Where are the Canary Islands located on the world map. Magnificent Canary Islands

Canary Islands- one of the most famous resorts world, which is an archipelago of thirteen islands. They are located in the Atlantic Ocean. This place is famous for its volcanic beaches, breathtaking scenery and a pleasant climate that allows you to swim in warm water all year round.

The Canary Islands are not so easy to find on the world map because of their small size and not obvious location. In their search, it can also be confusing that the Canaries are a province of Spain that once gained autonomy, but they are located not far from Africa. They are a thousand kilometers away from Spain, and only one hundred and fifteen from the African mainland.
Due to this location, the local atmosphere is far from European. The Canary Islands are more like Latin America than Europe. Juicy fruits, volcanoes, golden and black sand, tropical plants and warmth all year round attract tourists from all over the world.

The Canary Islands on the map are not too crowded. If you look closely, you can see that only some of them are signed: Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Tenerife and La Palma. However, El Hierro and La Gomera are not deprived. They are the largest, most populated and visited. However, next to them you can find a few more patches of land, and these islands on the map are also Canary. They are called Roque del Oste and Roque del Este, Alegranza, Lobos, La Graciosa and Montaña Clara.

The capital of the Canarian Autonomy moves from city to city every four years. The first one is Santa Cruz de Tenerife and the second one is Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.

Most people may think that the name of the Canary Islands comes from the fact that canaries live here, but in reality the situation is the opposite: the birds were named after the islands. The Canaries got their name due to the fact that once upon a time there lived special dogs resembling mastiffs, and the name of this breed gave the name to the islands. These dogs are now emblazoned on the coat of arms of the islands.

The first settlers to these islands came from Africa about five thousand years ago. Europeans got here relatively recently - about two thousand years ago. At a time when it was believed that the Earth was flat, they seriously believed that the edge of the world is located precisely on the Canary Islands. At that time, the same dogs that gave the name to the Canaries lived here.

For a while, the islands resisted the Spanish conquest, but by the end of the fifteenth century, the entire archipelago fell into the hands of Spain, and already at the beginning of the sixteenth century, slaves and cane plantations appeared here. Shortly after this, the islands are in crisis, people are served as pirates, and grapes are grown instead of reeds. Several times the islands became poorer, then richer, and Queen Isabella II made the Canaries a free trade zone. The islands served as the starting point for all sorts of unrest and rebellions, which stopped only after Spain gave the islands autonomy. In the middle of the last century, the first plane landed here, it was from that moment that the tourism business flourished on the islands, which got even stronger when the islands joined the European Union nine years after Spain.

Who lives in the Canaries?

Now the population of the Canary Islands looks like it consists entirely of Spaniards. However, as can be seen from the history of the islands, the Canary people are a mixture of various nationalities and even races, because the Canaries were once a bridge between Africa, Europe and Latin America. And the resulting historical events the people speak Spanish, the culture also develops mainly Spanish, but its representatives call themselves Canarians.

Oddly enough, there are even more Canarians in the Canaries than tourists. It turns out this is due to the fact that visitors most often go to large cities, while the outskirts remain with the indigenous population.

Climatic and natural conditions

The Canary Islands are located in the Tropic of Cancer, not far from them the Gulf Stream flows in the ocean, and hot winds often blow here from Africa, so the climate of the islands is consistently warm. There is no clear division into seasons, all year round the weather pleases with moderately high air temperatures, due to which the climate of the Canary Islands is considered one of the ideal on the entire planet. in winter average temperature here it stays at nineteen degrees, and in summer - twenty-six.

Despite the fact that the territory of the Canaries in the aggregate is not that big, the weather on one island at the same time can be very different from the weather on another. This is due to the mountainous landscape of several islands and their position relative to each other. The eastern islands are characterized by higher air temperature, drier here than in the western part of the archipelago, where it rains more often. The north side of the islands is somewhat cooler than the south. The southern shores are better warmed by the sun. It can be much colder at the top of the Canary Mountains than at the bottom, and this difference is very surprising to most tourists.

If you take detailed map Canaries, you can see that there are no rivers on the islands, however, here you can find a huge number of plants. This is due to frequent rains and, of course, ocean moisture, from which we can conclude that the sun is still often hidden by clouds, but warm rain pours from them. The only "setup" from the weather that can be expected here is the sirocco wind. It is very dry and suffocating, occasionally flies here from the deserts of Africa.

Each island boasts its own climatic features that distinguish it from others. For example, Fuerteventura is like a miniature Sahara - it's a real desert. Its center is deserted and quiet, while on the banks, thanks to the abundance of sand, there are the best beaches of the entire archipelago. Lanzarote is a natural reserve of volcanoes, and La Palma is famous for its ancient forest.

Due to such a variety of weather conditions and the separation of the islands from the mainland, many rare representatives of the plant and animal kingdom have been preserved here. Scientists and conservationists have organized several reserves in the Canary Islands, they make up about a third of common territory archipelago.

Where is the best place to stay?

Due to the variety of landscapes and climatic features, each island of the archipelago has its own set of resorts and entertainment for tourists.

The largest of all the Canary Islands is Tenerife. Here you can find interesting ways to spend time, both lovers of noisy parties and supporters of a quiet holiday. For those who prefer to drink and have fun, the cities of Los Cristianos and Las Americas are suitable. They do not stop discos, and Western Europeans are regulars for these cities.

The opposite tourist orientation is the city of Puerto de la Cruz, this is one of the most quiet places islands. The Canarian cliffs are presented here in all their glory, which is why, however, it will not be possible to swim among them, if only in the pools near the hotels.

The most versatile of all the islands of the Canarian resorts is Gran Canaria. For visitors, there are a lot of various shops and various establishments. There are many hotels and entertainment for lovers of a fun holiday. Athletes can visit windsurfing and fishing centers, and yacht lovers can easily find any boat here for rent or excursions. In addition, this island allows you to skydive or feel like a desert dweller on Dune Beach.

The best sands are on the island of Fuerteventura, here are the most great beaches, where no one will be crowded, and the center of the island will help you relax in the silence of the sand dunes. Water sports centers thrive along the coasts.

Lanzarote will appeal to everyone who loves volcanoes and nature. There are no amenities of civilization here, but the landscape of this island in places is similar to the lunar surface. In addition, here you can meet tourists and scientists who care about the preservation of nature, for sure you can hear a lot of interesting things from them.

Other large islands in the Canary area are not so rich in hotels and entertainment centers, but their nature is an attraction in itself, where you can do agritourism and get aesthetic pleasure from the beauties of landscapes.

The remaining small islands of the archipelago will delight everyone with rocks, mountain scenery and small hidden beaches that will appeal to everyone who loves solitude.

Ways of transportation

You can get to the Canaries archipelago by sea and air. People also come here by ship, but the most common transport is still air. You can also fly from one island to another by plane. Canarian airlines help fly with southern edge archipelago to the north literally in a matter of minutes. Thanks to this, you can save a lot of time, which takes the crossing from island to island by means of boats or yachts. However, most people still prefer sea transport to travel around the islands of the Canary archipelago, because with the help of a sea vessel you can leisurely survey all the beauties of each island, listen to the fascinating stories of guides, enjoy the warm wind and salty water spray.

There are several modes of transport in the Canary Islands themselves. Tourists can use relatively inexpensive taxis or even more affordable buses. Bus drivers and taxi drivers own the most popular European languages so it won't be hard to talk to them. The cities of Santa Cruz de Tenerife and San Cristobal de la Laguna are connected to each other by a tramway, many tourists even consider this a special feature of the Canaries.

For those who like to move around on their own, hotels offer to rent a car, and often the cost of this service is included in the price of hotel accommodation. There are many roads in the Canary Islands, so travel can bring a lot of pleasure from exploring the sights.

Attractions

In addition to beaches and unique natural sites, the Canary Islands are famous for their interesting places for visiting. Many people first go to the city of Galdar, which is located in the northwestern part of Gran Canaria.

It is famous for containing the remains of the first inhabitants of the Canary Islands. There is a Cueva Pintada cave, the walls of which are dotted with drawings of the Guanches tribe. Scientists suggest that these bright ornaments could serve as a calendar for ancient people. If you want to get acquainted not with prehistoric remains, but with the living people of the Canaries, then you can go to the village of Pueblo Canario. There are many colorful houses built in the traditional Canarian style.

You can get in touch with history and art by visiting the island of Lanzarote. Ancient fortresses still stand here. One of them, San Gabriel, built in the sixteenth century, was taken under Archaeological Museum and the other, Castillo de San José, has been turned into a contemporary art museum.

Tenerife is famous for the Guimar desert. In addition to amazing sands, here you can find ancient pyramids. Scientists believe that they were built by the first inhabitants of the Canaries to help in agriculture. Archaeologists have found caves under the pyramids in which the natives lived. Now these places have been turned into an ethnographic park and everyone can visit the local museum or buy souvenirs that are sold here.

Of particular interest to any self-respecting collector of attractions is the house of Christopher Columbus. It is located in Las Palmas. Now this place is a museum, where every visitor is told about the amazing wanderings of the great navigator.

The Canary Islands have an active volcano Caldera de Taburiente, which is one of the pearls of the Canary Islands. It is located on the island of La Palma, where, due to its activity, the picturesque cliffs of Los Gigantes and the amazing gorge of Hell were formed.

Events in the Canary Islands

The Canary Islands will be interesting not only for adults, but also for children. Young tourists can be shown the active volcano Teide. Teenagers can even climb it. Las Americas will please animal lovers with an eagle park, in which not only the eagles themselves live, but also fur seals, crocodiles, as well as various representatives of the cat and monkey families. Park workers often hold shows with trained birds. In addition, the Canaries have a parrot park, which allows you not only to admire the bright birds, but also swim with dolphins, and a monkey park where you can pet a lemur. After talking with animals, children can go to Siam Park, which will teach them how to ride a slider and help them have a great time in water attractions.

And adults in the Canary Islands will find many cultural events for themselves. In mid-February, the carnival begins in the Canary Islands, which lasts ten days. Latin American music sounds, the streets are filled with a lot of people dressed in costumes of all ages - both a resident of the Canaries and any visitor can take part in a costume show. The fun goes on two islands at once: Tenerife and Gran Canaria.

At the end of May, the feast of the Body of Christ begins in the Canaries, it ends only in mid-June. These days, amazing pictures are created from flower petals, colorful sand and salt right on the squares. They depict religious subjects or copy the works of great artists. On this holiday, various processions are held and songs are sung.

The Canary Islands are famous for excellent diving, because the rocky shores are amazingly beautiful both under water and local view sports - Canarian wrestling. This is a team game in which two groups of a dozen players participate. The rules are simple: you need to knock the enemy to the ground. The team with the most members left wins.

Thus, the Canary Islands are an ideal tourist destination in almost every respect. In the Canaries, you can relax both alone and with the whole family. Here are very affordable prices, you can choose any type of holiday. The Canary Islands conquer everyone who once got to them.

The Canary Islands are rightly called the place of eternal spring, where it never rains and bad weather. Mild climate, green valleys, picturesque beaches and bizarre rocks made the Canaries one of the most famous places on a planet where everyone wants to go.

Officially, the Canary Islands belong to Spain and are its autonomous province, but the local views and the general atmosphere have little in common with Europe. People come here for the exotic. Unique natural conditions this place is unparalleled. Gorgeous beaches and beautiful landscapes, as well as accessibility (only a few hours flight from Europe) and a well-developed tourism infrastructure- all this makes the Canaries one of the the most popular resorts, which has long earned worldwide recognition.

The Canary archipelago includes seven main islands and several smaller ones. Of course, each island is unique and interesting in its own way, but Tenerife, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote and Gran Canaria are the most popular among vacationers. Gran Canaria and Tenerife have the best developed tourist and hotel infrastructure: there are the most luxurious hotels and a lot of opportunities for any kind of recreation and entertainment. Well, Fuerteventura and Lanzarote will interest those travelers who prefer peace and solitude.

Climate and weather

The Canary Islands have a tropical trade wind climate, which results in moderately hot and dry weather. Moreover, from the point of view of the level of humidity and precipitation, as well as the number of sunny days, the climate of the Canary Islands is recognized as almost ideal. Literally the whole year there is dry, sunny, comfortable weather: in summer the air temperature is +24...26 °С, and in winter - + 18...20 °C. The water temperature is constant all year round and never drops below +19 °С, and on average stays within +20...+25 °С.

It is worth saying that if it is warm on the coast of the islands, then it is always cool in the mountainous regions. Also, from time to time, the African sirocco wind, suffocating and dusty, reaches the Canary Islands.

You can visit the Canary Islands throughout the year, but the peak of the beach season falls on the period from mid-July to October.

Nature

The Canary archipelago, which consists of 13 islands of volcanic origin, lies near the northwestern coast of Africa and is washed by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. The largest islands in the archipelago are Tenerife, La Gomera, Palma, Hierro, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria And Lanzarote.

The nature and landscape of the islands are extremely diverse: tropical forests, volcanic plateaus, palm oases, green fields, beaches, vineyards, olive plantations, extinct and active volcanoes. The vegetation is dominated by evergreen trees and shrubs, as well as many species of cacti.

Attractions

The main attractions of the Canary Islands are, without a doubt, its natural treasures and magnificent beaches, which are simply impossible to list. However, there are also man-made objects that deserve attention and admiration. For example, in the northwest of the island of Gran Canaria is ancient cityGaldar. He is famous Cueva Pintada cave with wall paintings of the Guanches tribes, the remains of the settlements of the indigenous islanders and graves Necropolis de Galdar.

No less remarkable is the ancient fortress of the XVI century on island of Lanzarote where there is now a large archaeological museum. In addition, there is another fortress on Lanzarote - Castillo de San José, which houses the Museum of Modern Art with a large collection of abstract paintings and sculptures. Also interesting objects are the pyramids in the Guimard desert on the island of Tenerife. Moreover, they were built in accordance with all the principles of the buildings of Peru, Mexico and ancient Mesopotamia. Now on the territory where they are located, there is an Ethnography Park with a museum. Casa Chacona, gift shop, cinema and cafeteria.

It is also very popular among tourists. Loro Park, which boasts a huge number of parrots, as well as an aquarium, a penguinarium and an Orchid House. Another interesting park of the islands is Teide, attracting tourists with a rare sight - a huge crater of an extinct volcano.

If we talk about natural attractions, then the most beautiful lake deserves special mention. island La Palma With Caldera de Taburiente volcano which is surrounded by high mountain peaks. You can't visit the Canary Islands and not see Cliffs of the Giants, which are magnificent rock formations, mountains and with traces of archaeological excavations and waterfall Hell Gorge, and dragon tree in which is over 1000 years old.

Nutrition

To taste real food canarian cuisine, we recommend visiting establishments whose names contain the word tipico. The local cuisine has much in common with Spanish traditions, so treats such as "paella" with seafood or chicken and "tortilla" made of potatoes are widespread here. In addition, Canarian chefs can boast of their own inventions. First, these are fish and seafood dishes: "sardinas"(boiled fish) "sakonho"(dried fish with garlic and sweet potatoes), "zarzuela"(fish soup), roast tuna, sole, octopus and squid meat, etc.

No less popular in the Canaries and meat dishes. Among them, the most frequently offered "carne de fiesta" from marinated pork or goat meat, "conejo en salmorejo"(rabbit dish) and "puchero"(stew of beef corn, pears and apples). Well, as a side dish - boiled potatoes ("papas arrugadas").

Typical Canarian food is simply unthinkable without the sauce "moyo" and gofio cereal flour, which is used as an independent dish and as an additive.

Don't miss out on trying the local desserts. "bienmeabe"(cream of egg yolk, cinnamon and almonds), egg and sugar flan pudding, baked milk, palm honey, and all sorts of exotic fruits.

Among alcoholic drinks, it is worth highlighting Canarian wine, honey rum, banana liqueur and local beer brands. Dorada and Tropical.

Of course, apart from national dishes Canarian restaurants offer European cuisine for literally every taste and budget. There are also many fast food restaurants here. McDonald's, Pizza Hut, KFC and etc.).

Accommodation

The Canary Islands are ready to offer its guests the widest choice of accommodation options: from first-class hotels 5* to guest houses in the countryside. Also on the islands there are many campsites, budget hotels, aparthotels with a kitchenette, bungalows and hotels operating on the system "all inclusive".

The main advantage of the hotels of the Canary Islands is excellent service and a high level of literally everything. Moreover, the vast majority of Canarian hotels are four-star, which are great for a comfortable, but not ruinous vacation. Well, luxury hotels 5* and can completely deprive even the most sophisticated and capricious tourists of speechlessness.

Entertainment and recreation

The main source of prosperity of the Canary Islands is the tourism business, so the choice of all kinds of entertainment here is simply colossal. The main holiday destinations on the islands are numerous beaches. Most of them are marked blue flag European Union, which indicates a high level of service and cleanliness. In addition, breakwaters are installed on most beaches for safe swimming. In general, the islands have both equipped beaches and wild, and even nudist ones. There are a lot of ways to have fun on the beaches: all kinds water sports sports, fishing in the open ocean, windsurfing, yachting, sea excursions and parachuting. In addition, the Canary Islands are ready to offer jeep safari, karting, rock climbing, hiking in numerous tourist routes, cycling and horse riding. Also here you can always play on the tennis courts, practice shooting at moving targets, visit the magnificent golf courses, and also watch cockfights.

The Canary Islands offer almost any leisure options: nightlife is in full swing here, and during the day they work with might and main entertainment establishments and amusement parks. And the islands can also boast of their numerous restaurants, elite country clubs, zoos, sports facilities, gyms and health centers.

There are a lot of holidays, festivals and carnivals in the Canaries: they are celebrated here literally every week. First of all, these are religious holidays, which are celebrated here with special joy and unprecedented scope ( Epiphany, Saint Joseph's Day, All Saints' Day, Good Friday in Passion Week, Corpus Christi, Immaculate Conception and etc.). In addition, each island holds its own original fiestas and festivals.

Purchases

Since the Canary Islands are a free economic zone, prices for many goods here are much lower than in Europe. High-quality imported alcohol, by general standards, is sold here almost for free, the choice of perfumes is large and pleases with reasonable price tags, and tobacco products, cameras, camcorders, radios, watches and jewelry are cheaper than in the countries of their production. Although it is worth noting that European brands of clothing and footwear are not represented here in a very wide variety, so it is better to pay attention to Spanish brands. Also on the islands you can profitably buy things made of crocodile skin. Standard souvenirs (toys, postcards, magnets) are sold almost everywhere and are very cheap. However, it is recommended to pay attention to more original items, such as handicrafts (ceramics, embroidery, lace, wickerwork, etc.), local tobacco and Canarian pine souvenirs, as well as natural and imitation pearls.

In addition to the fact that prices in the Canary Islands are much cheaper than in Europe, seasonal sales (rebajas) are held here twice a year. They start in mid-July and at the end of the first week of January. Initially, discounts do not exceed 20-30%, but gradually increase and reach 90% by the end of sales. The biggest sales take place in Santa Cruz, where there are many shopping centers and galleries.

Most shops are open daily, except Sunday, from 9:00 to 20:00, large supermarkets and department stores are open from 10:00 to 21:00.

Transport

Located in the Canary Islands a large number of airports that are engaged in international and domestic transportation of passengers. Among them, the most significant and largest are the airport de Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Tenerife South Airport and north airport Tenerife. In addition, the islands of the archipelago are connected by ferries that are capable of transporting cars. Between the islands of Gomera, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura and Tenerife, there are high-speed boats. Internal communication on the territory of all islands is carried out by means of highways.

Urban public transport is represented by a wide network bus routes TITSA company. Bus fares are low. As a rule, the trip is paid to the driver at the entrance to the front door.

In addition, on the islands you can always use the services of taxis, which are metered here. It is worth bearing in mind that local taxi drivers rarely speak any foreign language but they know the names of all hotels, restaurants, commercial centers, etc. very well.

Also in the Canary Islands you can always rent a car of any brand. Moreover, there are often preferential rates (for three days or more). To use car rental services, you must present a document confirming your identity and age of at least 21 years, as well as international law and a pledge. Several companies on the islands offer bicycles, scooters, mopeds and motorcycles for rent.

Connection

For international negotiations, the most economical option are the blue-green payphones of Telefonica, which are installed on the streets of all cities. They work from any coins of small denomination, and the minimum amount for a call to Moscow is $ 0.5. By the way, from some local payphones you can not only make calls, but also send SMS or messages to e-mail. In addition, you can call from telephones that are available in almost all bars, from telephone offices of travel companies and from a hotel room. In the latter case, an international call will cost an order of magnitude more.

Cellular communication on the islands is of excellent quality and uniform coverage. Roaming is available to all subscribers of major operators. It is possible to purchase a local SIM card or rent a phone.

Round-the-clock Internet access is provided in almost all hotels, however, it is not cheap ($6-8 per hour). It will be much more economical to go to an Internet cafe or a lounge slot machines, where cheap access to the network is provided. Many public places have Wi-Fi hotspots.

Safety

In the Canary Islands, you are unlikely to face any dangers. Tourists here absolutely calmly walk in any place and at any time of the day. Of course, no one canceled elementary precautions: you need to take care of the safety of your wallet, do not leave things unattended, and store large sums of money and documents in the hotel safe (you can only have a copy of your passport and visa with you). It is also worth bearing in mind that on the streets of most cities there are often sellers of so-called free lottery tickets. They are completely harmless, but extremely intrusive. In order not to become an object of fraud, it is recommended to simply ignore them.

There are no mandatory vaccinations to travel to the Canary Islands, and the chance of getting any infection is extremely low.

Business climate

Tourism is the backbone of economic and business life in the Canary Islands. More than 3 million tourists come to Tenerife alone every year. The rapid economic growth here began at the end of the 20th century and is associated with large foreign investments in the tourism and hotel industry.

The most important industries here are oil refining, chemical and food processing. Also, being a duty-free zone, the islands are of great commercial importance and are a major international transit base in the Atlantic Ocean. In addition, some of the income of the Canary Islands comes from industry and agricultural exports.

Real estate

The main advantage of real estate in the Canary Islands is its high rental potential, which is explained by the year-round attendance of the resort. In addition, the real estate market of the islands was not too much affected by the crisis.

The most popular property in Tenerife, the largest and most populous island, which is the easiest to reach from Europe. Most often, apartments are offered in residential areas, as well as small bungalows in secluded places near the ocean. On any island there is an opportunity to buy a villa, both luxurious and more modest.

The procedure for acquiring real estate in the Canary Islands takes place in accordance with Spanish law, notarial registration.

According to customs rules, citizens of countries that are not members of the European Union are allowed to import no more than 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars, 2 liters of wine and 1 liter of alcohol with a strength of more than 22 ° to the Canary Islands. The import of drugs, weapons and certain medicines is prohibited. Export of jewelry, historical valuables and antiques is allowed only upon presentation of a special permit. The import of foreign currency is not limited in any way (if the amount exceeds 500 euros, a declaration will be required). The export of previously imported foreign currency is allowed upon declaration.

Visa information

The Canary Islands belong to Spain, so a Schengen visa is required to enter their territory from a state that is not part of the European Union. In Moscow, it can be issued at the Embassy of Spain (Bol. Nikitskaya St., 50/8) or the Consular Section (Stremyanny Lane, 31/1), in St. Petersburg - at the Consulate General (Furshtatskaya St., 9).

It should be noted that when departing from Spain, often a mark in the passport about leaving the country is not put. In this regard, air tickets must always be kept, as they will be required for the subsequent issuance of a visa to a country included in the Schengen area.

Although not everyone knows where the Canary Islands are, everyone knows about this wonderful place, which for many has become synonymous with luxury holidays. Many even consider them to be part of ancient Atlantis, which sank thousands of years ago.

Show on the map where the Canary Islands are located, and not even everyone who has visited them can quickly find them. But, despite this, everyone has heard about them and dream of getting there. In recent years, the popularity of holidays in the Canary Islands is only growing. At the same time, millions of people can rest on the islands. The number of tourists every year exceeds the number of residents several times!

Climatic conditions

The Canary Islands consist of seven large islands and six small ones, each of which is considered a continent in miniature. The climate of each island is unique, but they are united by the fact that all year round you can sunbathe under the warm sun and swim in the ocean. Therefore, the islands are recommended to those whose: here they will be able to relax "in summer".

origin of name

Many mistakenly believe that the islands are named after canaries. However, studies show that it was quite the opposite - it was the birds that were named after the islands. The name Canary comes from the Latin word for "dogs". That is, the islands can be called Dog Islands. Even on the coat of arms of the Canary Islands there is an image of two dogs. According to the second version, the name comes from sea ​​lions, which were previously called "sea dogs". A connection is also possible with Ancient Egypt, where one of the gods had the head of a dog (Anubis). Local population considered dogs sacred.

For those who do not know where the Canary Islands are located on the map, it will be useful to learn about their location. Although the Canaries themselves are considered a territory, there are at least a thousand kilometers to the coast of Spain. Much closer to the African continent. Therefore, before deciding to visit Tunisia or Egypt, you should think about a vacation not in the Canary Islands.

The mistake of many is that they still believe that holidays in the Canary Islands are available only to people with very high earnings or those who save several years for such a vacation. But you can relax, and not spending much. Firstly, you can stay in a hotel with a lower number of stars, and secondly, you can always bargain in such hotels.

Despite the number of stars, each hotel offers a high level of service. In general, going to the Canary Islands, you can be sure that you will definitely find a hotel that can afford it. For example, in a hotel with an average price policy, rest will cost about 50-100 euros per day. It is important to note that this cost may even include car rental. But you can easily find a hotel for 40 euros per day, although you will have to eat in inexpensive establishments, and you will have to stay in the same cheap hotel. Meanwhile, if we analyze the costs of the Canary Islands, it turns out that a similar holiday in neighboring Tunisia, Morocco or Egypt won't get much cheaper. Of course, at low cost, you will have to move around the island (or between the islands) by public transport.

Transport in the Canaries

Within the same island, you can move around on foot. Lovers will especially like it. hiking. Bus routes also run between cities within the same island, the cost of which is affordable for everyone.

However, we should not forget that the Canary Islands are an archipelago of several islands, and without visiting at least a few of them, one cannot consider a vacation complete. Of course, some tourists may not leave the hotel, but most vacationers visit neighboring islands.

If you rent a car, then you can use it not only to move around one island, but also, having sailed on a ferry, get acquainted with the sights of neighboring islands. Of course, you will have to pay for the crossing, but it's worth it. For renting a car for a week, you will have to pay about twenty euros. Of course, it all depends on the class of car.

Many vacationers buy tickets for hydrofoils, which allow them to move between the islands much faster and admire the beauties of each of the islands from a distance. Often, tourists want to quickly move from one extreme island of the archipelago to another, which is about a thousand kilometers. There are many flights for this.

Every city has its own taxi service. For a kilometer of movement around the city you will have to pay about 1 euro. When leaving the city, you will have to pay 1.5-2 euros already. The fare also increases when traveling at night.

Attractions and entertainment in the Canary Islands

For tourists from Russia, Tenerife is the most popular of the islands. It is at the airport of this island that a direct flight from Moscow lands, so when going to Tenerife, you need to be prepared to hear your native language on the beach, in a restaurant or hotel. It is precisely because Russian tourists do not always like to travel between the islands that they stop here.

Throughout February, a grandiose festival takes place in Tenerife, which can easily compete with the world-famous festival in Rio de Janeiro.

The second most popular island among tourists from Russia is Gran Canaria. Here is everything that interests the vacationer:

• excursions,
• the shops,
• entertainment,
• restaurants,
• water parks,
• beaches for every taste.

This is the most big Island by population, and a large number of tourists due to the unique climatic conditions, which are considered the best among all the islands. The climatic situation on the island contributes to beach holidays throughout the year.

Those who want to relax alone with nature are simply obliged to go to the island of Gomera. The absence of industrial enterprises has a beneficial effect on the nature of the island of Hierro. Night walks under the moon along the promenade on the island of Lanzarote are fascinating. Fuertenventura is a favorite island for those who like to sunbathe on the beach or go surfing. It is here that international competitions in surfing, windsurfing, kiting and other sea sports are held in the middle of summer. In general, each of the islands is able to provide its guests with the richest program with the widest choice of entertainment.

Kitchen

Although not everyone knows where the Canary Islands are located on the world map, many have heard about the unsurpassed cuisine of the islands from their friends who have been here. For example, in Tenerife, you can taste the Canarian jacket potato. At first glance, it may seem that there is nothing special about this dish, but the added sauces fill it with an unusual taste. The potato itself is grown in the highlands and grows at an altitude of at least 900 meters! Do not forget about fish dishes, seafood. Many restaurants have large aquariums in which every tourist can choose a "victim" for cooking.

Vacation with children

Many vacationers come to the Canary Islands with children. To choose a place of rest, you need to worry about the absence of noisy discos, cafes, markets near the hotel. The best option for families with children is the island of Fuerteventura, where there are no noisy establishments.

Canaries and security

Of course, any inattentive tourist can suffer from petty scammers. Basically, these are illegal migrants who arrived here from the neighboring African continent. To avoid theft, you should not carry cash with you, but pay with electronic cards or traveller's checks. Some tourists even recommend keeping their savings on several plastic cards. But to pay for goods in the markets or to pay a taxi driver, you should still have some cash with you. In general, petty theft and hooliganism are quite rare.

Gifts and souvenirs

It is rare that a tourist goes to the Canary Islands to shop for various goods. In any city, there are dozens of shops where you can buy everything you need, but the bulk of vacationers come here just for a beach holiday.

Of course, you should worry about buying gifts for yourself and your loved ones. It may be small. The main thing is not to rush to buy them on the very first day of the stores closest to the hotel, since on the island you can find similar things at a price that will be much lower.

Canary Islands - perfect place for tourists of all ages. Anyone who can afford a vacation in Egypt, Tunisia or Turkey can just as well go to the Canary Islands. Only a holiday in the Canary Islands will be much more interesting than a trip to the "bored" resorts.

When we talk about the Canary Islands, first of all we are talking about the island of Tenerife, although in fact it is a beautiful, but not at all the best island of the archipelago. There are thirteen Canary Islands, of which seven are large and six are small. Rumor has it that there is another island .... We will also talk about this in our article. In addition, myths and realities about the Canaries await you, revealing the secrets of the climate and showing significant differences not only between the islands of the archipelago, but within them. To begin with, let's list the islands, since they are closely interconnected, and then we'll talk about the classification from different angles, which will help you decide on the choice of a vacation spot for your taste and wishes.

Inhabited Canary Islands:

There are eight inhabited islands, of which seven are large and one is small (La Graciosa)

• - the largest and populated island in the center of the archipelago, with an area of ​​more than 2,000 km2
• Fuerteventura - located in the east of the archipelago, is the second largest and the first most popular among surfers
• - the third largest island with the most major city Canaries is the capital of the island of Las Palmas
• - the northeastern island, which the Canarians call "the other island", and everyone else - the island of fire-breathing mountains
• La Palma is the fifth largest island located in the West, the greenest island of the archipelago
• La Gomera is an island near Tenerife in the southwest, popular due to its large neighbor
• El Hierro - less than 300 km2 area in the southwest of the archipelago with a population of about 10 thousand people.
• La Graciosa is a satellite island of Lanzarote in the northeast of the archipelago, the northernmost, but not the coldest island of the Canaries

Uninhabited islands of the Canary archipelago:

These small but proud islands can be admired from the observation decks of the larger Canary neighbors and through the window of an airplane, making a flight between the islands of the archipelago.

• Alegranza
• Montagna Clara
• Lobos
• Roque del Oeste
• Roque del Este

Why are the Canary Islands so popular for winter holidays?

There are many reasons, for example:

• The duration of the flight cannot be compared with a flight to countries where a comfortable beach holiday is possible in winter. A flight from Europe delivers 4 to 5 hours depending on the city of departure and the island where you are going. For example, it takes 4.5 hours to fly from Berlin to Lanzarote, and 5 hours from Berlin to Gran Canaria. This fact explains the huge number of Europeans who annually vacation in the Canary Islands.
• Comfortable and not too hot air temperature, while low relative humidity (within 50%). If we compare the humidity indicator with the popular Russian resort Sochi, then in the last summer it can reach 95% and even 100%. Therefore, if acclimatization almost never happens in the Canary Islands, then arriving in Sochi and another resort with high air humidity, you can get really sick or just not feel very good during your vacation. In winter (January, February) in the resorts of the Canary Islands, the temperature is about 20-25 degrees. Why I wrote “on the resorts” and not “on the islands” you will find out when you read the article to the end and understand how the weather can differ even within the same island.
• The absence of poisonous snakes and other dangerous animals. Even in the sand dunes in the south of Gran Canaria, you can safely swim in the sand and are not afraid that you will meet something there that threatens health and life.
• No sharks dangerous to humans. Since the ocean is quite cold, for example, compared to the Indian Ocean, heat-loving marine predators do not like to swim in its waters. Several species of sharks are found off the coast of the Canary Islands, but they are not dangerous to humans and no attacks have been recorded.
• Rest of the European level among people with a similar culture and worldview. When visiting Asia there are a huge number of precautions associated with different religion, with their customs and customs obscure to a Russian tourist, in addition, in the Canaries, unlike Asia, it is quite traditional cuisine and there is no unsanitary conditions.
• Canarians are very friendly and welcoming people. If you want to feel like at a family dinner in a restaurant, to see open and cheerful people everywhere and enjoy the extraordinary beauty, then you are in the Canary Islands!

Borondon Island:

Since we have sorted the islands into inhabited and not inhabited, we should divide them into real and fictional, or rather not fictional, but not proven to exist. In fact, such an unconfirmed and uncharted island in canary archipelago one is San Borondon.

A lost or not found island is a pride of the Canarians and a mystery for the guests of the archipelago. History has a lot of evidence that different people in different times confidently told that they not only saw San Borondon from the shores of La Palma and El Hierro, but also landed on its shores during the wreck of the ship. Occasionally on the coast western islands takes out strange plants and even fruits of fruit trees that do not grow in the Canaries archipelago, which in itself is an indirect confirmation of the existence of this place. This is located unique island in the west of the archipelago, southwest of the island of La Palma and north of El Hierro. It appears suddenly in both cloudy and clear weather, and disappears in fog or behind a rain stream.

According to eyewitnesses, the outlines of the island are unchanged, which made it possible to draw up a description of the "mirage": an oblong shape, the island is elongated from north to south, the relief is a plain between two mountains of different heights.

The island got its name from the name of the monk Brendan, who first spoke about the existence of the mysterious lost Holy Land.

There is an opinion that this floating island, formed as a result of the descent of a layer of volcanic rocks from one of the mountain peaks of the archipelago. The volcanic rock is porous, so it can freely float on the surface of the water, and in the event of a storm go under water, which confirms the fact of a sudden appearance and disappearance. This theory has its adherents and opponents, but be that as it may, it will not be possible to go to the island yet.

On all the islands of the archipelago there will definitely be an institution called San Borondon, and more than one, because you want to believe in beautiful legends.

Islands of the province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife:

The province includes islands located in the west of the archipelago

• Tenerife, where the provincial capital is located -
• La Palma
• La Gomera
• El Hierro

Islands of the province of Las Palmas:

The province includes islands located in the east of the archipelago

• Gran Canaria, where the provincial capital, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, is located
• Fuerteventura
• Lanzarote
• La Graciosa
• Alegranza
• Montagna Clara
• Lobos
• Roque del Oeste
• Roque del Este

Active volcanoes in the Atlantic Ocean:

• Tenerife is the largest and most populous island and hosts the most high point archipelago - . Tenerife is the capital of the province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife and the most visited island in the archipelago. Russian tourists. You can come to Tenerife and not visit the volcano only if it was not allowed to do so weather otherwise it's just not allowed.

• - the island on which 300 are located active volcanoes, that is, a third of all volcanoes on our Earth. The landscapes of the island are not real and it seems that you found yourself on another planet. Those who have visited Lanzarote believe that Teide is just a mountain peak and nothing more, although Lanzarote does not have such high and large craters as Teide, so you should definitely visit Teide in Tenerife and Lanzarote volcanoes before drawing conclusions ...

I will not single out other volcanoes of the archipelago separately, although they deserve attention, nevertheless, the largest and highest crater is mentioned above, as well as the island with the largest number of craters and the consequences of the eruption.

The beaches of the Canary Islands

Fuerteventura confidently leads the ranking, as the number of beaches on this island exceeds 150 and stretches for more than 70 km. Most of the beaches boast white sand, but there is also black volcanic sand. In fact, this island is an exclusively beach holiday, as it has a minimum of infrastructure for other entertainment. Not many restaurants or shops and endless beaches with constant wind and waves. This is a favorite place for surfers. The name of the island speaks for itself: "fuerte" means "strong" and "el viento" means wind.

Due to the unusualness of the second, I consider it necessary to note Maspalomas beach on Gran Canaria:

The uniqueness lies in the fact that the coastline of the beach is sand dunes, with an area of ​​​​about 400 hectares, which are a protected area where it is forbidden to travel by any means of transport. The peculiarity of Maspalomas beach is the ever-present wind that redistributes the sand along the coast. This is the southernmost point of the island, to which the sand was brought by the wind from the Sahara desert.

The sand is distributed in different ways and every day you can see a hill in a place where yesterday it was not even in sight. This place is unusual, but in my opinion, its choice depends on the season, since in winter, with a sufficiently low air and water temperature, the presence of wind makes a beach holiday here not comfortable, while Amadores beach, located in the southwest - an ideal place. Amadores an enclosed artificial bay of white sand, protected by mountains from the wind and breakwaters from the waves, will offer a calm warm ocean in comfortable temperature no wind. In my opinion, this is the perfect place for a beach holiday in the Canary Islands in winter.

When talking about Tenerife, one cannot but mention the beaches of the island, as our compatriots love and know this particular island and want to know more about it. It is believed that, which is located in the resort of Adeje.

I was, I saw, there is something to compare with on the island and not only, therefore I will mark it as worthy, but I do not consider it the best. In my opinion, the highlight are.

On the island of Lanzarote there are famous beaches Puntade Papagayo (Punta de Papagayo). Separated by volcanic rocks, bays with yellow and white sand and turquoise water are the highlight of the island. There is a separate bay for nudists and 5 more beaches stretching for kilometers where you can enjoy the beauty of virgin nature.

There are other beaches of other Canary Islands that are distinguished by the rare color of the water, the landscape, the legends created around them or other significant facts, but we won’t be able to discuss everything within the framework of one article, so I suggest moving on to the next question.

Canary Islands ocean what and when:

Among the large islands, on two almost all year round the temperature of the water in the ocean is much colder than on the others. It's two eastern islands archipelago: Lanzarote and Fuerteventura. This is due to the cold currents off the coast of these marvelous islands. Therefore, you should not assume that you can choose any island at any time of the year for a beach holiday, you may be disappointed. Of course, in summer, when the air temperature exceeds 30 degrees, the cool ocean invigorates and saves you from overheating, but in windy and cool winters, most of the beaches are empty. Unless surfers cut through the waves at any time of the year, and it is on these islands that they are the vast majority.

The cold waters of the ocean do not attract dangerous predators, so shark attacks do not happen here, just as there is not a wide variety of dangerous rays or sea urchins.

But just because the water temperature in the ocean in Lanzarote is cold, it does not mean that there is no opportunity to take a dip in the ocean. Residents of Lanzarote already in February go on a regular boat to the neighboring small island of La Graciosa and swim with great pleasure, as the water temperature is higher there.

On other islands of the archipelago, the water temperature in the ocean is higher, but it also depends heavily on the season and the resort. For example, in Tenerife, in the northern part of the island, in the oldest resort of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the water temperature barely reaches 19 degrees in winter, and in the south of the island at the same time, many swim in the salty ocean at a temperature of about 23 degrees. The situation is similar on Gran Knaria, where in the north the ocean is cold, not criminal and cold,

and in the south in Puerto Rico and on the Amadores beach, the water is full of people who want to swim at the same 23 degrees.

Which Canary Islands are the warmest:

The warmest eternal rivals are the islands of the provincial capitals - Tenerife and Gran Canaria. But the concept of warm is very specific to the Canary Islands. Let me explain why with a specific example.

Mountain peaks correspond to areas of the island where it is colder and rainier, clouds cling to high mountains and settle there. This is more true for islands where the elevation changes are greater, for example, on the aforementioned Tenerife and Gran Canaria. On flatter islands without high peaks temperature is more or less uniform.

A large friendly family that has long dreamed of visiting the Canary Islands took a long time to decide to do this and chose the sunny island of Gran Canaria for their two-week vacation. Well, it's a great choice. But the rest was not entirely successful ... And the thing is that the family, in order to save money, decided to rent Vacation home in a place called Moya in the northern part of the island in the mountains. It is a pity that they did not take into account the peculiarity of the island, due to the fact that in the mountainous regions the air temperature is much lower than on the coast and the possibility of precipitation is much higher here. And so it happened, instead of the temperature of 23 degrees promised in numerous stories about the resorts of the island, they had to be content with 12 degrees. As a result, the economy cost, as they say, sideways. I had to rent a large minivan for the whole family and make daily two-hour trips back and forth to Amadores beach, which is comfortable at this time of the year. In order not to spoil your vacation and not be disappointed, you should carefully consider not only the choice of the island, but also the choice of the resort on it!

The greenest island in the Canary archipelago

The greenest island with the most vegetation - La Palma - is the most western in terms of its geographical location.

The most deserted island of the archipelago is Lanzarote. Vegetation on it in the form of green bushy plantings appears after short rains and disappears after a week, leaving lava fields and lifeless plains.

The most popular among the inhabitants of the Scandinavian countries, the island of the archipelago is Gran Canaria. The tourist business of Gran Canaria, represented by guides and hotels, dreams of tourists from Russia, while the island of Tenerife, the most popular among Russians, dreams of tourists from Scandinavia and Europe. Therefore, if you want to be surrounded by compatriots and most services are provided, including in Russian, then you better go to Tenerife, and if communicating in English and German is not a problem for you, then why not go to Gran Canaria.

If you can’t decide which of the islands to choose, then don’t. I suggest that you do not stop at one, but if time permits, visit two islands during your vacation, or maybe choose new islands each time. I did just that and in the period from 12/30/2014 to 01/09/2015 I managed to visit Lanzarote and Gran Canaria. described in detail by me, and more than one article will be written about the extraordinary beauty of the islands.

We wish you an exciting journey and bright emotions!!!

See you on the pages of the site and thank you for your comments)

The Canary Islands are considered to be a part of Spain, despite the presence in the country of its own government - the Cabildo Insular. On the territory of the Canaries, six islands are considered uninhabited - these are small patches of land called: Alegranza and La Graciosa, Lobos and Montaña Clara, Roque del Este and Roque del Oste. From the point of view of geology, the three islands located in the eastern part of Africa can be considered the most ancient - these are Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura, as well as Lanzarote. They differ in the length and number of beaches. On the western side there are four more islands with picturesque but rocky coasts - these are Tenerife and La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro.

Tourists are attracted to this place for many reasons, but most see beautiful photo with white or golden sand, a wide strip of clean beach with palm trees and turquoise water, where you can meet big turtles. Paradise place for a long-awaited vacation! But many do not know that gold-colored sand is constantly imported from the Sahara or raised from the bottom. sea ​​depths. If you add together the length of the coast of the Canary Islands, it turns out that it is about 1500 km. The color of the water is really bright blue due to the depth - in some places it can reach 3 km.

Most tourists prefer to rest on the island of Tenerife, it is considered one of the largest land areas with a smooth strip sandy beaches and a beautiful view of the snow-capped Mount Teide. Following him in attendance and popularity goes the island Gran Canaria, famous for its rich nature. La Palma is the third in the ranking and differs from the rest with lush vegetation and lunar landscapes of Lanzarote or Fuerteventura. Gomera is an island for those who love the idyll, there are many palm groves and laurels. Hierro closes the circle, where there are small cliffs, although the area is subject to winds, juniper bushes give it some charm and romance.

The climate on the islands is moderately dry and hot due to the location of the island part to the desert on the east side and to mainland Africa from the northeast. The "shergi" wind can be felt only in the eastern part of the islands, the climate there is considered to be drier. But the presence of trade winds from the northeast brings refreshing moisture and coolness, which significantly helps to mitigate the influence of the African continent. As for the Canary Current, its presence makes it possible to maintain a moderate temperature in the archipelago all year round.

This video presents the next issue of Bad Notes - a trip to the Canary Islands. Together with host Dmitry Krylov.

Any period of the year is suitable for a comfortable stay in the archipelago. Even in the winter months, the temperature here does not fall below +20 degrees Celsius. However, the hottest months are July, August and September. Behind them can be noted June, October and November, and then May, April, December and March. January and February will be the coolest. It turns out that the months from September to April are considered the most comfortable for staying on the islands.

Tours to the Canary Islands may include, as budget options trips that include 2-3 star hotels with the 3rd or 2nd line of the sea, as well as meals consisting exclusively of breakfasts, and all-inclusive holidays with the first line by the sea.

I would like to note right away that direct flights to the archipelago and only to Tenerife and Grand Canaria fly from Moscow and St. Petersburg. Departure takes place on Fridays from Domodedovo Airport, from where three planes depart different airlines: Transaero and Wim - air. It is also possible to take a plane to Sheremetyevo or Vnukovo.

Most of the flights are immediately bought by tour operators, which is why they are mostly charter flights. If you want to choose the most suitable option for the price, you should visit the official websites of carriers more often. Regarding the prices for a flight to the Canary Islands, there are no special differences up or down among the tour providers - they are about the same, unless we are talking about last-minute tours. The most favorable months for buying cheap tickets are February and March.

If we take the average cost for a flight on the route Moscow - Tenerife - Moscow, then it will be about 500 euros, it can vary within 50 euros. If you take holidays or weekends, then the price for the flight automatically doubles. A ticket will have to be bought already for one thousand euros per person. If the trip is for the summer period, then the price of the flight can be in the range of 650-750 euros.

Thinking about savings, you should not write off flights with transfers. The option via Madrid will significantly reduce the cost, and the flight will cost up to 15,000 rubles per person. And from there you can get to the islands for only 100 euros.

How to choose from a variety of options suitable, what to look for?

1. First of all, you should choose a proven tour operator with experience in the service market. The conscientious work of the company is evidenced by the numerous reviews of tourists who have used their services. Selection criterion: at least 10-12 years in the tourism business.
2. Choose a suitable island for yourself, according to your leisure preferences. For example, fans of kitesurfing, ocean surfing or windsurfing will be comfortable on Tenerife or Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura or Lanzarote, La Gomera or Hierro, as well as on La Palma.
3. Hotel. Finding a hotel is not an easy task, especially for an archipelago. Its distance from the coast can be 200, 400, 500 and more meters. An equally important point when choosing it will be the number of meals included in the cost of the tour. The most common are breakfast-only, breakfast-and-dinner, or all-inclusive tours. You should also pay attention to the presence of a pool, as well as the number of stars, which, accordingly, indicates the level of service, comfort, luxury, etc.

1. Royal Sun Resort:
2. Royal Sunset Beach Club;
3. RedLevel at Gran Melia Palacio de Isora;
4. IBEROSTAR Grand Hotel Mencey;
5. NH Las Palmas Playa las Canteras;
6. Sunset bay club; Bouganville Playa;
7. Iberostar Anthelia;
8. Iberostar;
9. Hesperia Lanzarote;
10. Palm Beach Tenerife.

This video tells you how to get to the Canary Islands and what you can do there. Do not forget to leave your questions, wishes and