How many are the Canary Islands. Canary Islands: weather, best beaches, entertainment. Communication and communications

Holidays in Spain can please the most demanding travelers, regardless of whether you decide to spend your vacation on the mainland of this beautiful country or on the islands. Read about holidays on the mainland. If you still prefer a vacation on the islands, below I have collected a lot of useful information for you. I hope it's useful. The Spanish islands - Canary and Balearic - amaze with a variety of landscape and climatic conditions. But they are united by the fact that they are all literally created for the perfect holiday. It is only important to understand which island is exactly what you need at the moment.

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canaries- a symbol of the luxurious life of the "new Russians" of the early 90s, the edge of eternal summer, amazing beautiful archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean with picturesque valleys and cliffs, wide beaches, and a very favorable climate. The archipelago includes 7 large islands (Tenerife, Gran Canaria, La Gomera, El Hierro, La Palma, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote) and several small ones. Interestingly, the capital of the island is alternately two cities: every four years, the capital status passes from Santa Cruz de Tenerife to Las Palmas de Gran Canaria or vice versa.

Canary Islands(Islas Canarias - in Spanish, Canary Islands - in English) is an autonomous province of Spain, but the nature and atmosphere here are absolutely not European. Those who are looking for real exotics come here: stunning landscapes with lush tropical vegetation, beaches with black volcanic sand (there are also beaches with golden sand!), real ocean waves, ripe tropical fruits, etc.

Moreover, holidays in the Canary Islands are by no means necessarily passive-relaxed: there are so many natural and cultural attractions and opportunities for outdoor activities on the islands that not a single outdoor enthusiast will be bored here. Volcanoes and "Martian" landscapes in the valleys of solidified lava, waterfalls, prehistoric monuments, not to mention numerous diving and surf clubs, the service in which is of the highest (!) European quality.

Canary Islands - which island to choose as a "point of deployment"

If we describe all the islands of the archipelago briefly, then Gran Canaria- the largest, hospitable and one of the most picturesque islands of the Canary archipelago. Rest here can be surprisingly diverse, exactly the way you want at the moment. Among the many hotels in the main resort of Gran Canaria - Maspalomas - you can find a place to stay for every taste. On Tenerife, traditionally popular with Russians, is a rich nightlife and a lot of entertainment for children and adults (in this sense, the island of Tenerife is perhaps unrivaled), but the coast is steep and rocky in places. True, there are also good sandy beaches, but the island, in any case, is considered less picturesque compared to the same Gran Canaria and any other of the islands of the Canary archipelago.

Rest on Lanzarote Nature lovers will definitely impress – there are as many as 300 extinct volcanoes. On La Palma And El Hierr o few beaches suitable for swimming, but surprisingly beautiful and full of greenery. Rest on these islands is measured and calm. Fuerteventura It will also appeal to those wishing to take a break from the hustle and bustle. A mysterious La Gomera will enchant with ancient legends about witches, fabulous landscapes and will interest fans of ecotourism.

Get to the Canaries quite simple: there are international airports in Tenerife (in the north of the island - TFN, and more favorable for tourists, located in the south of the island, Tenerife Sur Aeropuerto (TFS)), Gran Canaria (LAS, 20 km from the capital of the island), Fuerteventura (FUE ) and Lanzarote (ACE). A direct flight, for example, from Moscow to Tenerife will take about 7 hours, and you will have to fly to the rest of the Canary Islands with a transfer. Many airlines fly - Aeroflot, S7, Spanish Iberia and Vueling, the ubiquitous European "giants" such as Lufthansa, Finnair, etc.

Tenerife

The largest of the islands of the Canaries archipelago - its area is more than 2 thousand km², length - 80-85 km, and maximum width(in the southwest) - 50 km. The length of the coastline is 342 km. The nature here is truly exotic, because from the coast of Tenerife to the coast of Africa - only 300 km (while to the Iberian Peninsula, to mainland Spain - about 1000 km.

Tenerife resorts - how to choose

The most popular resorts of the island of Tenerife:

Los Cristianos (Los Cristianos) - perfect for families with children, since, on the one hand, the place is quite calm, without big waves and strong winds, and on the other hand, there are many entertainments and parks around, which are primarily interesting for young tourists.

Playa de Las Americasplaya de las americas) - a super-modern resort, with excellent infrastructure, a great place for those who prefer a noisy, fun holiday.

Costa Adeje (Costa Adeje) - in fact, the wide beaches of Costa Adeje smoothly turn into the beaches of Playa de las Americas, and a strip of beautiful beaches stretches for more than six kilometers in this part of the island. Costa Adeje is a place, compared to Las Americas, more relaxed, conducive to family vacations. There is a trend here: the farther from the border with Las Americas, the quieter.

The western, farthest tip of Costa Adeje at the excellent beach of Playa El Duque (Platja El Duque) is the most privileged and, of course, the most expensive part of the resort, and it is here that the best hotels and apartment complexes in the south of Tenerife are located.

Santa Cruz de Tenerife (Santa Cruz de Tenerife) - this city, which is the capital of the island, is certainly interesting to visit: both in the city itself and in its environs there are a lot of must-see attractions. There are several good beaches in the city and its border, however, it is for beach holiday I would not recommend Santa Cruz: the wind rose here is such that in the northern part (where Santa Cruz de Tenerife is located) it is often overcast and rainy. So it’s definitely worth visiting the city while traveling around the island, but as a “point of permanent deployment”, I personally would recommend one of the resorts in the southern part of the island.

El Medano (El Medano) - located in the southeast of the island, open to all winds, so it is suitable for windsurfers.

Attractions in Tenerife

Natural attractions of Tenerife

Climate and beaches of Tenerife

The main thing people go to Tenerife (as well as to other Canary Islands) for is the unique climate and magnificent beaches. The length of the coastline of Tenerife is 342 km. Best for a beach holiday South part islands: the climate here is drier and sunny (while north of mountain range, formed in Tenerife as a result of volcanic eruptions, the climate is more damp and cool). The island is located at the latitude of the Sahara desert, so even in the ocean the water warms up by the end of summer-autumn above 24 degrees (which, in my opinion, of course, is not Caribbean +27, but already enough for more or less comfortable swimming).

The best beaches and tourist centers the islands are concentrated in the southwest, in two areas: Costa Adeje (Costa Adeje) and Playa de Las Americas (Playa de las Americas). In the southeast, there are quite strong winds and waves, so lovers of windsurfing and kitesurfing are dear here.

Tenerife is a volcanic island, so it has many beaches with black volcanic sand, which is considered terribly useful due to the large amount of minerals in its composition.

However, the island also has many beaches with traditional light golden sand (in the south). All of them are man-made, and the sand for them was specially brought here from the Sahara.

Teide National Park

The park is located around the impressive Teide volcano, "concurrently" being the highest point of the island (3718 m). The beauty of the park, with its almost unreal landscapes, as well as unique flora and fauna, is truly impressive. The park is especially beautiful from April to June, when many plants bloom.

More than 2000-meter height can be reached by car on a quite decent quality asphalt road. Then you can take the funicular up another 1000 meters higher. The funicular operates daily, rises from 9:00 to 16:00, and the last descent is at 16:50 from the top (data as of June 2016, check the time on the spot!).

The ascent and subsequent descent on the funicular cost €25 (adult ticket) and €12.50 for children. In 10 minutes, the 38-seat cable car will take you to a height of 3555 meters, and after climbing the funicular, you will only have about 200 meters to the very top. Those who wish can climb there on foot, but for walking, you must first obtain a pass from the park administration. Upon presentation of a passport, it is usually issued to everyone, and absolutely free of charge.

It is popular for tourists to meet the sunrise at the top of the Teide volcano. There is even a guest house where you can spend the night for €20 in tolerable conditions. Don't be fooled: it just sounds romantic, but in practice... I remember how we once decided to "romantic" meet the sunset on the top of Mount Etna in Sicily (the height of Etna is 3329 m).

(By the way, it was in August, and the temperature on the coast was about +40 degrees. And on Etna, not even at night, but in the evening, at sunset, +8 degrees, and in addition - a piercing wind. As a result, my husband even refused get off the bus (this is what most of our group did), and I, pulling on not only my warm clothes, but also my husband’s sweater and windbreaker, in the company of a couple of the same travel maniacs, ran to photograph that very “sunset” Two short runs from the bus and back - and even in this form I was numb. An altitude of more than 3000 meters is no joke to you, even in the summer in the south!)

But in the afternoon, it’s probably worth climbing the funicular, at least to the observation deck on the Teide. You just need to arrive either right at the opening (by 9 o’clock) or after lunch, since there are a lot of people who want to climb to the top of the volcano, and you risk “killing” the whole day in line for the funicular.

Laurel forests (Laurisilva)

Laurisilva is a rare evergreen relic forest that appeared several millennia ago, during the Jurassic period, when there were probably no people on Earth yet. Included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Laurisilva is located in the northern part of Tenerife, in the Anaga mountain range, at an altitude of 500-1000 m.

This spectacle is truly unique: prehistoric trees intertwine branches overhead, from which juicy garlands of green moss hang. The ground is covered with a dense carpet of moss, verdant ferns and other vegetation, and tree trunks and stones, due to dampness, are covered with lichens.

In the forest there are many hiking trails with signs. One of them - the most spectacular - leads to the Anaga lighthouse located at the extreme northern point of the island, from where a breathtaking view of the mountains and the ocean opens. Several trails lead through the thicket of the forest, offering rest at tourist camps. The longest route ends at the small but very colorful village of Taganana.

Directly through this relict forest in the mountains of Anaga leads the TF-12 highway. A visit to the forest can be combined in one day with an excursion to the top of Teide. If you are traveling by car, then, having driven to the volcano along the road from the south side, you will have to go down the only way, moving north, right through the forest.

Just like for a trip to Teide, here you will need warm clothes and comfortable shoes, because here it is much cooler than in the southern part of the island, and the asphalt and paths are slippery from the constantly drizzling rain.

Cultural and historical sights of Tenerife

Auditorio de Tenerife

One of the famous concert halls in the world, the creation of the outstanding Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, which impresses not only with its appearance, but also, according to experts, with amazing acoustics.

Auditorio de Tenerife, built in the city of Santa Cruz de Tenerife in 2003, is both an opera house and a concert venue. Tourists have the opportunity to visit the site as spectators: tickets are sold 2 hours before the performance or concert, and also from 10 am to 3 pm (Mon-Fri), and on Saturdays from 10 am to 2 pm. Prices are very moderate: from 15 to 90 euros.

Pyramids of Guimar

Like most pyramids on our planet, these, located in the town of Guimar, in the southeast of Tenerife, are full of mysteries.

Scientists are still arguing, trying to unravel the mystery of their origin and purpose. These pyramids are made of cut stones. volcanic origin, have a strictly defined orientation to the sun, they are very similar to the pyramids in Mexico, Peru and Mesopotamia.

The famous traveler Thor Heyerdahl proved that the pyramids also have a sacred meaning - how else to explain that all 6 pyramids have stairs facing the sun, and on the top of the highest of them on the day of the summer solstice you can observe a double sunset?

An ethnological park has been created around the pyramids, in the museum of which, in particular, an exposition dedicated to the discoveries of Thor Heyerdahl is presented. The ticket price for an adult is €18, for students under 25 years old €12.15, for children €5.50. The pyramids and the ethnological park are open to the public daily, from 9:30 to 18:00, except for Christmas (December 25) and New Year's Day (January 1).

Official website (there is a version in Russian): http://www.piramidesdeguimar.es/

Basilica of Candelaria

The most famous religious landmark in Tenerife is the Candelaria Basilica (located in the city of Candelaria). It is worth your attention: a high bell tower adjoins the cathedral, richly decorated from the inside, consecrated in honor of Our Lady of Candelaria. The basilica was erected on the site of the old temple, relatively recently, in 1959.

Admission is free, the doors are open from Monday to Friday 7:30 - 13:00 and 15:00 - 19:30, and on Saturdays and Sundays - without a break, 7:30 - 19:30.

Twice a year, the basilica becomes the epicenter of folk festivals - on February 2 and August 15. Thousands of pilgrims come here, but events, unlike many other places of worship Virgin Mary, are held here not in a purely religious way, but very cheerfully, with dancing and fireworks.

La Orotava (La Orotava)

A city in the north of Tenerife, in a picturesque valley, founded by the Spaniards in the 16th century.

Approaching Orotava from the east, on the TF-21 highway, stop at the observation deck - the mirador, named after the German explorer von Humboldt (Mirador de Humboldt), from here offers stunning views of the city and the valley in which it is located.

The architecture, typical of the Canary Islands of that time, has survived to this day in its original form. Architectural history lovers will meet here a large number of mansions with carved wooden balconies. In one of these mansions, the most famous (Casa de los Balcones), today a museum and a craft workshop are open, and opposite it stands the oldest building in the city, a 500-year-old building, the “House of the Tourist” (Casa del Turista), open to the public .

Another attraction of the city is the church. Iglesia de la Concepción(Iglesia de la Concepcion) is the best example of 18th-century Canarian Baroque in the archipelago. Tourists who have visited the countries of Latin America will find similarities with the churches built there. This architectural monument of national importance - a Baroque church with two symmetrical bell towers and rich facade decoration - is visible from afar.

Orotava also has a botanical garden. True, it is not very impressive compared to the continental European ones, but still the flora of the subtropics and tropics is well represented in it. Plants from different continents were brought here, and now the garden's collection includes more than 3,000 species.

Part of the territory of the botanical garden is occupied by Victoria Park, designed specifically for walking in the shade. The attraction of Victoria Park is the magnificent tomb of Roch, carved from delicate Carrara marble.

Every year in June, on the eighth day of the Catholic feast of Corpus Christi (Corpus Christi), a solemn procession marches through the streets of La Orotava. On the eve of this very important event in the life of the city, they are decorated with original carpets of flower petals, sand, stones and colored sawdust. The action is called “Carpet Day” (Dia de las Alfombras). And this, perhaps, is the main thing for which tourists tend to La Oratava.

The largest and most spectacular carpet is traditionally spread on the square in front of the city hall. Two dozen craftsmen start working on its creation from multi-colored volcanic sand from the Teide volcano a month and a half before the holiday. Unlike the monumental sand canvas on the main square (by the way, the pattern never repeats), smaller-scale flower paintings on the streets of La Orotava appear directly on the “Carpet Day”.

There are a lot of tourists in the city that day, which creates certain problems, in particular, with parking. Maximum amount spectators - at 10-13 o'clock, since the process of creating carpets causes the greatest interest. As a rule, none of the tourists waits for a religious procession led by a bishop.

"Carpet Day" in La Oratava in 2017-21:

Icod de los Vinos (icod de los Vinos)

Like Orotava, Icod de los Vinos is a typical 16th-century Spanish-built Canarian town with traditional colonial architecture, imposing mansions, several cathedrals and, like Oratava, wooden balconies. All ancient buildings concentrated in the city center, and their inspection will not take more than a couple of hours. Pila Square, one of the most beautiful squares of the Canaries, is built up with old mansions, among which the Casa de los Caceres stands out, which now houses a museum. There is also a small botanical garden here. Nearby is the Church of St. Mark, erected on the site of an ancient sanctuary of the Guanches.

But the most important sights of Ikod are not architectural: the city is famous for its wines, and most importantly, why tourists come here - a thousand-year-old dragon tree (one of the types of dracaena) with a trunk of more than 10 meters in girth, in 2011 included in the UNESCO World Heritage List . The tree grows in a park near St. Mark's Church, and experienced tourists say that it is not worth paying money to see a tree up close, as it looks much more impressive from afar.

About three kilometers from the city center is the Wind Cave (Cueva del Viento) - a bizarre lava tunnel that stretches for more than 17 kilometers, almost Martian-looking. The Wind Cave is the longest cave of its kind in all of Europe. Its voids are located on three levels. You can walk along it with a guide (the tour must be booked in advance), the journey takes 2 hours and requires at least basic physical fitness.

Amusement parks in Tenerife

Tenerife is truly famous for its amusement parks.

Loro park in Tenerife

The name Loro Parque is translated as "Parrot Park", but here the matter is far from limited to parrots. This is a huge amusement park (with an area of ​​more than 13 hectares), located in the suburbs of Puerto de la Cruz, where you can see a huge variety of animals and plants. In fact, if you want to combine visits to the zoo, circus, oceanarium and botanical garden in one excursion, you are here. But get ready that it will take a whole day to walk through the park and visit at least some of the shows held here. The park opened in 1972, and it really began with the fact that only 150 parrots lived on 1 hectare. Today, the collection of parrots in the park has increased to 4000 individuals 350 different types and became the richest in the world. So Loro Park has become the world's largest center for the study and conservation of parrots.

Every day, the park hosts a variety of shows with animals: 5 times a day - with sea lions, 4 times - with dolphins (here, by the way, the largest swimming pool in Europe for dolphin shows), Loro show (with parrots) - 6 times a day day, etc. More than 40 million people visit the park every year.

The owners of Loro Park also own the second amazing amusement park on the island - Siam Park, and it is possible to visit both parks in two days, with a double ticket at a discount.

In Loro Park you can see sea lions and otters, gorillas, chimpanzees and marmosets, jaguars and rare white tigers, flamingos and pelicans, alligators, as well as piranhas and various sharks (the longest tunnel in Europe is in the local aquarium). The park is only the second place in Europe where killer whales live and breed in captivity. In the zone of wild birds, birds are kept without cages, almost in natural conditions. Plus, the park has a large greenhouse with truly rare orchids. On the territory there is a children's playground "Kinderlandia", a station where chicks grow, a zoo of cubs, which can also be viewed, a market and many restaurants.

The park's newest attraction opened in 2014 - a large aquarium with jellyfish beautifully illuminated in the dark.

Address: Avenida Loro Parque s/n.

Loro Parque is located in the north of the island and is easy to find by following the signs. From popular resorts in the south of the island, for example, from Las Americas, you can get here in an hour and a half.

Opening hours: 8:30 - 18:45 (entrance closes at 16:00, but I advise you to come to the opening).

Entrance ticket for adults (from 12 years old) - €34, for children - €22. Combined ticket for 2 days to visit Siam Park and Loro Park (without the cost of transfer from the resorts): adult - €58, child - €28.

Siam Park in Tenerife

Siam Park in Tenerife main park water activities on the island. It is located in Costa Adeje, close to the popular resorts of Las Americas and Los Cristianos. The territory of the park is huge: it occupies almost 19 hectares. The creators of the park set an ambitious goal: to build the most spectacular water attraction in all of Europe.

The Thai theme in Siam Park can be traced everywhere (which is not surprising, as its name implies): all slides, park buildings and restaurants are designed in Thai style. In total, the park has 25 buildings, which are the largest collection of Siamese-style buildings outside of Thailand. The park's designer, Christoph Kissling, received permission from the Thai royal family to fully exploit the name and theme. However, he abandoned the concept of exact copies of palaces, temples and Buddha statues, so that all the buildings on the territory of Siam Park are fantasy. It is home to the world's largest Thai-style building outside of Asia, and is home to the world's largest giant dragon sculpture.

The construction of the park began in 2004, and it was finally completed in 2008. The total cost of the project was 52 million euros. The grand opening of Siam Park was personally attended by the Princess of Thailand.

They say: what of the water activities are not in Siam Park - it is almost impossible to find somewhere else. There is a surf school in the "Palace of Waves" - a pool with artificial waves and an artificial white sand beach. Here you can catch the highest artificially created wave in the world (about 3 m). In addition, slides with six racetracks have been erected in the park; twin turntables spinning in different directions; the vertical slide "Tower of Power", rushing along which you will watch through the transparent walls of sharks and rays. And in 2012, a 200-meter-long slide was built in the park. Fans of a more relaxing holiday can go rafting on the river (the “lazy river” here has the highest elevation in the world - 8 m). For children there is a play area lost city» with 120 different games. On the slider "Dragon", inside a funnel with a diameter of 20 meters, light shows are arranged.

The park's restaurants offer visitors both Thai dishes and traditional fast food. The park also has its own charming, small, Thai floating market.

The park is built on a hill, and its slides and other structures follow the terrain. In addition, it is the world's first landscaped water park, including in this - its uniqueness. The water here is heated to +25°C, and its creator, designer Christoph Kissling, called Siam Park "the world's first air-conditioned open-air water park."

Address: Autopista TFE-1, Salida, 28.

A free bus to the water park runs from the resorts of Las Americas, Los Cristianos and Costa Adeje.

Opening hours: daily, from 10:00 to 18:00, entry - from 10:00 to 17:00.

Adult admission ticket for the day - €34, children - €23. Adult premium ticket for the day (with towel, locker and lunch) - €51, children - €36. Adult ticket for 2 days to visit Siam Park and Loro Park (excluding transfer costs) - €58, children - €39.50.

Eagle Park in Tenerife (Jungle Park Tenerife)

Near Las Americas in Tenerife, there is another amazing attraction - the Park of the Eagles. A complex has been built here, where animals - from tigers, lions, crocodiles and ending with fur seals and monkeys - live in natural conditions. Fur seals delight viewers of all ages with fun performances.

But the visiting card of the Park of Eagles is a unique show with the participation of birds of prey. Trained eagles (this is an exception, very rare!) perform various steps and tricks, delighting the audience. You can spend the whole day in the Eagles Park in Tenerife: in addition to performances with the participation of animals and birds, there are many other entertainments here.

For visitors, there is an 800-meter high-speed bobsleigh track, where you can ride through the real jungle. Tourists are also offered to feed the inhabitants of the Park (of course, not all, but only those with whom it is safe to communicate).

Visitors themselves have the opportunity to have a bite to eat at a local restaurant.

The cost of tickets to the Park of the Eagles in Tenerife: for adults (over 11 years old): €26, for children (depending on height) - €9-17.50. (For attractions you need to pay extra).

Eagle Park in Tenerife is open all year round, from 10:00 to 17:30 (entry until 16.30).

The easiest way to get here is on free buses that run every day from Las Americas and from Los Cristianos.

Monkey Park in Tenerife

Monkey Park is not the most popular amusement park in Tenerife (compared to Siam Park or Loro Park ) . But if you love monkeys and lemurs, you should visit here. A pleasant difference between this park and the Parrot Park (Loro Park) is that in the Monkey Park you can communicate with the animals very close. It is absolutely safe, so visiting the park will be a great pleasure, especially for children.

The park is quite small and it is unrealistic to get lost in it. Allocate 3-4 hours for a visit: there is simply nothing else to do here. The route passes through a contact zone where you can communicate with animals, a swamp with alligators, a reptile zone, zones of small and large primates, and then - birds. Several species of lemurs, chimpanzees and monkeys live in the park. There are also iguanas in the park that can be hand-fed.

In the middle of the day, lemurs overeat and no longer seek to communicate with visitors, but strive to doze off. Therefore, it is better to come in the morning or, conversely, closer to closing.

Feeding the animals is almost a mandatory part of visiting the park: without treats, the animals will simply ignore you. But if you come with a treat, be sure: lemurs will sit on your neck, or they can get into your pocket or steal a camera or bag. “Animal food” is sold at the entrance to the park, but you can take with you, for example, apples with grapes, lettuce, and biscuits for parrots. Lemurs and monkeys are very fond of dates and bananas, but they quickly gain weight from them, so these fruits are not allowed to be brought into the park.

But do not try to force feed or caress the lemur: if you "get" them hard, they bite.

Address: Llano Azul 17 La Camella, Arona.

Monkey Park is located near Las Americas, but it is not accessible by public transport. It takes about 10 minutes by car from Las Americas, the park is located right off the TF-1 highway and is easy to find.

Opening hours: daily, from 9:30 to 17:00.

Entrance: for adults (over 12 years old) - €10, for children from 5 to 12 years old - €5.

Official site: http://monkeypark.com/

San Miguel Castle in Tenerife

To be honest, I was wondering where to attribute this attraction: to the historical ones, or to the amusement parks? It's still a castle...

But the fact is that San Miguel Castle in Tenerife is an exact, though slightly reduced copy of a medieval castle that exists in reality, built for a costume show. As conceived by the creators, this action takes the guests back several centuries, to the romantic era of chivalry, familiar to us from historical books and films about King Arthur.

At the entrance to the castle, all guests are given multi-colored capes: during the tournament, you were drawn to cheer for a knight wearing a cape of the same color. The entrance is guarded by riders willingly posing for photos.

At 20:00 the gates open and the action begins. First - a short tour: you will pass through the armory, where the king himself personally greets each guest of the castle. This moment will be captured by a staff photographer, and towards the end of the tournament, the photos will be ready, and you will be offered to purchase the photo you like. (For this reason, you can’t take pictures on your own in the weapons room (but outside of this room - as much as you like)).

Then the guests enter the hall where the jousting tournament is held. At the start of the show, the armored knights demonstrate a variety of riding tricks. The winner wins the right to choose the "lady of the heart" from the spectators who supported him. And the "lady of the heart" goes to a place of honor in the royal box until the end of the performance. However, the honorary role of the “lady of the heart” has a serious drawback: the “lady”, alas, will have to do without a hearty knightly dinner of soup and chicken. And the rest will have to eat it from iron dishes with their hands, due to the lack of forks and spoons in the Middle Ages. But an indisputable advantage of the medieval way of life will seem to be an unlimited amount of white and red wine, which, of course, will also have to be drunk from iron glasses.

The role of the entertainer at the dinner is played by a black dwarf who impresses the audience with his ability to put out a burning torch in his mouth.

In the second part of the program, there is a fight "not for life, but for death", during which only one of the strongest of the six knights will survive. Here you need to loudly support your knight, since the one whose supporters expressed their support more actively than others wins the tournament. The outcome of the battle, in the end, depends only on you. Here it is permissible to whistle, shout, jump, stomp your feet, rattle dishes and insult the “rival” knights with not quite decent gestures. It is not allowed to throw bottles and other heavy objects at knights.

It should be noted that an unlimited number of strong drinks contributes to an adequate perception of what is happening in the arena even by guests who are rather restrained in everyday life. Medieval still...

San Miguel Castle is open to visitors on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays (during summer time) and Saturdays. The show itself usually starts at 20:30. The cost of tickets to the castle of San Miguel: for adults - €48, for children - €24.

The castle is located in Aldeia Blanca on the TF-65 road to San Miguel. Exit from motorway No. 24 (if you move from the west side - before reaching the interchange - turn to the airport).

The nearest bus route to the castle is No. 416 (Las Americas - San Miguel)

Gran Canaria

The third largest island of the Canary archipelago (1560.1 km², 50 km in diameter), Gran Canaria, sometimes called the "continent in miniature": diversity climatic zones, flora and fauna on the island, indeed, justifies such an "exaggeration".

Resorts of Gran Canaria - how to choose?

Tourist area located in the southern part of the island - Maspalomas (Maspalomas), also sometimes called Costa Canaria (Costa Canaria) - these are magnificent, wide and stretching for 17 kilometers, beaches with the finest golden sand. It is the oldest tourist destination in Gran Canaria. The main attraction of Maspalomas (and the whole island of Gran Canaria, if you think about it) are the Dunes (Dunas de Maspalomas): the Sahara desert in miniature with the purest golden sand and a 5-kilometer luxurious beach.

Maspalomas has united 6 resorts, in fact, flowing into one another:

Bahia Feliz - a favorite place for windsurfers. There are two first-class windsurfing schools here. But for other guests, this resort will not be so attractive: at any time of the year, especially in winter, there are strong winds and waves.

Playa del Aguila- a quiet and small resort located in the southeast of the island of Gran Canaria, between the resorts of Baia Feliz and San Agustin. The resort is popular with windsurfers (there are several centers for practicing this type of outdoor activity) and everyone who does not like fuss, but is looking for the ocean and sun away from the noise of large resorts. The beaches here are mostly pebbly, but you can also find sandy ones. The beaches stretch in a continuous strip along the promenade. Hotels here are mainly 3-4 * categories, as well as many apartment complexes and bungalows. There are practically no opportunities for shopping and entertainment here, you need to go to neighboring resort cities for them.

San Agustin - one of the most popular resorts on the island of Gran Canaria. Located in the southern part of the island. A feature of the resort is a beach stretching for 2 km with dark gray sand of volcanic origin. There are plenty of entertainment, restaurants, bars, shops, etc., but most of all, this resort attracts the attention of lovers of family holidays, including those with children. The surrounding picturesque cliffs protect the beach from the wind and set you in a relaxed and peaceful mood, and the abundance of children's entertainment will not let even the most spoiled little tourists get bored. So, for example, the theme park Sioux City (City of Sioux) is located next to the resort of San Agustin. The main feature of the park is its resemblance to a typical American village of the Wild West. On the territory of the park there are saloons, in which traditional shootouts (of course, staged!) and other cowboy attractions take place every now and then. Throughout the day, actors and knife throwers put on a variety of vibrant shows in the park. An unforgettable sight - cowboys drive a herd of cows. And in the evening, visitors enjoy an open-air picnic, and this event is very popular with children.

Near the resort there is a sports flying club of Gran Canaria, from where helicopter rides are also made. Fans can make a parachute jump. Yacht trips are also available here. Add adrenaline and a trip along the longest karting track in the Canary Islands (1650 meters).

San Agustin is no less famous for its thalassotherapy clinics, in particular, the largest thalassotherapy center in the Canaries "Talasoterapia Canarias" is located here, from the terraces of which magnificent views of the ocean coast open. Therefore, in San Agustin there are quite a lot of vacationers of venerable age.

Playa del Ingles- the largest resort on the entire coast of Gran Canaria. Perhaps the best beach on the island with fine golden sand. The resort is democratic and cheerful. It got its name at the beginning of the 20th century - even then English sailors “came off” here in pubs. Since then, life has been going on here in full swing. In terms of the scope of fun in all of Spain, this place is second only to Benidorm and Ibiza. Playa del Ingles has a well-developed tourist infrastructure: excellent hotels and restaurants, street markets and luxury shopping centers, nightclubs, bars, water activities, water parks and much more. The four-kilometer beach Playa del Inglés in its western part turns into sand dunes.

Campo International - a fashionable resort with lots of greenery, a natural palm oasis and luxurious 5-star hotels. Rest here is calm, and in the evening, when everything interesting is just beginning on Playa del Inglés, Campo International is already falling asleep. The architecture here is mostly low-rise buildings. The main attraction of the resort is the 120-year-old lighthouse, the largest and oldest in the entire archipelago of the Canary Islands.

In the Campo International resort, in a nature reserve covering 400 hectares, there is a large golf course (18 holes) - the Maspalomas Golf Club. Here you can also take a break from the bustle of the metropolis, watching birds of rare species that live in the local freshwater lake. The beaches of the Campo International resort smoothly merge into the beaches of the Meloneras resort.

Meloneras - a resort with a long promenade - a promenade for leisurely walks, along which there are numerous restaurants. bars and shops. There is also a large Varadero shopping center, several new hotels surrounded by greenery with a huge territory. The most impressive of them is the Gran Hotel Costa Meloneras, which houses one of the two casinos located in Maspalomas. Also in Meloneras is the Convention and Exhibition Center. Meloneras is no further from Maspalomas Golf than from Campo International, but there is another 18-hole golf club, Lopesan Meloneras Golf, much closer. According to golf enthusiasts, it even surpasses the Maspalomas Golf club, because the Lopesan Meloneras Golf course offers stunning views of the ocean coast.

Pasito Blanco - located in the southwestern part of the island. Small resort with sandy beach, few shops and restaurants. There is a yacht port and the Lopesan Meloneras Golf Club.

Not far from Maspalomas there are separate nudist beaches. However, the whole of Gran Canaria is a resort without superfluous prejudices, and even on ordinary beaches here every second walks without any clothes at all.

Puerto Rico - the second largest resort on the island, south center water activities in Gran Canaria. Here you can rent a yacht, go diving, windsurf, take a boat trip on a boat or even a glass bottom boat, go water skiing or go fishing. There is a port for yachts, but large ships they don't come here. IN Lately this resort has become a favorite place on the island for tourists with children. Today, the port is divided by the beach into two parts, and on the rocky slopes there are several dozen hotels and apartments, quite of the same type.

The beach in Puerto Rico is small (only 280 m long), but very cozy, with light sand, located in a bay and therefore protected from waves.

Puerto de Mogan- a small resort built on the site of a former fishing village, with Andalusian-style houses, allowing you to plunge into the romantic atmosphere of southern Spain. To the west of Puerto de Mogan are impregnable mountains that can be admired from the observation deck. The resort also has a port for yachts, so it is very convenient for boat trips.

On the northern coast of Gran Canaria there are picturesque cliffs, stones of volcanic origin, small bays with azure ocean water. central part the islands are a riot of diverse tropical vegetation, evergreen trees and an interesting mountainous terrain with two high peaks (Pico de las Nieves (Pico de las Nieves, 1949 m) and Roque Nublo (Roque Nublo, 1813 m above sea level).

Sights of Gran Canaria

Natural attractions of Gran Canaria

In the central part of Gran Canaria, a few kilometers from the city of Tejeda (Tejeda) is the famous Roque Nublo National Park(Roque Nublo). The main attraction of this huge (26 hectares) park is the Roque Nublo rock of the same name, - basalt cliff 60 meters high. From its top you can see the Teide volcano of the neighboring island of Tenerife. In the national park, extremely popular among ecotourists, you will be surprised by the diversity flora and landscapes.

Roque Nublo National Park Address: Los Manantiales, S/N, 35015 Tejeda.

Another natural park is located in the northwestern part of Gran Canaria, this Tamadaba National Park(in the northwestern part of the island, near the city of Agaete. Tamadaba occupies 7500 hectares, and most of it is located in the mountains, at an altitude of more than 1000 meters. The park is unusually picturesque: here you can admire the protected pine forests, dizzying gorges in which unique cacti grow. Also, the park is a habitat for a large number of birds of rare species.

Away from the coast, south of the city of Carreteria, there is a small Doramas natural park. This is a pretty landscaped park with laurel and dragon trees, as well as waterfalls and lakes. It was defeated by the British in the 19th century.

Another impressive natural attraction of Gran Canaria is Caldera de Bandama. It is located in the northeastern part of the island, a few kilometers from the capital, Las Palmas, near the town of Tafira Alta. This natural reserve consists of two parts: Bandama Peak and Bandama Caldera. At the top of the peak, at an altitude of 569 meters, there is an observation deck that offers an impressive panorama of the capital of the island and its environs, and in clear weather, even the outlines of the neighboring island of Fuerteventura (to the northeast of Gran Canaria) are visible from here.

Caldera (in fact, the crater of the volcano) Bandama with a diameter of 1000 meters and a depth of 200 meters. At the bottom of the crater, if you go down the path (rather steep, so you need comfortable shoes), among palm trees, fig and orange trees, you can see the remains of farm buildings, and in the 17th century, a merchant from Holland, Daniel Van Dam, grew grapes on the slopes of the volcano. (And it is in the part of this merchant that the park is named).

Very close by is the oldest (founded in the 19th century) and one of the most prestigious golf clubs in all of Spain (Real Club de Golf de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (Royal Golf Club of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria).

Cultural and historical sights of Gran Canaria

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (Las Palmas de Gran Canaria)

In the capital of Gran Canaria, the city of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, more than a third of the total population of the island lives. It is here that the nightlife of the entire island is concentrated. The city shares with Santa Cruz de Tenerife the status of the capital of the entire Canary archipelago (the status passes from one city to another every 4 years). Of the attractions worth visiting in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, it is worth noting:

• Medieval Quarter of Vegeta with picturesque narrow streets and the famous cathedral Santa Ana with half a thousand years of history; here, on the square in front of the cathedral, you can admire and Bishop's PalaceXVIcentury, buildings of the city hall and colorful buildings in the colonial style. On one of the facades you will see the bronze figures of eight dogs - it is these animals that have earned the right to decorate the coat of arms of the Canary Islands with their image.
• Casa de Colon (Casa de Colon, that is, "House of Columbus"). The building was the residence of the governors of the island, and, according to legend, Christopher Columbus stopped here during his journey to the shores of America, waiting for his ships to be repaired; today there is a museum dedicated to the great navigators and geographical discoveries of the past, as well as a library and a research center.
• Museum of the Canary Islands with an exposition on the theme of pre-Hispanic culture and archeology. In 11 halls of this museum, you can see many exhibits of various eras (from 500 BC to the 15th century), figurines of ancient gods, ceramics, Cro-Magnon mummies, models of historical buildings and much more. Of particular interest here is the exposition that tells about the history of the Guanches, the indigenous population of the Canary Islands archipelago.
• Museum of Science and Technology ELDER(the exposition is fully interactive; the museum has an impressive collection of aircraft models);
• Atlantic Center for Contemporary Art(opened in 1989, the collection includes about 2600 exhibits) is an interesting museum of avant-garde art, designed to show the influence of European traditions. Africa and Latin America on the Canarian culture. Interestingly, the Center occupies an old building of the 18th century, the facade of which has retained the characteristic features of the colonial style.
• Museum of Nestor, which contains the work of the famous local artist Nestor Martin Fernandez de la Torre. He was born in Gran Canaria and, being part of the symbolist currents in Europe, left behind an impressive collection of works.

Arucas (Arucas)

14 km from the capital is the town of Arucas, famous for the largest rum factory in the entire Canary archipelago (the factory is called “Destilerias Arehucas”, has been operating since 1884). However, Arucas also has something to see not for fans of this drink: in my opinion, the neo-Gothic church of San Juan, built in the 20th century, is of much greater interest. The towers of the church, 60 meters high, and the rest of the facades are lined with black basalt from a local quarry. Because of this, the church looks gloomy, even ominous, against the background of the bright houses in the colonial style surrounding it (from a distance it seems completely black). In the interior of the church, multi-colored stained-glass windows deserve attention, as well as the figure of the resting Christ, which belongs to the hand of the local sculptor Manuel Ramos Gonzalez.

Telde (Telde)

To the south of the capital, on the east coast of the island, there is a small town of Telde. His historical Center included in the list of national treasures of Spain, and not by chance: on cobbled streets immersed in greenery, there are lovely colonial-style houses, the facades of which are decorated with carvings and mosaics. Particularly impressive is the church of St. John the Baptist founded in the 15th century. The Gothic temple itself was subjected to multiple restorations and rebuildings (even in the 20th century, the church got a new tower in neo-Gothic style), but the original gates of the 15th century have been preserved here.

Among the interiors of the church, of particular interest is the Flemish gilded wooden altar (XVI century), as well as the crucifixion of Christ, an image made around the same period by Mexican Indians in a unique traditional technique.

Artenara (Artenara)

Far from the last place, among all the historical sights of Gran Canaria, is the mountain village of Artenara (in some sources its name Artinare is found). This is one of the oldest villages in Gran Canaria, which arose even before the arrival of the conquistadors. In addition, it is also the highest mountain (located at an altitude of 1270 meters). The village is unique in that many houses here are simply built into the rock (and at the same time they have all the most modern amenities).

The chapel deserves special attention of the guests of Artenara La Hermita de la Cuevita(La Ermita de la Virgen de la Cuevita), which houses the famous miraculous statue of the Mother of God Cuevita.

Archaeological Park and Museum Pintada Cave

The Museo y Parque Arqueológico Cueva Pintada Archaeological Park and Museum is located in the northern part of the island, in the town of Gáldar. The city of Galdar (Agaldar) was the capital of the ancient kingdom of the Guanches in the pre-Hispanic period of the island. This tuff cave, with vases, potsherds and fragments of human skeletons, was discovered in the northern part of the island by chance, in 1873, during agricultural work. Presumably, the cave once served as a necropolis for the Guanches.

This cave is popularly known as the Painted Cave in Galdar, which is not surprising: here you can see six communicating caves, on the walls of which amazing drawings have been preserved - researchers suggest that this is an ancient calendar. Archaeological research in the complex continue to this day.

Amusement parks in Gran Canaria

In addition to excellent beaches and resorts, Gran Canaria has a lot of activities that can make your vacation truly unforgettable! Like the neighboring island of Tenerife, Gran Canaria is famous for its amusement parks.

Maspalomas water park in Gran Canaria (“aqualand Maspalomas”)

World-famous water park, owned by a network of world-famous water parks. In order to simply bypass it completely at a fast pace and visit each of the huge number of attractions 1 time, it will take several days, because the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe park is more than 13 km 2. It is this amusement park that is advised to tourists in Gran Canaria in the first place: a good mood and a powerful adrenaline rush are guaranteed! In the park there are rides that are quite harmless, and there are for real extreme people. For example, a slide consisting of three almost vertical pipes. Here is the world's widest slide with the most impressive angle of inclination. This is why some rides do not allow children under the age of 12.

For those who are alien to all this extreme, the park is equipped with a huge pool with a Jacuzzi and a lazy river. The park also has a large selection of attractions for the youngest guests.

Usually the park is open from 10 am to 5 pm, but it is better to check the opening hours and ticket prices.

Address: Carretera Palmitos Park, Km 3, 35100 Maspalomas, Las Palmas, Spain

SIOUX CITY A PARK

Sioux City is a 320,000 sqm theme park stylized as a Wild West town. Highly recommended for western fans, kids and anyone who likes to fool around. The development of the park includes houses typical of the Wild West, a church, a ranch, a bank and a saloon.

Actors play performances here all day long, such shows as “Duel to the Death”, “Brawl in the Saloon”, “Indian Rain Dance” are offered to the attention of the public. Several times a day, cowboys drive a herd of bulls along the main street, and also show a sketch about a bank robbery, followed by the hanging of a criminal in the city square. Everyone is given the opportunity to take a photo with the sheriff.

And of course, wherever there are cowboys, there must be Indians ... Don't miss the opportunity to look into the Indian reservation!

There are also performances by Mexican acrobats doing tricks with lasso, whips and knives, and much more.

In the saloon you can drink beer and have a snack (do not look for pickles, however: standard fast food), there is also a performance with shooting and a show with dancing and throwing knives at a woman (more precisely, around her)).

For children, in addition to everything already listed, there is a small zoo with cute animals.

Opening hours: 10:00 to 17:00 Tuesday to Saturday, closed on Monday.

On Fridays from 20:00 to midnight, outdoor barbecues and evening shows.

Address: Barranco del Aguila, s/n, 35100, Las Palmas, Spain

Official site(alas, only in Spanish): http://siouxcitypark.es/index.php

CACTUS PARK – “Cactualdea Park”

A large botanical garden, the main "exhibit" of which is, of course, cacti. This park is located near the city of San Nicolas and is considered truly unique. It is famous for its amazing variety of exotic ornamental plants from all over the world. There are more than a thousand species of cacti alone, of various shapes, colors, sizes - it's hard to even imagine! All the islands of the Canary archipelago have such reserves, but the park in Gran Canaria is the largest of them.

The easiest way to get to the cactus park is by car, or by one of the sightseeing buses that run from all major cities and beach resorts - almost all of them stop near the cactus park.

In the Cactus Park in Gran Canaria, they breed and grow various types of cacti, so if you like some kind of specimen, you can buy the same one for a small amount right in the park. (Only, the import of plants with soil and roots, for example, to Russia, without special phytosanitary documents is prohibited; so if you want to bring a cactus home as a souvenir, keep in mind that this will almost certainly be smuggling).

In general, if you still think that a cactus is just a thorny plant that has little to do with beauty, you should definitely visit this park to be convinced of the opposite.

In addition to many interesting plants from all over the world, the park has an amphitheater, which regularly hosts spectacular Canary wrestling competitions. And on the territory of the reserve there are several historical expositions, the most impressive of which is a copy of the cave of the Guanches, with rock inscriptions of primitive tribes.

Address: Carretera del Hoyo Tocodoman, 35478 La Aldea de San Nicolas

PALMITOS PARK (Palmitos Park)

Palmitos Park is located in the south of the island, far from the Maspalomas resort area, and it is easily accessible from almost any major city or resort on the island, both by car and by sightseeing bus. This park is both a reserve for many rare species of animals and plants, and an entertainment center for everyone who loves nature and wants to have a good time with family or friends.

One of the unique features of the Palmitos Park is a large number of truly rare birds, most of which do not sit in cages, but move freely within the park and beyond. Sometimes you can watch them literally at arm's length and even feed them with special food, which is sold at the entrance to the park and in small shops inside the park. Birds in Palmitos Park are brought from Africa, South America and other equatorial zones. In addition to birds, you can watch many exotic animals in the park.

Also in Palmitos Park, rare plants from all over the world coexist with each other. On the territory of the park there is a clearing full of various orchids, and very close to it are cacti - the pride of the Canary Islands.

In addition to simply observing the flora and fauna of the park, you can visit various exhibitions of animals and insects - the local butterfly house will definitely not leave you indifferent, and you can watch exotic fish - both marine and freshwater - in the local Aquarium.

Especially for children and inquisitive adults, performances are regularly held in the park, in which trained eagles, falcons and parrots play the main roles. Birds perform amazing tricks worthy of the best circuses on the planet - do not miss this sight!

The park is constantly expanding. Not so long ago, a dolphinarium was opened on its territory, where anyone can talk and swim with dolphins for a fee, or just watch exciting shows featuring these smart animals. For monkey lovers, the park has a “primate island” where you will meet many different types of monkeys, from miniature chimpanzees to huge humanoid orangutans.

Palmitos Park in Gran Canaria is full of various places for recreation, cafes and restaurants, souvenir shops. Convenient parking is organized near the park and there is a luxurious hotel with a beautiful view of the island.

Opening hours and show times: http://www.palmitospark.es/timetables/?lang=en

Address: Barranco de Los Palmitos s/n., 35109 Maspalomas (Gran Canaria)

HOLIDAY WORLD to GRAN CANARIA

Holiday World is the most big park attractions in the Canary Islands. Here you can spend time with the whole family and everyone will definitely find something interesting for themselves. Of course, this is not Disneyland, but this park is good as an entertainment for the evening.

Entrance to the amusement park is free. You can walk on it for free. And if you want to ride the rides, you will need to buy a magnetic ticket with the required denomination. Conventional units in an amusement park attraction are points. At the entrance to each attraction there is a sign with the price in points.

There are attractions and other entertainment for visitors of all ages: in addition to the symbol of the park - a Ferris wheel shimmering with all the colors of the rainbow - there are many excellent slides, spinners, carousels, slot machines and much more.

For adults who are not fans of attractions, the park has a 16-lane Punto Zero bowling alley and an Irish pub.

Adults will also definitely enjoy the local wellness center: Finnish sauna, Turkish bath, beauty treatments, outdoor pool with hydromassage and heating. Also on the territory of the park are restaurants, bars, Internet cafes, slot machines and billiards in great abundance.

Works amusement park attractions daily. Working hours in winter and summer are different.

On Fridays and Saturdays, attractions are usually open from 18.00 to 00.00, on other days - until 23.00. And you can play bowling on Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 02 a.m., and on the rest of the week - 9 a.m. to 1 a.m.

Opening hours and prices can be specified before the visit.

Address: Holiday World Maspalomas Avda.

SUBMARINE (Atlantida submarine)

Journey to the bottom of the ocean for everyone

If you are not a fan of diving, but the ocean depths still beckon you, diving on the “Atlantida Submarine” is what you need!

On board this submarine, everyone can contemplate the beauty of the underwater world with their own eyes, plunging to the ocean floor. Atlantida Submarine S.L. guarantees its passengers absolute safety. The submarine makes several 45-minute tourist walks every day - diving to a depth of 20-25 m.

During the dive, the guide will tell you about each of the inhabitants of the ocean that you will meet on the way of the submarine.

Naturally, the design of the excursion submarine differs significantly from military prototypes. The excursion submarine is much smaller in size and equipped with huge acrylic windows for observing the ocean, its inhabitants and viewing the wrecks of the sunken ships that you will meet on your way.

The pleasure boat runs on batteries and therefore is limited in cruising range, but still this 45-minute dive will remain in your memory as a very vivid memory. On special monitors, you can clearly see what is happening at the moment above the submarine. Directly from the hotel, a transfer is carried out on a special bus, directly to the submarine pier.

Address: 35138, Mogán, Las Palmas, Spain

KARTING IN GRAN CANARIA (Gran Carting Club)

In Gran Canaria there is an opportunity to drive a kart, having a lot of fun and a powerful adrenaline rush. Gran Karting Club is located in the south of the island, next to Maspalomas. Upon your request, a free shuttle bus will be sent directly to the hotel for you (only for hotels located in the nearby resort areas - San Agustin, Playa del Ingles or Maspalomas).

On the vast territory of this club - the longest race track in all of Spain, 1650 meters long. Anyone can feel like a supercar pilot, from a child (not younger than 5 years old) to an experienced driver. Some kart models are able to accelerate up to 100 km/h.

Truly, any boy's dreams come true here! There is a separate area for children, where all safety rules are observed, and you don’t have to worry about your children. Experienced instructors keep an eye on the young racers and come to their aid in any difficult situation. For children aged 10-15 there is a separate section with a junior track. And on the "adult" track (Senior-class) racers over 16 compete.

For all participants in the races, several important rules are mandatory:

• Each participant before boarding the go-kart in without fail must wear a protective helmet.

• In the event of an emergency, it is forbidden to leave the kart. In this case, you should call the instructor by stretching your hand up.

• If a participant violates the rules, provokes other race participants into collisions, the club administration has the right to disqualify such a racer and not reimburse him for the cost of the race.

• Drivers under the influence of alcohol are not allowed to drive a kart.

Address: Carretera General, 1, 35107 San Bartolomé de Tirajana, Las Palmas, Spain

How to get to Gran Canaria: There are no direct flights to this island from Russia, so the most convenient way is by plane to Tenerife, and then another half hour by local flight, or longer by ferry to Gran Canaria. There are also flights to Gran Canaria from Madrid, Barcelona, ​​as well as various cities in Europe - London, Frankfurt, etc.

La Gomera

If you are looking for peace and tranquility in the Canary Islands, this small (a little less than 370 km 2) picturesque island volcanic origin - for you. (Don't worry, seismic activity in this region has not been observed for a long time). La Gomera is located in the western part of the Canary archipelago and boasts an unusually beautiful, almost pristine nature.

How to choose a resort on the island of La Gomera

Valle Gran Rey (Valle Gran Rey) – the main, most popular resort area, located in the west of the island. It includes several coastal villages - Vueltas, La Puntilla, La Calera, Playa de la Calera.

The area of ​​Valle Gran Rey attracts travelers with its developed tourist infrastructure, excellent sandy and pebble beaches (black in some places, due to volcanic origin) and magnificent landscapes. The island is also popular with surfers due to the ocean waves that almost never stop here all year round. It is in this area that the most beautiful road on the island lies, surrounded by picturesque basalt rocks. And the miniature agricultural fields, located on terraces along the slopes of the valley, are very reminiscent of the rice fields of Bali. The surroundings of Valle Gran Rey are simply ideal for relaxing from the hustle and bustle of civilization, so for several years now the place has been popular among fans of alternative tourism.

Playa de Santiago (playa de Santiago) - the second largest resort center on La Gomera (after Valle Gran Rey). This resort is located in the south of the island and grew up on the site of a former fishing village.

This place has its own microclimate: it is considered the sunniest on the island. And the local pebble beach (1.5 km long) is very convenient for swimming, as it is protected from ocean waves by huge breakwaters.

There are many hotels, restaurants and shops in the area.

San Sebastian de La GomeraSan Sebastian de la gomera) - the capital of the island, this resort can be recommended to those travelers who still want to enjoy the benefits of civilization, including visiting museums, walking around the city, visiting a nightclub. All the sights of this city are somehow connected with the name of the great navigator Christopher Columbus.

IN main church city ​​(Iglesia Matriz de la Asunción) Columbus offered prayers before he continued his long journey. further way. And in the house of Casa de la Aduana, he spent the night during his stay on the island. Now there is an exhibition, the exposition of which is dedicated to the travels of Christopher Columbus to America. In the courtyard of the Casa de la Aduana house, a well has been preserved, from which water was drawn to consecrate the unknown continent.

If you find yourself in San Sebastian de la Gomera, it is also recommended to visit the Count's Tower (Torre del Conde), built in 1447. The tower was built to the west of the central city square, by order of the first Spanish ruler.

The length of the beach in San Sebastian on the island of La Gomera is 600 meters, and the width of the coastline is 55 meters. The beach is well equipped: rental of umbrellas and sun loungers, water activities. Importantly, this beach is reliably protected from the tides and waves by a breakwater.

There are also several nudist beaches on the island - for example, the Playa de Argaga beach, reliably protected by rocks from prying eyes, located near the Vueltas resort.

Attractions of the island of La Gomera

How to get to La Gomera: there are no direct flights to this island from Russia, so the most convenient way is by plane to Tenerife or Gran Canaria, and then another half hour by local flight (the local airport is considered the most modern in the entire Canary archipelago, although it serves only domestic flights), or about 50 minutes by ferry from Tenerife or Gran Canaria to the island of La Gomera.

El Hierro

The islet of El Hierro is the smallest in the archipelago of the Canary Islands and the most remote island archipelago (located 480 km off the northwest coast of Africa and 120 km southwest of Tenerife). Because of this, the western coast of the island was for a long time recognized as the “end of the world”, and cartographers took El Hierro as the zero meridian (which, as you know, was later “moved” to Greenwich.

The area of ​​El Hierro is only 268.71 km². The highest point is 1501 m above sea level. The population is about 11,000 people. The island of El Hierro, like the entire Canary archipelago, is of volcanic origin. Due to the activity of local underwater volcanoes, earthquakes have often occurred on the island since 2011. underwater volcanoes erupted between October 2011 and March 2012, and for safety reasons, the authorities even briefly evacuated the inhabitants of the village of La Restinha.

How to choose a resort on the island of El Hierro

Most of the coast of this small mountainous island is made up of almost sheer bizarre cliffs. There are no beaches with ordinary light sand or pebbles on El Hierro, there are only a few tiny beaches with black volcanic sand (for example, in La Restinha), as well as natural pools with clear water suitable for swimming.

In addition, the island is very popular among divers - the water off the coast is really - crystal clear.

The capital of El Hierro is the city Valverde where almost half of the island's population lives. Most of the hotels are also located there. In addition to Valverde, you can also stay in towns Frontera (Frontera), La Restinga, in the villages Timihirake, Tamaduste, Sabinosa (Sabinosa) or Isora. It should be remembered that all these resorts are not beach resorts, in the traditional sense, they are rather eco-resorts.

Attractions of the island of El Hierro

The island's most famous historical landmark is the Faro de Orchilla lighthouse, the westernmost lighthouse in Spain, when you visit it you can even get a certificate of crossing the prime meridian. Otherwise, the main local attractions are stunning nature, unique landscapes, peace and quiet. Due to the lack of full-fledged good beaches, there are usually few tourists on El Hierro, which, you see, is already an advantage of this place in itself.

El Hierro - unique place with amazing, truly pristine, nature. The island is divided into 5 protected areas under the protection of UNESCO. In fact, the entire island is a biosphere reserve. The relief of El Hierro is very diverse, on it there are several hundred large craters formed as a result of volcanic activity. For the same reason, a large number of caves and natural tunnels appeared on El Hierro. But at the same time, there are enough dense forests and fertile fields where local residents grow vegetables and fruits. Also, a significant part of the island is occupied by vineyards.

The main natural attraction of El Hierro, thanks to which the island has gained worldwide fame, is its juniper forests. To admire the beauty of the protected park with relic plants, it makes sense to head to the top of the island. Along the way, you will have a stunning view of the picturesque El Golfo valley. At the highest point of the island - the top of La Dehesa (La Dehesa) - the oldest tree on the island grows, a real natural treasure of El Hierro. This is a juniper, the tree got the name: "Sabina de El Hierro". Under the strongest winds, it changed the direction of growth, bent down to the ground and formed an arch with its powerful branches. It is located in the West of the island (along the HI-500 highway), not far from the holy places of Nuestra Señora de los Reyes. A short walk from the car park you will see the sign "Sabina de El Hierro" and the tree itself.

La Palma

La Palma is a small beautiful green island (with an area of ​​​​only 728 km 2), which, like the entire archipelago, is of volcanic origin (some volcanoes are still active, however, the last major eruption occurred here in 1971). The coastline of the island of La Palma is mostly rocky, and, just like El Hierro, there are not many comfortable beaches, but it is very beautiful and green (the island is recognized as the greenest of all the islands of the Canary archipelago).

La Palma is an unusually mountainous island. Its highest peak is Roque de los Muchachos peak- reaches a height of 2387 m. The northern part of the island, at an altitude of 500-1500 m above sea level, is covered with laurel-cherry forests. Once such forests covered the entire south of Europe, but now they can only be found here. The forested ravines of Cubo de la Galga and Los Tilos have been declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO. There are numerous hiking trails in the reserve. (Alas, in August 2016, there was a severe fire here, which arose through the fault of a 27-year-old German tourist, who “for environmental reasons, decided to burn the used toilet paper". The result is sad: about 5 hectares of forest burned out. However, fortunately, the fire was stopped, and there are still many untouched corners on the island.)

Attractions of the island of La Palma

Island capital Santa Cruz de La Palma- a nice town with pretty narrow streets and old buildings. In the center of the city is the Plaza de Espana, a miniature Plaza de España with a stone fountain (1776). On the square is built in 1503 the Church of the Savior (Iglesia Matriz de El Salvador) with a high bell tower. The ceiling is made in Mudéjar style from the core of pines. In the sacristy of the church, magnificent Gothic wood carvings are collected.

On opposite side squares you will see City Hall(Ayuntamiento), built in 1569, with an arcade in the style of the Italian Renaissance. Also, a fortress rises above the city. Castillo de Santa Catalina, once faithfully serving in the defense of Santa Cruz from pirates.
At the end of Calle Real you will find a life-size model of the famous ship of Christopher Columbus "Santa Maria". Inside is a maritime museum.

To the north of the capital, in the mountains, there is a chapel - the sanctuary of the patroness of the island, Madonna of the Snows ( Nuestra Senora de las Nieves). The altar in the chapel is made of Mexican silver, and it is in it that the terracotta statue of the Madonna is located. Once every 5 years, the Madonna is brought to the capital, Santa Cruz, to participate in the celebration La Bajada de la Virgen(The Appearance of the Madonna) is a purely Spanish "mix" of religious experiences and general fun and entertainment.

Another holiday takes place in the city of Santa Cruz de la Palma on May 3 - on the Day of the Cross, when fun, with dancing and music, a nationwide competition of decorated crucifixes is held.

But La Palma is especially rich in its natural attractions:

Palmitos Park- a huge garden-reserve of butterflies. In addition to butterflies, you can see about 230 species of exotic birds here.

La Caldera de Taburiente National Park (Caldera de Taburiente)

This extraordinary park is, in fact, a giant crater with a diameter of 8-10 km and a depth of up to 2 km. It was formed, naturally, as a result of powerful volcanic eruptions. In 1954, this place was given the status of a National Park. The park has a huge number of hiking trails (climbing some of them require a truly excellent physical shape). In addition to giant volcanic rocks (up to 10 km in diameter), there is also the "Gorge of Fear" (the height of the walls of which reaches 2000 m). The park is easily accessible by bus or car from Santa Cruz (8 km).

Pico de la Cruz is one of the highest peaks in the park. The ascent to it can be done in 4-5 hours. Roque de los Muchachos is a trail along the highest peaks that offers breathtaking views of the crater. At the very top of Mount Muchachos, at an altitude of 2400 m, the highest observation deck on the island has recently opened. This site is part of the popular tourist route Espigon del Roque de los Muchachos. Roque de los Muchachos also houses the International Astrophysical Observatory, opened in 1985, which houses the largest telescope in Europe. And from the bottom of the crater rises an 800-meter stone spire - Idafe Rock. Legend has it that there was a Guanche altar on which sacrifices were made. But not everything is so scary in this park: there are routes that are quite simple and short, for example, the Lomo de las Chosas trail.

Los Tilos (Los Tilos)

It is in this park that you can see what people mainly go to the island of La Palma for: on the rocky walls of the Barranco del Agua gorge, there is the largest place on the island where the ancient laurel forest grows - laurisilva. Los Tilos was declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1983.

In this small, only 5 km 2 area, national park several hiking trails have been laid. One of them leads to the observation deck of Mirador Las Barrandas. A longer (6 km) and difficult route, with steep climbs, leads northwest to Caldera de Marcos y Cordero, where you can enjoy great views to the waterfalls.

La Sarsa (La Sarsa)

In the area of ​​the archaeological excavations of La Sarza, evidence of the existence of the ancient inhabitants of the island, the Benajoares, was found. Evidence of their existence, attracting tourists, are bizarre symbols carved on rocks (petroglyphs) that can be seen in the areas of Roque Faro, Don Pedro and Juan Adalid. These writings consist mainly of spirals, linear figures and circles, and their meaning has not been comprehended to this day. Most often, postcards and other local souvenirs include drawings whose style is strongly reminiscent of the Aztecs - this is an image of a man and an abstract figure of a woman with an insect head.

In the excavation area there is a tourist information Center in which the museum operates. The exposition of the museum is dedicated to the life of the ancient people of Benajoares. From the 20-minute film, you will learn much that archaeologists have been able to discover about the medicine, nutrition and funeral rituals of these people.

For divers on La Palma there is a very exotic attraction: Las Cruces de Malpique (Las Cruces de Malpique)

Not far from the southernmost point of the island of La Palma, at a depth of 25 meters in the Atlantic Ocean, there is a unique underwater cemetery. The story goes that in 1570 a ship carrying 40 Jesuit monks was attacked by pirates. The captain of the ship invited the monks to take up arms and defend themselves, along with the entire crew. But they refused to kill, preferring to humbly pray for salvation and help the wounded.

The ship ended up in the hands of Protestant pirates, who demanded that the brethren renounce the Catholic faith. But the Jesuits preferred death to apostasy. Local residents installed 40 stone crosses at the bottom of the ocean, in the place of the heroic death of the monks, in memory of their feat.

At the end of the 20th century, UNESCO included this memorial complex in the list of natural reserves (ie places that clearly demonstrate the harmonious interaction of man with nature). Every year, this mystical place attracts thousands of diving enthusiasts, but only the luckiest get to see the burial place with their own eyes, because diving to 25 meters in this place is possible only in clear and calm weather.

How to get there: Las Cruces de Malpique is located at the very beginning of the Costa el Faro highway, not far from the famous Fuencaliente lighthouse (Salinas de Fuencaliente, or, in English, Lighthouse Fuencaliente), erected at the southernmost point of the island.

Resorts and beaches of La Palma

Despite the fact that the coast of the island of La Palma is rocky, and there are not too many beaches here, you can still find some amazingly beautiful beaches here:

1. Puerto Naos-black sand, abundance of palm trees and developed infrastructure;
2. Tazacorte- black sand the purest water and an abundance of fish restaurants;
3. Charco Verde– a small beach with black volcanic sand, surrounded by picturesque cliffs; ideal for a measured day;
4. Los Cancajos- the best place on the island for lovers of diving and snorkeling. Small secluded bays, a separate “splash pool” for children and clear water are the main advantages of this beach;
5. Playa Nueva– there are constantly waves, so the beach is popular with surfers;
6. Las Monjas- the official nudist beach, located 1.5 km from Puerto Naos.

On the island of La Palma, there are excellent opportunities for practicing all water sports, as well as hiking. In the capital of the island, the city Santa Cruz de La Palma, there is a yacht club, as well as famous club sport fishing - La Gaviota.

Puerto de Naos- the largest and most popular resort of the island with stunning black sand beaches. Nearby is the village of San Nicolas, buried in 1949 as a result of the eruption of the Nambroque volcano. Now, among the frozen lava fields, only a lonely church rises here.

Fuerteventura

Fuerteventura is the second largest island of the Canary archipelago (after Tenerife). Its maximum length is 100 km, width - 25 km, area - 1660 km2. It is called the island of sun and tranquility, although Fuerteventura owes its name to the wind that almost never dies down here (in Spanish “fuerte” - strong, “el vento” - wind). It is generally accepted that this island is the oldest of all in the Canary archipelago, formed, like its neighbors, as a result of volcanic eruptions, many millennia ago.

Initially, Fuerteventura was covered with dense forests, like the neighboring islands, but these forests fell victim to the turbulent naval past of the archipelago - in other words, they went to build ships. Now the landscape of the island is rather deserted. But, unlike Lanzarote and Tenerife, in Fuerteventura, part of the beaches are covered not with black volcanic, but with golden sand.

There are no noisy nightclubs and discos in Fuerteventura, rest here is quiet and secluded, family; the island is also loved as a holiday destination for surfers from all over the world.

Attractions of the island of Fuerteventura

Of course, there are not so many historical sights and amusement parks in Fuerteventura as, for example, in neighboring Tenerife and Gran Canaria - local attractions are mostly natural. However, you will not be bored on your vacation in Fuerteventura.

Oasis Park (Oasis Park

- the largest amusement park on the island (about 800,000 m2). In fact, this is a huge zoo, which has a dolphinarium, and a lot of other entertainment for tourists, such as camel safari in the park, etc.

Walking along the shady alleys and various recreation areas of this park, you will meet on your way more than 6,800 species of plants and animals brought from all over the world.

Rare birds (living not in cages, but practically in their natural environment), giant reptiles, monkeys and lemurs, kangaroos, hippos, giraffes, cheetahs, ... - in such an environment, complete immersion in the atmosphere of the real African savannah is guaranteed! Special areas of the park - a camel farm, an antelope valley, an elephant trail, a dolphinarium with a daily show of sea lions - will not leave anyone indifferent. The park also has a good choice restaurants and cafes, so you can easily spend the whole day there.

Prices and opening hours of the Oasis Park - at official website

Aqua Water Park

Water park in the Corralejo area with a lot of water activities for children and adults. Nice place with free parking, free sun loungers and opportunities for both active recreation (slides and other attractions), and not so much ("lazy river", jacuzzi zone, relax zone, zone for the smallest visitors, etc.)

Check the opening hours and the cost of entrance tickets on the official website.

Village of Betancuria

The most beautiful village on the island of Fuerteventura, with a rich historical past, the village of Betancuria was founded in 1404 and got its name in honor of the conqueror of the island, Jean de Betancourt.

Betancuria was perfectly protected from pirate raids, but in 1593 a Berber robber named Haban de Arraez nevertheless got to this city and destroyed all the buildings of Betancuria, including the church of Santa Maria. The church was rebuilt in 1620, and Betancuria continued to bear the status of the capital of the island, until 1834.

Today in the village of Betancuria you can admire picturesque ruins ancient monastery and the "devil's hollow" (Pozo del Diablo) located next to them. According to legend, local heroes managed to chain the Devil to a rock and force him to break out and drag stones to build monastery walls.

Exposition of the city Archaeological Museum dedicated to the life and rituals of machos - this is the local, Fuerteventura, name of the Guanches.

"American Star"

Launched in 1940, the luxury cruise ship was converted for the needs of the US Navy during the Second World War and took an active part in sea convoys.

Since 1946, the American Star again began to operate transatlantic flights as a passenger ship. In December 1993, the ship was decommissioned and planned to be used in Thailand as a floating hotel. However, unable to withstand the storms, the "American Star" was thrown aground off the western coast of the island of Fuerteventura and broke into two parts.

Today, tourists specially come to the coast near the Playa de Garcey beach (otherwise unremarkable) to take pictures against the backdrop of the bow of the liner, or rather, its skeleton.

Yes, sights are not what most tourists come to Fuerteventura for, however, there are plenty of opportunities for entertainment and eventful recreation, for example:

• deep sea fishing(fishing boats depart from the ports of Corralejo and Morro Jable).
• Sea trips(from Corralejo - on the Celia Cruz and Blue Delfin glass bottom catamarans or the Catlanza sailing catamaran, the captain of which, on the way to Lanzarote, will kindly allow you to “steer; or on a yacht chartered only for your trip).

Pleasure boats also leave from the port of Morro Jable on the Jandia peninsula, but the choice of boats and route options is much smaller here.

Detailed information on the sites:

• Diving

Because of the cold currents, there are no coral reefs off the coast of the Canary Islands, and the fauna of the Atlantic Ocean is not as diverse as in warm tropical seas. However, diving enthusiasts here will still be able to get a lot of impressions from observing underwater caves, volcanic landscapes and the unique spirit of the ocean.

Diving is indeed very popular in Fuerteventura, and you can find a diving center in almost any popular tourist area islands.

Detailed information on the websites of diving centers:

• Windsurfing and kitesurfing in Fuerteventura

Due to the rather strong wind that never stops here, surfing, windsurfing and kitesurfing are the most common sports in Fuerteventura. Add to this the year-round beach season - as a result, Fuerteventura today is the most popular place in Europe for practicing this sport. Every year, tens of thousands of professionals and amateurs of different types of surfing flock here to hone their skills, and in the summer even the world championship is held here.

The largest windsurfing center not only on the island, but throughout the world is called "Pro Center Rene Egli" and is located on the Sotavento beach, next to the Sol Gorriones hotel. At the disposal of visitors to this center are about 450 boards and 1000 sails.

And there are several more windsurfing centers in different parts of the island of Fuerteventura.

Detailed information on the websites:

Mysterious House of Winter

During the Second World War, in which, as you know, Spain formally maintained neutrality, the Jandia peninsula was a closed area, where, according to conjectures and assumptions, a top-secret base of German submarines was located.

Guesses began to appear not without grounds: in 1939, all local residents were evicted from the peninsula, and on April 28, 1941, a notary in Madrid registered a contract for the sale of the Jandia peninsula to the company Dehesa de Jandia S.A. under the control of the German engineer and industrialist Gustav Winter.

On Cofete beach, in the most secluded place of the peninsula, Winter built a villa in which he lived with his family until old age. Legends and speculation hover over this villa to this day. Historians say that in the caves among the rocks, which could only be reached from under the water, German submarines "sat out" between campaigns, and Winter's house is just a "surface", a very small part of the iceberg. It is known for certain that there were underground passages under Winter's villa, the entrances to which were walled up during the reconstruction of the villa in 1985. One of these tunnels, according to the son of Gustav Winter, connected Cofete beach with the village of Morro Jable. Today, rumors about Nazi treasures hidden here “until better times” haunt many treasure hunters.

How to choose a resort on the island of Fuerteventura

The main resorts of the island of Fuerteventura are Costa Calma, Morro del Jable and Playa Matorral, located on the Jandia Peninsula (in the south of the island), as well as Corralejo (or Playa de Corralejo) and Caleta del Fuste. Each of the resorts has its own characteristics.

Peninsula Jandia famous for its stunning white sandy beaches. Also, it is here that the highest point of the island of Fuerteventura is located - the 807-meter Pico de Sarza, a peak from which stunning views of the island open up. Tourists come to Jandia for a calm and relaxing holiday in nature, without noise and fuss. Jandia and the towns located on this peninsula are the most popular tourist destinations on the island of Fuerteventura.

Costa Calma (Costa Calma) - a resort popular with windsurfers, who are especially numerous here from March to October. This is the greenest resort on the island, with truly lush vegetation. Thickets of palms and other plants in Costa Calma are especially striking in contrast to the desert landscapes of other resorts in Jandia. From the town of Costa Calma begins the many kilometers and almost deserted coast of Sotavento, the longest beach line in all of Fuerteventura. This resort is especially popular with German tourists.

Morro del Jable (Morro del Jable) - at this town, the many kilometers of Sotavento beach coast ends, and at the western borders of the resort the coast is already rocky. In Morro del Jable, the historical center of the resort has been perfectly preserved with charming houses and a picturesque port. On the waterfront, in countless restaurants, you can try a variety of dishes from freshly caught fish.

Playa del Mattoral (playa del Mattoral) - here you will find an amazing, wide and clean white beach, stretching for 12 km. This beach has been awarded the Blue Flag year after year. The Playa del Mattornal resort itself is much larger in size than the neighboring Costa Calma: there are more entertainment, hotels, restaurants and cafes.

Corralejo, or Playa de Corralejo- one of the largest resorts on the island of Fuerteventura, but this does not prevent the inhabitants of the town from leading a calm, measured lifestyle and preserving the lifestyle and atmosphere of a tiny provincial town here. At the same time, Corralejo is considered a more modern and party resort than Jandia. A large number of people always rest on the coast of the city (mostly British, in contrast to the resorts of Jandia, completely “occupied” by German tourists). The most attractive for tourists is the southern part of Corralejo, where a stunning 10-kilometer beach is located. The distance from Corralejo to Fuerteventura airport is 70 km.

Castillo Caleta de Fuste, often referred to simply as El Castillo, is only 9 km from the island's only airport. It is this convenient location, in the first place, that determines the popularity of the resort among tourists. The beaches of Caleta de Fuste are mostly rocky. But within the boundaries of the resort town itself, an artificial sandy beach is equipped, perfectly protected from the waves by the shores of the bay.

Diving clubs with diving schools and windsurfing schools are organized in all resort towns and villages of the island of Fuerteventura: this place is literally created for practicing these sports. Also in Fuerteventura, you can practice golf in plenty on fields specially equipped for this game. In addition, an underwater photo and video competition is organized on the island every year.

How to get to Fuerteventura

You can get to Fuerteventura by plane from Barcelona, ​​Madrid, or from the island of Tenerife, which has air links with Russia. There are ferry and air links between Fuerteventura and other Canary Islands. It is convenient to travel around the island by bus, taxi or rent a car.

Lanzarote

Lanzarote- the fourth largest island of the archipelago. Lanzarote is the most unusual of all the islands of the Canary archipelago: it is an island-reserve of volcanoes. About 300 volcanoes are located on its territory, for which the island received the name "island of fire-breathing mountains." In 1730, almost simultaneous eruption of 30 volcanoes began here. It lasted 6 years. Since then, approximately 30% of the island's surface has been covered with volcanic ash and hardened lava. Because of this, it seems that the plants grow directly from the dry earth. The landscapes here are rather Martian than typically island: bright colors of the earth (or rather, lava) and absolutely no signs of life.

Entertainment and attractions of Lanzarote

In the western part of the island of Lanzarote is located Timanfaya National Park- it is here that volcanoes are located, which once so dramatically and forever changed the appearance of this island. The famous frozen lava field fiery mountains» Tourists travel by bus. Even so, you can easily feel the warmth emanating from the bowels of the earth, because already a few centimeters from the surface the temperature reaches +350°C.

The territory of the Timanfaya reserve is specially protected, so walking on the frozen lava is not allowed here.

In the northeast of the island are an array La Corona, where, under the vast lava fields of the Corona volcano, there are unique volcanic pipes Jameos del Agua And Cueva de los Verdes volcanic cave. Cueva de los Verdes is the largest cave of volcanic origin in the world, 6 km deep. Some of its halls reach 15 meters in height and 24 meters in width, and thanks to the excellent natural acoustics, they were able to equip a unique concert hall inside. To attend a concert in this cave is almost a must for any self-respecting traveler who has reached Lanzarote!

In the coastal zone of Los Ervideros, where the lava bizarrely merges with the sea, there is an amazing green crater El Golfo.

Connoisseurs of ancient architecture will love the fortress Castillo de San Jose- an impressive fortification erected in 1779 on a high basalt ledge to protect the entrance to the port of Lanzarote. Inside the fortress is the Museum of Modern Art (MIAC), which contains a rich collection of paintings and sculptures of the 50-70s of the twentieth century, in the style of abstract art, as well as works by the great founder of the museum, Cesar Manrique, who was friends with Picasso and Miro.

In the north of the island there is a beautiful Valley of a Thousand Palms”, after visiting which you will get an idea of ​​what the landscape of the island was like before the volcanic eruptions. The northern part of Lanzarote is separated by a narrow, 1.5-kilometer strait from the tiny island of Graciosa (La Graciosa), where, according to legend, the pirates hid their stolen treasures.

Once in Lanzarote, it is also worth visiting:

• Rocks of Famara. In the northwestern part of the island, a beach of golden sand stretches for 5 kilometers - Playa de Famara. The beach is located within the Natural Park of the Chinijo Archipelago, between the marine settlement of La Caleta de Famara and the base of the impressive Famara rock. It is especially beautiful here at low tide: in the water, covering the wide one with a thin layer, like in a mirror, the sky and the rock are reflected. If you are lucky enough to watch the tide go down here, you will be able to enjoy one of the most beautiful landscapes of the Canary archipelago, with Graciosa island visible on the horizon.
• cactus garden(the creation of landscape architecture by the same Cesar Manrique);
• Viewpoint Mirador del Rio, which offers stunning views of the neighboring Chiniho archipelago.
• Complex of volcanic caves Jameos del Agua- like the Mirador del Rio observation deck, it was created by the most famous resident of Lanzarote, the restless Cesar Manrique. This unique complex includes, for example, a small bar overlooking the lake, a water grotto with a lake (which serves as a haven for small blind albino crabs), huge cave with tropical plants and a swimming pool (swimming in this pool is strictly prohibited, but they say the king of Spain once did it) and a cave-concert hall for 600 people. Jameos del Agua, like the Cueva de los Verdes cave, is part of a 6-kilometer lava tube formed during the eruption of the Montaña La Corona volcano about 4,000 years ago. César Manrique sought to combine art and nature in his native Lanzarote and create unique attractions, contrasting them with popular water parks, amusement parks and standard, tourist-trampled resorts. And, to be honest, he did it well.
• In the town Salinas de Janubio, in the southwest of Lanzarote, there are salt marshes - a habitat for small shrimps. Numerous flocks flock here to feast on seafood pink flamingos, - an amazing sight, just a fantastic landscape!

How to choose a resort on Lanzarote

The best beaches of the island, with the purest water and white sand, stretch along the southern coast of Lanzarote, in the bay Papagayo (Playa de Papagayo). But getting to this bay is quite difficult, perhaps that is why the beaches have not lost their original beauty.

In the southeastern part of Lanzarote are located the oldest resorts islands: Puerto del Carmen (Puerto del carmen) and Costa Teguise (Costa Teguise) . The constant winds blowing here have made them a favorite resort for windsurfers. But just relaxing on the beach here is unlikely to be comfortable (due to the same rather strong winds). Costa Teguise is located just 15 minutes from the airport.

Playa Blanca Resort(playaBlanca) - relatively young, but even now it boasts excellent service, as well as very beautiful, and at the same time easily accessible for tourists, beaches. This resort is great for families with children. Off the coast in Playa Blanca, at a depth of 12 meters, is the first underwater museum in Europe. About 300 human-sized sculptures are available for viewing here, standing on the seabed. The author of all these creations is the British sculptor Jason Taylor. The exposition is available for viewing by divers and free divers, and the rest of the curious can look at the sculptural exposition from a special vessel with a glass bottom.

Restaurants with cuisine from different nations and regions of the world in Lanzarote are in abundance: Spanish, Portuguese, Japanese, Caribbean, Mexican, Indian, etc. As a result, even real gourmets will be able to find here for themselves a lot of noteworthy places.

(mainland)

Excursions from the Costa Brava

Monastery of Montserrat

Girona

The Canary Islands have been one of the most attractive beach holiday destinations on our planet for many decades. The picturesque archipelago consists of 7 islands of volcanic origin. They are located in the Atlantic Ocean, not far from the northwestern coast of the African continent (closest to the Canary Islands are Morocco and western areas Sahara). The islands are part of Spain.

Canary Islands on the map

The Canary Islands include not only 7 large and inhabited island formations, but also 6 tiny, practically uninhabited islets. Only one of them - the island of Graciosa with an area of ​​\u200b\u200babout 30 km 2 - has a population. Roque del Este, Alegranza (area 10 km 2), Roque del Oeste, Lobos (area 6 km 2) and Montaña Clara (area 1 km 2) are real corners of virgin nature .

Canary Islands on the world map

The local climate belongs to the tropical trade wind type and is considered warm and fairly dry. Since the islands are located close to the Sahara desert, the sirocco often blows from there, bringing heat and sandstorms. Most often, dry weather prevails in eastern islands. The rest of the region is dominated by northeasterly trade winds, bringing precipitation and somewhat softening the African heat.

The cold Canarian current off the coast of the archipelago also moderates the climate, although it is responsible for the decrease in precipitation. Tourists are also attracted by the lack of heat on local beaches. On the most mountainous islands - Gran Canaria, Tenerife, Palma - the weather changes dramatically when descending from the mountains to the coast. If in the coastal zone, even in winter, the thermometer rarely drops below + 10–20 ° С, then a thick layer of snow can lie on the mountain peaks at the same time. In summer, the air temperature is +20–30 °C, and the weather is mostly dry and clear. On the northern islands it usually falls more precipitation than in the south.

Seven major islands of the Canary archipelago

Popular among tourists big islands, among which:

• Homer;
• Hierro;
• Palm;

Tenerife

It is the largest and most populous spanish island not only in the archipelago, but throughout Spain. With an area of ​​just over 2000 km 2, more than 900 thousand people live here. Tenerife is home to one of the two capitals of the Canary Islands, Santa Cruz de Tenerife. The island is ideal for diving and exploring ancient cultures. It is here that you can see the 6 mysterious stepped pyramids of Guimar, the picturesque nature reserve of Infierno and the ancient basilica of Candelaria - the largest sanctuary in honor of Our Lady on the islands

Homer

An island with an area of ​​​​about 370 km 2 is considered the only one in the Canaries where even the slightest traces of volcanic activity have not been registered. Visitors to the island will be able to visit its capital San Sebastian de la Gomera with unique ancient architectural monuments, cross the Garajonay National Park and hear the famous "Homeric whistle". Due to the rugged terrain of the island, this is how the local shepherds spoke among themselves through the gorges and abysses.

Hierro

Its area is about 280 km2. The island is considered the smallest among the inhabited islands and is located in the westernmost part of the archipelago. Hierro is characterized by almost high-altitude relief. From a wide mountain plateau, located at an altitude of almost 1500 m above sea level, an almost sheer row of rocks descends to the shore. A gentle and comfortable descent leads only to El Golfo Bay.

Palm

Quite a large island with an area of ​​​​almost 700 km 2. Almost the entire area of ​​Palma is occupied by chains of high volcanoes interspersed with laurel and pine forests.

Gran Canaria

The island is the third largest in the archipelago with an area of ​​about 1600 km2. It is the second capital of the Canaries - the city. The center of Gran Canaria is distinguished mainly by the mountainous landscape, which is cut through by deep gorges stretching all the way to the coast. This is one of the most popular tourist centers in the Canary Islands: here guests of the island are provided with all the conditions for cycling and water sports, golf, exciting hiking

Scientists consider it the oldest of the Canary Islands (an area of ​​about 1700 km 2). There are the most beaches here, and the height of the mountains does not exceed 1000 m, which provides a relatively mild, warm and comfortable climate. Fuerteventura is very popular among lovers of secluded relaxation and windsurfing.

The area of ​​the island reaches 850 km2. Care should be taken when traveling here, as volcanic eruptions in Lanzarote happen quite often. As a local attraction, guides show tourists a cave of volcanic origin Cueva de los Verdes.

How to get to the Canaries?

Between the Canary Islands and Moscow, direct flights have been established thanks to the presence of Tenerife. The cost of the flight will be 450-500 USD, but you can also choose a more budget option with a transfer in Barcelona or Madrid. From the capital of the Russian Federation to these cities, tickets will cost less - only 250-300 USD. After arrival, you need to transfer to an Iberia or Ryanair flight, thanks to which for only 70–90 USD you can get not only to the largest islands of the Canaries, but also to Lanzarote or Fuerteventura. There is also a ferry service within the archipelago.

The beaches of the Canaries

Most visitors to the Canary Islands come here to relax by the sea or enjoy water sports.

Tenerife beaches

Their “highlight” is amazingly beautiful and soft golden sand, brought here specially from the Sahara or extracted from the ocean depths. Not far from Santa Cruz de Tenerife, tourists can expect some of the most popular beaches of the Canaries: with fine light yellow sand and Playa de Tanagana with dark sand of volcanic origin.

Beach Playa de Martianez located near Puerto de la Cruz and impresses with original fountains, a giant lake filled with sea water, and many restaurants and bars.

Beach Los Cristianos located in the port area and has a convenient entrance to the water. For a fee, visitors are provided with umbrellas and rattan sun loungers.

Beaches Playa de Benijo And Playa de San Roque in the northern part of Tenerife will delight visitors with an almost perfect pebble surface. The El Medano area was chosen for recreation by windsurfers.

The beaches of Gran Canaria

They amaze the imagination with a variety of landscapes: from flat stripes of sand to real rock formations. The most popular beaches on the island are Maspalomas And. The latter stretches for almost 3 km and is great for water skiing and jet skiing, as well as windsurfing, diving and sailing. Due to the presence of many eateries offering dishes local cuisine It is quite possible to spend the whole day on the beach. The uniqueness of Maspalomas is given by unique sand sculptures sculpted from the dunes by the elements of wind and water. In the south of the island near Las Palmas there is a narrow sandy strip of beach Las Canteras. It is securely protected by a reef from the sea, so it is completely safe for swimming.

The beaches of Fuerteventura

They are covered with fine white and golden sand. On the Jandia peninsula are located as a quiet and sparsely populated beach Kofete and lively Sotaverno. The beach looks original, where black volcanic sand and fine gravel are mixed.

Cuisine of the Canary Islands

The cuisine of the islands of the archipelago is truly distinctive thanks to the complementary influences of several culinary traditions: Spanish, Latin American (particularly Venezuelan), African and the cuisine of the indigenous people of Canary Guanches. You should definitely try the local restaurants.

Before planning a trip to the Canary Islands, travelers should decide in advance on the island, since there are 7 of them. To do this, it will be useful to know where the Canaries are located on the world map, and the features of each of the islands.

Where are the Canary Islands

The Canary Islands are located in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Morocco, the length of the island territory is 450 km. The Canaries belong to Spain, although geographically it is Africa. The Canaries on the map are stretched, the shortest distance between the island of Fuerteventura and Morocco is 96 km.

What animal are they named after?

The Canary Islands are named so interestingly not in honor of the famous canary bird, here the "culprit" is another animal - a dog. In fact, the canary is named after the Canaries, as it is included in the family of birds that live here. And what's with the dog? The name of the island territory comes from the Spanish language.

The Spaniards, after confronting and defeating the locals, gained full control of the Canaries (in Spanish, Las Islas Canarias) in the 15th century, but they did not become the author of the name. In the 6th volume of his comprehensive "Natural History", the ancient Roman scientist Pliny the Elder spoke about the expedition sent by the king of Numidia and Mauritania, Yuba II (son-in-law of Cleopatra and Mark Antony) to the "Islands of Happiness".

During the trip, large dogs were bred on one of the islands, so it was called Canaria (canis is translated from Latin as “dog”). At first, this island was called Canaria, but by the 4th century AD. e. the inhabitants of Rome called the entire archipelago Canaries. On the modern coat of arms of the Canary Islands, you can see two dogs.

About the indigenous population: Guanches

The Guanches are the indigenous inhabitants of the island territory of the Canaries, the only people on the planet who did not even have a primitive fleet. But people had unique physical characteristics and could swim from one island of the archipelago to another, like amphibians. “Guanches” is translated as “children of the volcano”, and in ancient writings one can see references to the fact that the people of the tribe were born from the bowels of the fire-breathing mountain of Tenerife, the highest located volcano of the Canaries.

One of the Canary Islands Fuerteventura

The people lived in caves that were made by hand in the rocky mountains. Of the clothes, they had capes made of mountain goat skins. Could walk completely naked, since the Canary Islands are a place where there are always favorable climatic conditions. The weather in the Canary Islands pleases and always - whether it is November or May. Tourists annually plan vacations on the ocean and 2018 is no exception.

List of Canary Islands

The Canaries (Spain) are an archipelago, one of the 17 autonomous Spanish regions and the most remote from the EU countries. The archipelago consists of 7 large island territories:

• El Hierro.
• La Gomera.
• La Palma.
• Tenerife.
• Fuerteventura.
• Gran Ganaria.
• Lanzarote, forming the province of Las Palmas.

In addition, as part of the Canaries, you can see the island territories of the Chinijo Archipelago (La Graciosa, Alegranza, Montagna Clara, Roque del Este and Roque del Oeste) and Lobos Island, which are part of Las Palmas.

The best beaches in the Canary Islands

Every month the island is visited by a lot of tourists. Flights are organized by travel agencies, and travelers prefer to fly on their own. The Canary Islands on the map show the following beach areas:

• Playa Jardin - northern part of Tenerife, volcanic sand;
• Playa del Ingles - southern part of Gran Canaria, sandy coast;
• Playa de Los Cristianos - the southern part of Tenerife, golden sand;
• Corralejo - northern part of Fuerteventura, white sand, azure sea;
• Playa de Las-Americas - south of Tenerife, dark sandy beach, or golden sand, sometimes small pebbles come across;
• Playa Torviscas - south of Tenerife, gray sandy beach;
• Playa del Duque - south side of Tenerife, fine gray sand;
• Maspalomas - the south side of Gran Canaria, dunes and golden sandy shores meet;
• Papagayo - the bay of the island territory of Lanzarote, here is the most elite beach with white sand;
• Los Cancajos - East of La Palma, near Breña Baja, the beach area is strewn with black volcanic sand.

Tours to the Canaries include accommodation in hotels near the beach area.

Lanzarote island

Lanzarote island

The island of Lanzarote (Spain) is located 125 km from Morocco and 2000 km from the mainland. This is the 4th largest island territory of the Canaries. Lanzarote of volcanic origin is often referred to as the "island of fire-breathing mountains"; 300 volcanoes can be found on it.

The landscapes on the island are fantastic, every month tourists from all over the world come here to admire the unforgettable "lunar landscapes". The territory of Lanzarote is mainly covered with solidified lava with colored volcanic cones of various sizes rising between the lava fields. The climatic zone is subtropical, there are no large temperature differences, the weather is often comfortable.

Fuerteventura island

Fuerteventura is the most suitable island for travelers from all belonging to the archipelago. It is elongated and narrow. The first days of the autumn period are here best weather, slightly windy, warm water. The air warms up to + 23-26 ᵒС. Despite the fact that the infrastructure here is only on the verge of development, Fuerteventura has many hotels with the maximum allowable number of stars. You can check in at:

• villa
• apartments;
• bungalow.

Hotels can be found along the perimeter of the entire island territory. The price starts from 25 euros per day. Today's resorts of Fuerteventura are ancient fishing villages, in which to this day at dawn fishing is in full swing. The cuisine of local residents impresses with its simplicity and at the same time sophistication.

La Palma

La Palma

Pilgrims called La Palma Isla Bonita "Beautiful Island", or Isla Verde " Green Island". These names indicate extreme beauty and lush vegetation. Fern thickets and laurel forests in symbiosis with the Spanish orchards, the best in the Canaries, rightfully allow La Palma to be considered the greenest. It is located in the west of the archipelago, belongs to the province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

Important! The shape resembles the butt of a stone axe. A popular place on the island is Mount Roque de los Muchachos. La Palma of volcanic origin is located here, and the volcanoes have not yet died out completely. The capital of the island, Santa Cruz de la Palma, has a capacity of 18,000 inhabitants. In total, there are 86,000 inhabitants on the island territory.

Attractions Canaries

A Russian tourist or a traveler from another part of the world can visit a lot of attractions. Having visited the Canary Islands, everyone simply must see:

• Mount Nieves;
• Orotava valley;
• Costa del Silencio;
• Costa Calma;
• wine museum El Grifo;
• Museum of the Canary Islands;
• open-air museum "Canary Village";
• national parks "Garajonay" and "Caldera de Taburiente";
• Cueva de Accbinico;
• Plaza de España;
• Puerto del Carmen;
• Agaete;
• Aguimes;
• Arrecife;
• the archaeological museum of Puerto de la Cruz;
• botanical garden "Viera and Clavijo";
• Valverde;
• Teide volcano in Tenerife.

Also not to be missed is the Cueva de los Verdes excursion. This is not just a laid route with lighting, but musical and light accompaniment combined with natural exoticism. The entrance is a narrow path through the gap, narrow winding corridors lead to spacious halls, where fantastic patterns left by lava are decorated with red and ocher tones.

The cave is 2-tiered, in some places about 15 m high, and a deep hole goes 35 m below sea level. The elevation difference is approximately 230 m, the temperature regime in the cave is approximately +19 ᵒС.

At the bottom of Cueva de los Verdes is a neat lake that is saturated with sea water. There are no ripples on the water surface, you won’t immediately understand that this is water, and not a straight surface. Blind albino crabs live in the lake, it is forbidden to throw coins into it, as rust has a detrimental effect on them.

On both sides, the walls of the Cueva de los Verdes have collapsed, and the terraces where the cafeterias are located are partly illuminated by the sun. Drinking a cup of coffee is a must when the opportunity presents itself.

Important! In a circle, the route ends at the exit, where a modern concert hall is equipped, the uniqueness of which is that the walls of Cueva de los Verdes do not resonate. The object accommodates 500 people, the ticket is ordered exclusively by reservation. The circular route lasts 60 minutes.

How much is admission? The tour will cost 9 euros, for children 7-12 years old there is a 50% discount. The cave is open from 10:00 to 18:00, in July-September until 19:00. If a tourist wants to walk through the unique cave on his own, you should do it in the afternoon, not so crowded.

Entertainment in the Canary Islands

Holidays in the Canary Islands cannot be imagined without entertainment programs, and each of the resorts now offers fun for both the younger generation and older people, in addition, there are many interesting things for little tourists.

The Canary Islands offer a lot of entertainment, among which everyone will find something to their liking and heart. Fans of grandiose spectacles will surely enjoy the annual colorful carnival on the island of Tenerife, and those who adore extreme sports recreation should prefer places for spearfishing, fishing in the open sea, diving and water sports, which are located on the island territory of Gran Canaria.

Holidays in the Canary Islands in Lanzarote and Fuerteventura, although characterized by peace and tranquility, are not without entertainment that travelers can find on long beach areas and volcanic landscape areas. A trip to the Canary Islands for one, two or a whole company in any season can be compared with an eternal celebration, because here you forget about work, the bustle of big cities, plunge into the cool waters of the Atlantic Ocean, sunbathe in the sun, build sand castles, spin around in a dance at night. disco.

Important! Surfing will help make your trip to the Spanish resort the most exciting. Surfing in Tenerife is romantic for active people. This is a combination of drive, extreme, beauty, power of nature. To feel for yourself what it is, you need only 2 hours of training with an instructor, and the first wave will be conquered, and where the first is, there is the second.

However, true mastery requires continuous training and professionalism. A surf lesson on the island with an experienced instructor costs about 15 euros. After high-quality training, a special certificate is issued to the vacationer. For those who wish to try their hand, travel agencies offer organized surf tours.

Surfing in the Canary Islands

The combination of relaxation on the ocean coast with riding on the waves on the board is a real pleasure, giving a guarantee of harmony, new sensations, adrenaline, relaxation and complete freedom. In Tenerife, travelers are offered tours to the best places to do this. water sports in demand among western vacationers and are not yet so familiar to Russian tourists. It is not necessary to look for those same surf tours on the sites, as they will cost a little, but more expensive. Everyone can go to the south of Tenerife on their own:

• buying a flight ticket;
• making a hotel reservation;
• by renting an apartment in Playa de Las Americas.

Surf schools in Playa de Las Americas are open all year round and are happy to teach beginner surfers. Special equipment can be rented. Going to the Canary Islands, we must not forget about the registration of medical insurance. It happens that it can come in handy, so it's better to feel protected. Insurance will help you avoid unnecessary expenses, as any injury may lead to placement in medical facilities, they are not cheap on the island.

The Canary Islands are a symbiosis of excellent conditions for practicing various types of surfing, European quality service and comfortable transport links. Another advantage of surfing on the islands of the Canary archipelago is the ability to conquer the waves all year round.

Experienced travelers are advised to prepare in advance and take with you a list with the addresses of the places you plan to visit or what you want to buy on a trip, sights, where to eat, what to try in a Spanish resort, what kind of wine and where to buy, places for shopping, souvenirs and so on.

It is very comfortable in such a situation to use a navigator downloaded in advance to a mobile phone. Naturally, we must not forget about documents and money. Be sure to take:

• civil passports;
• international passport with a valid visa;
• medical insurance for the entire period of rest;
• air tickets in both directions;
• Hotel reservation;
• if you plan to rent a car, then a driver's license.

Spanish resorts are part of the European Union, so the currency that is used throughout the country is EUR (euro). Cash can be taken both in cash and on a bank card. Currency can be exchanged at specialized exchange offices and banks in the Canary Islands. The language on the islands is Spanish, so it will be useful to take an interpreter to communicate with the locals.

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) is the common name for an archipelago of a dozen 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. The total area is 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, a rich underwater world, natural and man-made monuments of various eras, good conditions for surfers, air availability, 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 here), a varied cuisine, which is a mixture of Spanish, African and Latin American dishes - you can list continue indefinitely. 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. Daylight saving time - the last Sunday of March at 1 am, back - the last Sunday of October at 1 am.

Short story

The Canary Islands have a 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 sailors visited the islands in 1334, which 10 years later were donated to Castile (this is a historical region of 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 an autonomous region of 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 here a lot of greenery, tropical forests, palm oases, vineyards, olive plantations, numerous volcanoes.

Of course, there are beaches for lovers of the sea and sun loungers. There are both wild places (including nudist ones) and civilized ones with all the infrastructure. Many of the beaches have been awarded the 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.

Lovers of active pastime are waiting for water activities, fishing in the ocean, windsurfing, yachting, skydiving, 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 major tourist places (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. Buses run between popular settlements. 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 global companies as Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz, La Palma 24 are open for you. We recommend buying a road map, since there are many one-way streets in large cities, and the road system is rather 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, in addition, 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 can be quite cold in the mountains, but in coastal areas 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.

Islands eternal spring, a quiet, secluded place, which at the same time has a reputation as the best resort in the world. The Canary Islands forever captivate those who have ever been here. And I, too, was no exception.

The Canary Islands is an amazing journey through time and space. Formally, it is. In practice, you will not find so much Spanish here: except perhaps the language. It was here that the ancient tribes of the Guanches, the indigenous inhabitants of the islands, lived. True Canarians do not consider themselves Spaniards and are even offended if they are called that.

Why is the Canaries called the islands of eternal spring? Here, the temperature is approximately the same all year round: not too hot, set off by pleasant ocean freshness, truly spring. 13 climatic zones are concentrated here and the highest point of Spain is located - the stunning and mighty volcano Teide. Most tourists from Russia come to the island. He is definitely good. But other islands of the archipelago also deserve attention. There are seven in total:

• Lanzarote;
• Homer;
• Palm;
• Hierro.

If you ask me to name the best island in the Canary Islands, I will say: Fuerteventura. But you might like some other one the most. All of them are beautiful and unforgettable in their own way! But my heart belongs to Fuerteventura - the island of freedom, wind, flying sails of kitesurfers and happiness.

Many people think that the Canary Islands are named after canaries. In fact, everything is exactly the opposite. These little birds were first seen here and named after the islands. And the archipelago is named after dogs. The Spanish word for dog is el can. There are several versions of why dogs were given such an honor. Someone believes that ancient wild dogs lived here, someone says that the locals considered the dog to be a sacred animal. Nevertheless, the fact remains: the islands bear their name thanks to the dogs.

How to get there

The question of how to get to the Canary Islands is the easiest and most difficult at the same time.

The simplest - because there are not so many options. The most difficult - because most of them are expensive or inconvenient. Since the islands are located in the Atlantic Ocean, practically the only way to get to them from the "mainland" is by plane. But between the islands you can both fly and travel by ferry.

By plane

In the Canaries, there are airports on the following islands - Tenerife, Hierro, Las Palmas.

There are 2 airports in Tenerife - North (Los Rodeos) and South (Tenerife Sur Reina Sofia). north airport serves flights arriving from Spain and departing to other islands. Yuzhny, in turn, is international and flights from Russia come here. There are many options for flights with transfers, but the most convenient direct flights from Russia () are carried out by 2 companies - Aeroflot and charter flights from Vim-Avia.

How long is the flight to the Canary Islands?

Travel time is 7 hours. But such a direct flight will cost about 500 EUR (34,000 rubles) per person in both directions from Moscow and a little more expensive from St. Petersburg (usually with a transfer in Moscow). You can see more accurate prices.

Clubs and nightlife

If you want to hang out, it's better to go to youth resorts or to Corralejo on. Although no city in the Canary Islands can be called a truly "discotheque", nevertheless, this area suggests a more relaxed and peaceful holiday.

1. In Lanzarote, nightlife lovers flock to Puerto del Carmen. In Corralejo, Fuerteventura, it's worth going to Mafaska or the Waikiki beach club.
2. In Gran Canaria, the main center of nightlife is Playa del Inglés and its surroundings.
3. But the leader among all discos in the Canaries is Lounge Cabana, which takes place in the Seaside Park in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

extreme sports

But there is more than enough extreme here: kitesurfing and windsurfing, many kilometers of hiking trips, paragliding, cycling routes, sailing, diving, horseback riding, camel rides - each island offers all these types of outdoor activities.

In Tenerife, divers can explore the El Condesito wreck, the Palmmar underwater cave, or explore the life of stingrays. The Arinaga Marine Reserve off the coast of Gran Canaria is of particular interest to lovers of the underwater world. And a Russian hydrofoil that sank here in 2003 is so well preserved that divers can get inside. Near Lanzarote there are coral caves Cathedral. It is worth considering that for independent diving you will need a diver's certificate, a dive book and a passport. Beginners are offered introductory dives to a shallow depth.

In Tenerife, the best place for surfers is Playa de las Americas and El Medano. On Gran Canaria - Playa del Aguila.

Souvenirs. What to bring as a gift

Aloe, aloe and more aloe. It is the main product of the islands and main souvenir which is brought from there. Of course, we are not talking about a plant in a pot, but about all kinds of products: creams and various care products, soap, jam - what they don’t do here!

In addition to aloe, cactus is more popular. Jam from it will also be a wonderful gift for friends and family. Shops on the embankments are full of standard souvenirs: magnets, cups, boomerangs, the nudist theme is played in an original way, and hipster buses are absolutely charming - from small toys to salt shakers and other utensils with their image.

How to move around the region

The two most convenient ways to travel within the islands are taxis and buses.
The two most convenient ways to travel between the islands are planes and ferries.

Taxi. What features exist

All taxis in the Canary Islands are official, the cars are painted white with a red stripe. If the taxi sign glows green, then the car is free.

Payment is by meter. Only the smallest islands have flat-rate taxis. As a rule, before the trip, the driver can roughly orient you how much the trip will cost.

The drivers are friendly, polite, ready to help, but unobtrusive.

Approximate prices: 1–1.5 EUR per kilometer. You can order a car in advance, or you can catch it on the street (it's even cheaper).

If you get into official taxis, and not to private traders, then there will be no problems!

Public transport

The Canary Islands has a well-developed bus network. The schedule can be found at bus stations and stops, you can take the bus along the entire route.

Buses run on schedule. This is a good, modern and comfortable transport. At bus stations, you can buy a ticket at the box office or from the driver, you can also get hooked at any stop and pay at the entrance. Inside the islands, we traveled by bus. I heard that there are situations when the bus simply does not come, but in my practice this has not happened. The buses always arrived on time and did not let us down.

Buses run between all major cities, the only thing to keep in mind is that the trip can be much longer than by taxi, as the bus will call in small villages and pick up passing passengers. But if you check the schedule ahead of time, you'll know what to expect.

Transport rental

Getting around each island by car is also very convenient. They are rented. But I don't drive, so it was irrelevant for me. In general, there are car rental points in every town and in every resort. Rental cars are available to travelers over 21 years of age. As a rule, a deposit is not required, but then you will not be able to leave the island by ferry. In some cases, you may still be asked for a deposit. Car rental costs from 30 EUR per day, but if you rent a car for a week or more, you can get a nice discount. By the way, you can order a car in advance, even from home, it will be provided to you right at the airport. You can see the prices for renting vehicles in convenient cities.

All the roads I have seen are free. But you need to be prepared for the fact that in some places the ideal track may end, and the primer will begin after it. Although recently almost all roads have been renovated and repairs are ongoing. The car must have full insurance. You will also need a passport and a driver's license.

A yellow line on the side of the road means you can't park here. Blue - that parking is paid.

You should not drive a car on Cofete (it is dangerous and no insurance covers the way there). In the Canary Islands, there are very large fines for violations of the rules traffic so it's best to follow them carefully.

Canary Islands: holidays with children

I vacationed in the Canary Islands without children, but it seems to me that they are well suited for holidays with kids: the mild climate practically does not cause acclimatization, it is safe, comfortable and predictable in a good way.

In addition, there are many ways to entertain children in the Canaries: these are Loro Park in Tenerife and the large Zoo on, and the Ostrich Farm, and the Camel Park, and the water park.

Ski holidays

5 things to do in this region

1. Hear the silence in the roar of the ocean.
2. Went to hiking along one of the routes of the national parks of the Canary Islands.
3. Experience the colonial architecture of one of the two (or both) capitals: Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
4. Watch birds, lizards, chipmunks or goats in the wild.
5. Feel like a tiny part of this huge, beautiful world!