Canary Islands holidays that chill and thrill

Mark Pawlak    Adventure Sports & Travel Thoughts     Canary Islands, Gran Canaria, kitesurfing, mountainbiking, Overlanding, Sailing, Scuba Diving, snorkelling, Tenerife, Windsurfing

Canary Islands holidays are some of the most popular holiday choices in Europe, and it’s easy to see why. With seven islands, each with its own identity, and a perfect combination of sea, sun, and sand and a little adventure, the islands will always attract the tourists.

But which island do you choose? Which is better for partying in the clubs, and which feature the wind that kitesurfers want and the dive spots scuba enthusiasts dream of? We find out in our mini-guide to the Canary Islands.

Photo Credit: Flickr/LisArt

Lanzarote

The most northerly of the islands, Lanzarote features 12 natural protected areas, a national park and even a biosphere reserve – so top eco credentials. As with other islands, it’s been formed from dramatic volcanic activity. The interior and the Mountains del Fuego have lunar qualities as well as fields of jagged rock, while in the bays and beaches you’ll walk on the finest of white sands. Top year-round conditions keep watersports fans happy: kitesurfing, windsurfing and sailing are best on the rougher, windier north coast, while swimming and scuba diving are better enjoyed off the calmer south coast.

Fuerteventura

Canary Islands holidays are commonly booked for beach holidays, and if time on the sand is your priority, Fuerteventura could be the island for you. Again its north coast is blessed with great wind, although perhaps its best attribute is found further south. As the island narrows at Costa Calma, the real beaches begin. From here to Morro Jable and with views to Gran Canaria, you’ll find incredible swathes of sand – the occasional nudist – and moments of tranquillity rarely found on any other beach holiday. Interior trekking routes are rough but rewarding, with many ending where every day trip in Fuerteventura should: the beach!

Gran Canaria

It’s the round one. And the most varied in its mix of urban populations and remote rural getaways. The capital, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, has both port and airport, making it a commercial hub; even so, just a short drive and you’re into lush and fertile ravines. Again distinctly volcanic, this island is noteable thanks to its diversity: At just 50kms across, you’ll enjoy tourist-sand beaches, rugged sea walls (Puerto de Morgan), Sahara-style dunes (Maspalomas), and a UNESCO recognised biosphere complete with Canadian Pine forests! As well as watersports, this islands serves up great mountainbiking routes and is a prime pick for hiking holidays.

Tenerife

Each of the islands mentioned so far have towns that like to party, that said Tenerife is perhaps the capital of Canarian night culture. Yet while there are tourist package holidays destined for the discos of Playa de las Americas, there are still plenty of folk proving that Canary Islands holidays are just as much about the great outdoors. Climb the intimidating, sulphurous peak of Mount Teide and the views reveal another island: to the north there’s the Anaga Rural Park and miles of walking routes, and all around there are mountainbiking tracks to tempt. The beach sports of windsurfing and snorkelling will always prove popular, so look up from your cocktail for a minute and you’ll find an island ready to thrill.

Photo Credit: Flickr/Tushar Pokle

La Gomera

Within an island hop of Tenerife there’s La Gomera. Ravines shaped first by volcanic activity and later by ingenious farming methods cover the island – the second smallest in the archipelago. At its centre are dense forests; at its coast are black sand beaches. It’s a cocoon of calm, favoured by walkers and golfers – mountainbikers will need those low gears. On the coast in Playa de Santiago there are boat trips and a chance to get in the water; a much-loved spot for scuba diving holidays, away from the hustle and bustle of the holidaying crowds.

La Palma

Favoured by stargazers and sun-worshippers alike: this island is home to a number of observatories. Thanks to mountains reaching almost 2.5km above sea level, it’s an island favoured by astronomers – clouds rarely form above 2,000m so resident scientists enjoy clear skies. On foot or by bike, the route up the mountains from Mirca to Roque de los Muchachos will test heart, lungs and legs to their limit. Great then that the island still has beaches and bars to aid recovery – most are found in its capital Santa Cruz de la Palma. Further south there are salt flats, secluded coastal villages and the windswept sides of the Fuencaliente volcanoes to explore.

El Hierro

Perhaps the least-well known, this island is however a favourite for tourists on scuba diving holidays. There are no natural beaches to speak of, but with a little perseverance you’ll find rock pools and access to the open water. And underwater you’ll get another view of this island’s volcanic legacy: reefs, boulder fields and step drop-offs – dive in the marine reserve at the Mar des Calmes for the calmest and warmest Canarian waters.

High above the ocean depths, there’s paragliding. With mountains that rise 1,000ft straight up from the ocean, there are plenty of launch sites – fans of flight should get to El Valle de El Golfo and ready themselves for some wonderful views of the Canarian archipelago.

About the author

Mark Pawlak wrote 194 articles on this blog.

Editor at Adventure Sports Holidays, Mark's love affair with travel and the challenges of adventure sports continues... "You could save all year for a two-week, all-inclusive, doss by the pool, booze and buffet binge. Or, with a little planning and some good equipment, get off your arse and plan an adventure!"

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