Canaries are still on song
THESE FASCINATING ISLANDS HAVE GOT THE LOT – ART, NATURE, BEACHES AND THE PERFECT CLIMATE, SAYS
BEAUTIFUL beaches, wild landscapes and guaranteed year-round sun... the Canaries tick all the holiday boxes. They’re currently on the no-quarantine amber list and just over a four-hour flight away. Here’s our pick of the must-sees on these hot islands...
Mount Teide, Tenerife
Towering above Tenerife, the bestknown island in the Canaries, is Mount Teide which, at 12,198ft, is the third highest volcano in the world.
Teide National Park, a UNESCO world heritage site, includes the entire mountain, and a thrilling cable car ride to the top is a highlight of any trip.
The Teleferico whisks tourists up Teide’s cone, a newer volcanic peak that formed about its giant crater after the original top of the mountain slid off. The views from the top are outstanding.
Works from artist Cesar Manrique, Lanzarote
In the 1960s, island-born artist Cesar Manrique launched a campaign to save Lanzarote from ugly, concrete tourist development.
He set out a sustainable and environmentally-friendly path of attractions celebrating its unique volcanic landscapes, craggy lava flows and towering cliffs.
Jameos del Agua is his underground concert hall, swimming pool and restaurant built inside a huge volcanic bubble. Jardin de Cactus is a stunning garden of cactus and succulents set within a reclaimed quarry.
Mirador del Rio is a scenic lookout point camouflaged into the rock at the end of the Risco de Famara range. His own dramatic home, Taro de Tahiche, is built into a series of subterranean bubbles created by lava flows. Look out for his collection of giant wind toy sculptures at road intersections across the island too.
Maspalomas dunes, Gran Canaria
Six beautiful beach resorts are strung across the island’s south coast. The largest is Maspalomas, a protected reserve since 1987 of gigantic dunes.
As sea breezes continuously carve new shapes into the 400 hectares of sand, no day ever looks the same at this spectacular dunescape. You can either stride around it on foot – beware of the central area which is a nudist beach – or ride a camel across the wind-rifled layers, Laurence of Arabia-style.
The resort also has a lovely selection of seafront bars and restaurants.
Beautiful beaches of Fuerteventura
The beauty of the array of fine sandy beaches on the second largest Canary island is that they’re enormous and almost empty. Blown in on the
Saharan breeze – Fuerteventura lies just 62 miles from the African coast.
Some of Europe’s finest waves can be found in the north. Corralejo, a fishing port here, is surfing HQ, with 10 miles of sandy shore along with surf schools, equipment for hire and a laid-back surfing culture vibe.
More moderate waves can be found at Playa del Pozo. El Cotillo is famous for its turquoise lagoons at low tide.
For those who just love a paradise beach, Playa de Sotavento lines the entire south coasts of the Jandia Peninsula at the southern tip of the island. Slip along the 19 miles of golden sand lapped by bright blue waters.
Nature at its best on La Palma
The greenest and most peaceful of the Canaries, La Palma was nicknamed Isla Bonita (Beautiful Island) because of its natural good looks. The entire island is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. In the centre, at Parque Nacional de la Caldera de Taburiente, volcanic peaks rise to 7,874ft and lava flows to the sea. This 18 square mile nature reserve is also a tapestry of pine forests, waterfalls, freshwater
springs and walking trails.
Los Gigantes, Tenerife
Rising from the sea, Acantilados de Los Gigantes are giant rock formations on the most westerly point of Tenerife.
Meaning “The Giants”, they tower over a clear stretch of Atlantic waters that serves as a permanent home or a temporary feeding ground for a huge array of whale and dolphin species. Catch a pleasure cruiser or a speedboat from the marina to observe these gentle giants of the deep as they ride the bow waves of the boats at a distance.
Timanfaya National Park, Lanzarote
Cataclysmic eruptions covered most of the island in molten lava and volcanic ash between 1730 and 1736, burying 11 villages and driving the population from the island.
The most dramatic of these landscapes is now the UNESCO-listed Timanfaya National Park, which has huge areas of solidified lava as well as molten lava still moving beneath it. At the Islote de Hilario at the top of the volcanic cone, park rangers amaze visitors with their demonstrations of the tremendous heat by pouring water into the ground which, within seconds, shoots back out in a boiling geyser, and throwing dry branches into depressions that then burst into flames.
Book a table at the cylindrical-El Diablo restaurant, designed by Cesar Manrique, for meaty delights barbecued over a giant grill heated by the volcano.
This is followed by an eruption ceremony, where a flaming model volcano is wheeled through the darkened restaurant to music,
before diners are treated to a mini volcano-shaped cake for dessert.
Roque Nublo, Gran Canaria
Although not the highest peak on Gran Canaria, Roque Nublo (Cloud Rock) is certainly the most famous. It’s one of the biggest natural crags in the world and can be seen from almost anywhere on the island.
The Roque Nublo trekking route starts on the main road and follows a mile-long trail to the natural rock monument and its brother, Roque de la Rana, passing Roque de El Fraile. The circular path, stretching just over three miles, allows you to see the great dams of Las Ninas, Chira and Soria and the towns of Artenara and Acusa. The views from Caldera de Tejeda, Llanos de la Pez and Pozo de las Nieves are stunning.
Santa Cruz, the capital of Tenerife
Packed with outstanding architecture and cultural attractions, the famous carnival capital Santa Cruz is an amazingly chilled-out city.
Spain’s answer to the Sydney Opera House, the Auditorio de Tenerife, is a dazzling white concert hall overlooking the sea, designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava. There’s also the Museum of Fine Arts, Museum of Nature and Man and the fascinating Mercado de Nuestra Senora de Africa, a market selling produce, picnic foods and local crafts. Held in February, lavish parades, shows and extravagant costumes take over the streets for the annual carnival, considered the second most popular international carnival after Rio.
Escape to an exclusive island, Fuerteventura
The Isla de Lobos, just off Fuerteventura, measures a mere 1.7square miles. To gain access to this intriguing island, you must obtain a free pass (see lobospass.com). Visiting hours are divided into two shifts of 200 people, morning and afternoon.
To get there, book on to a boat trip or take a 15-minute water taxi from Corralejo harbour. On arrival, this protected islet will treat you to an abundance of flora and fauna; it’s also a habitat for rare birds. Explore the nature reserve and trails which lead across the salt marshes.
Then relax on the beautiful Playa de la Concha, famous for its creamy sand and crystal waters.