Things to do and see in the Canary Islands

The Canary Islands is a Spanish archipelago, located off the northwest coast of Africa. It consists of 7 volcanic islands renowned for their natural parks, volcanoes, lush vegetation, and dreamlike beaches. Tenerife stands out for being the largest island and for being home to the Teide volcano, the highest peak in the country. There are so many natural spaces and exceptional environments to see in the Canary Islands. These islands have immense natural wealth and scenic value, making them one of Spain’s main attractions.

Thanks to its climate, this archipelago is the ideal destination at any time of the year. That’s why in this post we’ve selected some of the most interesting places to see in the Canary Islands, whenever you go. Don’t miss them!

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Best places to see in the Canary Islands

Each of the islands that make up the archipelago of the Canary Islands has a unique and special attraction that is worth discovering in depth. However, in this post we have selected the most important points of interest and most visited islands of the whole archipelago. These are:

• Tenerife
• Gran Canaria
• Lanzarote
• Fuerteventura
• La Gomera

Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.

What to see in Tenerife, Canary Islands

The island of Tenerife is the largest of the Canary Islands. Dominated by Mount Teide, the highest peak in the country, this island is renowned for its incredible natural landscapes. Also, it is known for beautiful beaches with volcanic sand and Atlantic Ocean waters. Tenerife is also defined by music, dance and colour, well known for the Carnival of Santa Cruz. Each part of the island will offer you a different image and history of Tenerife, which will complete your trip in an exciting way.

Teide

The Teide National Park is located in the centre of the island of Tenerife, is the highest peak in Spain, at 3,718 metres, and has been declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco. For this and many other reasons, it is an essential visit when in the Canary Islands. It is the essence and soul of the island. The Teide National Park has a wide variety of routes to visit, consisting of 37 itineraries, which allow access to all the places of interest. The most recommended and special way to reach the summit is on foot.

Anaga Rural Park

The Anaga Rural Park is one of the essential places to see in the Canary Islands. This park is considered a Natural Biosphere Reserve, due to the great amount of endemic species it is home to. There are several routes to do in this park, which go deep into the laurel forest. The most famous is the Sendero de los Sentidos (Path of the Senses). This route lives up to its name and follows a path invaded by mist, where the sun’s rays filter through the trees, creating a film-like setting. It is certainly a special place, especially for nature lovers.

Punta de Teno

Punta del Teno is one of the most beautiful and unmissable places in Tenerife. From there, you will have a unique experience watching the sunset over the immense ocean. Next to the old lighthouse, you will be able to enjoy an incredible landscape that changes colour as the sun sets. In this area there are several very interesting villages and hamlets such as Teno Alto, El Palmar and Los Carrizales, which are maintained thanks to self-consumption agriculture and livestock farming.

Fabián beach

Next to Benijo beach is Fabián beach, a beautiful wild beach, also with dark sand. It is one of the most isolated and unspoilt beaches. It is reached on foot, so it is not suitable for people with reduced mobility, but there is an intercity bus that takes you to the beach.

Find out what else you can see in Tenerife by reading our post: What to see and do in Tenerife.

What to see in Gran Canaria, Canary Islands

Gran Canaria is the most populated of the Canary Islands. It is an island full of charming villages, stunning natural areas, and beautiful monuments. Gran Canaria is one of the most visited islands, but it also has hidden corners, landscapes and authentic treasures that are well worth discovering. Let yourself be surprised by the different faces of the island, and get a taste of the soul and essence of Gran Canaria by visiting the following spots:

Maspalomas Lighthouse

The Maspalomas lighthouse is part of the landscape in the south of Gran Canaria. It is practically impossible to miss its distinctive and beautiful silhouette from anywhere along the coast. Also, this iconic lighthouse from the 1890s with beautiful sunset views has a museum inside. You can visit the inside of the Maspalomas lighthouse although its tower is still in operation, the interior of the annexe building as a cultural and exhibition space.

Maspalomas Dunes

The Special Nature Reserve of the Maspalomas Dunes is one of the best places to see in Gran Canaria. It is a beautiful protected natural area with a salt lagoon and a palm grove of more than 400 hectares. Walking through them is one of the things you should not miss in Gran Canaria, enjoying one of the most beautiful and picturesque landscapes of the Canary Islands. It is the island’s quintessential postcard image and one of the island’s must-see landscapes.

Village of Tejeda

This is a village located in the very centre of the island. Tejeda is ideally located and offers extraordinary panoramic views of the landscapes of the interior of the island, becoming a viewpoint of the natural monuments of the island such as Roque de Nublo, and this small village with white houses and wooden balconies represents the traditional Canarian architecture. It is a place to spend the day and discover the secrets of the island’s gastronomy.

Tufia Beach

This is one of the most hidden places on the island, but it is an sight that radiates beauty wherever you look. Tufia beach is a small cove of pebbles and black volcanic sand. It is located at the foot of the village of Tufia itself, a charming town made up of little white houses.

To find out what else you can visit on this island, read our post: Things to do in Gran Canaria.

What to see in Fuerteventura, Canary Islands

Corralejo Dunes

The Corralejo Dunes, apart from being one of the essential places to see in Fuerteventura, are one of the most important symbols of the island. It is a spectacular Natural Park about 8 kilometres long, made up of extensive dunes and beautiful beaches bathed by crystal clear waters on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean.

Jandía Peninsula

Located in the south of the island, the Jandía Peninsula is one of the most iconic and beautiful places on Fuerteventura. It is an extensive and practically unspoilt Natural Park, which has kept its essence intact, and where you can enjoy a special sense of magic. On this peninsula you can admire some of the most beautiful spots in Fuerteventura, such as Roque del Moro or Cofete Beach. Furthermore, if you want to see some of the best views of Fuerteventura, you can’t miss the panoramic viewpoint located on the track that takes you to the beach of Cofete – a real pleasure for the senses!

Lighthouses

Fuerteventura’s lighthouses are exceptionally located, offering fantastic views between the sea and the land. In Fuerteventura there are several essential lighthouses, each offering a unique perspective of the island. These are; Punta Jandía lighthouse (mentioned above), Punta Pesebre, Punta del Tostón and La Entallada. All four offer very special settings and make every sunset a moment to remember.

Lobos Island

The island of Lobos is located in the middle of the Bocaina Strait, which separates Lanzarote from Fuerteventura. It can be reached from both islands, and is one of the most striking sights to see in the Canary Islands.

Fuerteventura itinerary

Check out this itinerary created by @gloria_torras for inspiration for your trip!

What to see in Lanzarote, Canary Islands

The island of Lanzarote is full of places with shapes, colours and features so unique that you won’t see them anywhere else in the world. Nature, villages, monuments, beaches, culture and excellent gastronomy are some of the ingredients that make Lanzarote one of the favourite islands to visit.

Timanfaya National Park

Of course, one of the must-see places in Lanzarote is the Timanfaya National Park. This place is an authentic symphony of colours and shapes. A whimsical and spectacular landscape that seems to be from another planet, formed in the last volcanic eruptions that took place on the island in 1730, 1736 and 1824.

Today, volcanic activity is still present in Timanfaya. In Montañas de Fuego, where the visitor centre is located, there are demonstrations where you can feel the heat of Timanfaya.

Jameos del Agua

Jameos del Agua is a marvellous place where water and volcanic rock merge to form a unique spectacle. It is also a place that will captivate you that you will want to enjoy calmly, appreciating all its details. The jameos are located inside a volcanic tube formed in one of the eruptions that took place on the island and in which an underground lake has been created by marine filtrations.

The River Viewpoint

Camouflaged with the surroundings and designed by the genius Cesar Marrique, this space presents an uncommon aesthetic, ecological and architectural beauty. Moreover, the Mirador has a stunning and extensive view of the north of the island and the Chinijo Archipelago. In addition to acting as a viewpoint, this organic place in Lanzarote is designed for visual and sensory pleasure, creating an atmosphere of absolute peace and calm.

Cactus Garden

Also designed by the well known architect of Lanzarote, César Manrique, the Cactus Garden is another place you cannot miss in Lanzarote. It is a surprising, jaw-dropping garden with 4,500 specimens of 450 different species of cactus. Furthermore, they are all arranged in a circular enclosure of exquisite taste. We invite you to visit it and we assure you that it is well worth taking a moment out of your trip to slowly savour the beauty of the Lanzarote Cactus Garden.

La Graciosa Island

Located in the northeast of the Canary Islands and more specifically to the north of Lanzarote, this tiny island of only 29 km² is a paradise of sun, water and sand. The island is part of the Chinijo Archipelago Natural Park, and has only two villages; the capital Caleta de Sebo and Casas de Pedro Barba. There are no tarmac roads on this island, so the only means of transport are bicycles or safari taxis.

There is no doubt that this island is incredible, but it is also a practically unspoilt island except for the two villages mentioned above. The beaches are also very well-kept, with clear, clean water. The best known beach is Las Conchas, an obligatory stop on this island. In addition, La Graciosa is a good place to try the Canarian gastronomy, and in particular the fresh fish of the day, one of its greatest delicacies.

Find out what else you can see in Lanzarote by reading our post: Things to see and do in Lanzarote

What to see in La Gomera, Canary Islands

La Gomera is an island full of attractions where, once again, nature is the protagonist. The whole island has been declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO, and has a large number of landscapes and enclaves that will leave you speechless.

Garajonay National Park

This is one of the most beautiful National Parks in the country. Its tangled forests, mist, birdsong and, above all, peace will accompany you as you walk along its endless trails. The magic lies in discovering it on foot, little by little, and not just on the roads. Agando is a gigantic 180 metre-tall rock and one of the most beautiful spots in the park, where you will want to return time and time again.

Abrante viewpoint

La Gomera has a relief full of slopes, ravines and valleys, so we can find viewpoints everywhere, almost at every bend in the road. Each one of them offers a wide view of the island, with a unique charm.

The Abrante viewpoint is located on top of the cliff in the north of La Gomera and is one of the most popular. Moreover, it has been designed in such a way that you seem to float above the rural landscape of the island, thanks to the seven-metre long cantilevered canopy and glass floor. An experience you can’t miss on your route around La Gomera.

Valle Gran Rey

Playa del Inglés is located in Valle Gran Rey, and is one of the best-known beaches on La Gomera. Thanks to its location, it is one of the best beaches to enjoy the sunset over the Atlantic Ocean. Don’t hesitate to make a stop in Valle Gran Rey, and relax watching the sunset in this stunning enclave. Moreover, it is one of the best beaches in La Gomera, Canary Islands!

How to plan what to see in the Canary Islands?

Planning a trip to the Canary Islands can be difficult due to the amount of points of interest to see. At Passporter we want to help you get organised; you can use this post as a reference and combine it with the suggestions on the Passporter App. You will find a wide variety of ideas and inspiration on what to see and what to do in the Canary Islands. Thanks to the App you can sort your selection by preferences, creating your ideal trip quickly and easily.

If you don’t have the App yet, you can download it now, so you can benefit from its useful features.

If you have any doubts about how to plan your itinerary, you can read our post: How to create your travel itinerary with Passporter.

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