Canary Islands

Why the Canary Islands are special
The Canary Islands have a year-round spring-like climate, beautiful sandy beaches, and grand volcanic landscapes.

Canary Islands tips and insights
Popular destination
The allure of the Canary Islands along with the proximity to Europe draw about 10 million vacationers per year.

Islands
There are 13 islands in the Canary Island archipelago. Each has different appeals. Here's a quick rundown.

• Grand Canaria
  It is known for its party atmosphere at its busy Playa del Ingles and Maspalomas resort areas.
• Tenerife
  The popular Puerto de Cruz resort area also rocks like Gran Canaria, but to a lesser degree.
• Lanzarote
  It is quieter and has the most interesting natural landscape of the Canary Islands.
• Fuerteventura
  This is another island for escaping the partying crowds.
• Other islands
  La Palma, Gomera and Hierro are the best for nature lovers.

Pico del Teide
All the islands are the tips of tall volcanoes with deep-sea bases. The Pico del Teide is one of the world's tallest volcano peaks and is the icon of the Canaries.

Nickname
Locals and frequent visitors often refer to the islands simply as the "Caneries"

Columbus
He stopped at the Canaries in 1492 for supplies on his way to the New World.

Location
The isolated Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean are about 1300 kilometers (800 miles) south of Spain, but only about 100 kilometers (60 miles) west of Africa.

Location in Spain