The most photographed beach in the Canary Islands. The best beaches of the Canary Islands with developed infrastructure

When people think about relaxation, many of them first of all have an imaginary beach with warm golden sand, a gentle sun in a blue cloudless sky, waves that fascinate with their splash on the shore, and a serene pacification to which they are ready to indulge throughout holidays. And it’s hard for someone to imagine a vacation where there is no extreme or active entertainment, and such people are ready to go anywhere in the world to find them.

If your choice fell on Tenerife, you are not mistaken - there are beaches here for every, the most demanding taste. And the peculiarity of many of them is black volcanic sand - it is so unusual and pristine, bewitching and stunningly beautiful!

It is possible to describe the numerous beaches of the island and their features indefinitely. We will try to dwell on the most interesting of them from the point of view of a tourist and tell you what beaches there are in Tenerife.

First, some general information: all the beaches of Tenerife are covered with black volcanic sand or a mixture of black and white sand brought by the wind from Africa. With the development of tourism, the authorities began to improve the beaches in the resort areas and white sand was brought in for many. Thus, here you can see both the usual white and amazing black beaches.

It is useful to know that the entrance to the beaches of Tenerife is free everywhere and there are no coastal areas belonging to a particular hotel (as they do in Egypt or Turkey). Anyone can freely come to any beach, but the provision of services is a separate expense item, so be prepared for the fact that you will have to pay for a sunbed and beach umbrella (2-4 euros for the whole day), toilet and shower.

For convenience, we divided the island into parts and wrote separate articles for each of them.

Tenerife beaches in the south of the island

This is the most popular part of the island among tourists, so the number and quality of beaches here are noticeably greater. There are only 10 main beaches on this coast:

- Playa del Duque, Playa Fanabe and Torviscas, Playa de Troya, Playa la Pinta And Playa del Bobo;
- Playa Honda And Playa del Camison;
- Playa Las Vistas And Playa de Los Cristianos.

Almost the entire coast consists of beaches, with the rare exception of those places where the rocks are located.

A large number of cafes, restaurants, shops right on the beach or on the promenade adjacent to it, as well as a wide range of water activities make these resorts leaders in terms of the number of tourists. Moreover, not only tourists rest here, but also the locals themselves, although there are fewer of them. For lovers active rest here you will find the opportunity to go diving, surfing or fishing, for example. Of the pluses, I can also note the following: almost all beaches have a water area fenced with breakwaters, which makes swimming more comfortable, and most of them are covered with white or golden sand, brought specifically for these beaches.

Traditionally, the south is considered the most crowded and noisy resort of Tenerife. If you like a more relaxing holiday, then there is a lot for you. wonderful beaches, read on.

Tenerife beaches in the west of the island

To the west of the noisy and active Las Americas, there are several quieter and more comfortable resorts that are perfect for both families with children and older tourists.

So, what are the main beaches here:

Los Gigantes and Puerto de Santiago - Playa de los Guyos, Playa La Chica, Playa de la Arena And Playa Punta Blanca(exclusively for surfing);
Alcala - Playa de la Jaquita, Playa de Alcala And Playa Mendez;
Playa San Juan with the beach of the same name;
Playa Abama Golf Resort;
Caiao Salvaje - Playa de Ajabo;
La Caleta - Playa de la Enramada.

Most of the beaches are covered with natural black volcanic sand and have a well-developed infrastructure, and some of them were even specially imported White sand(Abama, San Juan). There are fewer water activities here. the port is only in Los Gigantes, which is why it can be considered the center of boat trips and similar leisure options.

Tenerife beaches on the east side of the island

To the east of the main resorts, towards the airport, there are quiet local towns that are not touristy at all. Of course, there are tourists here, but in much smaller numbers. Absolutely all the beaches here are natural with black or gray sand, partially brought by the winds from Africa.

Here are the beaches:

El Medano - Playa La Tejita, Playa del Medano And Playa Leocadio Machado- windy and ideal for surfing;
Playa Las Gaietas in the same village and Playa Montaña Amaria nearby;
Playa de Los Abrigos in the town of the same name;
- Playa de la Arena Candelaria and Playa del Socorro Guimar (both not to be confused with other beaches of the same name on the island).

This is only a part of the beaches and the most noticeable for tourists. In addition to them, there are also a lot of small wild beaches and city beaches of ports and villages along the coast. Most of them do not have any services and therefore do not attract anyone other than locals. This does not mean that they do not deserve attention at all - lovers of the wilderness will always find them during independent walks around the island - you just need to talk about something remarkable, and not about everything. I hope you understand.

Tenerife beaches in the northern part of the island

So we got to the greenest part of the island - the north. In order for all this greenery to grow abundantly, the clouds generously pour precipitation from which sunny days here is clearly less than in the south. Nevertheless, there are quite a few beaches here, and the main charm of all these beaches is the indescribable beauty of natural landscapes!

Here are located:

and San Andres Playa de Las Teresitas;
Anaga mountain range - Playa de Antequera, Playa Benijo, Playa Roque de Las Bodegas And Playa de Almaciga;
Bajamar and Punta del Hidalgo - Playa de Bajamar, Playa del Roquete And Playa de Arenisco;
El Pris / Mesa del Mar - Playa El Pris, Playa El Rincon And Playa de la Arena Tocoronte.
Puerto de la Cruz - Playa Hardin, Playa de Martianez, Playa el Boyuyo, Playa San Telmo And Playa de Los Roques.
Playa El Socorro;
Icod de los Vinos - Playa San Martin.

What is bad for a swimmer is good for a surfer - that's why all the beaches of the north are solid places for surfing. Almost constant waves (and often very large ones) make most beaches unsuitable for swimming, but ideal for riding the waves. This does not mean that you can not swim at all, no. Just a calm ocean and sunny skies are rarer here than in the south of the island.

On all beaches without exception, exclusively natural sand, black and hot in sunny weather. By the way, an appeal to girls, try to wear inexpensive dark-colored swimwear on such beaches if you don’t want to spoil it - volcanic sand is very fine and clogged everywhere. There will be then your white Victoria's Secret in a black grain, do you need it?

In terms of infrastructure, the beaches are different, there are well-equipped ones (those within the city), and there are also completely wild ones. Keep this in mind when planning your trip to a particular beach.

Beaches with a twist (nudist)

Now you know about the main beaches of the island of Tenerife and it's time to please those who like to throw off their swimming trunks and swimsuit. Here it is in the order of things and there are plenty of places for unity with nature. In fact, any wild beach can turn into a nudist one. There are no rules or guidelines for this. But for complete exposure on an ordinary beach from the ones listed above, you can quite get a remark from the police.

To have the most pleasant time, show yourself and look at others, expose your priests in the following places:

Playa Diego Hernandez in the south at La Caleta;
Playa La Tejita And Playa Montaña Roja west of El Medano;
Playa La Pelada east of El Medano;
Playa de Las Gaviotas east of the beach Teresitas in the north of the island;
Playa de Benijo in the north of Anaga;
Playa de Los Patos And Playa del Ancon east of Puerto de La Cruz;
Playa Montaña Amaria east of Las Gaietas;
any deserted and safe place on the ocean.

The beaches of Tenerife, as you can see, are very diverse in climate and environment, partly due to the fact that the climate of the island itself is rich in diversity. I want to warm up sore spots - dig into the black sand, you want perfect clean water- choose more rocky and secluded beaches want convenience and service - white sandy beaches at your service. Here everyone can find perfect beach for himself and a lover of water games, and a lover of calm swimming, and even a sociophobic bore.

Who has already visited Tenerife, which of the beaches did you like the most?

By the way, very soon we will start contests for the best story about your holiday in Tenerife. Prizes will vary from free tours for those who come back here again, to just cash gifts. Not to be missed subscribe to updates(the subscription form is located directly below the article or in the column on the right) and already now you will receive a selection of wallpapers for your desktop with views of Tenerife and the Canary Islands. Thank you for your attention.

In the Canary Islands, everything is buried in flowers,
And the Canaries are drowning in the ocean.
In the Canary Islands I was in pink dreams
And in love there he explained to Marianne.

Ensemble "Merry guys"

Canary Islands (Spanish Islas Canarias, English Canary Islands, Canaries, Canarias) - common name for an archipelago of ten volcanic islands located 115 km off the northwest coast of Africa. They belong to and are one of the Autonomous Communities of this country. They have two capitals on different islands - Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. total area 7447 sq. km. The population is 2,119,000 people.

The Canary Islands include 13 islands, of which 7 are the main and inhabited: Lanzarote, Palma, Gomera, Hierro. The most popular and touristic are the first four. Also inhabited small island Graciosa. On the small islands - Alegranza (10 km²), Montaña Clara (1 km²), Lobos (6 km²), Roque del Oeste and Roque del Este - no one lives.

In the past, the Canary Islands were considered elite and expensive resort, but at present they are quite affordable. What attracts tourists here so much? Warm and cool summers, mild winters, green hills and valleys, unusual rocks, amazingly beautiful beaches with volcanic sand, rich undersea world, natural and man-made monuments different eras, good conditions for surfers, air accessibility, a large selection of fruits at any time of the year, excellent service, low prices in stores compared to Europe (due to the fact that there is a free economic zone), a varied cuisine, which is a mixture of Spanish, African and Latin American dishes - the list is endless. Each island has its own characteristics and unique flavor. Moving from one place to another, you will never get bored and will always discover something new and amazing.

The name "Canary Islands" comes from the Latin Canariae Insulae, meaning "Isles of Dogs". Two dogs can also be seen on the coat of arms. According to one version, in the past there were many dogs here, which the local tribes considered sacred, and according to another, they mean sea dogs or sea lions that had colonies on the islands.

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A few facts

The official language is Spanish.

Currency - euro.

You need a Schengen visa to visit.

The time zone is UTC+00:00 (winter) and UTC+1 (summer). It differs by 2 hours from Moscow in summer (when it is 12 o'clock in Moscow, 10 am in the Canary Islands) and by 3 hours in winter. Go to summer time- the last Sunday of March at 1 am, back - the last Sunday of October at 1 am.

Short story

The Canary Islands are very rich history. The first settlements here were founded by the primitive tribes of the Guanches and Bimbache. In ancient times, they were visited by the Phoenicians, Greeks and Carthaginians, but no cities were built here.

The first French navigators visited the islands in 1334, which 10 years later were donated to Castile (this historical region Spain). At the beginning of the 13th century, colonization and displacement of local tribes began. It took only 2 years and in 1404 King Henry III of Castile proclaims Jean de Betancourt king of the Canaries. But for almost a century there were wars with the Guache tribes on the island of Tenerife. Only on September 29, 1496, Alonso de Lugo announced the complete subjugation of the Canary Islands.

During his first journey in search of India, Christopher Columbus makes a stop on the island of Homer. Later, the archipelago becomes the most important point on the way from Europe to America. Because of this, heated disputes flare up, which lead to clashes. Attempts to capture the islands were made by the Dutch and the British. They did not escape the raids of pirates. But Spain came out of all conflicts with honor and left the archipelago behind.

In 1982, the Canary Islands become autonomous region Spain, and all its inhabitants are full subjects of the Spanish crown.

Why go to the Canary Islands

Who should visit the Canary Islands? The answer will be short - everyone! It is difficult to single out any particular group that may not like it here. First of all, people come here because of the mild climate: in summer it is not as hot here as in European resorts, and in winter it is quite warm - you can even swim, which is unlikely to work in the Mediterranean Sea. And no rains will spoil your vacation, as there are very few of them in any of the seasons.

Nature lovers will find a lot of greenery here, rainforests, palm oases, vineyards, olive plantations, numerous volcanoes.

Of course, there are beaches for lovers of the sea and sun loungers. There is how wild places(including nudist), and civilized with all the infrastructure. Many of the beaches are awarded blue flag. From exotic - beaches with volcanic dark sand.

rich excursion program will not leave anyone indifferent. There are attractions for every taste, which were left by ancient tribes, ancient and medieval settlers. Well, there is no need to talk about the many natural attractions.

Couples with children can also safely go to the Canary Islands. Children will not be bored. For them, the Siam amusement park was built with water slides and attractions for all ages. There are also many parks on the islands where you can get acquainted with unusual animals and birds.

Divers will find many caves and grottoes in the sea, sunken ships, rich flora and fauna. Here you can dive all year round, since the water temperature even in winter rarely drops below +20 degrees.

Fans of active pastime are waiting for water activities, ocean fishing, windsurfing, yachting, parachuting, golf, tennis, safari, go-karting, rock climbing, shooting, cycling, horseback riding and much more.

Entertainment lovers will find numerous discos and clubs, which are the most in Tenerife. Every month, the archipelago hosts several holidays and festivals.

Silence lovers can retire to sparsely populated beaches or settle away from large ones. tourist spots(they are on any of the islands).

Canary Islands on the world map

You can buy air tickets as profitably as possible with the help of special search engines that collect data from all airlines.

Transport

Almost all Canary Islands have paved roads. Between popular settlements buses run. You can always get to any place by taxi, the drivers are well versed in the location of hotels and main tourist places, although they do not always speak English.

The rental of motorcycles and bicycles is quite developed. For everyone popular islands The archipelago offers cars of all brands for rent. You can rent a car both at the airport and at most popular resorts. The doors of such well-known world companies as Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz, La Palma 24 are open for you. We recommend buying a card highways, because in major cities there are many one-way streets, and the road system is quite confusing. If you do not want to look for rental offices on the spot, then you can advance. Then it will be waiting for you at the airport and you will immediately begin your journey, without being distracted by anything else.

No matter what island you are vacationing on, you can always organize an interesting excursion program for yourself.

For example, there is the ancient city of Galdar with the remains of the settlements of the indigenous people. On Lanzarote, you can see the ancient fortress of the 16th century, which is now a museum. In Tenerife, the pyramids rise in the Guimar desert. On the island of La Palma, it is worth seeing the Caldera de Taburiente volcano and the Columbus Museum. And these are only the most important attractions of the Canary Islands.

Beaches

Each island of the archipelago is unique and has its own characteristics.

The most developed in terms of tourism with good infrastructure. Steep rocky shores adjoin volcanic sand beaches, mountains with dense tropical foliage give way to desert zones, and behind steep ravines there are valleys of banana plantations. perfect for a relaxing holiday, besides many beaches here with white sand. Lanzarote is famous for its volcanoes, of which there are more than three hundred.

The beaches in the Canary Islands are very diverse. Their total length is more than 1500 km. Most of them are of volcanic origin, so the sand on them is black. But many Tenerife beaches are covered with white sand imported from Africa. There are also pebble coasts.

Everyone here will find something to their liking. If you want to be close to all the infrastructure and entertainment, then you should stay, for example, in the Las Americas area.

Most famous beaches Gran Canaria - El Ingles and, in Tenerife - Playa de Taganana and Las Teresitas, in Fuerteventura - Playa de Corralejo and El Reducto.

Climate

The climate of the Canary Islands is different and depends on the location of a particular place. It gets quite cold in the mountains, but coastal zones The climate is similar to dry tropical and subtropical. In summer +25 ... +30 during the day and +20 at night, in spring and autumn about +20 during the day, in winter it is rarely below +15. There is little precipitation, in summer they practically do not happen at all. The weather here is one of the best among all European resorts, the number of sunny days is a record.

Have you ever visited the beaches of Tenerife at least once in your life? - No? - Well, then you really can be envied, because you just have to get acquainted with this unreal beauty.

Why Tenerife?

Substantial part coastline Tenerife is rocky. However, there are many pebble and sandy beaches. It's great that you can swim for free on any beach - they are all municipal.

Comfortable beaches

The beaches of five-star hotels are also available to everyone. You will have to pay if you want to use the shower, take an umbrella and a deck chair for a while (the toilet is also paid). Most beaches have cafes and restaurants, so you can dine right on the waterfront! There are also small "wild" beaches on the island, where you can have a great rest in a relaxed atmosphere. If you use a car, then finding a place for such a holiday is not difficult. Many Tenerife beaches have a quality mark, indicating safety, environmental friendliness and a high level of service.

Unusual coastal zones

The beaches in Tenerife are covered with black sand, which is of volcanic origin. The black beach is very beautiful and very unusual! The usual white beaches on this island also exist, but the sand on them is not local - it is delivered from the Sahara. Most of the beaches on this wonderful island have breakwaters, so the wind and waves do not cause trouble for vacationers. However, some beaches are specifically free of breakwaters and are great for surfing.

Favorable climatic conditions

A cool breeze can give the impression that tourists on the beach are not in danger of getting sunburned. However, it is better to use sunscreen and protect yourself from the scorching sun.

Where are the best beaches on the island

On south coast the islands are Los Americas and Costa Adeje - the largest resorts islands. Getting to the beaches located here is very convenient. The best beach here is Playa del Duc. It's very clean and beautiful place. Hotels in Tenerife are relatively expensive with a high level of service.

On the territory of the resort of Los Cristanos, the sand is white. The Playa de las Vistas beach is very beautiful, and there is a fountain regulating the waves along the coastline.

The El Medano resort has excellent conditions for surfers. This is the realm big waves and strong wind. It takes the breath away from those who watch the surfers!

In the northern part of the island, the weather is capricious. But the picturesque beaches here will give tourists an unforgettable experience.

Tenerife white sand beaches

The very picturesque beach of Playa de las Teresitas is located 7 km from the capital of the island near the Anaga mountain range. This beach is usually adorned with Tenerife guidebooks, calendars, various souvenirs.

To equip wonderful beach, almost 4 million bags of golden sand were brought to the coast!
Wonderful Canarian palm trees were planted along the running line. The beach is 70 meters wide and 1250 meters long.
To protect this beach from the waves, a stone dam was built. Due to the dam off the coast, the water is slightly warmer than other beaches in this part of Tenerife.

The Playa de las Teresitas beach is well equipped - here you can rent sun loungers and umbrellas, organized health care. In addition, there are parking and restaurants for tourists. Tourists and locals love to relax here. Especially a lot of people on the beach on weekends.

Black sand beaches

Playa Martianez and Playa Jardin

Black sand in Tenerife was formed due to the action of volcanoes. It is believed to have healing properties. natural beaches little on this island. Playa Martianez and Playa Jardin are the beaches where the sand is black. On Playa Martianez, the conditions for swimming are not very good. And Playa Jardin is a beautifully equipped beach, which required 230 thousand cubic meters. m of volcanic sand. It is very spacious here - three large plots separated by rocks. On one of the sites there is a waterfall, which always attracts the attention of children.

San Marcos

Very beautiful beach with black sand - San Marcos. It is located in a fishing village 20 km from Puerto de la Cruz. It is very quiet and calm here. For those who are tired of the hustle and bustle, this beach has wonderful conditions for relaxation!

playa la arena

Playa la Arena beach west coast Tenerife is another wonderful black beach. It is under the protection of UNESCO. The sand that is on this beach is used for the prevention and treatment of many diseases. Since the beach is located in a rocky bay, it is well protected from strong waves and wind. Low-rise hotels are always happy to receive tourists throughout the year, as the weather here is favorable for recreation, regardless of the time of year.

The best beaches Canary Islands provide a high level of service and comfortable rest and have the opportunity to receive tourists all year round, which not everyone can afford mainland resorts Spain.

This makes the islands very attractive for recreation, which contributes to their choice by many people, especially since apartments can be chosen according to their financial capabilities: from budget hotels without food to hotels with the "all inclusive" system. We offer general characteristics the best beaches in the Canary Islands.

Playa del Inglés beach. La Gomera Island

The sand on Playa del Inglés is of volcanic origin, so it has a black tint. The length of the beach is 400 m.

Not far from the beach is the port of Vueltas, from where you can make boat trips on yachts and boats, and combine a pleasant beach holiday with fishing.

An important natural attraction of La Gomera is the cliff of Los Organos, where lava solidified after volcanic eruptions formed original ornaments and patterns.

Charco Azul. El Hierro Island

This beach was created on the basis of two natural pools formed with the help of ocean waters Atlantic. For a convenient approach to the bathing place for tourists, special stairs are equipped. The highlight of the island is the Punta Grande Hotel, listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the smallest hotel in the world. It has only four rooms and a restaurant.

Playa del Papagayo beach. Lanzarote island

Playa del Papagayo is located in a small bay, surrounded on all sides by rocks and cliffs. In addition, you can visit the Timanfaya National Park, which appeared as a result of volcanic eruptions from 1730 to 1824. One of them interesting excursions through the park is a camel ride.

Maspalomas. Gran Canaria

Maspalomas is an area of sand dunes on the island of Gran Canaria. Next to this unique natural attraction, an artificial white sand beach, Meloranes, was created, 3 kilometers long.

Playa Blanca. Fuerteventura island

Quite a strong wind, constantly present on this beach, has made this place a rest for surfers. Playa Blanca is a new resort area located near the capital of the island, therefore, it is predicted a great future in the history of tourism.

El Arenal. Tenerife island

El Arenal beach is of volcanic origin, so its sand is black. This place is intended for lovers of secluded relaxation, as the beach can only be reached by mountain path leading from the Hotel Neptuno. As an excursion, you can visit one of the three Spanish cities - San Cristobal de La Laguna, which is the object world heritage UNESCO.

Beaches in the Canaries: characteristics of the resort areas of the islands

The beaches in the Canary Islands stretch over 1,500 kilometers and are located on the coast Atlantic Ocean. Holidays in the Canary Islands are preferred by many tourists, so we offer a general description of the beaches in the Canaries of each island separately.

Tenerife beaches

The island is of volcanic origin, so naturally it was not quite suitable for beach holiday. Therefore, the best beaches in Tenerife are artificially created.

Great efforts have led to an amazing result - a holiday in Tenerife is considered one of the best, prestigious and status.

In addition to artificial white sand beaches, there are a large number of natural places relaxation with black sand, which is of volcanic origin. Also along the coast are pebble beaches for lovers of untouched nature and walking on stones.

The beaches of Fuerteventura

Holidays on this island are less popular, although the length of white and black sand beaches here is much greater than in Tenerife. This is due to constant strong winds, which appealed to surfers. The beaches of Fuerteventura are practically devoid of a touch of civilization, so people who lead a solitary lifestyle should pay attention to them.

The beaches of Lanzarote

The best beaches of the island with white sand and ecologically clean water and air are in Papagayo bay. Their natural beauty is also due to the fact that it is quite difficult to get to the bay, so only true nature lovers make these attempts, making long off-road driving in jeeps.

One of the most popular beaches of the island of Komta Teguise, which is located 15 minutes from the airport. Here is one of the most famous hotels in Europe - "Salinas". And the resort of Playa Blanca is young enough, but rapidly developing, that many young families with children have chosen this place to relax.

The beaches of Gran Canaria

The island of Gran Canaria is called the “little continent”, because all the natural reliefs of the mainland are created on it in miniature - mountain ranges snow-covered, fertile plains, vegetated forests different regions peace, boundless sandy beaches, palm oasis, dunes, underwater reefs and exotic animals. Holidays in Gran Canaria promises to be truly unforgettable.

The beaches of Gran Canaria are distinguished by the golden hue of sand, which was brought here by strong winds from the Sahara desert. The most popular resorts are: San Agustin, El Inglés, Maspalomas and Meloneras.

The beaches of La Gomera

On the territory of the island there are 20 black sand and gravel beaches, located in small bays between rocky and steep areas. The beaches of La Gomera offer a variety of water activities, and numerous restaurants serve dishes of the national cuisine of Spain. The island is quite secluded, although a developed tourist infrastructure has been created.

The beaches of El Hierro

The island still has active volcanoes, which significantly reduces the tourist flow compared to other islands canary archipelago. A significant part of El Hierro has a mountainous terrain, so the beaches are open natural pools with crystal clear water and small areas of black sand.

The beaches of La Palma

All the beaches of the island are of natural volcanic origin, therefore they are covered with black sand. The areas of the southern part of La Palma are more suitable for swimming, as the sun is less bright there. And the western regions are for giving a bronze tan to your skin, since the climate here is more arid.

The beaches of La Graciosa

It is the driest island of the entire Canary archipelago. The infrastructure is not well developed, there are no hotels at all, tourists can only stay in small guest houses. Mostly fishing enthusiasts come here in Spain.

The beaches in the Canary Islands will please you with their peculiarities, unique natural landscape, provided services and all kinds of entertainment.

Beach holidays in the Canary Islands: features and benefits

Beach holidays in the Canary Islands are distinguished by well-developed infrastructure and a high level of service and quality of beaches, 80% of which have been awarded the prestigious Blue Flag award for the ecological cleanliness of the regions.

Beach hotels in the Canary Islands offer unobtrusive service, staff are friendly to the guests.

Available in many hotels Additional services in the form of gyms, golf courses, tennis courts, playgrounds for children. Beach holidays in the Canary Islands have ceased to be only for the elite and are now available to people with various financial capabilities.

The Canary Islands are a combination coniferous forests with formidable volcanoes, alien landscapes formed from solidified lava, as well as sand dunes. All year round, the Canary Islands are waiting for their vacationers, because even in winter the temperature here does not fall below +18 degrees. The islands are ideal for a beach holiday, as well as for active pastime, as well as sightseeing trips.

In total, the archipelago includes 7 islands, which are washed by the waters of the Atlantic. The Canary Islands are an autonomous community of Spain with two capitals, Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Las Palmas-Gran Canaria. There are several versions that suggest why the islands got this name. We note right away that the community is not so named because of the large number of canaries, it was precisely the bird that was named after its habitat.

In general, translated from Latin, the name means "Isles of Dogs". But why is it so? Opinions differ. Some argue that the islands are called dog islands, since sea lions, which were called dogs, lived here much earlier. According to another version, still a scientist ancient rome talked about a lot of large dogs, in connection with which the Canaries got their name. The third version refers to the Guanches who once lived here, who revered dogs as a sacred animal.

It was the Guanches who lived in this place before the advent of European people. The Guanches were engaged in agriculture and cattle breeding, they dressed in animal skins and mummified leaders. Then the Phoenicians, Greeks and the population of Carthage came here. In the 12th century, Arab sailors got here, and a century later, the French also visited here.

In the 14th century, the French decided to capture the islands, while the Spaniards completely conquered the Canaries at the end of the 15th century. When, after the discovery of America, people realized that the islands were significant place on the way to New World, then subjects began to sail here different states, and simply pirates sought to enrich themselves here.
In the 80s of the last century, the Canaries were recognized as an autonomous region in the country, and 4 years later they joined the European Union on special conditions.

You can fly here at one of the 5 airports, and then by bus or car to get to your destination. Airports are located in the following cities: Gran Canaria, Hierro, La Palma, Los Rodeos, Tenerife South.

Map of the Canary Islands

Climate

It has a mild climate, which is characterized by warm winter months and hot summer months. In winter, the temperature ranges from +19 to +23 degrees, in summer the thermometer rises to +24 - 30. Water in winter period warms up to a maximum of +20, and in summer - up to +23.

In general, there is a tropical trade wind climate here, since the Canaries are located next to the African continent, from where the wind blows, bringing heat. It is worth noting that on eastern islands the weather is drier. However, the African influence is moderated by the trade winds coming from the northeast. In addition, the weather and climate generally depend on the height of the mountains lying here. This is most evident on La Palma, Tenerife and Gran Canaria, which are highest points islands.

Beaches

The forces of nature and the efforts of man have created excellent conditions here for beach holidays and water sports. Since there were not many beaches on the islands due to volcanic origin, it was man who created most of them. It is interesting that the sand here is different on the beaches: it can be white, volcanic, yellow, and sometimes black. On some beaches there is sand that was taken from the bottom of the ocean, on others the beach is made of sand from the Dominican Republic, on others there is sand from the Sahara.

In Tenerife, almost all beaches are created artificially. There are also those created by nature, but they are all protected from strong currents by dams, and in general they are ennobled. South part the island boasts longer beaches that have better infrastructure.

Visit the black sand beach called Playa de Tagana, and next to it there is a white fine sand beach called Las Teresitas. These two beaches form an amazing ensemble. Another very unusual beach is Playa de Martianes, where there is a mountain lake with water from the sea, and next to it are small islands with picturesque fountains, bars and restaurants.

Very vacationers like the beach with white sand Las Americas. And the same beaches lie along Punta Salena and Punta dela Gaviola, which then change to red volcanic beaches. You can go windsurfing in the El Medano District.

On Gran Canaria, the coast stretches for 230 kilometers. There are small beaches, and large ones, and rocky ones, there are also sandy ones, you can choose quiet beaches or noisy with entertainment. The most famous are Maspalomas and El Inglés, which stretch for 8 kilometers.

And among Europeans, the Playa del Igles beach is popular, which stretches for 2.7 kilometers. Here you can windsurf, ride a jet ski or stand on water skiing, you can still try sailing. There are also many bars and cafes.

Fuerteventrois too popular resort, which is known for its golden or white sand beaches. Kofete beach is made for lovers quiet rest, only in the presence of wind it is impossible to swim here, since strong waves form. And most of all people come to Sotaverno beach. There is also a black sand beach. In addition, several beaches on Fuertoventura have been awarded the Blue Flag - these are Caseron, Lajas. Those who love surfing head to Corralejo, and in July and August every year the world windsurfing championship is held here.

Attractions

There are many interesting places to visit in the Canary Islands. For example, in Tenerife there is Hell's Gorge, which is a nature reserve. There are many gorges here great depth, A mountain ranges separate relief formations. The waterfall located in the gorge is the only place with fresh water in Tenerife.

In La Palma you can see a whole volcanic chain, there are those that are still active today. In the north of the island there is the largest erosive crater in the world. There are many architectural objects in the capital of the island. For example, the church of St. Salvador, the castle of St. Catalina, the Museum of the Navy, there are also palaces with mansions dating back to the 17-18 centuries.

In Fuerteventura, it is worth seeing the Cathedral of St. Mary. In the north of the island there is a nature reserve with dunes and volcanic hills. The main attraction is called the bow of the American Star ship that sank here and the villa of engineer Winter. The house is popular because of legends, they say that the house is filled with underground passages connected to grottoes and caves.

The Guimar pyramids are very popular in Tenerife, there are not only the pyramids themselves, but also Botanical Garden with the museum. Also in Tenerife, they definitely go to the Teide volcano, you can also take a walk in the Teide National Park.

In Lanzarote, they visit the fortress of San Gabriel, where the museum of archeology is located. There is another fortress - San Jose, which was built at the end of the 18th century, here is also a museum, but of modern art. An interesting house-museum, which is made of black basalt. The Museum of Canarian Emigrants is based in the fortress. Dating back to the 14th century. And the most popular here national park Timanfaya, which offers to see fiery mountains, multi-colored ash from the volcano.

Entertainment and nightlife

It is great to spend time in the Canaries walking through the local National Parks, some of which have already been mentioned, they are the most famous. In addition, you can visit the Parrot Park, located in Tenerife, where not only parrots live, but also many penguins.

Tenerife also has 2 water parks that have their own characteristics. Aqualand is built in the southern part of the island. It is small in area, but there are many water attractions for both children and adults. Children can visit a small park with a pirate ship, a children's castle, slides and pools. And there is also a dolphinarium.

The second Siam water park is considered one of the largest in Europe. It is interesting in the oriental style at the same time as the natural landscape. There are many water slides and other attractions, and the kids love to visit " lost city”, in which towers were built, united by bridges, nets, they also have water slopes.
For active nightlife Las Americas and Los Cristianos are suitable, where there are many nightclubs and discos.

Leisure

Here you can practice different sports, for example, the coast of Corralejo is famous among surfers, and the world championship among windsurfers also takes place here. On Maspolomas beach you can go diving, ride jet skis, water bikes. At Playa del Igles, you have the opportunity to jet ski, jet ski, windsurf, and more sailing view sports. Windsurfing is also popular in Tenerife in the El Medano area.

Car rental and housing

You can rent a car upon arrival at any airport in the archipelago. You must be at least 21 years old and have a driving experience of more than 2 years, you must have a passport and driver license international standard. On average, rent per day is from 30 euros. You can rent an apartment from 65 euros, and a villa from 180.

shopping

On any of the islands you can find good shops where you can buy clothes, souvenirs, jewelry. For example, in Tenerife, visit the Plaza del Duc shopping center, there are also stock stores of famous brands. Pearls and jewelry with them, as well as with other pearls, are often brought from the Canary Islands. precious stones. In addition, wine is made here, and therefore you can buy this local drink to your home. In general, the resorts of the archipelago arrange whole shopping tours, during which you will stop at all the most famous shopping malls, stores and shopping areas. Usually the cost of such an excursion is from 30 euros.