Canary Islands Cruises
The Canary Islands (actually seven separate islands) are scattered over 300 miles of the Atlantic Ocean. The chain starts about 60 miles north-west of Morocco, on the continent of Africa. The islands themselves are actually part of Spain, and they enjoy a diverse climate and topography. Just like the islands of Hawaii, the Canary Islands were formed by volcanic activity, and because each arose from under the sea in a different time period, each island is uniquely different.
Only about five of these islands receive much tourist traffic, and the largest of these is Tenerife. Another popular one is Lanzarote. La Palma offers much for the tourist trade as does the much smaller Fuerteventura.
Each island is unique, but they all offer great beaches and a great places to explorer when on Canary Islands cruises. The weather here is great year-round since the island chain is located so close to the continent of Africa, so there really is no “tourist season.” The Canaries will be rocking year-round, especially with European visitors since they are so accessible from the European gateways. As the largest island, Tenerife is served by an international airport that services the entire island chain. Flights routinely arrive from Europe, as well as charter traffic from all over the globe, including the United States.
Smaller airport facilities exist on some of the other islands and these are used mainly to ferry inter-island traffic from Tenerife. Ferries operate as well for this purpose, and it is quite easy to get around this island chain.
All of the Canaries are served by a variety of hotel properties. From full service luxury resorts to smaller “bed and breakfast” type facilities, it is not difficult to find something to suit your budget if you are somewhat flexible in your scheduling.
As for things to do in the Canary Islands, clearly the biggest draw is the beaches. For that reason, water activities abound, including windsurfing, snorkelling, diving and other water-based pursuits. The Canary Islands are very popular with families and many of its resorts will cater specifically to the family trade with beach front properties, along with specialised children’s programmes that leave mum and dad free to enjoy some of the beach amenities on their own.
For the land lover, there is also much to do in the Canary Islands. On the island of Tenerife especially there is no limit to the number of eateries one could sample. There are restaurants to suit every taste and budget, as well as a variety of bars and lounges offering regional libations. Many offer entertainment as well, and the nightlife can get pretty wild here, often going on until the wee hours of the morning.
Casinos can be found on the Canaries as well, and some of the largest and most elaborate are located on Tenerife, and it’s a spot of non-stop action that certainly contributes to the exotic nightlife to be found in the Canaries.
Nature walks are a popular activity here, as well as hiking through the dense foliage that can be found on these islands, along with the hundreds of volcanoes, sand dunes, acres and acres of rich forests, miles and miles of fields blanketed by such diverse crops as bananas, oranges, tomatoes, and other exotic fruits.
With the inter-connecting ferry system that links these islands together, there is no reason to ever get bored since it is very easy to just hop to another island when the need for fresh sights calls.
The Canary Islands are one of the most popular resort areas in this part of the world and certainly worth a visit, even if only for a day on a Canary Islands cruise itinerary.
See all the great destinations you can visit in the Canary Islands
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