4 Islands to Visit in the Canary Islands
The Canary Islands are a Spanish archipelago located off the northwest coast of Africa. I like to call them the “Hawaii of Spain” (ok - I didn’t actually come up with that but) they are known for their stunning natural landscapes, diverse wildlife, and rich cultural heritage.
How I Got There
As usual whenever I travel, I either take a United flight or search for the cheapest flight on kayak.com. I wrote an article about how I stick to flying on United as much as possible to cash out big with my miles.
For this trip, I booked on united.com and paid out of pocket.
How was the Wifi?
I had zero issues at our Airbnb(s). In fact, the Canary Islands has a very strong remote-working culture.
1. Tenerife
Tenerife is the largest of the Canary Islands and is known for its beautiful beaches, vibrant nightlife, and impressive volcanoes. We took the cable car to the summit of Mount Teide, which is Spain's highest peak.
The island is also home to several natural parks and reserves. The one thing to do in Tenerife is Teide National Park (picture aboved).
We stayed in Costa Adeje, which is the southern area of Tenerife.
Tenerife has an airport in the north (TFN) and an airport in the south (TNS). I took a taxi from the southern part of Tenerife and it took me an hour. That should illustrate the size of Tenerife because I underestimated it.
2. La Palma
Not to be confused with the “Gran Canaria de Las Palmas”. Because I didn't go to that island. I went to La Palma. SUPER confusing.
La Palma is a small island - the western-most of the islands. It's known for its rugged terrain, lush forests, and dramatic cliffs. We went to the Caldera de Taburiente National Park.
We also went to the caves of Candelaria. I believe it's one of the more underrated spots of the island, but we loved it.
This island is also where the volcano erupted in 2021. And yeah. We saw it.
Side note: This was my favorite island. It gave me strong Madeira vibes.
3. Fuerteventura
Surfing. Beach. Surfing. That is the theme of this island.
Fuerteventura is known for its beautiful beaches, turquoise waters, and surprisingly really solid nightlife. This is island is known for anything water sports related, including surfing, windsurfing, and kitesurfing.
And let's just say Kiwi was the best nightlife spot. I was impressed with how lively the nightlife was in the month of February.
4. Lanzarote
I almost think I should not include this island in this blog post, because the only thing that I did for the 4 days I was in Lanzarote was surf. But these were one of the best waves I've ever seen. I stayed near Famara beach and surfed 4 hours a day.
I heard Timanfaya National Park was great to see, but can't confirm lol.
Closing Remarks
The Canary Islands were a fantastic destination - especially considering that I was looking to escape the winter in mainland Europe. From the stunning natural landscapes to the vibrant cultural scene, these islands offer a unique and unforgettable experience.
It's called the "Hawaii of Spain" for great reason. Every island is different. For example - when we went from Fuerteventura (more desert-y) to La Palma (more mountainous), we immediately felt the differences.