Canary Islands

[RooFlyer]

Five days have opened up for me in Europe in June next year, beginning from Paris and I'm thinking of having a look at the Canary Islands.

@luxury-lizard a search indicates you went there this year. Any broad suggestions/tips? Especially which islands best to visit; I'm after landscapes and history, mostly, not beaches/diving. Would June be ghastly with tourists from all over Europe? Here's the flight map for June next year.



Anyone else, of course welcome to chip in.

 

[SYD]

Euro summer is actually low season (because it’s gets far kin hot!). But June might still be fine?

I bounced through Lanzarote years ago on my way to Gran Canaria and it look pretty special!

 

[luxury-lizard]

Hello @RooFlyer - we did a 7 day cruise around the Canary Islands - the non-touristy islands are very interesting - small populations and few tourists. We started with a few pre-cruise days in Tenerife (very touristy but a trip up La Teide - the 4th highest volcano in the world is well worth a visit, then Gran Canaria where the cruise departed. The cruise stopped at the following towns/islands: Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, Los Christianos, in the south of Tenerife, Santa Cruz de la Plama, the capital of the island of Palma. La Gomera, El Hierro, Gran Canaria. All the small islands are very interesting - I believe they can all be reached by air from Gran Canaria. Here is a link to my trip blog of the cruise: Cruise

My advice to anyone interested in a beach holiday - don't bother with the Canaries but for other interests - the outer islands are very interesting - but without a cruise ship travelling between them will take some planning.

 

[smiliemonster]

We spent a week in Lanzarote last year and did a couple of day trips to other islands using Binter airlines. Our favourite by far was La Palma where we hired a taxi for the day. I have a thing for volcanoes so the sights were incredible. Lanzarote wasn't really that exciting IMO, but it was good value at the time.

 

[RooFlyer]

I have a thing for volcanoes

Me too.

 

[Brissy1]

+1 for La Palma

 

[RooFlyer]

+1 for La Palma

Reasons, please?

 

[singledadtravels]

From the UK Lanzarote had the nickname Lanzagrotty, kinda akin to the Bali Bogan ethos.

It was a cheap and cheerful package holiday destination.

I went a few years ago and really enjoyed Lanzarote. I found loads of interesting things to do and trying Spanish in the small villages was fun; especially trying to order onion on a pizza (la cebolla) and saying el caballo (horse)

 

[papeto]

My partner is from the Canary Islands, so we have been to a few. He is originally from La Palma, which is more a working islands - farming bananas is the main industry and for me more interesting. The volcano and the impact of the recent eruptions is something to see and you can also go for a day trek through the mountains with beautiful waterfalls. La Palma is also a green islands as it gets more rain. El Hierro is the smallest island, but very spectacular with massive rises and falls. There is a stunning government run hotel on the watersedge which is must stay if you go there. Teneriffe, Gran Canaria and Fortenvutura are mainly tourist and beach holiday islands. Interesting fact is most beaches have black sand, except Forteventura which has wind sand blown from the Sahara. Food anywhere is really good, espcially seafood and white wine from Lanzarotte is world class.

I would rent a car as public transport isn’t that convient. The islands are small, but due to the hilly topogrophy driving between towns take longer than we are used too. I would recommend Cicar car rental. All cars are rented fully insured and they are cheaper than the big four. Reachout if you have any questions and can ask the local

 

[Scarlett]

We really enjoyed Gran Canaria. Big enough that you could still see real towns and national park in the middle of the island. Volcanic landforms, some really dry areas and then beaches and resorts, but as I said, it’s big enough that you could stay well away from the resorts if you wanted.

 

[Brissy1]

Reasons, please?

Not so many tourists
Very scenic
I found locals very hospitable

 

[jrfsp]

Ive done some sailing around the Canaries and a few holidays over the years. In all honesty if youre after landscape / history the mainland is far more interesting. As per above La Palma is probably the nicest of the islands.