The other side of the Canary Islands
Do the Canary Islands conjure up images of cheap and tacky package holidays for you? Well, think again. It may be well known for the tackier type of holiday, but there’s actually a lot more to the Canary Islands than sun, sand and booze in resort towns. Try going off the beaten track and exploring some of the wilder sides of the islands, far away from the crowds.
El Hierro is the smallest of the Canary Islands and is thickly covered in forests of pine and beech. Right up until Christopher Columbus finally arrived in America in 1492, this small island was considered the edge of the very world. It’s not quite that remote today, but it is a real gem if you want a quieter and more idyllic getaway than the rest of the Islands. The islanders speak the purest form of Castilian and you can stay in hotels positioned on the coast at the amazing Roque de la Bonanza, where the volcanic mountains merge with the black sandy beach. It’s tranquil and beautiful, what more could you want?
If Tenerife is your island of choice, you could try a boutique hotel, housed in Garachico, a quiet and beautiful town of around 5,000 people on the island of Tenerife. The Hotel San Roque is a gorgeous 17th century house and it’s located a mere 100m from the sea. Staying here will give you the chance to explore the Lower Island (Isla Baja) area, which is a part of Tenerife that isn’t well known. You’ll find the towns and villages are much more authentic and that they’ve retained a lot of their original heritage – a welcome relief from the standardised tourist fare in other parts of the island.
Of course, you may not be bothered about being right in the centre of things in Tenerife – if you’d like to be in the thick of it you could stay at the lovely and very reasonably priced Sol Tenerife, a resort with a gorgeous view of the nearby beach (just a couple of hundred of metres away). If you go in the winter months it’s a great way to get away from the hustle and bustle but enjoy the beautiful weather and facilities on offer. There are also three golf courses really nearby if you fancied improving your handicap!
With volcanic stone as its foundation, perhaps you’d like to try the windiest of the Canary Islands – Fuerteventura. Islanders fiercely defend the island’s conservation as they fight the spread of homogenous tourism and there are plenty of gorgeous beaches at El Cotillo to explore, or you could visit the Natural Park and dunes of Corralejo.
If you’re after a bit of lush greenery with your gorgeous Canary Island, then you need to go to La Palma. You can find places to stay, including hotels and houses to rent near the La Caldera de Taburiente, one of the most important national parks in Spain. Plenty of beaches and lovely weather, as well as peace, quiet and nature mean you have the best of both worlds.
So, whether you’re after a busy tourist-filled holiday, a quiet, peaceful time with your family or a romantic getaway with your sweetheart, you’ll find a Canary Island perfect for you. Do a little research, you might be surprised what you can find.
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
