Cruz de la Palma has vintage-style homes that belong to the 17th and 18th centuries. You can walk on cobblestone paths and view the brilliant town hall. This has Renaissance architecture and was once a palace.
Cueva de los Verdes, Lanzarote
Among the most exciting things to do in the Canary Islands is to explore the volcanic cave structure on the island of Lanzarote. This structure is a long lava tube that is 7 km long. You can tour the 2 km section of this long tunnel and view the caves. The tubes were formed when the surface of lava cooled but lava still flowed in the tubes.
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
The seaside town is in Gran Canaria and has a rich Spanish culture. You can visit museums, and walk past colonial houses. The historic Vegueta district is the historic part of this city with Spanish architecture and cathedrals. You can shop around and relish the tapas. In the evening you can visit the beaches and enjoy the music and nightlife.
Santa Cruz de Tenerife
The city is on the island of Tenerife and is famous for its cultural attractions. You can visit museums and attend concerts in auditoriums. Santa Cruz de Tenerife is best for shopping, dining, carnival festivals, churches, and historical monuments.
Things to do in the Canary Islands
- Water sports like windsurfing, kitesurfing, scuba diving,
- Stargazing on Mount Tiede
- Explore canyons in Tenerife
- See exotic wild animals at Loro Park
- Hike to Roque Nuble, the volcanic rock
- Explore beaches in the islands of Lanzarote, Tenerife, and Fuerteventura
- Visit national parks like Timanfaya National Park
- Visit remote islands like El Hierro
- Have water fun at Siam Park
Best time to visit the Canary Islands
March to May and September to November are the best times to visit the Canary Islands.
How to reach the Canary Islands
You will get flights to the Canary Islands from Madrid and other Spanish cities, and also from London and Paris.
FAQ
You will need a minimum of 7 days for the Canary Islands.
No. Most flights from Delhi have either 1 stop or 2 stops on the way to the Canary Islands.
You can expect Rs.2,00,000 to Rs.2,25,000 per person for a trip to the Canary Islands.
Conclusion
You can rightly say that visiting the Canary Islands, a benchmark destination, is a wonderful travel experience of your life. You can go hiking, and surfing, dine on juicy seafood and local dishes, and have a thrilling time in the Canary Islands. We suggest that you do your hotel bookings well in advance so that you get the ones that will suit your budget. Also make your tour schedule in such a way that you get enough time for sightseeing, relaxation, and different activities.
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