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The Canary Islands have long since shed their reputation as a one-trick holiday destination. It’s not just sandcastles and surf that have budget travellers and backpackers raving about their cheap holidays. With snow-capped peaks, UNESCO protected waters, and epic treks, this archipelago brings a bevy of options to the table when planning your next vacation.
Tenerife
It would be easy to spend all day in Tenerife splayed-out on one of the many world-class beaches, such as Playas de Las Americas, then crashing at night in a surf-house hostel only to wake up and do it all again. But straying to seek-out the rare-gems of Tenerife won’t empty your wallet.
Mount Teide National Park, located in the interior of the island, is a great place to start, and features biking and climbing routes for the thrill-seekers, as well as hiking routes through the park’s eerie rock formations.
Back out on the coast, Los Gigantes is a can’t miss destination. A towering rock-formation that rises 800 meters above the placid waters of the harbour, it is sure to make your jaw drop. Head out for an intimate cruise alongside local schools of dolphins, or explore the Puerto de la Cruz Botanical Gardens.
Finally, for a real local experience, catch a boat to nearby Gomera, where you’ll find a small rural paradise of local villages and waterfalls, seemingly untouched by time.
Lanzarote
Boasting over 100 scenic beaches with careful planning controls, the coastal atmosphere of Lanzarote is serene, and full of cheap eats.
Head to the interior, however, and you will find a different story. Timanfaya National Park sits on a hardened sea of lava, formed after an 18th century eruption, and its stark landscape is begging to be explored on foot.
If it’s art your looking for, be sure to check-out any of the six centres developed by César Manrique, including an auditorium built from a collapsed lava tube, and a gun battery overlooking the neighbouring island. All attractions are state-owned and modestly priced.
Gran Canaria
The main hot spot in Gran Canaria is Las Palmas, the largest city in the Canary Islands. Here you can walk in the footsteps of Christopher Columbus, exploring beaches and historic sites like Puerto de la Luz, and Catedral de Canarias. But venturing outside the city is where the real discoveries are to be made.
Gran Canaria holds some of the best-kept secrets for trekking in Europe, and has gone largely unspoiled over the years. There are single day and multi-day hikes available, which roam through landscapes like the lush mountain village of Santa Lucia-Guayadeque, and the Southwestern ridge of the Caldera de Tejeda.
Other must-sees include the canyons of Macizo del Suroeste Nature Reserve, the volcanic craters of Cuenca de Tejeda Nature Reserve, and the abundant wildlife and flora of Inagua y Pajonales Nature Reserve.
Sure you might head to the Canary Islands craving some beach relaxation, but you’ll be hard-pressed to not leap from your chaise-lounge for some scenic exploration.
wow thanks,those sound like great holiday destinations