Islands destinationCanary islandsAtlantic ocean
Last updated on 05/06/2026 at 10:17 PM
Located off the coast of Africa, the Canary islands form a unique archipelago known for its year-round spring-like climate, spectacular volcanic landscapes, varied beaches, and cultural diversity. Whether you enjoy relaxing on the beach, hiking, surfing, gastronomy, or exploring nature, the Canaries offer an ideal destination in any season.
Tenerife – The island of a thousand faces
The largest island in the archipelago is home to Mount Teide, the highest peak in Spain.
Tenerife stands out for the diversity of its landscapes: beaches, laurel forests, traditional villages, and lively seaside resorts. It is often an excellent gateway to discover the Canary islands before continuing on to other islands such as
Gran Canaria or
La Gomera.
Gran Canaria – The miniature continent
Gran Canaria concentrates an incredible variety of landscapes: desert dunes, green mountains, urban beaches, and charming villages. Thanks to this diversity, it is often compared to a miniature continent and pairs very well with nearby islands such as
Tenerife or
Fuerteventura.
Lanzarote – The volcanic island
Shaped by eruptions,
Lanzarote impresses with its lava fields, harmonious architecture, and artistic atmosphere inspired by César Manrique. It is ideal to combine with
Fuerteventura, located just a few miles away.
Aerial view of the lava fields and volcanoes of Timanfaya National Park on the island of Lanzarote in the Canary islands © Sjankauskas | Dreamstime.com
Between the red cliffs, the black sand contrasts with the blue ocean and the green lagoon, creating the unique scenery of El Golfo © Dorinmarius | Dreamstime.comFuerteventura – A beach paradise
With its long stretches of light sand beaches and constant winds,
Fuerteventura is a dream destination for kitesurfing, windsurfing, and lovers of wide-open spaces. It combines perfectly with
Lanzarote or
Gran Canaria for a well-balanced trip.
La Palma – The green island
Nicknamed « La Isla Bonita » or the « Island of Eternal Spring »,
La Palma is one of the smallest Canary islands and is ideal for hikers and nature lovers. Lush forests, recent volcanoes, and exceptional starry skies make it a perfect alternative to
La Gomera for travelers seeking peace and quiet.
La Gomera – Authentic and preserved
Small and peaceful,
La Gomera charms visitors with Garajonay National Park, ancient trails, and a timeless atmosphere. It is easily accessible from
Tenerife, making it a perfect extension to a stay in the islands.
The humid subtropical forest, or laurel forest (laurisilva), of Garajonay National Park on the island of La Gomera, crossed by a hiking trail for visitors © Rosshelen | Dreamstime.com
Impressive view over the treetops of the humid subtropical forest, or laurel forest (laurisilva), of Garajonay National Park on the island of La Gomera © Rosshelen | Dreamstime.comEl Hierro – Wild and off the beaten path
The smallest Canary Island,
El Hierro, is a gem for divers and travelers seeking tranquility and authenticity. Still largely untouched by mass tourism, it is often combined with
La Palma for a nature-focused journey.

The intense volcanic red sand of El Verodal Beach on the island of El Hierro in the Canary islands ©
Dudlajzov |
Dreamstime.comThe most beautiful beaches in the Canaries

Morro Jable Beach with its lighthouse in sight, in the south of Fuerteventura ©
Mapics |
Dreamstime.comThe best diving in the Canaries
The Canary islands offer spectacular diving all year round thanks to excellent visibility and warm waters, where volcanic topography creates unique underwater landscapes. One of the most famous sites is « La Restinga » on the island of
El Hierro, located in a large marine reserve where divers experience the sensation of flying underwater and can see schools of tropical fish,
rays, and sometimes even cetaceans depending on the season. In
Gran Canaria, the El Cabrón marine reserve offers dramatic drop-offs and abundant marine life — moray eels, jacks, and barracudas — accessible from the coast, while reefs around Pasito Blanco or Arinaga offer calmer dives suitable for all levels.
Tenerife and
Lanzarote are also must-visit diving destinations in the archipelago. In
Tenerife, sites like Los Chuchos or the « Ray Village » near Las Galletas attract ray and large fish enthusiasts, while also revealing fascinating rock formations such as Atlantis or volcanic caves like those in Masca Bay. In
Lanzarote, divers can explore underwater landscapes shaped by lava, including caves like the « Catedral », volcanic tunnels, and wrecks such as those at the Los Erizos site where marine life has flourished.
The entire Canary archipelago offers a wide diversity of diving sites — from deep drop-offs to biodiversity-rich reefs — appealing both to experienced divers and beginners eager to discover the Atlantic ocean's marine life.
A true sanctuary
The Canary islands are a true sanctuary for cetaceans, with more than twenty species observed throughout the year thanks to steep underwater drop-offs and abundant food supply. You can frequently encounter
dolphins —
spotted dolphins,
common dolphins,
bottlenose dolphins — often playful and visible from both the surface and underwater — as well as pilot whales, iconic of the archipelago, especially between
Tenerife and
La Gomera.
The Canary waters are also home to several whale species, including
sperm whales, while
sea turtles, mainly the
loggerhead turtle, are regularly spotted near the coast and diving sites. This exceptional biodiversity makes the Canaries a major destination for marine wildlife observation in the Atlantic ocean.
The marine species in the Canary islands

Atlantic spotted dolphin
(Stenella frontalis)

Crevalle jack
(Caranx hippos)

European conger eel
(Conger conger)

European seabass
(Dicentrarchus labrax)

Flying gurnard
(Dactylopterus volitans)

Gray triggerfish
(Balistes capriscus)

Mediterranean rainbow wrasse
(Coris julis)

Short-finned pilot whale
(Globicephala macrorhynchus)
Spanish Atlantic islands

Fuerteventura island

Gran Canaria island

Lanzarote island

Tenerife island
The islands from atlantic ocean

Exumas islands

Faroe islands

Fogo island

Grand Bahama island

Key West island

Paradise island

Staffa island

The island of the Monks
Explore new islands

Cayman Brac island

Cocos island

Cook islands

Easter island

Marathonisi Island

Motuarohia island

Thinakara island

Viveros island