You may be wondering why you should go to Canarias. The question is – why wouldn´t you?
If you feel the need to escape reality and disconnect from the daily routine for a little while, then you should certainly consider a trip to the Canary Islands! This is a great opportunity to give yourself time to discover one of the most phenomenal places in Spain. Today, we offer you a brief overview of Canarias. Moreover, you will find helpful hints for organizing your trip in advance.

About the climate on the Canary Islands

For some it might sound exaggerated, but the climate on the Canary Islands is the perfect one! You will enjoy the Canary Islands’ prolonged periods of sunshine, little to no clouds, and constant warm temperatures. Canarias have subtropical climate year-round. Even though we differentiate between summer and winter, the mild and warm weather is quite consistent. 

In summer the temperatures are much higher yet they do not get unbearable due to the influence of the Atlantic Ocean. Given that the sun shines for nine or even ten hours a day, June, July, and August may be the months during which Canarias are most visited. The average temperatures surely depend on the exact location in Canarias. However, we would say that during June they reach 26 C, July – 27 C and August – 29 C. Nevertheless, depending on the region and time you have chosen to visit, you might look into further details regarding the weather.

Also, the Canary Islands make for a wonderful wintertime getaway. There is the most rainfall in February, November, and December. Nonetheless, Canarias’ winters are often mild and pleasant. December, January, February, and March have similar maximum average temperatures – around 21 C/ 22 C.

Coastal areas on the Canary Islands

Thinking about the beaches in Canarias inevitably gives rise to the image of crystal clear water, soft sand, sunlight and tranquility. In fact, on the Canary Islands you have a variety of beaches which you could enjoy throughout the year due to the mild temperatures. More than 500 beaches give you the opportunity to either simply relax or get involved in any kind of activities that bring you joy. Furthermore, you can find small isolated beaches but also ones with long coastline. When it comes to the sand, the Canary Islands have a whole palette of colors – golden, red, white, and surely the impressive black sands.

Apart from relaxing at the beach, there are probably three main things which you might give a try as well when it comes to the coastline in Canarias. We would begin by highlighting the chance to enjoy excellent, fresh seafood. There is nothing else as good as high-quality food that is simple and delicious. There, you can choose from a range of restaurants and bars. For those who seek adventures, water sports might be the experience you are looking for. Water skiing, surfing, windsurfing, and other sports are taught at numerous places in Canarias. In fact, it is said to be a fantastic area for divers as well. And thirdly, for a more romantic flavor we have to outline the beauty of the sunrises and sunsets on the beach. On the Canary Islands you will witness breathtaking ones, we promise you.

The magical nature of the Canary Islands

Canarias have an absolutely stunning nature! From the magnificent landscapes to the intriguing animal species. Aside from the range of beaches, the Canary Islands have exceptional Tertiary-era forests, some of which still exist nowadays. You also have endless opportunities to enjoy nature, following perfectly mapped routes that are marked, classified and approved for hiking. Unusual places like caves, lava flows, lakes could be visited too. There are many captivating locations to astonish you, from the remarkable El Hierro seabed to the highest point in Spain in the Teide National Park. In addition to that, stargazing is very popular in Canarias as well. Since those islands have the clearest skies in all of Europe there are the perfect spots for observing the sky during the night. For example, the low light pollution in the island of La Gomera would allow you to experience the Meteor Shower like never before. As for the diversity of animal and plant species, the Canary Islands have endemic species, i.e. they are exclusive to a particular region and require extra protection to avoid going extinct. There they are more than in any other region in Spain.

Canarias – history, art, and culture

The Canary Islands are a place based on diversity and a lot of history. The fact that the Canaries were formed by volcanic eruptions millions of years ago is among the most spectacular things that could be noted. Each of the islands has its own characteristics. Traveling around the Canarias and exploring its cultural heritage might feel like time travel. Two of these archaeological sites and historic locations stand out as UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the ancient town of La Laguna and El Risco Cado & Las Montañas Sagradas. Furthermore, a big part of the heritage is also kept in museums, e.g. in the Silk Museum (La Palma), the César Manrique Foundation (Lanzarote) and the MUNA (Tenerife). Of course, there are numerous additional spots on each island where you can learn more about their past, but here we would like to give you just a taste of the rich history and culture that the Canary Islands have to offer.

When it comes to art, one should begin with mentioning the artistic work of César Manrique – a multi-talented painter, sculptor, architect, and artist who studied in Madrid and has had numerous international exhibitions. Although César Manrique’s art reflected the prevailing styles of the time, his Canary Islands-based pieces stand out for their innovative approaches. Particularly in Lanzarote, but also in Fuerteventura, Tenerife, La Gomera, and El Hierro, Manrique ‘s work merits appreciation. Los Jameos del Agua, which is shown in the photo above, is a natural area and a center for art, culture, and tourism on the island of Lanzarote. It was designed namely by César Manrique. Aside from Manrique, there are also other globally recognized artists with roots in the Canary Islands, such as the composer Teobaldo Power, and the tenor Alfredo Kraus – one of the greatest opera singers of the 20th century.

Helpful tips for organizing a trip to Canarias

Firstly, we would like to start by discussing your alternatives for getting to the Canary Islands. There are many connections between the Canary Islands and Europe, as well as between the Canary Islands and Madrid or Barcelona – we suggest that you search for a combination that best matches your time, budget, and dates. Iberia is one of the primary airlines you might want to check out. You might make a stop for a night in Madrid or one of the Canary Islands if that suits you. Also, checking out inter-island flights to reach your desired destination from there is always an option.

A good alternative, for instance, would be to consider flying to Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura, or Lanzarote – the four main Canary Islands, which would as well be reasonably priced. There are flights to these islands available from a number of locations throughout Europe, including Madrid and other Spanish cities. It can be a little tricky and take a little longer to go to the smaller islands of La Palma, La Gomera, and El Hierro. Though, there are airlines offering flights between the Canary Islands. There is also the option of taking a ferry, which you may do with the help of the regional companies Fred Olsen and Armas.

Secondly, when it comes to getting around the Canary Islands, renting a car is probably one of the best options if you want to explore the place to the fullest. Hertz and Avis are two international car-rental firms that are operating on the islands. To rent a car in Canarias you can also use Plus Car – a local company, recommended for its affordable rates.

In some areas, you also have taxis and buses. However, they are not always affordable or convenient enough. Taxis frequently have fixed fares for specific routes, but rates might be high, occasionally even more costly than a daily car hire. As for the buses, although it’s safe and affordable to use them, it’s not always the quickest or most convenient method to get around.

Planning a trip to a destination which you have never visited before might be challenging sometimes. But we can tell you that visiting Canarias is well worth the time spent organizing. Second, you just need to make sure of two essential things beforehand. These are: how to get to the Canary Islands and where you will stay throughout your holiday there. For that, you can even take care right away by simply clicking on our webpage down below where you will see all wonderful alternatives for accommodation in Canarias:

BEST APARTMENTS FOR RENT IN CANARIAS

In case you considered our suggestion regarding a few days stay in another place in Spain before reaching Canarias like Madrid or Barcelona e.g., we got your back! You can have a look at all of the lodging options that we offer in different regions of Spain HERE. Moreover, in previous posts on our blog you will find useful tips about visiting other locations in Spain.