The Canary Islands are set of Islands just off the coast of western Africa. The archipelago consists of 7 islands and 6 islets, which are divided into two provinces. At the east, the first province is known as Las Palmas de Gran Canaria with 3 islands - Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote and the islets. At the west is Tenerife, La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro which form the second province called Santa Cruz de Tenerife. All of these stunning islands are part of Spain and although part of the European Union, they are able to avoid various European custom/duty charges. The Canaries provide hot sunny weather all year round, duty free prices and are also home to some of the most amazing beaches within Europe. Some information on these beautiful islands is listed below:


Tenerife

Tenerife is one of the last European paradise isles that is left, which provides some of the most amazing beaches, weather and culture. "Fascinating" is the word for this island, and it offers lush forests, exotic fauna and flora, deserts, mountains, volcanos, sometimes snow, incredibly beautiful coastlines and spectacular beaches.

Lanzarote

Lanazrote encapsulates the small islands of La Graciosa, Alegranza, Montaña Clara, Roque del Este y del Oeste, covers 886 km² running 60 km north to south and only 20 km at its widest point.

Fishing and agriculture were once the basis of the island’s economy here, but have since been overtaken by the excellent quality of its tourism industry.

The artistic and cultural heritage has been successfully preserved.

The island basks an average temperature of 22ºC all year-round due to its advantageous location in the Tropic of Cancer.

La Palma

La Palma is located in the Atlantic Ocean, just 200 kilometres west of the coast of Morocco. This is widely regarded as being the most beautiful and unspoilt of the five main holiday islands. Tourism development has been controlled strictly, and you won't even find a McDonald's here! If it's bangers and mash and all night foam parties you're after, you'll be better off in the more tourist Tenerife.

The island is just 30 kilometres across at its widest point and less than 50 kilometres long. The flying time from London is four hours; there are also air connections to Tenerife, Gran Canaria and mainland Spain.

Unlike the livelier islands in the archipelago, La Palma doesn't depend on tourism for its survival. There are no bustling seafront promenades that are lined with high rise hotels, no Ibiza-style nightclubs to attract the attention of the British tabloids. There is really little to do here at all except enjoy the peace and natural beauty of the place, and the peaceful surroundings.

Fuerteventura

There are around three thousand hours of sunshine a year, and Fuerteventura is the closest Canary Island to the African coast with only 100km separating the 'Punta de la Entallada' from Cape Juby in Morroco and is the second largest (after Tenerife) of all the islands.

The weather condition therefore of is very similar to Florida and Mexico which are on the same latitude, and make this the ideal holiday location.
There is nowhere else in the Canaries with as many large sand dunes and long sandy beaches (more than one hundred and fifty beaches in total). Even though most of the land consists of stone and rock, these are some of the most amazing beaches in the whole of Europe. Approx 98km long and 30km across at the widest point.


Gran Canaria

Gran Canaria is most definatley one of the last European paradise isles. A continent in miniature, it offers lush forests, exotic fauna and flora, Sahara like dunes, mountains, volcanic craters, sometimes snow on the highest peaks, and the most dynamic capital city within the Canaries, as well as incredibly beautiful coastlines and spectacular beaches.