Boasting year-round warm temperatures averaging 20-30°C and a range of resorts to suit all types of traveller, the Canary Islands are a top choice for your next sunshine escape.
With eight main islands, all with their own fair share of beautiful beaches and attractions, the only difficulty is deciding which you should choose for your next getaway.
Whether you’re after a fun-filled family getaway or a laidback beach break, we’ve rounded up the top five Canary Islands for a package holiday to help you decide which is best for you.
For a classic beach holiday with all the seaside essentials, look no further than Gran Canaria. In the north, the island’s bustling capital, Las Palmas, is an easy pleaser – expect a wealth of long, sandy beaches backed by resorts, shops and cafes that cater to all ages and budgets.
In the island’s south, top resorts include Maspalomas, famous for its enormous sand dunes, and Playa Del Ingles, brimming with lively restaurants, bars and entertainment options.
A huge stretch of honey-coloured beach connects the two, perfect for families, surfers and sun worshipers alike. Or for those feeling more adventurous, there’s jet-skiing and dune boarding, plus day trips to Aqualand water park on offer, too.
Activity enthusiasts will be in their element on a holiday to Lanzarote. The island is jam-packed with things to do, including exploring Timanfaya National Park, trekking through volcanoes and feeding that inner child at the water and theme parks!
Costa Teguise and Puerto del Carmen are among the best resorts on the island’s popular east coast, where you’ll find everything from watersports and golf to soft sandy beaches, colourful markets and family-friendly restaurants.
Looking for something quieter? Base yourself in Playa Blanca for peaceful hotels and seafront suppers around the old harbour.
Fuerteventura is the second largest of the Canary Islands and easily the most laidback.
With over 3,000 hours of sunshine a year and more than 80 beaches, leisurely beach breaks are what holidays to Fuerteventura are all about. Gorgeous swathes of white-sand beaches stretch along Fuerteventura’s coast (Corralejo and Sotavento are the most spectacular), and there’s watersports of every kind, including windsurfing, scuba diving and sailing.
Costa Caleta and Costa Calma are fantastic resorts for families seeking all the usual beachside facilities on the doorstep, while Corralejo and Jandia offer a more relaxed atmosphere for couples.
Tenerife needs no introduction. The most popular of the Canaries, it has long attracted holidaymakers from far and wide thanks to its variety of all-inclusive hotels, balmy beaches and tourist attractions.
Resorts range from the party capital of Playa De Las Americas, with its strip of restaurants, bars and nightclubs, to the powder-soft beaches and more relaxed pace of Los Cristianos.
Beyond the sand, head to Teide National Park for volcano hikes and quad bike tours, get splash happy at Siam Park, or take to the water for a whale-watching boat trip.
Known as the greenest of the Canary Islands thanks to its verdant natural landscapes, La Palma holidays combine sun-filled beach days with incredible outdoor activities.
The island’s unspoiled interior, all dense forests and rocky ravines, is the perfect place for hiking, mountain biking and climbing. The island’s highest point, Roque de los Muchachos, is worth the trek for the panoramic views.
Back on the coast, you’ll find vibrant shops and cafes in the capital, Santa Cruz de la Palma, and majestic black-sand beaches in Puerto Naos.
Do you have a favourite Canary Island? Tweet us @icelollyholiday and let us know!
Published on 2nd October 2015
Published on 29th September 2016
Published on 29th December 2016