Canary Islands Holidays - Which Sunshine Island Is Best For You

You may have heard of the Canary Islands before as this historic group of islands has helped forge the exploration of the new world and beyond for centuries before modern travel was even conceived. Also the islands feature in many legends and are even thought to be the lost home of Atlantis. But if you have not been on holiday there yet, then you are in for a pleasant surprise.

Canary Islands

This small island chain consists of seven Islands with principally 3 main holiday islands which are Tenerife, Gran Canaria and Lanzarote. That said the other islands in the group are also well known if not as well travelled so we'll concentrate on the main three.

Tenerife is the largest island in the chain and also Spain's most populated island overall, so if you like the heady buzz and busier holiday style then this is definitely one island for your shortlist. The island offers plenty do with its own golf resort if you simply can't tear yourself away from the greens even when on holiday.

Or if you prefer a more water sport based vacation then the island also offers some outstanding Scuba diving locations where even novices are welcomed, and where you'll experience very memorable dive trips and get the chance to up close and personal with the marine wildlife.

Perhaps the biggest attraction on Tenerife though is the world's third largest volcano which dominates the islands scenery. Visitors to the island simply should not miss the opportunity to visit Mount Teide while they are here.

Close by is the neighbouring island of Gran Canaria which although slightly less crowded and smaller too is also quite unique in many ways and has its very own character. The island has been described as a mini continent all on its own due to the climatic variation across the island, and if viewed from the air (or on Google maps) it is reminiscent of a wagon wheel in shape even down to the radiating spokes from which it got its original name of El Rondel.

Gran Canaria offers excellent beaches for the sun lovers and plenty of outdoor activities too, so never a dull moment unless you want to relax instead. Outdoor hiking types will enjoy exploring the Gran Canaria cliffs which are honeycombed with caves of varying sizes and if mountain climbing is your thing, the growth in the sport here will also grab your attention with an every increasing number of documented climbs.

But for a true taste of the real Canary Islands then the destination of choice just has to be Lanzarote, which in contrast to the other islands has managed to retain the typical Canarian character and charm of the Canary Islands. This is principally due to one man (Cesar Manrique) who has carved out the development of the island literally, and managed during his lifetime to ensure that tourist developments did not become a carbuncle on the very fabric of the island.

All of the islands to a degree share the same wonderful climate that epitomises the west African coast which is hardly surprising as this is the islands closest mainland neighbour, but Lanzarote scores best here too as it enjoys a year round average temperature of 20; which is not too tardy at all, and most of the time in the summer months you'll find it's usually much hotter than this.

If you find that the heat can be overwhelming though you'll be pleased to know that extremes of heat are often tempered by the balmy trade Winds that blow off the Atlantic. This ensures that you'll have the ideal weather to enjoy the many golden sandy beaches that Lanzarote offers.

Once you decide to visit you'll almost certainly enjoy deciding which part of the island to stay in as this will also give you the ideal opportunity to discover the many hidden delights that the island has too offer. On top of that the choice of accommodation available is second to none but some resorts are better suited than others if accommodation choice is your main holiday driver.

For example Playa Blanca was developed during the 1990's and offers a winning combination of great weather and fantastic beaches and is also allied with an excellent selection of affordable and luxury hotels as well as a good selection of Lanzarote holiday villas.

Puerto del Carmen remains a firm favourite and its appeal as a holiday resort is firmly established as a result of its wonderful climate especially for water sport enthusiasts. The town takes full advantage of its location on the eastern coast of Lanzarote where it is fortunate to be sheltered by several volcanoes from the prevailing Atlantic winds. These conditions mean that visitors can thoroughly enjoy the golden sandy beaches that run along the entire seafront, whether they are swimming, snorkelling, sun bathing or simply young children splashing about at the waters edge.

Costa Teguise also remains an attractive holiday hot spot and boasts wide avenues which give it a spacious open plan feel. The resort is also home to some great beaches as well not surprisingly, such as the main stretch of sand at Playa Cucharas.

If you manage to tear yourself away from the main holiday resorts though you'll find that the island is full of surprises and attractions many of which lie well off the beaten track many of which are not suited to coaches, so visitors are well advised to hire a car and explore what the island has to offer, especially in the north which is still widely regarded as the true heart of Lanzarote.

Whichever of the Canary Island you choose to take your next vacation on you'll find something to entertain the whole family, but none will give you the true Canarian flavour like Lanzarote.