OT Travel Itinerary: How To Spend Your Days & Nights In Canary Islands

The Canary Islands is the place with the best climate in the world for enjoying exceptional holidays any time of the year. Its seven unique islands are perfect for disconnecting from your daily routine, recharging your batteries and returning home feeling physically and mentally refreshed. The beaches, volcanic landscapes, the possibility of choosing from all sorts of outdoor activities, as well as a wide range of quality accommodation and leisure activities mean that the majority of visitors repeat the experience more than once.

Thanks to a wide range of leisure and entertainment services for visitors, the Canary Islands offer fun places where you can enjoy an unforgettable day in one of the zoos, water parks or amusement parks. Climb into a submarine or hire a pedalo to ride the waves and, along with that, watch dolphins and whales swimming freely. You can also choose to ride a camel or a horse or visit a museum and some of the Islands' archaeological sites. Shopping in its streets and modern shopping centres, attending a show, going out to dinner to enjoy the cuisine followed by a drink on a trendy terrace or relaxing in one of the spas and wellness centres are some of the multiple possibilities on offer.

In addition to the archipelago's attractive and singular beaches, the seven islands feature an extensive offering of leisure centres designed for endless family activities aquariums and botanic gardens and the best theme parks are just some of the quality seals that distinguish the Canary Islands for their focus on entertainment that is recreational and educational at the same time.

The Canary Islands also offer a range of cultural options to explore, including the monumental site at San Cristóbal de La Laguna, which has been awarded the World Heritage designation by the UNESCO, and the work of César Manrique in Lanzarote.

Thanks to stable and mild temperatures, the sun usually shines any time of the year.

CANARY ISLANDS BY DAY

With premium-quality facilities, the Islands' amusement parks are among the best in Europe. All the parks boast modern and safe rides and are carefully supervised by a large and professional team of lifeguards. They include Siam Park on Tenerife, known internationally as the best theme park in the world. Aquapark Costa Teguise on Lanzarote, Acua Water Park on Fuerteventura and Sioux City and Holiday World on Gran Canaria are the most popular and thoroughly enjoyed by families.

The amazing orca and dolphin shows at the Canary Island water parks are especially popular with young children, who are also fascinated by the hundreds of vertebrates and invertebrates that coexist in the archipelago's zoos, integrated in natural environments and looked after with great dedication and care. In fact, the Canary Islands is home to the largest display of parrots in the world. Tenerife's Loro Parque, La Palma's Maroparque, Aquarium Lanzarote and Oasis Park Fuerteventura are the most popular.

The capital cities of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and Santa Cruz de Tenerife stage the most striking carnivals that every year attract huge numbers of visitors, such as the Gala events where they choose the Carnival Queen and the Drag Queen, the pageants, the mass outdoor parties and the competitions of murgas (street bands) and comparsas (carnival troupes).

Across the length and breadth of the archipelago we find examples of these festivals, in some cases notable for their unique features, such as the Indianos in Santa Cruz de La Palma or Los Carneros (Rams) of Tigaday in La Frontera, where young people dress up in furs and ram horns. Other examples include competitions of crazily fast earth-bound and air bound vehicles.

CANARY ISLANDS BY NIGHT

The Canary islands host world-class astronomic observatories, at altitudes over 2,400 metres, such as the GREGOR solar telescope in Tenerife, the largest in Europe, or the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory in La Palma. Both are open to the public and arrange tours to bring their discoveries closer to everyone.

You'll also find several companies that organise guided night tours and observation sessions from the islands' spectacular viewpoints. Explore the constellations of the Canary Islands night sky with the virtual planetarium.

The Canary Islands boast three starlight reserves where the clarity of the night sky is internationally recognised and protected. The islands of La Palma and Fuerteventura and the highlands of Tenerife. At La Palma, there are Llano del Jable viewpoint, San Antonio volcano and San Bartolo mountain. At Tenerife, there are Guajara mountain and Cañadas del Teide.

There's a perfect place here for you to spend unforgettable moments with your loved ones. Sit at an outdoor terrace bar, dine under the stars, dance until dawn and share experiences with new people. Puerto del Carmen, Playa Blanca and Costa Teguise, in Lanzarote Corralejos in Fuerteventura Las Palmas and Maspalomas, in Gran Canaria, and Puerto de la Cruz and Playa de las Americas in Tenerife are some of the best places to enjoy a great atmosphere and the best views with good music.

In the Canary Islands, there are a wide variety of restaurants offering international food cooked by prestigious chefs, some with Michelin Stars. And after dinner, have a first drink at an outdoor terrace bar with the stars overhead. Whether it's a hotel roof bar by a nightclub on a seaside terrace or in a local square, enjoy the night air in your own way. The night goes on and options multiply. Nightclubs in the Canary Islands have a long history and their booths attract top DJs. With the warm nights and a constant stream of visitors looking for fun, the atmosphere is guaranteed. Some places even have outdoor dance floors. If you're not a clubber, don't worry. There are traditional dance halls and jazz clubs waiting for you.

The Information

GETTING THERE

The islands have three airports - Tenerife South Airport (TFS), Gran Canaria Airport (LPA), and Lanzarote Airport (ACE) serving as primary entry points. These airports connect with numerous international destinations across Europe. Ferries depart from various ports in mainland Spain, including Cádiz, Huelva, and Alicante, providing an alternative travel option for those seeking a scenic maritime journey to the archipelago while in Spain.

SAFETY AND EUROPEAN STANDARDS

In addition to an extensive infrastructure of hotels, apartments and tourist services, the Canary Islands offer the peace of mind of travelling to a territory that forms part of the European Union, which observes European standards and makes its highly developed health system available to visitors. The varied accommodation offering includes a complete catalogue of outdoor activities to enjoy in beautiful and unique natural settings hiking, cycling and all sorts of adventure sports, including rock-climbing, paragliding, bungee jumping and loads more. Barely a 4-hour flight separates the average European capital from this land of happy, friendly and hospitable people, a place where mankind and nature go hand in hand.

For more information, please visit www.spain.info or www.hellocanaryislands.com