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Canary Islands

Make the most of your time in Canary Islands, use the information provided on this web site by clicking on the links to plan your visit.

The group of seven Canary Islands is situated 100 kilometres off the west African coast and provides around 10 million tourists with a holiday destination each year. The islands mark the southernmost part of Europe and are well-developed economically with a particular, if unsurprising, focus on the tourist industry. The islands are: Tenerife which is the largest, Gran Canaria which is the most populous, El Hierro, La Palma, La Gomera, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura, which are altogether home to two million permanent inhabitants.
Due to an ongoing rivalry between the big guns Tenerife and Gran Canaria there are two provinces called Las Palmas and Santa Cruz de Tenerife. These are also the names of the two islands’ capital cities which hold joint capital status of the Canary Islands autonomous community as a whole. The islands received their statue of autonomy in 1982 after the implementation of the new Spanish Constitution. To add to the seven main islands there are several other islets.

Tenerife is home to El Teide which is Spain’s highest mountain at 3,700 metres. It is in fact a volcano and throws weight behind the idea that the islands are volcanic in origin. The islands host four of Spain’s 13 national parks and also feature four biosphere reserves. Their terrain covers dunes, forests, secluded bays, volcanoes and sandy beaches, while there are also beautifully clear waters; all around there is a rich diversity of plant, animal, bird and marine life. Travelling round the islands you will experience little villages with much history and culture, as well as a number of different activities to indulge in, including windsurfing and various other sports.

Spanish is the main language of the Canary Islands, although you can expect to hear different accents and dialects from island to island. Also, there is a whistled language still used by some called Silbo Gomero. Additionally, Canarians play an unusual sport called Salto del pastor which involves using poles to make huge leaps across the land.

Economically, the islands are, as already mentioned, largely dependent on tourism. The construction industry is also healthy, as well as the production of bananas and tobacco along with a number of other products. Olive oil is widely used in the local cuisine which serves to make dishes such as Papas arrugadas – a potato dish, and a sauce known as mojos.
 

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