Experience nature at its finest and explore Spain’s culture at these vibrant port cities
Sophisticated, intense and dedicated to living life to the fullest, Spain is a country full of intoxicating elements, from superb islands to talk-of-the-town festivals and a brilliant art scene. Interested to know more? Visiting The Canary Islands and Málaga is the first step.
The Canary Islands, also known as The Canaries, are a Spanish archipelago located just off the northwest coast of mainland Africa,between the borders of Morocco and Western Sahara. The name was said to be derived from the Latin Canariae Insulae, which translates to ‘Island of the Dogs’. Historian Pliny the Elder has noted that huge dogs inhabited the islands in ancient times. Experts however, have come up with an interesting theory: these so-called dogs were actually a species of seals; canis marinus or ‘sea dogs’.
Tour the islands
The Canaries are comprised of islets and seven major islands: Tenerife, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro. Each island boasts of unique vistas and natural wonders that are a league of their own. Prepare to experience something different each day at Tenerife, the largest and the best-known island in The Canaries, with over 10 million visitors a year. You could be visiting a museum today or watching a rock concert the following evening.
Tinerfeños have mastered the art of having a good time, with their fondness for discos headlined by international DJs and wild foam parties. Fond of superlatives, Tenerife also has the grand Pico del Teide. At 3,718 metres, it is Spain’s tallest peak.
Escape from the big, busy Tenerife and be carried off by the powerful winds of Fuerteventura. There is no better place for surfers, windsurfers and kite flyers in need of an adrenaline rush.
Journey on to Gran Canaria, where diverse landscapes and climates make the island truly unique. Choose from sunkissed beaches, secret coves, countryside vistas and even sand dunes! Plus, enjoy modern living in the capital, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, with its chic shopping centres, theatres, performance venues, bars and restaurants.
Lanzarote’s spectacular volcanic landscapes, on the other hand, seem to be out of this world. Centuries-old lava streams rest side by side with stunning rock formations, geysers and mountain ranges. Meanwhile, La Palma’s clear skies take star gazing to a whole new level. The most important astrophysics observatories in the northern hemisphere can be found on this island due to its clear, unpolluted skies.
Then, step into the seemingly enchanted forests of La Gomera. Rich in flora, fauna and landscapes sculpted over the centuries, it is a popular hiking destination. A paradise for scuba divers, El Hierro is surrounded by clear blue waters. Explore pinnacles, deep drop offs, caves and tunnels. Hidden in the many crevices are lobsters, shrimps, anemones eels, rays and a wide variety of fish! Land lovers will also delight in El Hierro’s fertile valleys, dramatic cliffs, dense forests, ancient trees and reptiles seen nowhere else.
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