A Canary Islands Primer

[Iberostar Hotels & Resorts]

If you’re fed up with the cold, of wearing layer after layer of clothing, of feeling as though your nose has got frostbite as soon as you step out the door in the morning and still haven’t decided where to spend your Easter holidays but definitely fancy some sun and sand… there’s no need to cross oceans – in fact you don’t even have to leave Europe, because the Canaries, our Fortunate Islands, are just around the corner.

Tenerife offers you the chance to enjoy a vast range of beaches with sands in all colours, the benefits of warm sunshine and its vast coastline. What’s more, its beaches are amongst the finest in the Canary Islands, and many have been awarded a Blue Flag by the Association of Environmental and Consumer Education (ADEAC) for the magnificent quality of their waters. El Bollullo, in the municipality of La Orotava, is an attractive and secluded beach of volcanic sand that is noted for its outstandingly clean water and peaceful atmosphere. El Duque is a fine golden sandy beach situated in one of the newest areas of Costa Adeje, backed by a magnificent sea promenade that links more than 8 beaches. Bathed by calm waters and almost 700 m long, Playa del Duque is guaranteed to delight visitors as it offers a full range of top quality services in magnificent surroundings.    Next to the small tourist town of El Médano lies the beach of the same name that stretches out for 2 km, making it the longest on the island. Its fine yellow sands are an invitation to enjoy a stroll down to the southern end of the beach, where a spectacular volcanic cone rises up. Known as Red Mountain, this is a protected natural space of major ecological value. Surf lovers will have the time of their lives on El Socorro, a beach that regularly hosts competitions and training sessions for lovers of this sport. The most popular beach in Tenerife’s capital city has to be Las Teresitas, situated just 7 km from the city centre. It’s the perfect choice for a family day out thanks to the fine golden sand and the breakwater that shelters it from the swell and currents. It is dotted with palm trees and also has showers, changing rooms and hammocks for visitors to use.

Yet Tenerife is not the only island that can be proud of its beaches: Gran Canaria also boasts paradisiacal beaches that will quickly make you forget all about that stress, bad weather, the cold and your problems.  The island has many famous beaches that attract large numbers of visitors, such as the vast expanse of sand in Maspalomas. This is a seemingly endless line of golden sand that stretches from Playa del Inglés as far as the base of the huge Maspalomas lighthouse, taking us through a desert of sand dunes that runs along the island’s southern coast. A truly breathtaking sight. The south of the island also has quiet beaches that are perfect for families, such as San Agustín, Playa de Amadores or the smaller Playa del Puerto de Mogán. A more lively alternative is the traditional tourist resort of Puerto Rico, which boasts the finest climate in the country. Indeed, the south of Gran Canaria is peppered with countless small beaches and they can all claim to be blessed by fine weather practically all year long. In the north of the island you’ll find small fishing villages such as Agaete, the perfect getaway for those eager to take things easy. And the capital, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, also in the north, is also proud of one of its greatest attractions: the cosmopolitan Playa de Las Canteras, a vast urban beach that draws bathers and surfers to the city.

Lanzarote offers a wide range of beaches, with something to suit all tastes: beaches with fine white, golden or even black sands, most of which are bathed by calm waters, although there are others with stronger waves that are perfect for windsurfing and surfing. The south of the island boasts the most spectacular beaches, such as Playa Blanca. Situated in an area of the same name, this attractive 50 m long beach offers visitors white sands and calm waters and is lined by numerous restaurants. To the east of Playa Blanca is Playa Dorada, 200 metres of delightful golden sands. Both beaches have been awarded EU Blue Flags. Yet the most stunning beaches in this part of the island are undoubtedly Punta del Papagayo , Playa Mujeres, Playa Papagayo and Puerto Muelas, all of exceptional beauty and bathed by turquoise waters. From these beaches it is possible to spot the neighbouring island of Fuerteventura and the islet of Lobos.

The island of Fuerteventura can not only claim to be one of the largest in the Canaries, but also to have some of the finest beaches in the entire archipelago. The beaches of Sotavento and Jandía are a paradise for scuba divers and nudists.  Playa del Corralejo with its vast expanses of fine sand and incredibly crystalline waters is, together with Jandía, one of the best in the Canaries.  The island of Lobos is a haven of tranquillity; this small unspoilt, uninhabited island is a surprising experience for visitors to such a highly developed tourist destination such as the Canary Islands. Just a few kilometres from the shiningly new modern hotel complexes, you will find a haven of utter calm and solitude, dotted with a just a few establishments serving food and drink.

In the Canary Islands, the good weather hardly ever takes a holiday, so come and enjoy some sunshine!

 

“The IBEROSTAR Hotels & Resorts hotels in the Canary Islands are situated in prime locations on the various islands, right on the beachfront and surrounded by natural landscapes. These 3, 4 and 5 star complexes boast magnificent facilities, as well as large and comfortable fully-equipped rooms and an impeccably professional service.”