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To many people (especially in Europe), the Canary
Islands are known for being an exotic and unusual holiday destination
which boast of beautiful beaches and a warm, year-round climate. While
this description is totally correct, the Spanish archipelago has much
more to offer than simply an exotic, extravagant paradise allure.
Located just 100 kilometers (60 miles) of the southern coast of
North-Western Africa, the Canary Islands are part of an extremely
diverse region that has something for just about everybody. There are
hundreds of good reasons why over 12 million people come to visit this
wonderful place every year and we picked some of them to show you.
Before this list is over, you will see why the Canary Islands deserve to
be a part of your travel plans for this year. From astonishing natural
landmarks and breathtaking national parks to delicious local foods, busy
nightlife and lively carnivals, here are some Reasons Why The Canary
Islands Should Be On Your Bucket List.
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Mount Teide
Tenerife, the largest and most populous island of the Canary Islands, is
home to the third highest volcano on a volcanic ocean island in the
world. At a height of 3,718 meters (12,198 feet), the Mount Teide is
also the highest point in Spain. Offering stunning views of the island,
the volcano was named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2007. |
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Marine life
As the Canary Islands are home to a varied and abundant marine life, it
is a popular spot for scuba diving and snorkeling. Apart from a number
of fish species, the islands also host five different species of marine
turtle that are sighted periodically in the islands, the most common of
these being the endangered loggerhead sea turtle. |
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Surfing
Lanzarote, the easternmost island of the Canary Islands, is a well-known
surfing destination thanks to its consistent year-round waves. The
island is also notable for its astonishing long beaches that stretch for
kilometers. |
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Beaches
However, picturesque beaches can be found on all seven islands. The
Canary Islands boasts over 500 beaches of all types, lengths and colors,
offering a wide range of activities. From the Playa del Inglés Beach in
Gran Canaria to the iconic Los Patos Beach in Tenerife, this place is a
real beachgoers paradise. |
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Caldera de Taburiente National Park
One of the smallest of the islands, La Palma is in its entirety a
biosphere reserve. The island has particularly abundant plant life which
is the most diverse in the Canary Islands. In the center of the island,
there is the Caldera de Taburiente National Park, one of four national
parks in the Canary Islands.
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Cuisine
The islands are also known for delicious cuisine, particularly cheese
that the Canarians have been making for hundreds of years. The Fiesta
del Queso, which is held every spring in the town of Santa Maria de Guia
on Gran Canaria, highlights new innovations in cheese-making and
celebrates their main product: queso de flor de Guia, a sheep’s milk
cheese curdled with thistle flowers.
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Botanical gardens
Located in the north of Tenerife within the beautiful valley of La
Orotava, there is a unique botanical garden, La Hijuela del Botánico,
featuring more than 3,000 different tropical and subtropical plant
species mainly of South and Central American, African and Australian
origin.
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Sand dunes
Maspalomas, a tourist town in the south of the island of Gran Canaria,
is known for its majestic sand dunes and the nearby natural reserve. One
of the hotspots of the island, the Maspalomas area is especially popular
among nudists and LGBT tourists. |
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