Article for those who are just starting to plan their vacation in the Canary Islands. I’ll tell you what kind of vacation awaits you, the trends of vacationing on the archipelago today, the pros and cons, and what peculiarities there are. The Canaries are not your typical beach resort, as many believe. Read on in this article to learn all about it.

Vacation in the Canary Islands: General Points

To sum it up, here are the key points to have the right picture in your mind:

  • The Canary Islands are part of Spain and Europe, but looking at the map, you wouldn’t think so. Geographically, they belong to Africa. From the Canary Island of Fuerteventura to Africa, the Sahara Desert, and Morocco, it’s just 100 km across the strait. Find out where the Canaries are on the world map in detail in this article.
  • The Canaries are called the “Islands of Eternal Spring,” with warm and dry winters and mild summers. Except for a couple of weeks of heat each year, it’s dry and comfortable year-round. You can vacation in the Canaries all year round, all 12 months, but there are some nuances. Learn more about the season and weather on the archipelago for tourists, and find out what “calima” is and what danger it poses.
vacation in the canary islands
Both photos were taken at popular resorts in February. If beach vacationing in the Canary Islands is important to you, it’s essential to choose the right resort. The top photo shows the main public beach of Santa Cruz de la Palma on the island of La Palma, and the bottom one shows Amadores Beach on Gran Canaria. There are resorts where beach vacationing is possible all 12 months of the year.

Important to know:

The Canary archipelago has many economic advantages compared to mainland Spain – it’s a special economic zone. As a result, it has some of the lowest prices in Europe for basic consumer goods. For example, gasoline is 20% cheaper than in the rest of Europe, as are groceries and clothing. But this doesn’t apply to tourism; tourism is the engine of the islands’ economy. Accommodation for tourists or dinner at a restaurant will cost the same as in an average European country. All about prices in the Canaries for tourists.

Trends in Canary Islands Vacationing: Popular Activities on the Islands

I’ll tell you what type of vacation is popular among tourists in the Canaries today. Many think that the Canaries are all about beaches and beach vacations, but when they start preparing for their vacation, it turns out that’s not entirely true.

  • Yes, beach vacationing is prevalent here, and it’s one of the main types of vacationing. But for those who only need the beach and are ready to lie on it for a week without anything else, the Canaries are not the best destination. You’ll find the top Canary beaches in this article, and you’ll read about the downsides of beach vacations in the section below.
canaries travel trends
There are many wild beaches on the islands, more than equipped and infrastructural ones. But on these wild beaches, swimming is not advisable.
  • On the Canary Islands, on any island, there are many natural, architectural, and world-class entertainment attractions. Here are a couple of examples:
    • Teide Volcano – the highest peak in Spain
    • Caldera de Taburiente National Park on the island of La Palma and its eight-kilometer caldera
    • The mega-cool Las Canteras Beach in the capital of Gran Canaria
    • Architecture – mountain villages and towns in the medieval Spanish style.
    • And for entertainment: water parks, zoos. On the island of Tenerife, there’s Siam Park, a water park that has been voted the best in the world 9 times in a row. It’s a mega-cool water park and a must-visit. About water parks and lava pools in the Canaries (features and coordinates), read the link.

The Canaries are far from just beaches:

Almost 90% of tourists rent a car on the islands. Cheap gasoline, cheap cars, a huge list of cool locations and attractions to see. The top 25 attractions in the Canaries.
vacationing in canaries
The unique two-hundred-year-old Spanish village of Masca in the remote mountains of Tenerife. There’s nothing to do here without a car. And there are many such places on the islands.
  • Food and alcohol. Canarian cuisine is hearty, tasty, and diverse, with unique dishes and sauces, and the number of alcoholic beverages produced here will surprise many. There are about 10 types of drinks made from bananas alone: liqueurs, wines, frizzante. Everything about Canarian national cuisine and what a tourist should try
  • And also, the Canaries are a paradise for wine lovers. You can see unique vineyards on the slopes of volcanoes with your own eyes, visit dozens of private wineries absolutely free, taste local wine with goat cheese for 2-4 euros, and buy a couple of bottles of local wine. Wine tourism is a whole tourist direction on the islands
canary tourism
In the photo, one of the dozens of vineyards on the island of Lanzarote on the slope of a volcano. This is how they protect the vineyard from the wind. And all the way to the horizon – it’s a vineyard. Vacationing in the Canary Islands is not just about the beach; it’s primarily about active tourism.
beach vacation canary islands
Los Organos basalt cliffs on the island of La Gomera. These cliffs are only visible from the sea; you can’t approach them from the land. On a sea tour to Los Organos, you can often spot dolphins.

Vacationing in the Canary Islands for Active Tourists:

And the most popular type of vacation in the Canaries is hiking. Mountains, volcanoes, stunning untouched nature (in some places), millions of tourists come here to hike in national parks. There are hundreds of hiking trails on each island, and each one is more beautiful than the last. By the way, there’s a hiking route – climbing Teide to a height of 3718 meters. It’s a beautiful achievement for enthusiasts.

Drawbacks of Vacationing in the Canary Islands

I’m often asked where it’s better to vacation, in the Canaries, Madeira, or the Azores. You’ll find a detailed answer in the article link, but in short: these islands have a lot in common, but there are differences too. There’s no definitive answer, but the climate and diversity of the Canary Islands, along with the presence of active volcanoes, attract many to choose the Canaries.

However, vacationing in the Canary Islands does have several drawbacks. There are definitely more positives, and they outweigh all the negatives, but you should also be aware of the drawbacks:

  • Cold ocean all year round. The Canaries are bathed by the cold Canary Current. The water here never warms up. I’ll add strong waves, jellyfish, many pebble beaches, and dangerous rip currents.
  • There are far more wild beaches than equipped and infrastructural ones, where there are breakwaters against waves, where there are no currents or sea urchins. And you don’t swim much on wild beaches, especially if you’re traveling with children.
  • A lot of tourists, especially in the season. With 2 million inhabitants in the archipelago, there are over 14 million tourists annually. As a result, equipped beaches are overcrowded, parking is a huge problem, and there are queues at all popular attractions.
  • Relatively expensive daily rental of accommodation. In the season, finding a room in a hotel or apartment for less than 100 euros per day for two is quite a task, especially if you want to live closer to the beach. And even up to 150 euros, it’s not like there’s a plethora of options.
cons of canaries vacation
There are far more advantages to vacationing in the Canaries than disadvantages. These types of activities are widespread (though not on all islands).

In conclusion: vacationing in the Canary Islands is wonderful. If you prepare well and choose the right time, it will be one of the best vacations of your life. The main thing is to choose the right resort and not be afraid to come here in winter. And I also advise everyone not to stay on one island; on Tenerife, as most people do, explore other islands too—they’re no worse, and maybe even better. If you only need a beach, it’s better to go to Egypt or Turkey, as the Canary Islands offer a mix of active and beach vacations.

Useful links to help you plan your dream trip to Canary Islands:

  • Car Rental: LocalRent or DiscoverCars – the most popular car rental platforms.

  • Accommodation:
    • Trip.com – the largest accommodation booking platform.

    • or TripAdvisor – to compare prices among other platforms and choose the best one.

  • Budget-friendly vacation packages to Spain and Canary Islands: CheapOair.

  • Tours and activities: GetYourGuide or Viator – hundreds of offers, whales and dolphins, entrance tickets with discounts.

  • eSIM and internet: Airalo.

  • Flights: WayAway compares prices among dozens of companies.

  • Travel Insurance: EKTA.