A Taste of Elegant Spain Combined With a Relaxed Island Vibe
The Canary Islands are a desirable tourist destination for Western Europeans and worldwide travelers. With seven distinct volcanic islands, a subtropical climate, and gorgeous beaches and landscapes, the Canary Islands provide an unparalleled travel experience.
The last thing you want when returning from a vacation is to have travel regrets. Never fear, though; with this list of things to do on your Canary Islands vacation, you’ll be sure to come back feeling like you fully experienced everything the islands had to offer.
Aside from lounging by the pool or on the beach, there are a number of outdoor activities and attractions available year-round due to the favorable weather. Let’s get started!
Timanfaya National Park
On the island of Lanzarote, a unique natural occurrence awaits you in Timanfaya National Park. The result of a series of volcanic eruptions in the 18th and 19th centuries, the park has the appearance of a Martian landscape.
Park guides will demonstrate the power of the continuous underground volcanic activity with dry brush and water, which catches fire and creates a steaming geyser, respectively. Park admission also includes a bus tour with audio commentary by a priest who witnessed the last volcanic eruptions.
Scuba Diving in Tenerife
As with many island nations, the Canary Islands are popular dive spots for locals and tourists alike. Scuba diving is available off any of the islands, but the widest variety of sites are at the largest island, Tenerife.
Diving is a popular Tenerife attraction for good reason. There are a number of shipwrecks, underwater caverns and volcanic rock formations to be explored. Sea creatures such as stingrays, eels, octopuses and many species of fish are also observed at mid-depth dive sites around 25 meters.
Los Chuchos is probably the most popular site with divers because of its small shipwreck, which is a stingray hot spot.
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Playa de Las Canteras
A huge stretch of beach on Gran Canaria Island, Playa de Las Canteras is a popular spot to relax and have fun during a visit to the Canary Islands. Due to a naturally occurring rock formation and reef, a large chunk of the beach becomes a sandbar during low tide.
The shallowness of the water here is perfect for water sports, swimming and exploring tide pools, which makes it the perfect beach for a family outing.
Shopping in Las Palmas
To experience the best shopping the Canary Islands have to offer, head to the capital, Las Palmas. Each district in the area has something unique, whether you’re looking for big name brands or tiny boutiques.
In the Triana district, you’ll find locally designed swimwear, international clothing stores, and tons of cafe and tapas options. Mesa Y Lopez houses the massive El Corte Inglés department store, which, in addition to carrying designer clothing and accessories, also has a supermarket, gourmet foods department and onsite restaurant.
Fundación César Manrique
For a dash of culture during your stay, be sure to visit the Fundación César Manrique, also known as the Volcano House. Part art museum and part former artist residence, your visit will take you into the world of artist César Manrique and his fascination with the Canary Islands’ landscapes.
César built his house in the midst of a canyon of sorts, formed by solidified and layered lava. Enjoy a unique experience among the volcanic bubble tunnels where he built the lower half of the house, which also features a small tropical oasis with a swimming pool.
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Nightlife in Playa del Inglés
The Canary Islands are a favorite party destination for English speakers from Great Britain, Scandinavia and Western Europe. One of the hottest nightlife areas can be found in Playa del Inglés where there is something for every taste.
DJs spin a variety of dance music styles and international pop music in most cafes and bars, while live performances and karaoke take place in others.
For a true taste of the local party atmosphere, head to either the Plaza or Kasbah shopping centers where clubs compete for your patronage, and Spanish style music, dance and games take place until the wee hours of the morning.
Cueva de los Verdes
A true journey into the center of the Earth, the Cueva de los Verdes is a six-kilometer-long lava tunnel formed by the Corona volcano. Although only one to two kilometers of tunnel are open to the public, the experience is well worth the visit to stand in awe of Mother Nature’s beauty and mystery.
A guided tour will take you through the maze of tunnels, where you can see the “Jameo” structures that allow you to see into multiple caverns at once.
A built-in tourism center, auditorium and small lake also feature prominently during the tour, with creative lighting executed by artist Jesús Soto.
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Siam Park
Amusement park lovers will enjoy what’s been called the best water park in the world. Siam Park boasts 46 acres of beautiful landscaping, impressive water rides and even a Thai floating market.
Opened by the princess of Thailand, Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, in 2008, the entire park has a Siamese theme, which is reflected in everything from the building design to the lush vegetation to the Thai-style food in their onsite restaurants.
Whether you’re an adrenaline-seeking thrill junkie or a lazy river aficionado, this park has something everyone can enjoy.