Overview

With plenty of budget package deals available, there has probably never been a better time to consider a holiday to the Canaries. Four islands make up the Canaries: Fuerteventura, Lanzarote, La Palma, Tenerife and, of course, Gran Canaria; each of these volcanic islands has its own character and attractions, making them ideal for tailor-made holidays and family holidays alike.

Resorts

Gran Canaria attracts millions of budget package holiday-makers every year, as well as the rich and famous. Some of these will be attracted by the island’s world-famous night-life and powdery, lava-sanded beaches, whereas others may be drawn to the stunning nature reserves or vibrant marine-life. Gran Canaria’s stunning landscape is as diverse as the attractions it has to offer. Head to Playa Del Ingles for the ultimate beach holiday: glorious sun and sand by day, partying hard by night. The beach at Playa Del Ingles gradually gives way to the stunning dunes of Maspalomas – a different experience altogether with quieter, more exclusive accommodation and some gorgeous beachfront hotels. For a more family centred holiday Puerto Rico offers a purpose built resort with great facilities in the sunniest spot on the island as well as a host of more adult-centred pleasures in the pedestrianised centre.

La Palma is a more relaxed island, but just as diverse; lush, tropical plants, banana plantations and bountiful vineyards nestle beneath imposing volcanoes and craggy craters – especially the Caldera de Taburiente: the world’s largest volcanic fissure. You might want to visit Puerto Naos, one of the earliest fishing villages. It offers fresh fish straight from the sea, served with green or red Mojo sauce – a classic Canarian accompaniment, made with vinegar, garlic, oil and green or red peppers. Unsurprisingly. Puerto Naos also boasts some of the best scuba-diving in the area.

Beaches

Lanzarote’s sun-soaked beaches can show you the best in water-sports. For windsurfing, parasailing, kite-sailing and scuba-diving, the tranquil, azure waters that surround this island’s shores are perfect. There is also the Timanfaya National Park, which will be, alone, worth the price of a ticket for cheap Canaries holidays at any time of year; its red, almost Martian landscape holds rare plants and a restaurant, El Diablo, where you can sample food cooked with geothermal heat. Puerto Del Carmen is naturally a big draw here thanks to its plentiful supply of bars, restaurants and nightclubs as well as its magnificent strip of beach life. Playa Blanca at the south west tip of the island offers a little more peace and quiet with beautiful white sandy beaches (which give the area its name) and a more sedate, sophisticated nightlife, while accommodation ranges from the family friendly to the exclusive. Up in the north east, Costa Tesguise draws water sports fans, especially windsurfers, and beach lovers alike who like to argue among themselves which beach is best: the soft sands of Las Cucharas, the less crowded (thanks to the pebbles) El Jabillo or the small but perfectly formed Los Charcos.

Activities

Tenerife is famous for its vibrant night-life, where world-class DJs and dedicated party-goers come together to create a dizzying whirl of sight and sound. There are many bargain holiday deals to be had for this island, but if you think that it’s purely for partying, you are very much mistaken. Tenerife also offers traditional, sedate villages, such as Los Cristianos or Puerto de la Cruz, an old-world town with markets and traditional restaurants as well as more modern resorts such as Playa del las Americas or Costa Adeje.

Fuerteventura is perfect for family holidays, as well as for the party scene. Not all of the music to be heard here is in clubs; live traditional music can be heard in many of the small bars and restaurants that pepper the beach-resorts across the 150km of glorious coastline. Check out Corralego, one of the islands main resorts.

Whether it’s thrills and spills you’re after, or a relaxing, culturally-stimulating break, a Canaries holiday can supply you with whatever you want from your trip abroad.

More information on the Canary Islands
Tenerife: Lanzarote: Fuerteventura

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