Best CANARY ISLAND for YOU? | TRAVEL GUIDE | Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura, La Palma and Lanzarote

Summary

This video guide explores the allure of the Canary Islands, focusing on Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote, and La Palma. Each island offers unique experiences, from Gran Canaria's diverse landscapes and colonial towns to Fuerteventura's expansive beaches and water sports. La Palma, known as 'La Isla Bonita,' boasts pristine nature and colonial charm, while Lanzarote is celebrated for its dramatic volcanic terrain and the artistic legacy of César Manrique. The video provides insights into hiking, beaches, historical attractions, and transportation, helping viewers choose their ideal Canary Island getaway.

Takeaways

• 🏞️ Gran Canaria is known as 'a continent in miniature' with diverse landscapes ranging from deserts to snow-covered peaks, offering a variety of hiking options.
• 🌊 Fuerteventura is the second largest island, characterized by its dry and arid climate, and is renowned for its expansive open spaces and excellent beaches for water sports.
• 🌲 La Palma, also known as 'La Isla Bonita', is famous for its lush greenery and dramatic volcanic landscapes, providing diverse hiking experiences and colonial towns.
• 🌋 Lanzarote is reminiscent of a volcanic landscape with a darker and more dramatic color scheme, offering hiking routes through its national parks and volcanic terrains.
• 🏖️ Beaches in the Canary Islands vary from natural to man-made, with Fuerteventura boasting the best beaches and Lanzarote having fewer natural sandy beaches but well-developed tourist beaches.
• 🛤️ Gran Canaria has a well-connected infrastructure with highways making it easy to travel between resorts, the capital, and the airport.
• 🏞️ Fuerteventura's transport is convenient with highways facilitating travel from north to south, though some inland roads can be challenging.
• 🌄 La Palma has winding roads that can be either a nightmare or entertaining, depending on one's preference, with good roads connecting the main towns.
• 🛣️ Lanzarote's transport infrastructure is similar to Fuerteventura, with easy navigation and highways for convenient travel.
• 🏰 Historical towns in the Canary Islands offer a blend of architectural styles, with Gran Canaria and La Palma having particularly notable colonial towns.
• 🎨 Lanzarote is historically significant for its colonization and is home to creations by César Manrique, a famous artist, sculptor, architect, and activist.

Q & A

Which Canary Island is referred to as 'a continent in miniature'?

Gran Canaria is referred to as 'a continent in miniature' due to its diverse landscapes resulting from volcanic eruptions.

What are some of the recommended inland towns for hiking in Gran Canaria?

The small inland towns of Arucas and Tejeda are recommended for town hiking in Gran Canaria.

Why is Caldera de Pandama a suggested hiking spot in Gran Canaria?

Caldera de Pandama is suggested for hiking because it offers beautiful sceneries and can be combined with other activities due to its relatively quick completion time.

What type of architecture can be found in the historical towns of Gran Canaria?

The historical towns in Gran Canaria feature a blend of modern colonial, gothic, renaissance, and neoclassical style buildings and architecture.

What is the main characteristic of the beaches in Gran Canaria?

The beaches in Gran Canaria are known for their great options, often crammed with people, activities, and noise, especially during peak seasons.

Why is Fuerteventura known for its beaches and water sports?

Fuerteventura is known for its beaches and water sports due to its large open spaces, dry and arid climate, and the quality of its beaches.

What historical significance does Fuerteventura hold in the Canary Islands?

Fuerteventura is the oldest of the Canary Islands, dating back to volcanic activity 20 million years ago, and was the second island to be colonized.

What is La Palma known as and why?

La Palma is known as 'La Isla Bonita' or 'the beautiful island' because of its stunning nature sceneries and green colors.

What are some of the world-class hiking locations on La Palma?

Some world-class hiking locations on La Palma include the volcano road in the south, the huge caldera in the center, and the dense forest of Oscilas in the northeastern part.

Why is the astronomical observatory at Roque de los Muchachos on La Palma significant?

The astronomical observatory at Roque de los Muchachos is significant because it is located 2400 meters above sea level and is considered the second-best place in the northern hemisphere for optical and infrared astronomy.

What is the main difference between the beaches of Fuerteventura and Lanzarote?

The main difference is that Fuerteventura offers a variety of natural and human-made beaches with great conditions for swimming, while Lanzarote has fewer natural coves and beaches, with most being developed for tourism.

What is the historical significance of Lanzarote in the Canary Islands' colonization?

Lanzarote was the first island visited by Spanish explorers and was home to the first capital of the Canary Islands, Teguise, until 1852.

How does the transport infrastructure of Lanzarote compare to Fuerteventura?

The transport infrastructure of Lanzarote is similar to Fuerteventura, with convenient highways and straightforward roads, making it easy for tourists to get around the island.