The Most Popular Canary Islands

Located just west of North Africa, the Canary Islands are a very popular holiday destination, with nearly four million Brits hitting their shores every year. Combining beautiful weather with stunning beaches and fantastic volcanic landscapes, it's not difficult to see why the archipelago has become such a firm favourite with the British tourist. Most tourists choose the largest island of Tenerife as their preferred destination, but other neighbouring islands, particularly Gran Canaria and Lanzarote are also very popular. If you're interested in a holiday to the Canary Islands, then here's a quick guide to its three most popular islands. 

Playa De Papagayo, Lanzarote, Canary Islands, Spain Buy at AllPosters.com

Lanzarote The easternmost of the Canary Islands, Lanzarote is famed for its particularly lunar landscapes caused by volcanic eruptions and a subsequent lack of erosion caused by the dry climate. Amongst the most stunning volcanic features on the island is the longest volcanic tunnel in the world – the Atlantida Tunnel, which is over 7km long and houses some incredible caves complexes, notably La Cueva de los Verdes.  Despite the volcanic nature of the island, Lanzarote has several white beaches such as Playa Blanca, located at the southern tip. A refreshing change to most tourist hotspots, local authority regulations mean there is no billboard advertising and no high rise buildings, with the only exception being the Grand Hotel in Arrecife.

Gran Canaria

Gran Canaria is often called a 'miniature continent' due to the various climates and landscapes on the island, including long golden beaches, huge sand dunes, green ravines and picturesque villages. Circular in shape, a third of the island is under protection as a UNESCO biosphere reserve. The north of the island normally has a cooler climate than the rest of the island, and tourists favour the south, particularly the town of Maspalomas and its stunning beach and surrounding sand dunes.  Topping the list of must do activities here is a camel ride through the dunes and the nearby beautiful Valley of Fataga. There is also a large zoo and water park – Aqua Sur – in the town. For a slightly more cultural day trip, including a visit to the 16th century cathedral Santa Ana, head to the capital Las Palmas. This city is particularly famous for being one of the stopping points of Christopher Columbus on his voyage to the New World. 

Tenerife Tenerife is the largest and most popular of the Canary Islands, with some 2.8 million visitors a year. The most popular tourist spot on the island is Playa de Las Americas on the southwest coast, with its long beach, shops and nightspots, including some large bars and nightclubs. To the north is the sleepy village of Los Gigantes, looking out onto colossal cliffs that soar out of the Atlantic Ocean. Much of the centre of the island is taken up by the Mount Teide National Park, which is the most visited tourist attraction in the Canary Islands.  The focal point of the park is the huge Mount Teide, standing at 3,718 metres, making it the third highest volcano in the world and the tallest mountain in Spain. Along with these attractions, visitors should be sure to visit Loro Parque in Puerto de la Cruz to the north – the island's best bird park and zoo.

North Coast and Mount Teide, Tenerife, Canary Islands Buy at AllPosters.com