The Canary Islands, Spain: a Complete Travel Guide

When I moved to Madrid from the US almost 15 decades back, most of my fellow expat close friends took vacations to preferred Spanish towns like Seville or Barcelona.

But not me. 

In lieu of castles in La Mancha or the weaving streets of Andalusia, I desired to spend every totally free minute on the Canary Islands, a volcanic archipelago which is typically considered to be Spain’s Hawaii.

The region has held this kind of endless intrigue that I’m looking to purchase a dwelling on the Canaries to permanently delight in these islands — my only holdup is that I won’t be able to come to a decision which one particular to phone property. 

A woman posing in front of lush green scenery in the Canary Islands

I have been checking out the Canary Islands consistently for 15 yrs.

Courtesy of Lori Zaino


The Canaries are created up of seven major islands: Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, El Hierro, La Gomera, and La Palma. Each is distinctive, with year-spherical sunshine and no rainy time. Here’s an introduction to familiarize your self with each island:

  • Tenerife: The most created island. Come for browsing, black- and white-sand beaches, hikes to the greatest peak in Spain, and energetic, intercontinental dining and nightlife.
  • Gran Canaria: One of the larger sized islands, rest and enjoy its Sahara-design sand dunes and household-friendly beaches.
  • Fuerteventura: A standout for distant golden-sand beach locations that are perfect for lounging and windy waves for surfers.
  • Lanzarote: House to volcanic hikes, wine tasting, society and art, and a far more lavish, larger-finish vibe for travelers wanting all the extras.
  • La Palma: Nicknamed La Isla Bonita, or, lovely island, in this article you can discover astrotourism, climbing, and distant black-sand seashores.
  • El Hierro: Assume eco-friendly tourism, a area come to feel, and diving and snorkeling in crystal-apparent waters.
  • La Gomera: Savor magical woodland hikes and a no-frills, standard food items scene.

The sand dunes of Fuerteventura, Canary Islands

The Canaries are home to dramatic landscapes, like the a single on Fuerteventura.

Rubén Acosta for Insider


This guidebook will highlight some of the best attractions, cuisine, and lodging on each and every island to assistance you come to a decision which desired destination(s) is correct for you and how to strategy your stop by. Here’s every little thing you will need to know about traveling to the Canary Islands by the eyes of a nearby. 

Take a look at Insider’s manual to visiting the Canary Islands

My guidelines on how to get to and close to the Canary Islands, primarily based on 15 many years of visiting

→ I’ve used hundreds of evenings in Canary Island accommodations. These 10 are some of the most charming areas you can at any time stay.

→ Here’s in which to find the most reliable community food items on the Canary Islands

→ How to strategy the top Canary Island itinerary: the finest beach locations, hiking, and one-of-a-type routines

→ The Canary Islands are open to people, but this is what you really should know about restrictions, temperature, and the finest time to go