Canary Islands (Spanish Islas Canarias, eng. Canary Islands) - belonging to Spain an archipelago of mountainous islands of volcanic origin consisting of seven large and several smaller islands located in the Atlantic, northwest of the coast Morocco. Nearby are also Cape Verde and belonging to Portugal islands: Azores and Madeira.
General information
Canary Islands are among the places most frequently visited by tourists (mainly European). The tourist season here lasts all year round and paradoxically, dates are more popular in the winter months. It is perfectly understandable that the people of northern Europe want to extend their summer vacation.
The islands owe their popularity to undeniable advantages: a warm, subtropical climate, the richness of nature and the natural environment, and a rich base offering many attractions. El Hierro, La Palma, La Gomera, Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura and Lanzarote - each of the islands has various tourist advantages and is unique in its own way.
The most important facts: The Canary Islands have an area of 7293 km² and a population of over 2 million. Tenerife (806 thousand) Gran Canaria (730,000), while they have much fewer inhabitants Lanzarote - 97 thousand, Fuerteventura - 87 thousand and El Hiero - 10,000 Many even smaller islands are uninhabited or only temporarily inhabited.
The most important cities are: Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (377,000 inhabitants) on the island of Gran Canaria and Santa Cruz de Tenerife (222,000 inhabitants) i San Cristóbal de La Laguna (150,000 inhabitants), which are located in Tenerife.
Regions
The main islands of the archipelago Canary Islands this:
- Tenerife - the largest island and tourist showcase of the archipelago. Although there are mountainous areas (with the highest peak El Pico del Teide 3718 m above sea level), this terrain is very diverse. The coastline is varied with pebble and sand beaches of various colors. Capital city - Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
- Gran Canaria - the third largest and most populous island, one of the capitals of the Canary Islands is located there - Las Palmasthe other is in Tenerife.
- Fuerteventura - an island offering more opportunities for active recreation than others in this archipelago. (e.g. windsurfing)
- La Gomera
- La Palma
- Lanzarote
- El Hierro
Drive
By plane
- El HierroEl Hierro (IATA: VDE, ICAO :);
- Puerto del RosarioFuerteventura (IATA: FUE, ICAO :)
- Las Palmas de Gran CanariaGran Canaria (IATA: LPA, ICAO :)
- San Sebastián de la GomeraLa Gomera (IATA: GMZ, ICAO :)
- Santa Cruz de La PalmaLa Palma (IATA: SPC, ICAO :)
- ArrecifeLanzarote (IATA: ACE, ICAO :)
- Santa Cruz de TenerifeTenerife Norte (IATA: TFN, ICAO :)
- Santa Cruz de TenerifeTenerife Sur (IATA: TFS, ICAO :)
The Canary Islands are Spanish territory. There is regular air communication between mainland Spain and the islands, and here we can expect the cheapest tickets. Low cost airlines offer flights from Poland (e.g. Modlin) to the Canary Islands (as of September 2014).
If you do not want to use the full offer of travel agencies, you can:
- use only a charter flight,
- fly with low cost airlines with a change, e.g. from Polish airports to:
- London and other British airports (hereinafter the low-cost airlines Easyjet, Monarch, Thomas Cook, Ryanair and others)
- Stockholm,
- Oslo,
- Brussels,
- Barcelona (El Prat), Madrid or other Spanish airports (hereinafter the low cost airline Vueling)
By ship
Ferry connections and high-speed vessels to the mainland and between the islands.
Worth seeing
The islands are famous for their beaches and warm climate, which allows Europeans to swim all year round. There is a large "entertainment industry" on the islands (bars, discos, leisure companies). It is worth noting, however, that the islands offer so much more. A few kilometers from the beaches there are quiet nooks, real villages, amazing geological formations, exotic vegetation, monuments, breathtaking paths over the cliffs.
Diving
In addition to sandy beaches (relatively few), there are rocky places, where a mask is enough to admire the richness of underwater life. Better also get a pipe and fins, shoes for walking on sharp rocks / sea urchins are useful. There are several dozen clubs / diving equipment rentals on the islands. For several dozen euros you can make an appointment try-dive - a trial diving lesson, during which we will get to know the underwater world.