The Canary Islands are made up of 7 islands: El Hierro, La Palma, La Gomera, and the more popular Gran Canaria, Tenerife, Lanzarote and Fuerteventure. Located in the Atlantic ocean only a 4.5 hour flight from London, the Canary Islands offer 365 days of sunshine and are the perfect choice for a winter break with familes, friends and golfers. If you love beaches then 6 out of the top 10 beaches in Spain can be found in the Canary Islands. All the canary islands are part of Europe and fall under Spain with the official language being Spanish and the local currency the Euro.
The islands offer wonderful beach holidays, over 20 golf courses between them and even a volcano on the island of Tenerife. Each island has only one airport with the exception Tenerife, which has 2 airports, one in the north and one in the south. There are daily ferries available to travel between the islands allowing you to island hop and experience the difference of the islands.
The Canary Islands are most popular for their beaches, Sun Bathing, Golf and sailing. The islands have a large choice of accommodation from small bed and breakfasts, privately owned apartments and villas to large luxury 5 Star hotels.
Things to do on each Island
- El Hierro is one of the smaller of the Canary Islands and popular for it’s excellent diving and ocean depth. Canarian restling is also a popular sport on this island for something different to experience on your holiday. For more information on the island of el Hierro visit the official El Hierro tourist board
- La Palma Island also know as La isla bonita, the pretty island with it’s peaks, forests and natural springs. Here you can go hiking, potholing, climbing, scuba diving, mountain biking and horse riding. For more information on La Palma visit the official La Palma Tourist Board
- La Gomera Island is home to the national nature park and UNESCO world heritage site of La Garajonay a dense forest with wonderful flora species that are extinct in other parts of the world. Popular with lovers of nature and hikers due to the wonderful terrain of the island. For more information, visit the official tourist board site for la gomera
- Tenerife is more than just a beach island for the winter months. It is home to not one but two world heritage sites, a volcano within a national park and 42 protected natural protected areas. On top off this Tenerife offers fantastic golf courses, beautiful beaches, numerous bars, restaurants and night life as well as a wide range of accommodation from self catering to luxury boutique hotels. for more information on the holiday island of Tenerife visit the offical Tenerife tourist board
- Gran Canaria is the largest of the Canary islands and offers a vibrant, cosmopolitan capital city, Las Palmas as well as popular holiday resorts of Playa del Ingles and Maspalomas the home of the sand dunes and wonderful beaches. Gran Canaria offers the holiday maker a wide range of accommodation and many restaurants bars and nightlife as well as some quieter areas on the island for nature lovers such as the Biosphere Reserve. For more information on the holiday island of Gran Canaria visit the official tourist board site for Gran Canaria
- Fuerteventure is the island for your holiday if you are looking for white sandy beaches and winds for wind surfing or surf for boarding. It’s also home to a Special Bird Protection Zone so if you are a bird lover, you will enjoy some of the rare birds that visit this island. For more information, visit the official tourist board for Fuerteventure
- Lanzarote is probably the most volcanic of all the islands offering wonderful white sandy beaches and crystal clear waters. It is a popular island with families for holidays due to it’s low key evening entertainment and choice of water sports, golf, hiking and biking as well as a large water park for a family fun day out on holiday. A wide choice of accommodation from self catering apartments, large villas to luxury hotels. For more information on the holiday island of Lanzarote visit the offical tourist board for Lanzarote
Weather in the Canary Islands – Best time to go
The islands are popular all year round with average temperatures of 18 to 21 year-round. The islands have an average of 2500 hours of sunshine each year, which is why they are a popular family destination. February is the coldest month and August the hottest with temperatures of 24c and above.
Car hire and driving tips in the Canary Islands Spain
Driving is on the right hand side in Spain. Speed limits in Spain are 50KPH in urban areas, outside built up areas 100KPH and 120KPH on motorways. On the spot fines are applied for speeding and other traffic fines. Seat belts are compulsory in front and rear of vehicles at all times.
The alcohol limit in Spain is 0.5%. Spain has an extensive road grid covering close on 340,000 kilometres, and of this total 7,000 kilometres represent highways (toll motorways, free-ways and dual-carriageways). This highway network, a great part of which is toll-free, makes it possible for the visitor to drive in comfort from the Pyrenees all the way down to Andalusia, either along the Mediterranean coast or, alternatively, inland via Madrid. A comprehensive network of petrol stations and roadside rest areas offer the widest possible range of en-route services. Check out our car hire rates
Getting Married in the Canary Islands
If you fancy a wedding in the Canary islands it is possible for a blessing or a religious ceremony if you are a catholic. However, there is a minimum residency period of 2 years for at least one of the couple if not both in some regions. The Spanish law is quite strict on it’s marriage procedures and documentation must be legalised with a ‘Hague Apostille certification’ at a cost of £12 per certificate as well as being translated into Spanish. If the canary Islands or Spain is your choice of Wedding venue then it is advisable to choose an excellent wedding planner for that destination and plan at least 1 year in advance. Normal legal documents to marry are required.
Honeymoons in the Canary Islands
Honeymoons in the Canary islands offer a wide variety of accommodation and budget to choose from. Each of the islands in the Canary Islands offer self-catering apartments to luxury boutique hotels with all-inclusive or bed and breakfast board basis. Visit 2 islands such as La Gomera and Tenerife to add variety to your honeymoon and experience the difference of the two islands.
For more information see the offical tourist board for the Canary Islands
Country Spain Canary Islands
Languages spoken: Spanish, English
Currency Euro
Visa requirements None for UK passport holders