Tenerife

The Canary Islands are located 60 miles off the Moroccan coast. They have a warm and constant temperature all year round. Some people describe it as “perpetual springtime”.

There are seven islands in total (Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote, Tenerife, La Palma, Gomera, Hierro) and a few smaller ones (Alegranza, Graciosa, Montaña Clara, Roque del Este, Roque del Oeste und Lobos). Curiously, each one is radically different from the other.

The Canary’s are also known as the “Happy islands”, “Garden of the Hesperides” and “Atlantida”. Some historians say that the legendary continent of Atlantis was located here. They were discovered in 1496 by Christopher Columbus.

The islands are volcanic in origin. Their surreal, lunar type landscapes are nothing like you’ll find anywhere in Europe or Africa.

Although the nearest continent is Africa, the Canaries are definitely Spanish. Everyone looks Spanish, speaks Spanish and acts Spanish.

Tenerife is the largest of the Canary Islands. It’s a combination of lush tropical paradise along with dramatic volcanic peaks. It’s home to the world famous Mount Teide with its snow-capped peak.

Gran Canaria has some amazing beaches and is a great place to go out; the nightlife is superb. It is famous for its bananas and tomatoes.

Fuerteventura has the best beaches of all the islands and is just a stone’s throw away from the Sahara desert.

La Gomera has a hilly, mountainous landscape and looks very exotic. Check out the island forest; it’s a stunning natural paradise. It’s also protected by the government. The island capital “San Sebastian de la Gomera” has over 6,000 inhabitants and many interesting monuments. To get here, take the ferry from Tenerife port. Its takes just 75 minuets by ferry and 35 minuets by hovercraft.

La Palma is often referred to as “La Isla Bonita” because of its breathtaking beauty. The capital is Santa Cruz.

The Canary Islands have over 1,000km of coastline. Most of the sand on the beaches is pure white, although some of the ones in Tenerife have golden sand, brought in from the Sahara. There are 13 golf courses on the islands, over 140 nature reserves, 4 national parks, and literally hundreds of volcanoes. The Canary Islands have become one of the most popular tourist destinations on the planet, especially with Europeans.