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.

Outlines

00:00

🌋 Exploring Gran Canaria's Diverse Landscapes

Gran Canaria is described as a 'continent in miniature' due to its varied landscapes shaped by volcanic eruptions. The island offers a rich mix of desert scenery in the south, rugged shores in the north, and lush forests and valleys. It is a haven for hikers with infinite possibilities, including routes through historical towns like Arucas and Tejeda, and famous spots such as Pico de las Nieves and Caldera de Pandama. Gran Canaria's historical towns blend modern, colonial, gothic, renaissance, and neoclassical styles, with Puerto de Mogán and Las Palmas being notable examples. Beaches are abundant, though they can be crowded, and the island's infrastructure makes getting around convenient, especially along the east and south coasts.

05:01

🏝 Discovering Fuerteventura's Open Spaces and Beaches

Fuerteventura is characterized by its low population density and vast open spaces, making it the second largest Canary Island after Tenerife. Despite being drier and more arid than Gran Canaria, it offers a unique beauty with its dramatic, dry, and volcanic landscapes. The island provides excellent hiking options with unobstructed views and is known for its beaches, which are ideal for water sports. Fuerteventura's history dates back 20 million years and includes pre-colonial kingdoms and colonization by the Spanish. The capital, Puerto de Rosario, and historical sites like Betancuria and Mirador del Rio pay tribute to the island's rich past. The island's beaches are accessible and varied, with options for surfing and other water activities.

10:03

🌿 La Palma: The Beautiful Island of Nature and Scenery

La Palma, known as 'La Isla Bonita,' is famous for its lush greenery and diverse geography, ranging from volcanic landscapes to mountainous regions. The island offers world-class hiking with locations like the Volcano Road, the central caldera, and the dense forests of Otilas. La Palma's colonial towns, such as Santa Cruz de La Palma and Los Llanos, are charming and rich in history. The island is also home to an astronomical observatory at Roque de los Muchachos, renowned for its optimal conditions for optical and infrared astronomy. Beaches on La Palma are dramatic and mostly of black volcanic sand, with decent options found in coastal towns. The island's roads are steep and winding, offering either a challenging or entertaining drive.

15:03

🏜 Unveiling Lanzarote's Volcanic and Artistic Charm

Lanzarote is known for its dramatic volcanic landscape, reminiscent of Puerto Montaña and influenced by the artist César Manrique. The island offers limited hiking variety compared to others but provides routes through Timanfaya National Park and Los Volcanes Natural Park. Lanzarote's history is significant in the Canary Islands' colonization, being the first visited and having its first capital, Teguise. The island's artistic heritage is evident in Manrique's creations and the Cueva de los Verdes. Beaches are not as abundant in natural combs, but developed tourism has created swimmable beaches in resort towns. Lanzarote's transport infrastructure is convenient, with highways facilitating travel from north to south and straightforward smaller roads.

Keywords

💡Canary Islands

The Canary Islands are a group of seven Spanish islands located in the Atlantic Ocean, known for their diverse landscapes and climates. In the video, the script focuses on four of these islands: Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote, and La Palma, highlighting their unique features and attractions for tourists.

💡Gran Canaria

Gran Canaria is one of the Canary Islands and is described as a 'continent in miniature' due to its varied landscapes, from desert scenery to snow-covered peaks. The video emphasizes its appeal to nature lovers and hikers, with its diverse topography offering a range of outdoor activities.

💡Fuerteventura

Fuerteventura is the second largest of the Canary Islands and is characterized by its open spaces, dry and arid climate, and freedom. The script mentions it as an island with the best beaches and water sports opportunities, offering a different experience from the other islands.

💡Lanzarote

Lanzarote is known for its dramatic volcanic landscapes and is associated with the artist César Manrique, who left a significant mark on the island's culture and architecture. The video script discusses the island's historical significance and its appeal to those interested in art and architecture.

💡La Palma

La Palma, also known as 'La Isla Bonita,' is celebrated for its natural beauty and green landscapes. The video script describes it as a small island with diverse geography, offering excellent hiking opportunities and dramatic views, making it a paradise for nature enthusiasts.

💡Hiking

Hiking is a central theme in the video, with each island offering unique trails and landscapes for hikers to explore. The script provides specific recommendations for hiking spots on each island, such as Pico de las Nieves on Gran Canaria and Caldera de Taburiente on La Palma.

💡Colonial Towns

The video script highlights the historical colonial towns found on the Canary Islands, which feature a blend of architectural styles from different eras. These towns, such as Puerto de Mogán on Gran Canaria and Santa Cruz de La Palma, are significant for their cultural heritage and provide a unique experience for visitors.

💡Beaches

Beaches are a key attraction across the Canary Islands, with each island offering a variety of coastal experiences. The script discusses the differences in beach types, from the natural and untouched to those developed for tourism, and mentions specific beaches like Playa del Papagayo in Lanzarote.

💡Nature and Scenery

The natural beauty and diverse scenery of the Canary Islands are a major focus of the video. Each island is described in terms of its unique landscapes, such as the volcanic terrain of Lanzarote and the lush greenery of La Palma, which contribute to the islands' appeal for nature lovers.

💡Transport Infrastructure

The video script touches on the ease of getting around each island, discussing the quality of roads and transport options available. This is important for visitors planning their trips, as it affects accessibility to different parts of the islands and the overall travel experience.

💡Cultural Attractions

Cultural attractions, such as historical sites and art, are mentioned in the context of the islands' offerings. The script points out specific examples like the works of César Manrique in Lanzarote and the historical significance of Fuerteventura, enriching the visitor's experience beyond natural landscapes.

Highlights

Gran Canaria is known as a continent in miniature due to its diverse landscapes from desert to snow-covered peaks.

Gran Canaria offers infinite possibilities for hiking, with varied terrains from valleys to mountains and volcanoes.

For town hiking in Gran Canaria, the inland towns of Arucas and Tejeda are recommended for their colorful colonial architecture.

Pico de las Nieves and Roque Nublo are famous spots for inland hiking in Gran Canaria.

Caldera de Pandama is a small hike that can be combined with other activities due to its relatively quick completion time.

The area north of the small town of Cruz de Tejeda impresses with unique hiking experiences.

Gran Canaria's historical towns blend modern, colonial, gothic, renaissance, and neoclassical styles.

Puerto de Mogán and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria are famous for their well-preserved historical old towns.

Fuerteventura is the second largest Canary Island, known for its open spaces and freedom.

Fuerteventura offers dramatic, dry, and volcanic landscapes that provide a unique hiking experience.

The island's historical attractions include the oldest of the Canary Islands with pre-colonial kingdoms of Maxurata and Handia.

Betancuria and the statues of the two kings Ayose and Guise represent Fuerteventura's rich history.

Fuerteventura's beaches are highly regarded, offering a variety of natural and man-made options.

La Palma, known as 'La Isla Bonita', offers diverse geographies from volcanic landscapes to green mountainous regions.

Hiking in La Palma provides world-class locations, from volcano roads to dense forests.

Santa Cruz de La Palma and Los Llanos are colonial towns that showcase the island's rich history and culture.

Roque de los Muchachos, an astronomical observatory, is renowned for its prime location for optical and infrared astronomy.

Lanzarote is known for its dramatic volcanic landscapes and the influence of César Manrique on its art and architecture.

Timanfaya National Park and Los Volcanos Natural Park offer unique hiking experiences among volcanoes and calderas in Lanzarote.

Lanzarote's beaches, while limited in number, have been developed to provide swimmable areas for tourists.

Transport infrastructure in Lanzarote is highly developed, making it convenient to travel from north to south.

Transcripts

so

what is the best canary island to visit

for you

i will narrow this guide down to the

following four islands

frankenaria forte ventura

lanzarote and la palma

as i've yet to visit and enjoy the last

three islands

but trust me guys these four islands

have plenty to offer half a lifetime of

travelling

i will review the following topics for

each destination and at the end of the

video i will summarize the video to make

it easier to understand the pros

and cons of each island so which is

better for you well you will have to

decide

if you want to see more videos like this

please do not forget to like and

subscribe to the channel it is greatly

appreciated

first up is gran canaria a continent

in miniature throughout history

volcanic eruptions have left the canary

islands very varied

and diverse this is even more so

significant for gran canaria as it's

home for

both desert scenery in the south rocket

and harsh shores in the north then

forest and vegetation

scattered across gran canaria's many

valleys mountains volcanoes and peaks

peaks which are sometimes snow covered

in the winter

the nature and hiking is long beloved

and appreciated by people traveling to

gran canaria

many come here several times a year and

have done so for decades

gran canary has infinite possibilities

when it comes to hiking

whether it's in gran canaria's

historical old towns

walking between old but well-maintained

churches and buildings in many colorful

variations

for town hiking i personally recommend

the small inland towns of arukas

and tyrell

[Music]

if you want to take in the best

sceneries i recommend you to go once

again

inland hiking near famous spots such as

pico de las nieves and rock nuplo is

always a great option

another famous place is a small hike

around caldera de pandama

i would suggest combining this with

something else as it can be done

relatively quickly

if you want to skip the beaten track i

was personally very impressed with the

hiking in the area

just north of the small town of cruise

did tejeda

gran canaria is equally famous for its

historical towns with a blend of

modern colonial gothic renaissance and

neoclassical style buildings and

architecture

so many in fact that i honestly haven't

seen anywhere near all of it

some of the most famous old towns are

puerto de mogan ambiguous

old town the latter is part of the

island capital las palmas

less visited towns i can recommend would

be fiagas and san mateo

both which could be easily combined for

the same day in a rental car

regarding gran canaria speeches i will

keep it short almost

all popular resorts on the green

canaries south and coasts can boast of

great beaches

not all are completely natural and

there's been plenty of human

intervention towards making the beat

just as ideal as possible

you're basically spoiled with great

options the only thing that could be

possibly be bothersome for certain

persons

is the lack of privacy

the best beaches are quite often crammed

together with people activities and

noise

of course based on seasonality

fourth and last getting around the

island most of the east and south coast

is connected via highway with

several lanes getting to and from the

resort the capital

and the airport is fast and convenient

certain roads

inland can be well let's say exciting if

you want to see historical sites without

hordes of people

you will need to stomach some of gran

canaria's six segregate mountain roads

second up is fort ventura even though

for the ventura have a low population

density

it does offer huge open spaces and the

size of the island is pretty large

it is the second largest island next to

tenerife just slightly eating out green

it is significantly more dry and arid

than gran canaria

but of small in terms of open spaces

that create a feeling of freedom and

privacy

it is also known as the island with the

best beaches both volition

and water sports the nature and hiking

scene on fort ventura is different from

that of gran canaria

the beauty of nature falls to the eyes

of the beholder

but the ventura looks more rough

dramatic

dry and volcanic which is amazing in its

own right

but does not offer the same variety as

some of the other canary islands

fort ventura does offer some amazing

hiking options and some of the routes

have great open views which are

unobstructed

and reveal huge areas of water and if

the weather is right

the neighboring islands

i recommend the trip to the top of

caldera and hondo near lahares

if you're not much for heights i advise

her walk in the coral

sand dunes and hiking towards

the dramatic views cliffs and caves near

ahui onto

a tourist west coast

in terms of the island's historical

attractions

it is worthwhile to know that water

ventura is the oldest of the canary

islands

dating back to volcanic activity that

happened 20 million years ago

before the catholic conquest of the

island it was separated into two

pre-colonial kingdoms of

maxurata and handia a history i won't go

in depth with in this video

it was the second canary island to be

colonized by showing the bitten court

and gatifa di lazar they established

visitoria as the island's capital

and it remained as such until 1835 when

the current capital

took over puerto de rosario

[Music]

if you enjoy history then beating korea

is a must see

if you're heading to bethen korea please

do combine it with the two

statues representing the two kings ayose

and guise and go to miradomorovilosa

these places are respectively paying

tribute to the pre-colonial history

and the volcanic and natural part of

portuguese history

if one work is synonymous with what

material it is probably

beaches from north to south

and from east to west you will always be

able to find a nice sandy beach

in little of no time from the natural

beaches belonging to the sand dunes of

corralejo

or the equally inviting natural beaches

stretching for several

kilometers at the coast of handia you

can easily access a beach

as nature intended them to be

other beaches either natural or those

smouldered by people

offer protected bays whether it's those

found in caleda de fuste near the

airport

oil cotilo in the north westernmost

corner of the island

if you want to surf you also have plenty

of options

of course keep in mind that the weather

can help dictate the best spots on any

given day

i personally experience a lot of

activity on the beaches

south of el cotillo and mahanicho the

northernmost village on the island

[Music]

transport infrastructure makes fort

ventura

super convenient traffic is very

overbearing and you'll likely spend most

of the time on the highway

going from corralejo in the north all

the way to handia in the south

the only time you might find the roads

overly exciting is when leaving the

korea

valley through its southern corridor

third up is la palma the palma is also

known as

la ila bonita the beautiful island

the island is located in the canary

island group's northwestern muskola

this island is famous for its nature

sceneries and green colors

even though the island is quite small it

does offer plenty of diversity in its

geography from its volcanic landscapes

in the south

to the green and mountainous central and

northern parts of the island

the hiking and nature on la palma is

some of the best i have personally

experienced for hiking it offers some

world-class locations from the volcano

road in the south

hiking in the huge caldera in the center

to walking in the dense forest of

ostilas in northeastern part of la palma

the scenery also offers plenty of

diversity with volcanic beaches

dramatic cliffs and even viewpoints

above the clouds

as with gran canaria i also enjoyed some

of la palma's colonial towns for walking

i would especially recommend the capital

of santa cruz la palma

in the east and los lanes in the west

second we see historical attractions i

already mentioned santa cruz de la palma

and noslanas for the canary island style

of colonial towns

most of the island's attractions are

centered around its stunning and

dramatic nature

however if you're interested in some of

the older history related to

its residence head to some undress and

sources and visit the ronaldia

distillery

more famous is rogue de los muchachos

here you'll find an astronomical

observatory

it is located 2400 meters of sea level

according to certain statistics it's the

second best place

in the northern hemisphere for optical

and infrared astronomy

the beaches on the palm are certainly

beautiful and dramatic

however you're not as spoiled for

choices as in granaria and for the

ventura

most beaches of a black volcanic sand

and not so idyllic

swimming conditions this does however

not mean you can't find some decent

beaches

most of the bigger coastal towns have a

decent to good beach

with santa cruz la palma and los can

cajos on the east coast

and has a court down portuguese on the

west coast

[Music]

an alternative to the beaches are the

natural pools

found on the northern shores chiakwa

soul and piskinas

for the roads and transport you clearly

feel that palma is the steepest of the

islands

plenty of windy roads for the most parts

of the island makes driving here either

a nightmare

or very entertaining depends on who you

are

good roads do exist through the center

of the island between the two main towns

los lanos and santa cruz to the palmer

as well as the roads going around this

southern end of the island

if you want to go to rogue de los

muchachos then you won't be able to

avoid the windy roads

but the views and nature on this road is

in my opinion hard to compete with

last but not least lanzarote nancy rota

is known for its volcano-clad landscape

it reminds me most of puerto mantura out

of the islands i have visited

and is also its neighboring island the

color scheme of the island is darker and

even more dramatic than what is found on

fort ventura

lanzarote was the home of cesar manrique

a famous

artist sculptor architect and activist

he left a huge mark on the canary

islands what lived his biggest marks on

his home island

hiking and nature is much like each

sibling island fort ventura

dramatic views volcanic landscapes

calderas and mostly rye and arid

lanza road does offer plenty of hiking

routes but the variety in landscapes

will be limited compared to the likes of

frankenaria and la palma

i recommend finding a route for tim and

fire national park

orlos volcanoes natural park and walk

between the seemingly

endless amount of volcanoes and calderas

if you find yourself around leblanc

and the southern end of the island i

recommend you to walk from the resort

towards the famous playa del papagayo

lanzarosa is one of the most

historically significant islands when it

comes to

canary islands colonization because it

was the first island to be visited

by sean de bethenko and gaddy far de la

salle it was also home to the first

capital of the island's

tiquis tiquis was the capital of

lanzarote from the 15th

century until 1852.

the history presented across the island

today is much related to the island's

natural heritage

such as timothy national park and all

creations

designed by sisa enrique to the north of

lanzarote i also

heavily recommend to visit hamiltos de

la cua here mankind and nature intermix

and

inner cave lagoon is home to the

incredible small blind trips

when it comes to beaches lanta rotate

does not offer many natural comb

and remember beaches just like la palma

however due to its better developed

tourism infrastructure mankind has

played a part in making good beaches on

the island most tourist resort towns

such as playa blanca

porto del carmen irecif and costa

degrees have great swimmable beaches

which i admittedly like footage of

when it comes to transport and

infrastructure i once again can't stop

relating to fort de ventura

getting around the island is super

convenient and highway can take you from

north to south

the smaller roads are also mostly

straightforward and very friendly to

also drivers

now it's time for a quick recap everyone

has their own theory island

some prefer the dramatic landscapes for

fort ventura and lanzarote

others love hiking the green mountains

of kraken area and la palma

if you look at my boxes you can see my

suggestions for the strengths of each

island

for gran canaria it's the colonial

villages diversity in nature

and its great tourist infrastructure

portugal feels very free-spirited and

spacious

easily has the best beaches of any of

the islands

in my opinion and it's fantastic for

sports

cycling and anything going on in

and above the water

la palma out of the four islands seems

the most authentic

it also matches dragon area in its

diversity in nature

and it does also have its two great

colonial towns

lanzarota for me has the most dramatic

nature it's great for art

and architecture and it has some easy

day trips that can take you

to timil fire national park go see some

of say some enrique's creations

i know there are seven islands but sadly

i only have managed to visit for so far

here at the end i would love to hear

from you which is your favorite canary

island

if you enjoyed this video i would love

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and give this video a like this was all

from me for now thank you for watching

you