| Canary Islands ((es)Canarias) | |
 | |
| Information | |
| Country | Spain, Morocco Spain, Morocco |
|---|---|
| Area | 7 447 km² |
| Population | 2 127 685 hab. () |
| Density | 285,71 inhab./km² |
| Postal code | CN |
| Internet suffix | .ic |
| Spindle | UTC ± 00: 00, UTC 01:00 |
| Location | |
 28 ° 6 ′ 0 ″ N 15 ° 24 ′ 0 ″ W | |
| Official site | |
The Canary Islands are located in the Atlantic Ocean, off the Morocco. They are part of theSpain.
Understand
Regions
 Main Canary Islands
|
To go
By plane
- 1 Fuerteventura Airport (IATA : FUE, ICAO: GCFV, Fuerteventura Airport, El Matorral Airport) (5 km south of Puerto del Rosario, on the island of Fuerteventura)
- 2 La Palma Airport (IATA : SPC, ICAO: GCLA, Aeropuerto de La Palma) in Breña Baja and Villa de Mazo (8 km south of Santa Cruz de La Palma, on the island of La Palma)
Usually tourists come by plane (charters or regular), arrival destinations are international airports (Tenerife North: Los Rodeos Airport - Tenerife South: Aeropuerto Reina Sofía).
Arrivals are also possible at Las Palmas (Gran Canaria) from Paris, via the company Binter Canarias.Binter Canarias is also a company that allows you to travel between the islands.
On a boat
Maritime ferry connections allow easy access at any time of the year to the Canary Islands from theAndalusia... located around 15 hours drive from the French border:
- since Cadiz : towards Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Santa Cruz de La Palma, Arrecife and Puerto Rosario
- since Huelva : towards Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and Santa Cruz de Tenerife
The crossing lasts between 24 and 48 hours and it is advisable to book in advance if you plan to go there in summer.
Circulate
By car
As it is an archipelago belonging to theSpain, the highway code applies in the same way.
Reminder of speed limits:
- city : 50 km / h
- route: 90 km / h
- Expressway : 100 km / h
- highway: 120 km / h
Two warning triangles and as many fluorescent vests as there are passengers present are compulsory on board vehicles. The phone while driving is prohibited even with a "hands-free" kit ... only the "Bluetooth" system is authorized.
In order to cope with the increasing number of visitors from year to year, the main islands are setting up a real motorway network, the use of which is completely free. Service areas equivalent to those we know on the continent (gas station with shop and cafeteria, etc.) mark out each of these axes. In addition, refueling in the Canary Islands is less expensive than in the rest of Spain and the most common bank cards are accepted, with in addition a continuous opening day and night in some establishments ... take advantage of it! !!
Moreover, the road network is against all expectations, in excellent condition and the signage is very present ... from the center of large cities to the path furthest from any civilization. Beware of some mountain roads that are devoid of guardrails, just be careful. Finally, some sections of the road can turn out to be as steep as they are vertiginous ... but the magic of the landscapes will quickly make you forget all that!
Roads and expressways are listed by numbers, preceded by two letters referring to the Island on which you are traveling:
- GC-xx for the island of Gran Canaria
- TF-xx for the island of Tenerife
- GM-xx for la Gomera
- LP-xx for La Palma
- HI-xx for El Hierro
- FV-xx for Fuerteventura
- LZ-xx for Lanzarote
If you do not come with your vehicle, it is very easy to rent one but here too ... reservation recommended if you plan to come to the archipelago in summer. Only certain agencies allow their vehicles to be moved from one island to another, but under two conditions: deposit a larger deposit and undertake to return the said vehicle to its point of departure. Sometimes it pays to rent a different vehicle on each island you plan to visit ... do your math!
Speak
Learn a littleSpanish is strongly recommended, because theEnglish is far from being generalized, and even less French.
See
You should not be confined to visiting just one of the islands of the archipelago. Each has its own specificities.
- Gran Canaria : the village of Teror (small market, church, crafts, excellent cheese), the dunes of Maspalomas, El Roque Nublo, Las Canteras beach in Las Palmas, the Bañaderos ...
- Lanzarote : La montaña del Fuego (the mountain of fire), the Cueva de los Verdes, el Golfo, Los Jameos del Agua ... splendid volcanic landscapes, cultures on lava, the island of Graciosa
- Fuerteventura : Goats, immense beaches, Pajara and its "Aztec" church, grilled fish
- Tenerife : the Teide volcano, with its 3 718 m. is the highest mountain in Spain
- La Gomera : Garajonay National Park, los Órganos ...
- La Palma : El Roque de los Muchachos, the Caldera de Taburiente ...
- El Hierro : Valverde, el Golfo, las Sabinas ...
Buy
Taxes are lower than in the rest of the EEC, but beware of counterfeits. Gift ideas: Aloe vera, jewelry, crafts, etc.
Eat
Grilled fish accompanied by 'papas arrugadas' ('wrinkled potatoes') in sauces ('Mojo Rojo', 'Mojo Verde') are a delight.
Have a drink / Go out
For clubers, the south of Tenerife is full of nightclubs, so interesting info for everyone including those who want to avoid getting into an "atmosphere Ibiza".
Housing
There are alternatives to hotel complexes: campsites (few), rooms with locals, inns (pensiones).
To work
Mainly in tourism, but there are volunteering offers related to medicine, ecology ...
Communicate
The code is for Spain (34), preceded by 00 for calls from France. Internet cafes generally have enough bandwidth (VOIP).
European roaming
Since June 15, 2017, "European roaming" has been introduced. It allows all SIM card holders belonging to one of the European member countries to maintain the same pricing conditions as in the country of origin.
Telephone calls and Internet browsing are valid at no additional cost in all European countries, unless authorized by national authorities (generally minor operators) or when a data Gbit threshold is exceeded, which increases year by year. To use this service, simply activate the roaming option on your mobile phone.
The participating countries are those ofEuropean Union (Germany, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Croatia, Denmark, Spain, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary , Ireland , Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Czech Republic, Romania, UK, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden), those ofEuropean Economic Area (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) and some Oversea territories (Azores, Canary Islands, Gibraltar, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Madeira, Martinique, Mayotte, The meeting, Saint-Martin).
Manage the day-to-day
Health
European citizens
Citizens ofEuropean Union (EU), who fall unexpectedly ill during a temporary stay, studies or a professional stay, are entitled to the same medical care as in their country of residence. It is always useful to take the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) which constitutes physical proof of your insurance in an EU country. However, if you do not have the card with you or if you cannot use it (as in the case of private assistance), you are still entitled to treatment, but you are obliged to pay the costs on the spot. , then you will ask for a refund on your return.
The countries in which health coverage is provided are all those that are members of theEuropean Union (Germany, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Croatia, Denmark, Spain, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary , Ireland , Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Czech Republic, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden), those ofEuropean Economic Area (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway), the Swiss, the UK and the Oversea territories member of the European Union (Azores, Canary Islands, Gibraltar, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Madeira, Martinique, Mayotte, The meeting, Saint-Martin).
security
Nothing special like everywhere, be careful not to leave property in plain sight.
Government travel advice
Canada (Government of Canada)
Respect
Nature, people and yourself.
