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The Canary Islands stretch into the Atlantic Ocean west of the African coast. Island architecture reflects native, Spanish and Moroccan influences, and national parks preserve their distinctive landscapes. Carnival in the Canaries includes the Fiesto de los Indianos, a festival unique to the islands that celebrates the return of natives from work in the Americas. High-rise hotels along sandy beaches lure travelers in search of a sunny vacation spot to Gran Canaria and Tenerife, while small inland villages provide a more native experience.
Las Palmas on Gran Caneria, the most populous of the Canary Islands, is a frequent stop for cruise ships. The city's historic old quarter is an area of narrow cobblestone streets and small village squares. The architecture of Casa de Colon, or Columbus House, combines Moroccan and Spanish influences in elaborate doorways and stucco walls. Gran Canaria, the third largest island, has 60 beaches, including Maspalomas, a beach that's more than a mile wide in places. The island's Roque Nublo Park offers miles of mountain trails, but Gran Canaria might be best known for its nightlife. Playa Ingles and Maspalomas draw revelers from across Europe, and gay travelers flock to the Yumbo Center.
Lanzarote, the fourth largest of the Canary Islands, offers a landscape formed by volcanic eruptions. More than 300 volcanic cones dot the island, and miles of lava flows stretch across the countryside. A guided bus, walking or camel tour of the moonscape of Timanfaya National Park is the best way to experience the volcanoes. The park's El Diablo restaurant uses the heat just below the surface to heat the barbecue grill. The Castillo de San Jose, an 18th-century fort built by Spain's King Carlos III and now a museum of contemporary art, overlooks the ocean in the island's capital, Arrecife. Lanzarote has 99 beaches and coastal resorts, but head to inland restaurants for authentic Canarian food.
Teide on the island of Tenerife, the largest of the Canary Islands, is the highest mountain in Spanish territory and the third largest volcano in the world. A ring of trails winds around the base of the mountain and to the summit, and a cable car carries passengers to within 1,600 feet of the peak. A stroll through the streets of Garachico leads to the harbor, where volcanic action created rock pools full of heated seawater. Shallow pools teaming with small fish provide a spot for a relaxing float. More adventurous travelers dive from rock platforms or swim through a narrow channel in the lava. Loro Parque (loroparque.com), an attraction in Puerto de la Cruz, features a huge iceberg that provides habitat for a colony of penguins.
La Palma, a mainly agricultural island with a rocky coastline and the fifth largest of the islands, has a few beaches with resort properties. Sixteenth-century houses converted into shops and restaurants line the waterfront in Santa Cruz de la Palma, the island's capital. El Hiero is the smallest Canary Island and farthest from the African coast. The island offers a handful of hotels in a landscape of wind-blown trees. Fuerteventura, with huge sand dunes and a rocky inland, is the closest island to Africa. The island's coast is a destination for professional surfers, windsurfers and divers. The ancient language of Silbo, consisting entirely of whistles, is still spoken on La Gomera. Travelers visit the sixth-largest island mainly to experience its flora and fauna, most notably on view at Garajonay National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Meg Jernigan has been writing for more than 30 years. She specializes in travel, cooking and interior decorating. Her offline credits include copy editing full-length books and creating marketing copy for nonprofit organizations. Jernigan attended George Washington University, majoring in speech and drama.
Leaf Group is a USA TODAY content partner providing general travel information. Its content is produced independently of USA TODAY.
Jernigan, Meg. "The Top Things to Do in the Canary Islands." Travel Tips - USA Today, https://traveltips.usatoday.com/top-things-canary-islands-102952.html. Accessed 21 April 2019.
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Christopher Columbus House &amp; Pilar Nuevo Square, Vegueta Quarter in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (Gran Canaria). Canary Islands, Spain.
Lighthouse at Maspalomas, Gran Canaria, looking in direction south-east.
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