Canary Islands
Canary Islands Tourist Information
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Canary Islands
The Canary Islands (Isla Canarias) consist of seven large and six smaller islands based in the Atlantic Ocean, and are an Archipelago. They are located some 100km off the North West coast off Africa (Morocco and Western Sahara) and about 1100km from the Spanish mainland (Cadiz). The Canary Islands are split into 2 Spanish provinces; The Westerly Islands of Tenerife, La Palma, Gomera and Hierro from the province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife (chief town Santa Cruz) while the Eastern Islands of Gran Canaria, FuerteVentura and Lanzarote from the province of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (chief town Las Palmas).
The weather in the Canary Islands is warm all year round and thats what brings many tourist's to the main islands throughout the year. The average temperature in most of the islands is 24 degrees Celsius in the summer and in the winter still only 17 degrees Celsius! Some of the islands in the Archipelago are a little cooler or more windy than others that are dry and barren.
Between all of the islands in the Canaries there are a multitude of beaches some of the most beautiful in Europe and possibly the world! With spectacular coastline's, a crystal clear ocean and long stretches of sandy beaches! There are unspoilt coves for naturists and volcanic pools on many of the islands! The majority of the main beaches in the tourist resorts on the major islands have lots of facilities for tourist e.g. Bars, restaurants and toilets etc. The majority of the beaches are sandy, golden-white! The Canary islands it is popular with the keen Surfers, Windsurfers, Kiteboarders etc!
There are plenty of places to stay here in the Canary Islands from private villas, apartments and hotels - that range from basic, somewhere to lay your head to really luxurious!
In the Canary Islands there is lots of history and places to visit, many of the islands having magnificent towns and villages that are bursting with traditional culture and historical monuments and buildings! A few of the islands have tourist attractions of the playful variety i.e. theme, amusement and waterparks too!! But whichever island you end up staying on you will be never stuck for anything to do and with just a short ferry ride between some of the islands you can even visit another country on your holiday!
Below are links to more detailed tourist information on the main islands in the Archipelago of the Canaries.
Tenerife enjoys constant good weather, making it an ideal holiday choice all year round. The North of the island is a tropical paradise, full of palm trees and banana plantations and breathtakingly beautiful landscape. Inland, you'll find yourself in traditional rural towns the hillside villages and extraordinarily unusual landscapes formed from the twisted lava-rock of the largest mountain in Spain, Mount Tiede.
The fascinating island of Gran Canaria has something for everyone! Whether you are going with the family or with friends, whatever your age or taste in holidays you will find the perfect location in Gran Canaria where you will have a holiday of a lifetime!
Fuerteventura has the oldest history and the longest beaches of wonderful white sand of the Canary islands, with a population of only 30,000 and over three thousand hours of sunshine a year!
Lanzorote called 'Conejera' by the islanders is also known as the island with 100 volcanos. Lanzarote including the small islands, La Graciosa, Alegranza, Montaña Clara, Roque del Este y del Oeste, covers 900 km² running 60 km North to South and only 21 km at its widest point!
La Palma is known as the 'Pretty Isles' by the Canary Islanders! The island has a natural beauty with a sharp contrast of green countryside with spectacular vegetation and floral wealth to mountain and volcanic cones, lava flows and craters with the La Caldera del Taburiente which holds the World record for the largest volcanic crater with a diameter of 9 kilometers and a depth of 770 meters!
El Hierro is the hidden island of the Canaries and it still retains its mystery! It is located in the extreme Southwest of the Canary Island chain, Only 287 square meters and with an altitude of 1,501 meters, it still conserves its environment as natures first created it.
Canary Islands Essential Information
Please find to follow a few helpful numbers, important information and useful tips that will help make your stay in Canaries more enjoyable and stress free..
The Language used is Spanish
The Currency used is the Euro
Canary Islands are running on GMT so there isn't a time difference between there and the UK
A three course meal will cost you approx 14 Euros/£9, if you wish add a glass of beer for approx 1.80 Euros/£1.15 or maybe a bottle of wine for approx 5.30 Euros/£3.40 or both!!! Then to get a taxi back for a short ride it will be about £5 approx.
Visa's are not needed if you are a member of the EU, as long as your stay is below 90days.
The dialling code is the same as the Spanish mainland 0034 (remember to drop the zero from the beginning of the number being called if calling to the UK)
The Spanish Embassy number is; 020 7235 5555
In an Emergency please call; 061
Cash machines are widely available throughout the main Island's.
The Voltage in the Canary Islands is 220V - so take an European adapter!!
The shops are generally open Monday to Saturday 9am till 1pm, closing for a couple of hours in the afternoon and opening again from 4.30pm till about 8pm!
Banks are a little different they are generally open Monday to Friday 9am till 2pm.
Please be aware of Ticket touts, they can be selling illegal trips on the streets and beaches
More Canary Islands links;
Canary Islands Tourist Information
Canary Islands Spain