With long hot summers and warm winters, it’s not hard to see why the Canary Islands remain a popular holiday destination for us Brits. And although a holiday to one of the islands (well, to the ones with international airports, anyway) is fairly common, the landscapes you can find there aren’t common at all. In fact, they’re often other-worldly!
So this post is dedicated to the incredible landscapes you can find – from Tenerife right down to the smallest island, El Hierro.
You can find out more about the main gateways to all seven islands and your options for Canary Islands car hire by going to: www.carjet.com/car-hire/canary-islands. We also have more information on travel between the islands at the bottom of this post.
From glorious beaches to amazing natural landscapes
Black sand, white sand, golden sand and rocky – there are beaches galore to enjoy. Here’s a few of our favourites from Tenerife, Fuerteventura and Lanzarote.
Playa Las Teresitas, Tenerife
Close to Tenerife’s capital is the stunning Playa Las Teresitas. Its proximity to the biggest city in the Canary Islands make it a fab place to lounge during the day and enjoy the nearby nightlife afterwards. Tenerife is the biggest and most visited of the islands. And you’ve got plenty of options for picking up a car hire too. For more information on them and to get a quote, visit: www.carjet.com/car-hire/tenerife
Playa Jandia, Fuerteventura
Photo by Dirk Vorderstraße
Beaches don’t get more heavenly than those in Fuerteventura. The flattest of the Canary Islands, Fuerteventura boasts more white and golden sandy beaches than the others. And they go on for miles and miles! The flatness of the beaches mean the surrounding waters are generally shallow so perfect for families. Above is one of the beaches in the Jandia coast in the south of the island.
To book a Fuerteventura car hire, go to: www.carjet.com/car-hire/fuerteventura
El Golfo, Lanzarote
For something truly other-worldly, Lanzarote’s El Golfo coast is hard to beat! As you can see from the above pic, the turquoise blues of the Atlantic ocean against the reds, greys and blacks of the landscape make for a dramatic setting. It’s no wonder really – this beach is actually part of a half-submerged volcano crater! Just beyond the red rocks in this pic is another black sand beach with a bright green lake. Located on the edges of the Timanfaya National Park, El Golfo is about half an hour’s drive from Lanzarote Airport and the capital, Arrecife. There is a small car park closer to the town of El Golfo and from there, it’s a short downhill and rocky walk to the beach. For low-cost Lanzarote car hire, visit: www.carjet.com/car-hire/lanzarote
Sand dunes at Maspalomas, Gran Canaria
Photo by Tony Haex
There aren’t very many places you could find yourself in the desert by the sea but head to the sand dunes of Maspalomas and that’s exactly where you’ll find yourself! Don’t forget your camera for some seriously surreal shots like this one by Tony Haex. The Maspalomas also features several beach resorts including Águila, San Agustín and Playa del Inglés. Maspalomas is just half an hour’s drive from Gran Canaria Airport.
For Gran Canaria car hire locations and to get a quote, visit: www.carjet.com/car-hire/gran-canaria
Mount Teide, Tenerife
Photo by Crowbared
I really, really do LOVE being by the sea but with spectacular interiors, it really, really is worth driving inland. Distances may not seem that far but with often mountainous and windy roads, a journey inland could be an adventure in itself. Here’s a view of Mount Teide in the Teide National Park in central Tenerife. Due to the unique weather conditions (meaning clear and dark skies) of the Canary Islands, you’re also in one of the best places in the world for star gazing.
Timanfaya National Park, Lanzarote
Photo by Son of Groucho
Mars? Nope! This is the Timanfaya National Park in Lanzarote. With fab beaches and beautiful parks, it’s easy to forget that volcanoes wreaked havoc here. Thankfully, the volcanoes on the islands (perhaps with the exception of a few on El Hierro) are no longer active. And although the biggest eruptions recorded happened well over two centuries ago, you can see the impact of them today in the Timanfaya National Park in Lanzarote. You can tour the park and its ‘fire mountains’ as part of an organised bus tour by the park when you enter. The price of the tour is included in the park entry ticket. There are also a few guided walks you can do within the park but you’ll need to organise this in advance. Visit the National Parks website for more information and to book.
Get thoroughly off the beaten track… Visit La Gomera, La Palma & El Hierro
The smaller islands of La Gomera, La Palma and El Hierro are more difficult to get to but make that extra effort and you’ll be rewarded with incredible sights with far fewer people. And with daily inter-island flights and ferry trips, you could easily do a day trip to one of these islands. It’ll be an added adventure!
It’s worth noting that as well as having car hire locations at all seven islands, it is also possible to take your car hire from island to island by ferry.
Valle Gran Rey, La Gomera
Photo by Ingo Ronner
La Gomera is the greenest of the Canary Islands. And there’s no better way to experience it than a drive through Valle Gran Rey (don’t miss the viewpoint at Mirador del Palmarejo) or visiting the Garajonay National Park. Still considering La Gomera? This is a great piece on it from the Telegraph – La Gomera: The quiet Canary.
Cascada de los Colores, La Palma
Cascada de los Colores means Waterfall of Colours and I think it’s rather apt! You can find it in the centre of the island within the Caldera de Taburiente National Park. You can only reach the waterfall by foot and if you’re a good walker, your feet are the best way to explore the park through its numerous hiking trails. More information on hiking trails on the island can be found at www.senderosdelapalma.com. The trail that features the waterfall is PR LP 13.3. and starts at the Caldera de Taburiente National Park’s visitor centre.
Pozo de las Calcosas, El Hierro
Photo by Jose Mesa
El Hierro is the smallest of the islands. Like the other Canaries, the geography here is notably mountanous and volcanic. It also has a largely rocky coastline meaning there are fewer beaches. However what you will find more of on El Hierro are natural pools. They are still on the coast but they feature a rocky barrier separating it from the ocean (except, of course, when the sea’s rough!). The natural pool above is Pozo de las Calcosas near Valverde in the north of the island.
Travel between the islands
Binter Canarias is the airline that serves all the islands – however, depending on the islands you want to visit, you may need to make a connecting flight from one of the other islands. Given that Tenerife is the biggest and most populous island, it’s no surprise that it’s also the best connected island – in general but especially if you want to visit La Gomera, La Palma or El Hierro.
Ferries serving the islands are Fred Olsen, Naviera Armas, Transmediterranea and there is also the Garajonay Express, which serves several ports in La Gomera abd Los Cristianos in Tenerife. You can choose to take your Canary Islands car hire onboard the ferry too. We’ve got great value car hire at all seven islands… Click here to get a quote and book yours.