BY TIM HEDGLEY, GROUP TRAVEL EDITOR
Named the “Fortunate Islands” and for good reason, the Canary Islands attract millions of UK holidaymakers every year, particularly during winter!
Thousands of Irish holidaymakers jet off to the Canary Islands every winter, with approximately 40,000 escaping to the Canarian sun during December this year.
Find out why so many people are escaping to the Canary Islands this winter…
1 – Christmas Cuisine
Gastronomy is the essence of Canarian culture and the best way to say ‘I love you’ in the Canary Islands is through food! It’s custom for households in the archipelago to contain grandmother’s recipe book, and this tradition has been combined with the revolution of new Canarian cuisine, with chefs who have brought these dishes into the 21st century!
Canary Islands cuisine is traditionally enjoyed with wine and cheese in the archipelago. There are three protected locations of origin for Canarian cheeses: Queso Majorero, Queso Palmero and Queso Flor de Guía, in Gran Canaria. Yet cheeses with unique textures and nuances can be found in all the islands.
Canarian wines are unique in the world. Cultivated in fertile volcanic soil, the islands have more than 80 varieties of grapevines, some of which only exist in this archipelago and have become endemic. Ten types of origin can be enjoyed, with five of them located in Tenerife and the rest from the islands of Gran Canaria, La Gomera, El Hierro, La Palma and Lanzarote.
2 – Winter Sun
The temperatures in the Canary Islands are far from the extreme temperatures of mainland Spain. The sun is almost always shining in the Canary Islands, making it a welcome winter escape for UK tourists. The average water temperature is between 18ºC and 22ºC and the archipelago’s 3,000 hours of sunshine per year ensure plenty of lovely warm days, with average daily temperatures between 18 and 24°C.
3 – The Art of Nature
The archipelago is itself a natural beauty that touches hearts. The internationally renowned artist César Manrique, who hails from Lanzarote, turned this island into a work of art (true “land art”) with its viewpoints and its amazing architectural designs respecting its volcanic surroundings. Manrique brought the art of returning to nature to enjoy life to tourists and locals alike. The Jameos del Agua, a natural area in Haría (Lanzarote), is a perfect example of what nature offers those in the Canary Islands. Its magnificence is both striking and soothing.
In the Canary Islands, winter is synonymous with Carnival on all the islands. From the famous and original celebration of the Día de los Indianos in La Palma, a unique carnival in the world, to the international queen and drag queen selection galas and their impressive street parades full of light, colour, art and joy in Tenerife and Gran Canaria!
4 – Winter Sports
The beaches of the Canary Islands never close in winter, nor its mountains, nor its volcanic landscapes, all of which are ideal for training for extreme and long-distance races. It’s for good reason that the islands host world races, including the Transvulcania in La Palma, the Transgrancanaria and the Canary Islands Winter Track and Field Championships.
Athletes from all corners of the world, including the UK, continue to train through the winter outdoors in the Canary Islands. Athletes in multiple fields, including running, cycling, sailing, surfing, kitesurfing, windsurfing, snorkelling and diving, choose the Canary Islands as their winter training base year after year.
5 – Unique Hiking Trails
Breathing. That is the gift of nature getaways in the Canary Islands. The archipelago is home to an abundance of incredible hiking routes suitable for all levels. Cross the forests of the Tertiary Era in Garajonay, La Gomera, or discover the volcanic calderas boasting incredible sea views in Anaga Rural Park, in Tenerife.
The archipelago is part of the E7 Route, a path which starts in the Pyrenees and travels through the interior of Spain, Portugal right down to the Canary Islands, boasting breathtaking views of nature with the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. The Canary Islands are also part of the Camino de Santiago with the Camino de Santiago entre Volcanes, which has approved trails in Gran Canaria, Tenerife, La Gomera and El Hierro.
6 – Nature without end
It is very difficult to find a place in the world that gathers so many natural areas with national, European and international marine and terrestrial protection that can also be enjoyed in winter. World Cetacean Heritage UNESCO has declared five biosphere reserves and 4 World Heritage Sites in the Canary Islands. In addition to these, the archipelago has 147 protected natural landscapes in different categories.
The Canary Islands is home to nature in its purest state also to international research in astrophysics and oceanography with the Institute of Astrophysics of the Canaries and the Institute of Oceanography of the Canaries. It has one of the clearest skies in the world to enjoy the stars and the quality of its waters for bathing is guaranteed.
7 – Fashion to express what you feel
Canarian fashion designs overflow with colour and elegance at the Pasarela Gran Canaria Moda Cálida and Isla Bonita Moda in La Palma. In fact, the outstanding designer Ágatha Ruiz de la Prada uses silk from El Paso, La Palma, in her creations.
But the islands also stand out for their designs of swimwear, hats, jewellery, shoes and all kinds of accessories. Not to mention the Winter Carnival, where even the most creative escapists are surprised by the colour and texture of what the Canary Islanders of each island come up with for costumes.
8 – Enough sea for 1500 kilometres of beaches
The Atlantic Ocean in the Canary Islands washes 1500 kilometres of beaches and coves in the sun. And there are countless species of cetaceans! Sailing in the open sea also allows a unique view of the coastline created by the fire of the volcano’s life.
The Canary coasts have every beach imaginable: from the secluded and small virgin coves of La Palma, La Gomera or El Hierro to the urban or extensive and familiar beaches, with all the comforts, of Gran Canaria and Tenerife. Not to mention the paradisiacal white sand beaches of Fuerteventura and Lanzarote, such as El Cofete, in Jandia, 14 kilometres long.
For more information, please visit www.hellocanaryislands.com
